NO ONE can Compete with the WIIM Amp! This is the Best Music Streaming Amplifier Under $700
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0:00 Start
0:42 Intro
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4:00 On the Back
5:37 How I'd Use it
9:51 How does it Sound?
14:17 Final Thoughts
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I have an amp that looks like that. A black box and a black volume control on the front right with power switch on the back. It has bolt holes on front corners and 2 handles for rach mounting.
Sounds fantastic and only took a few weeks to build.
It’s crazy, there are other audio TH-cam channels that I’ve been watching before your channel started that we’re good channels and they’re still trying to break the 100,000 subscriber mark while you’re already over 200,000. That’s great and it’s not only because you do good reviews And your knowledgeable products that the average guy can afford but also due to your quirky humor. The 10 minute rule on Garbage french fries is something I also agree with by the way.
Cool little bit of kit. Add a $200ish sub, some high efficiency speakers and you'd be good to go for a while for under $1000. WIIM Amp Pro: hdmi out for screen art (buy your own touch screen), digital out, pre out/in and some more power. Thanks Randy!
John Darko did a very excellent job on his own review of this piece, in which he coupled it with a KEF sub, and Project speakers. At the rate WIIM is pumping out new models, it might well not be long before some of the minor quibbles reviewers are voicing may be attended to by either firmware updates, or a “Pro” version.
A phono input and pre-amp out to accommodate active bi-amping, for example?
One big feature that this has over a lot of the other stuff from Fosi, Arylic, SMSL, Topping, etc is having that internal power supply. It just makes something like this so much easier and cleaner to setup in a 2 channel soundbar replacement situation not having to find a place to hide a power brick or wall wart. Glad people are finally starting to put e-arc into these little 2 channel amps.
SMSL A300/AO300 (amp/dacs, not streamers) and the like have internal power supplies I think. I wonder though, in case if repair, if it's easier to just replace an power supply vs get a replacement for an internal one?
Wiim is excellent for Streaming only users but need to add a better dac-There are a new Smsl amp with hdmi capabilities also.
Internal power supplies are not always good things. And you don't have the flexibility to change voltages, currents, etc.
@@jontpt you are not wrong. But sometimes you need the simple form factor for placement. Some pieces you want to tweak and mess with. Some you just want to set and forget.
@@ajasen Right. My SU8 DAC has an integrated power supply. Not sure on ease of replacement. I would imagine external is less expensive to replace. That said, I've personally never had a power supply fail internal or external. So, for me at least, I'm not sure that it would ever really be a factor in my purchasing decision. Not having to hide a big brick of a power supply is sure starting to be though.
agree on the "wish it had an optical out"...future! "alexa built in" is a plus over the 3 unit stack... would love to see a 5.1 version surround version!...Thanks Randy!
I've been waiting for something like this. It ticks EVERY box I have in terms of what I want and need. After Christmas, I will be grabbing one of these. I cannot wait.
Perhaps their finest product to date. Great value. Thanks for sharing your observations Randy. Well done.
Thanks for this, especially the little affordable stack comp. I was about to have buyers remorse over my V3, wiim Pro Plus stack but it looks like I've got the win, particularly with the built in DACs considered. Do wish that I had that idmi though.
Why?? Only one thing matters at the end of the day - if you enjoy it.
Randy, you are absolutely right: there is something about the nimbleness of the WIIM crew coupled with their attention to detail and insane pricing that is nothing short of remarkable.
For the last few years i was a Blusound fan--Ive got everything from some Pulse speakers, the Vault CD ripper/NAS and a PowerNode. But 2024 for me is about downsizing and simplifing. No more multi-room systems or separates for this kid. From now on its FutureFi all the way. Gone are my Bose 901s (cue the giggling) and the required EQ that also requires an old amp with TapeMonitor functionality. Enter The Sevens and a WIIM.
The 7s are still in transit but the WIIM Pro arrived yesterday and upon hooking it up (which was easy and sweatless and ACTUALLY easy) i could FEEL the difference in the software, if thats possible. Bluesound has some of the best software around, bar none, but it can get finicky and startles easy. The Wiim software, on the other hand, seemed sure footed by comparison and its integration with music services is actually BETTER than Bluesound's. I think. But more than that, the 10 band EQ is a game changer! Bluesound users have been screeching for real software EQ for years and our entreties have fallen on deaf ears. For that simple enhancement, the last 48 hours or so with the WiimPro have been a treat. The ability to EQ has breathed new life into my 901's (cue more snickering) and from a $120 piece of equipment, mind you.
