What's the advantage of a WiiM streamer VS an Echo device for Amazon Music to AVR?

Woody

Active member
Joined
Dec 4, 2023
Messages
122
Location
Midwest US
The speakers are in-wall and seem to be decent but were put in before me so not sure of the specs.
I purchased a Marantz Cinema 60 to drive the speakers, which also has Amazon Music streaming built in.
Problem is I can't get the Marantz AVR to be a part of a speaker group which is something I would like to have.
I connected an Echo and have it working the way I like but would like to know if a WiiM Streamer of some type would be a significant difference. I'm also making an assumption that a WiiM Streamer will play with Echo speaker groups like my WiiM Amp does. Any suggestion on models? Sound quality better with WiiM is understood.
Thank you.
 
If you’re taking the analog aux out from an echo device then you’ll be using the echo’s DAC which is unlikely to be as good as that in a WiiM device - which echo model/gen are you using btw? Also, unless you’re using an Echo Studio/Link/Link Amp, you’ll only be playing Amazon Music at 24/48 at best, not the 24/96 or 24/192 tracks a WiiM device will support.
All WiiM devices (the WiiM edition audio pro speakers apart) can be part of an Alexa MRM group, but again there you’re limited to 24/48 in group playback.
 
If you’re taking the analog aux out from an echo device then you’ll be using the echo’s DAC which is unlikely to be as good as that in a WiiM device - which echo model/gen are you using btw? Also, unless you’re using an Echo Studio/Link/Link Amp, you’ll only be playing Amazon Music at 24/48 at best, not the 24/96 or 24/192 tracks a WiiM device will support.
All WiiM devices (the WiiM edition audio pro speakers apart) can be part of an Alexa MRM group, but again there you’re limited to 24/48 in group playback.
The one I have connected is a 3rd generation, I believe. It's the puck shape with speaker cloth around the perimeter. I never thought about it, but playing in MRM is going 24/48 so a new WiiM is going to be the same resolution as the Echo 3rd gen but with a much better DAC?
I was really hoping the new Marantz would play in MRM like the WiiM products, but it appears not. Says "incompatible" in the device list when I try to add it.
 
The one I have connected is a 3rd generation, I believe. It's the puck shape with speaker cloth around the perimeter. I never thought about it, but playing in MRM is going 24/48 so a new WiiM is going to be the same resolution as the Echo 3rd gen but with a much better DAC?
I was really hoping the new Marantz would play in MRM like the WiiM products, but it appears not. Says "incompatible" in the device list when I try to add it.
Not many devices can play in an Alexa MRM - I haven’t encountered any AVR/amp that does even if they had an Alexa skill. When you consider its age and what a 3rd gen echo dot (the “puck”) actually cost, I’d expect even a WiiM Mini to perform better.
 
Not many devices can play in an Alexa MRM - I haven’t encountered any AVR/amp that does even if they had an Alexa skill. When you consider its age and what a 3rd gen echo dot (the “puck”) actually cost, I’d expect even a WiiM Mini to perform better.
Thanks for your help. I was really hoping WiiM would have a nice AVR but my Rotel processor decided to stop sending audio to the amp before that happened.
 
Back
Top