Quick query: so the DAC/Analog output of the WiiM Pro Plus is also better than that of the WiiM Amp? Or would the WiiM Amp be better as it has a direct connection to the speakers?
WiiM Pro with Fosi BT20A query
- Thread starter Erebus
- Start date
Mr Ee
Major Contributor
The problem with too many ice cream flavours in the parlour is you don't know which to get.
Which is why I always double scoop.
Again, hard to say! Technically, the akm chip in the pro plus is 'better' than the older ess chip in the amp.
But the parts of a dac that really matter are the analog parts.
And the parts of an amp that matter are the ampy parts!!
These are devices with different use cases.
Amp is an all in one / just add passive speakers box, with hdmi input for tv, sub out and usb for hosting a music drive.
Pro plus is a streamer for use with an amp / powered speakers, with the ability to add a dac in between if you wish.
If you want the simplicity of a fairly small, single box, single power lead (and speakers) possibly also using it for tv audio using the tv remote to change volume, then choose the amp.
For many this simplicity is key, for others the inability to put a different dac or amplifier in the chain is too restrictive and a pro or pro plus would be their choice.
Once again we're trying to determine which is better, and yet some folk will still choose vanilla or chocolate over a more exotic flavour because that is their idea of better.
Right now the wiim amp is A$400 (at 20% off)
You could look at this as being just A$137 more than a pro plus (A$263 at 20% off) for a fairly decent amp too. Put like that, it looks like a bargain.
And it still does Airplay
Absolutely. My head has been spinning trying to understand all the differences. Thankfully this forum has been an excellent source of information thanks to folks like yourself who gladly give their time to help others like me who struggle with the intricacies and differing capabilities of the models available.
However, the explanations regarding the analog output limitations on the WiiM Mini and WiiM Pro have been invaluable, and I now understand why the WiiM Pro Plus is the best option for my current setup. So that's why I was querying if the WiiM Amp also had the same analog output quality as the Pro Plus in case I decide to go for a one stop shop solution and replace the BT20A. Although at this stage, common sense tells me that perhaps a separate amp and streamer is a better way to go as it eliminates the single point of failure scenario in case something in the WiiM Amp dies.
So it makes sense to me to go for the WiiM Pro Plus. I discovered today that I can stream my Chromecast with Google TV audio to the WiiM Pro Plus after a successful trial with the BT20A, so that's another option without needing the HDMI connection from the TV. Of course this only works for streaming content, but we seldom use the TV's FTA input, 95 percent is through the Chromecast. (We have a soundbar and sub for the TV as well.)
So with the WiiM Pro Plus vs WiiM Amp query sorted, it's just a question of when I go for the Pro Plus.
Thank you for all your assistance and advice.
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After careful consideration and a lot of indecision, weighing up all the information I received here, I finally went with the WiiM Pro Plus:
My heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all the members here who helped me get to this decision. And thanks also to WiiM for their generous Black Friday discount.
Mr Ee
Major Contributor
Hope you like it, otherwise I guess I'll have to buy it off you.
For a further 20% off, of course!
For a further 20% off, of course!
It's a WiiM, how could I not like it?
The question you should be asking is can I work out how to use it?
Well I'm happy to report that my WiiM Pro Plus, after an initial issue with the app not finding the device after it connected to WiFi, is now up and running. Once the issue was resolved (required a router reboot, which is apparently a common problem with WiiMs), the setup process via the app was easy.
I would like to again thank all the members who posted here, providing their time and assistance in getting me this far.
I'm very impressed with the HiRes streaming quality from Qobuz in particular. Tidal not so much. Won't be paying for that service. Spotify doesn't appear to be built-in to the WiiM Home App at all and is only a link to the app on my device it seems, while Amazon and TuneIn appear to be working as expected. So Qobuz is a standout currently from the services I've tested so far. CD input via optical to the WiiM also seems improved over the previous direct RCA connection to the amp, even though the WiiM connects to amp via RCA. All in all, other than for the setup issue, the WiiM Pro Plus has so far exceeded my expectations.
I would like to again thank all the members who posted here, providing their time and assistance in getting me this far.
I'm very impressed with the HiRes streaming quality from Qobuz in particular. Tidal not so much. Won't be paying for that service. Spotify doesn't appear to be built-in to the WiiM Home App at all and is only a link to the app on my device it seems, while Amazon and TuneIn appear to be working as expected. So Qobuz is a standout currently from the services I've tested so far. CD input via optical to the WiiM also seems improved over the previous direct RCA connection to the amp, even though the WiiM connects to amp via RCA. All in all, other than for the setup issue, the WiiM Pro Plus has so far exceeded my expectations.
Congratulations.
The Spotify app allows you to connect to WiiM for playback via Spotify connect.
Tap the speaker icon on the playback screen, etc., to connect to the Pro Plus and use the Spotify app to play on WiiM.
Well, if you like Qobuz, no problem.
Yes, I did see that, but found it strange that the Spotify icon in the WiiM Home App is only a shortcut to the actual Spotify app. I don't understand why it's been included to be honest as you still need to use the actual app. Anyway, I see there are 2 streaming options: Spotify Connect and Chromecast. Is one better than the other?
I don’t think you’ll find many third party app integrations of Spotify (maybe Onkyo AVRs from come years ago) unlike Amazon, Qobuz etc - it seems that Spotify Connect support is the preferred route for integration. The shortcut in the WiiM home app I guess just highlights that it supports Spotify Connect as its absence might suggest to some that it doesn’t support Spotify at all.
And re the second part of your question, it’s always better to go with a proprietary protocol like Spotify Connect rather than Chromecast which is almost a fallback casting mechanism where the target device doesn’t support Connect.
Makes sense. Thank you.
With Spotify, you mean?
Chopin
Active member
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As far as I remember Spotify Connect delivers gapless. Chromecast not.
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