All this from an outfit who, 18 months ago, nobody had ever heard of. The Mini replaced the defunct Chromecast Audio Puck. The Pro set its sights on fuller fledged streamers and the Pro Plus possibly bests the Sonos and Bluesound Node family of streamers. My only complaint about the Pro Amp is that I don't need one.
Yet.
Wiim has come out with some great products at very attractive price points, this being another! Excellent comparison and review! I totally agree if they added the pre out and digital out...this product would be fire! If Wiim is listening, I wouldn't be surprised if that happened. It's got my attention..
With respect to Wiim, Randy is the next best thing to a product manager at the company. It really seems like they listen to him, to the point that when he says he wishes a product had a specific feature, it seems to show up in the next revision of that product. It’s also really impressive how quickly Wiim iterates product features. I’d definitely refer to them as “agile” in their product development process. It’s pretty common in a software development environment but very impressive in a hardware environment given how much more work is involved in manufacturing physical stuff.
since it sounds like multidrivers it might surpass the king
“It got as loud as I wanted it to get.” This is why I love what you’re doing here man. Thank you Randy.
Thank you
Like George Costanza and the donuts, I eat recently tossed, perfectly good items out of the garbage as well!
I was contemplating the Sonos amp until I saw this video which was uploaded 3hrs ago. I needed something small but mighty for my office that took up very little desk space. I have a NAD C388 that is freaking amazing but is large as hell and takes up too much space. This amp WiiM amp is perfect, and I bought it on Amazon.
I've got the powernode but this is soo much cheaper
Hey Randy and yeah John Darko thinks it's Hot as in awesomeness...and it's an Aluminum Chassis. And it's amperage is excellent. 🎉❤ I think the rated wattage is 80 at 8 ohms to 120 or 140 at 4ohms along with the Ten Band is a Parametric Eq and Sub woofer crossover options. It would not surprise me if Wiim went to small separates next as a logical product process. I could be off on power but it is certainly more than enough for many.
Good afternoon ☕️
I’m running the OG Wiim pro feeding a Topping E50 DAC ..that’s what they need ..more inputs and pre out …RCA and XLR …now you’re talking.
A damn good start!
I love what you do. Thank you for pointing me at the Wiim Mini. This is good enough for me.
Have been running it with an Allo Shanti power source (built nearby in Bangalore, India) last 18 months. Am always thrilled to bits with your suggestion.
I’m a newbie to audio. Found you recently. You stand clear above the rest in your presentation, production, humor. Love it. I’ve been known to go for the fries too. In my naivety I bout the Wiim pro as a stand alone streamer and quickly learned I needed an amp. I bought the A07. Should have bought Wiim amp? Question is why did you add the DAC to the stack for comparison? Wouldn’t the comparison been better of a stack of just Wiim pro and amp?
Hit the nail on the head at the end. I went elsewhere due to no preamp out. I think they should offer a slightly more expensive model with the features you mentioned
In my living room 2.1 system I am running an Arylic BP 50 parred with a Fosi Audio V3 and it sounds pretty awesome! Right now I am using monoprice encore B4 bookshelf speakers, and a monoprice 10 inch low profile sub. Considering the cost it’s a pretty awesome system. For streaming, I just run airplay through my TCL Roku TV.
Thanks for the review! I've been looking for something to replace my Acrylic A50. I just hate the speaker connectors on it. This seems perfect.
What a cool product. I'm enjoying having separates so i'll stick with the pro plus but love what Wiim is doing.
Actually it has HDMI ARC not eArc. For a stereo amp that doesn't matter. The difference is the bandwidth. eArc has a lot more of it so you can do uncompressed 7.1 Audio. The WIIM does two channels, so plenty of bandwidth. The DAC is the ess9018. A bit old but back in 2017 it was still used in DAC's that cost over $12000
he keeps calling it eARC in the video...
Thanks for this very helpful video. WIIM Amp seems like a perfect first amp for me. I'm looking to buy a Fluance or Pro Ject as my first turntable. What speakers would you recommend? I've been using the Klipsch Pro Media 2.1Desktop Computer Speakers for years now for both TV and streaming and digital media, but I'm in search of a less harsh sound experience.
