The WiiM Amp is a stream-everything receiver with Mac Mini vibes


Linkplay Technology announced a new addition to its lineup today: the WiiM Amp. The $299 device serves as a receiver with a decidedly vintage focus, even more so than the WiiM Pro Plus that the company launched earlier this year, thanks to physical outputs that let you output directly to a set of old-school passive stereo speakers.
The WiiM Amp is now the priciest streaming box from the company, but it’s possible it earns it for the right person. It’s more versatile than most compact AirPlay 2 receivers thanks to plentiful streaming standard support and the unique set of outputs for the bring-your-own speakers crowd. That’s probably a very small chunk of the population, but there just aren’t that many wireless receivers like this that are so targeted, and judging from the tenor of the replies in WiiM’s forums, it’s a welcome option.
The WiiM Amp has several wireless music options, including Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Alea Cast, and DLNA. It supports the usual audio formats like MP3, FLAC, ALAC, and AAC. But its color naming scheme — silver and space gray — is taken right from Apple, and its rounded corners give it a distinctly Apple Mac Studio vibe, just with a giant volume knob on the front. That makes sense, as this device fills a very particular niche with its AirPlay 2 support.
AirPlay 2 is a great multiroom audio standard, but there’s always been a frustrating gap between affordable AirPlay 2 receivers and very expensive high-end ones from the likes of Denon and Sonos. There’s not a lot in that middle ground outside of WiiM’s Pro and Pro Plus receivers, and even those have room for improvement.
Like the WiiM Pro Plus, the WiiM Amp supports up to 192 kHz / 24-bit variable bit rate audio out. It uses an analog-centric ESS Sabre ES9018 DAC. It outputs either 60W per channel at eight Ohms or 120W per channel at four, and it supports Stereo PCM but not Dolby Digital or DTS. Its two sets of banana plugs on the back give you two channels of passive stereo output, and a subwoofer connection rounds that out.
The WiiM Amp should appeal to anyone who wants a standalone, more straightforward way to get streaming audio to their old-school speakers than plugging a second-gen AirPort Express or one of WiiM’s other devices into an older receiver that might be on its last legs.
Linkplay Technology announced a new addition to its lineup today: the WiiM Amp. The $299 device serves as a receiver with a decidedly vintage focus, even more so than the WiiM Pro Plus that the company launched earlier this year, thanks to physical outputs that let you output directly to…
Recent Posts
- HPE launches slew of Xeon-based Proliant servers which claim to be impervious to quantum computing threats
- Limited Run says potentially damaging NES carts are supplier’s fault
- Apple announces the iPhone 16e with Apple Intelligence for $599
- A popular Japanese distraction-free writing device is coming to the US
- Italian media groups file criminal complaint over the WhatsApp hack on journalists
Archives
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- September 2018
- October 2017
- December 2011
- August 2010