Pre-out AND digital-out would be killer features. It would become the single "go-to" device for all starter systems.
Would love to see native apple music support for bitperfect lossless playback. But definitely a solid recommendation for anyone just starting out.
Would have been a nice money saver if it had been available when I bought 4 Sonos amps for my multi room setup! Looks like a good piece of kit for this type of setup.
Great review, awesome piece, Wiim going from strength to strength, i am pretty sure I will purchase one of these, and i am already excited for what comes next.
Can i ask, did you say the usb was for storage or does it also act as an input for PC sound.
Hi Randy, I picked up a Marantz NR-1711 used. Is there anything that the WIIM Amp does better? I know there are many differences with I/O, but with regards to streaming or DAC. I think the rated power for stereo is similar. Stereo is how I usually use the Marantz.
man, im so happy i found this channel! great content.
My new $450 "fine Columbian" ambiance Steely system for the outdoor toilet with some back porch speakers slightly toed in. Not for everyone, but CAM approved and warm fries ready.
Just picked it up on pre order. 👍
I think a great use for this is for outdoor speakers, where critical listening and high volume isn't really needed. I am running 2 pair of polk atrium 8SDI in parallel, then sending the subwoofer out to a Crown XLS1002 and a Dayton outdoor sub. Sounds pretty good for background music and airplaying TV audio from Apple TV to WiiM Amp.
Well. I guess I am going to return the Bluesound Node Edge I ordered during Black-Friday/Cyber-Monday. Was looking for something less expensive, or the Node Edge to go on sale. I have the Bluesound Node in my hifi setup. But did not want to spend that much on a bedroom setup to just "boost" the sound of the TV.
Did you try subwoofer with the Wiim Amp as that would be one area where I thought it would beat your V3 stack?
Though the new Fosi Audio ZA3 is effectively a V3 with a subwoofer output.
Agree, Randy! If they’re doing this for $299, let’s see a higher end streamer with a large touchscreen display to go up against (and out do) the Eversolo DMP-A6.
I bought one on all the hype and quickly sold it.
Let go WIIM! Show us what you can do with an upscale offering.
If you bought the Eversolo on day one I can totally understand how you would have buyers remorse. I did for a while and I stuck with it and the updates and then smoothing out the rough edges has turned this into an excellent device the ripping of Cd’s to create a digital juke box alone has been worth it for me. It’s a shame it doesn’t have HDMI.
@@claudiabailey5302 The HDMI issue is another big one. I ordered a WIIM Amp on release day. It shipped yesterday and should arrive tomorrow. I’m anxious to see how it works. I bought it to use with a pair of speakers as a soundbar replacement. Seems perfect for that.
I received the Eversolo VERY early (2nd batch that was dispatched) but held on to it through multiple updates including the new parametric eq background. The whole thing just seems too gimmicky for me and the sound quality seemed to suffer at the expense of bells and whistles. It made audible pops noises at power up bd when switching sources/albums. Then something Darko said about the old version of Android that it was built on potentially not being supported sometime in the future as I decided to cut bait. It just didn’t do it for me.
I bought a Bluesound Node (newest version) with the intention of buying an external DAC but I’ve not been very impressed by that user experience either. The WiFi connection drops all the time (something NONE of my previous streamers have done) and then it can’t be located by airplay or Spotify when it does reconnect. I’m not impressed.
My current plan is to just go back to the Naim Uniti Atom that I was previously using as a streaming preamp. It’s a joy to use, is built beautifully, and its built in DAC is incredible. So musical.
Dude. Despite your concerns regarding reviewing and liking some not so cheap equipment affecting your cred as the "cheapaudioman", I think your story about eating fries from the garbage if it's only been 10 minutes since they were thrown away basically cements your street cred. Thanks for the review man.
So many questions: Why the 10-minute rule? I think the important thing is whether something disgusting has been thrown on top. How did they get in the trash in the first place? I just told my kids to leave the leftovers on the counter and then ate them for my midnight snack. Does this also translate to the 10-second rule for food that falls on the floor? It certainly should. But I will stop here, for the sake of those with tender sensibilities.
This seems like a great starter system.
I like this, but a wiim mini with an optical out and that stack is the same price. What I would like to see WiiM develop next is a more highend WiiM mini that has a lcd touch display that can be used to play music and see album art while music is playing.
I have been using a WiiM amp in my main system to test it out. Powering Magnepan LRS to 70-75dbs no problem. Working seamlessly. Turn on the TV and it wakes up and starts playing sound immediately. Tv remote controls volume. Use the app to start streaming and it will switch over to music. It sounds at least as good as my Rouge Sphinx V2 with schiit Modi 3 did and i never have to touch anything. I might have to order another one for the family room TV now since i don't really want this to leave. Its so easy and convenient .. I Do wish it had pre outs so i could use my big 250w A/B amp with this as a control box.
Nice review! Are there any usability drawbacks with the Wiim pro stack as compared with the Wiim amp?
Great review! I have one being delivered today and can't wait to try it out on my DP-400 turntable. however, I think you should be careful saying eARC, this amp does not have eARC. It does have an HDMI ARC connection but not eARC. Thanks again for the great review, love your channel.
Replacing a NUVO One that failed. Not needing outputs to push four patio speakers, the WIIM Amp seems like a good replacement. Thank you for an informative video.
I use wiim in my sixth system with naim amp and Harberh speakers. It sounds very good. I may get one of these for my seventh system.
Hi! Great video! I have a marantz sr7015 at home. Do I get better sound from this Product if I connect it to my reciever? Kind regards!
Love my WiiM's! I have had a few streamers, but like Randy stated, the ease of use simply puts these WiiM products above them all. And yes, waiting with baited breath to see what is next!
Does your stack have a subwoofer out? If not, how does that compare to the amp using a sub with the high pass filter?
My Aorus X470 Gaming 7 wifi motherboard has an ESS Sabre DAC in it, its the best thing ive ever heard.
I appreciate the comparison to the stack you chose. That stack is my reference to which I gauge the value and functionality of every budget system whether it's a stack or integrated amp with a Wiim mini.
Is there a video going over the stack in this video? If not can you list the components?
Thanks @cheapaudioman for another honest and direct review. Got one question. I already have the Wiim Pro Plus. Does it make more sense to add a Fosi V3 to it, or to get this Wiim Amp instead (and sell the Wiim Pro+)? My main concern is audio quality. I have a pair of Wharfedale Evo 4.2 and a pair of PSB Imagine X2T. Thanks!!!
Randy did mention how superior the audio quality was from the Fosi V3 when compared to the Wiim Amp.
Hi. May i ask if yhe bluetooth support LDAC or still like the othe wiim product just the SBC?
Thank
OK, Randy. I just ordered a Wiim amp. This is going to be an expensive Christmas season and I haven't even bought gifts for anyone yet.
You need to stop now.
Really nice little unit, great look and good price. 👍
Great video!! How well does it stack up compared to the Onkyo TX-8260 as they are both the same price at the moment
Nitpick: it has ARC, not eARC. It doesn't really matter, eARC on this would be a waste since it's only stereo anyway, but you're still wrong to say it has eARC.
dang you sure told him
@@cartilagehead6326Do you think if he just said HDMI input, the audience would understand that a two channel audio only device would likely gain little benefit from HDMI2.1’s 266% increase in bandwidth- unless intended to pass through high frame rate video for gaming?
I’ve long held a couple of opinions in the realm of this hobby: there’s no such thing as future-proof; understanding the specific use case for each system is key to pruning the decision tree to a manageable size.
addenda; if passive thermal management is really a major design factor, wouldn’t it make sense to have some vent slots on the top of the case as well? If not, then a large sold block of aluminum or more expensive copper in direct contact with the outer case to facilitate conductive rather than convective dispersion would make more sense, but of course that would add significantly to the piece’s cost.
Dang, that was an MIT Phd grade lecture you gave!
@@fonkenful The case entire barring the bottom is made out of Aluminium , in case that helps your point on heat dissipation
It's silly to believe the person in the video has any substantial knowledge about music and audio, just because he has a nerdy way of presentation.. everyone has different perception and taste for music .. and he reviews audio devices without even showing proper audio playback and measurements, which prompt me to believe that he is being PAID..
Great review as usual
Question! - I'm running a Wiim pro streamer through an Onkyo tx-nr515 receiver. Is it worth buying an SMSL su1? Thanks in advance
Great video Randy and had to wait near the end till you got to the heart of your thoughts - “for anyone new to Hi fi” and the streamer at $300 is still worth the price of admission. 👍👏
I currently own SVS Wireless pro, but find the treble to be a bit laid back, acoustic guitars and vocals sound too muddy to my taste. I also have it connected to my TV through HDMI Arc for movies. Would you recommend getting the Wiim Amp with a pair of stereo speakers instead? Can it match the power of the SVS Wireless Pro and is it going to sound good with movies too ? My living room is 15x17ft. Thanks a lot!
Need help deciding between fosi Wiim dac combo or this or Wiim plus Cambridge axa35 amp
This is a great unit for a bedroom or secondary location. One can wish for a Center channel amp output, but this is a great deal as is.
Center channel isn't needed with decent speakers.
Hi there. What if I like the whole WiiM Amp concept but I want to have a sound that is more flattering mediums, vocals, guitar strings ? To be precise for music like Queen, blues, folk, Supertramp, Genesis, Micheal Jackson. Should I consider using it with an external DAC (perhaps an idea?) ? Should I consider another set up / Amp / Streamer ? Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Wish Amazon was selling it now!!!!! I don't think they have it (yet) -- Opps...that comment near the end about "no pre-amp outputs"".....that's a deal breaker...thanks for what you do!!!!
Oh damn it’s got a 3255! I wasn’t expecting that.
Love my wiim pro but have no need for this amp. Still great to see them continue to push the envelope
Hi randy I have a small set up in one of my rooms tv smsl a 300 2 tmotiva t zeros and an svs pb 1000. I love the sond but the smsl.has no hdmi and I hate having two remotes . Do you think this amp will give me good enough sound to replace the smsl ? Sound is important to me but I hate having dual remotes .
I'm using cheap amazon bluetooth headphone amps into my older Pioneer Elite AV receiver. It works but there is noticeable white noise at low volume (which may just be the AV receiver) but would a dedicated streaming DAC/Amp like this solve some of that?
Very sleek and elegant.
Great t-shirt Randy!
The SMSL AO300 has lots of power and HDMI ARC. Also, the Wiim Amp has ARC, not eArc.
how does it stack up compared to.....wiim amp vs Fosi v3 and wiim pro w/dac vs Fosi v3 wiim pro plus ? thoughts ? or a fosi audio with sub out like the BL20c?
I feel like this is a product that conforms to the needs of the users (HDMI ARC, sub out, remote, Alexa voice control, high and low pass filters, etc.) as opposed to products that force the user to conform to the product that the manufacturer wants to make.
If the fries are sitting on top of the trash, they're technically not IN the trash😉
Great Video Randy
Thanks 👍
Can the Wiim software cast the the sound from either of the two inputs to other wireless speakers? i.e Could I get my vinyl going through the Wiim amp and an active speaker in another room at the same time?
I like that you wear a Tudor gmt with the white dial! I work at a Swedish retailer and I can say you got a great watch for your money! 😍
Thanks for noticing
got deezer app on my tv.. prime members get upto 24 bit streaming. i use tv arc into an smsl ao 300 integrated amp that has an arc input. i get 24 bit hi res. 80 watts per channel into jamo 803s.. does me... jamos new open box cost me £100. ao 300 amp £220. also it makes a good soundbar alternative.Ive also linked my old sony dvd player with its digital out coax as a cd transport. that was a good tip you gave us in that cd player vid. thanks . surprised you havent done the ao 300. with its specs and arc input its a perfect cheap audio.
I have been looking on the SMSL AO300 and also Sabaj A30A. Very hard to find reviews of these but both seem to be good products.
It would be cool if you start sticking a magnet to binding posts of amps and speakers to see if they are using steel nuts(which degrades quality)
I have the SMSL AO300 and Wiim Mini (and pro, and pro plus) in boxes and the Wiim Amp en route. Love the Wiim Amp form factor for a one room to rule them all situation but kinda hate losing physical headphone connection.
Any suggestions for how/what to add to the Wiim Amp to get the headphone amp I’d be missing in the AO300 setup?
Hi there, what about power supply to your speakers in comparison please, sorry for not helping on your side
Another cheap strategy fo DAP users is connecting their dap (eg. Hiby) to stereo amplifier and controlling the Dap streaming /internal Sd music storage from distance from phone with wifi connection (mqa,dsd,flac etc),,Wiim doesnt do dsd but its a great value device.
Nice video! I have an Apple TV 4K on my LG OLED TV via eARC, that connects with 2 stereo pair HomePod 2nd Generation. Do you think I could play my turntable connected to the WiiM Amp that is connected to the LG TV on a normal HDMI port? Too much of a mess? hehe… Thanks!
What is your thoughts about using this as an amplifier connected to a computer? I need a nice compact amp but I want that "bigger sound" than I get from my trust Logitech's. I was thinking Polk V65 in-walls, some kind of sub, and this amp seems to fit the power/price bill, but I'm a little concerned about if the sound will be up to scratch?
Great video as always Randy. Question, do you know if the stereo input would stay analog or be converted to digital?
That I couldn’t say for sure.
Assuming that all the DSP features like EQ and sub crossover are available in all inputs then the analogue signal will go through an ADC.
Seem logical?
Surprised you didn't mention the very similar, but half the price Arylic B50, it is missing the streaming, but at least seemed worthy of a mention here.
In addition to the added streaming, I expect the Wiim to win on performance.
It is just exciting to see HDMI ARC hit this pricing tier.
Also makes it sad when stuff like the Arcam Radia series releases without it as a super late 2023 (really 2024 model).
Thoroughly enjoy watching your reviews. 👍👌
I would have preferred that they put the USB port on the front, although you could use a short USB cable. It probably was done to preserve the clean design aesthetic. I would have also liked to see a USB C port. And I agree that they needed to include more inputs. Perhaps this product line will follow the same track as their other products and there will be future Pro and Pro Plus versions.
Old school car audio here. Tens times the wattage for only 3db more. Also need to think about this backwards concerning the speakers, three db less sensitivity is using the same amp but theoretically losing 10x the amps wattage. Don't get me started on cabinet size regarding isobaric loading. Side note, bandpass sucks. Want output, horn load that stuff. I should get off my soapbox now. Good day sars!
Just watched the bit from 5:19 thank you for acknowledging that. Takes a big big man to admit their faults. 😂😂 Thanks and on with this awesome review
Randy, looks like you're going to have to wait for the Wiim Amp Pro Plus then... ;-)
Just ordered the streamer Pro Plus yesterday, can't wait to see what it can do.
I think Wiim should consider a pre amp to go with the amp so you get a little stack and way more analog inputs
But as I said if they do a Wiim Pro Plus with a screen etc, they'll have to use a bigger case therefore more real estate to add inputs (and outputs!) in the back.
I am just starting out on my Hi-Fi journey and I think this device would be the perfect starting point for me. But him saying that the stack of 3 devices performing better for a similar price made me doubtful. Does anyone here have any advice on which would be the better option for a total newbie in this field? Thanks in advance!
Comfort and convenience are a big factor for me btw
That sub out is very helpful. I’ve got a V3 with 48v and I do have a sub connected but I don’t have a high pass on the V3 which kinda sucks.
You need a sub with speaker level inputs then, that will high pass to your speakers
I like it because it DOES NOT have a screen. I do however agree it should have come with pre-outs. How about a $499 product, 80w into 8ohms and 160w into 4 ohms, with pre-outs. No screen. I'd buy at least two. They could also make a stand alone amp in the same sized case. 250w into 8 and 500w into 4. Buy two and run them as monoblocks for BIG power. Game over at that point.
Good assessment agreed on all points.
is it a good pair with Polk R100 or R200?
So in terms of pure audio quality and fidelity, WiiM Amp or BluesSound Node Edge?
I have a question that I cannot seem to find the answer too. How well does the wiim amp and I'll call it the wiim connect with each other? I wish to replace 4 sonos amps and 3 sonos connects. They are all Gen 1. My friend has one and it sounds great but it's just one. I love the zones or room feature on the sonos. I can play the same music on all with no latency. Please advise.
I like how you tell me to grab a cup of coffee
Randy, did you test and what are your thoughts on connecting a phono stage into the WIIM vs the V3?
The wiim amp is still stereo. Is there any small device other than a 5.1 or 7.1 that has a center channel for dialogue from a tv?
worth to upgrade from Loxjie A30 ?
I am getting this for sure