Okay, here’s my Wiim Pro Plus vs. Wiim Pro showdown, based on my own tinkering. Hope this helps anyone on the fence!
Alright, so I’ve been messing around with both the Wiim Pro Plus and the Wiim Pro for a couple of weeks now, and I figured I’d share my experience. I was mainly trying to figure out if the “Plus” version is actually worth the extra cash, you know?
The Setup
- First off, I unboxed both of these things. Pretty standard stuff – the streamers themselves, power adapters, and some basic instructions. Nothing fancy.
- Then, I hooked them up to my system. I’ve got a decent setup: a pair of Klipsch RP-600M speakers, a Cambridge Audio CXA61 amp, and a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon turntable. I used both RCA and optical connections to test things out.
- Next, I downloaded the Wiim Home app. This is where you control everything. The app itself is pretty straightforward, no real complaints there. Connected both streamers to my Wi-Fi network without any hassle.
Sound Quality – The Real Test
Okay, this is what really matters, right? I spent a good amount of time A/B testing these things, switching back and forth between them, listening to the same tracks. Here’s what I found:
- Wiim Pro: Sounded good, clean. No complaints for casual listening. I streamed Spotify, Tidal, and some FLAC files from my NAS. It all sounded decent. I mean, it’s a streamer, not some high-end DAC.
- Wiim Pro Plus: This is where things got interesting. I did notice a subtle difference. The soundstage felt a little wider, maybe a bit more detail in the high end. I wasn’t blown away, but it was there. I think the upgraded DAC in the “Plus” is actually making a difference.
To be honest, the difference wasn’t huge. If you’re just listening casually, you probably won’t notice much. But if you’re an audiophile who likes to really listen critically, the “Plus” might be worth it. I was able to hear a small improvement when playing hi-res files on Tidal, but the difference wasn’t as obvious with Spotify.
Other Features & My Takes
- Streaming: Both handle all the major streaming services perfectly. Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, AirPlay 2, Chromecast – all worked flawlessly. No issues with dropouts or buffering.
- Multiroom: I tested the multiroom feature, pairing both Wiims together. Worked great. You can group them and play the same music in different rooms.
- Voice Control: Both work with Alexa and Google Assistant. I’m not a huge voice control guy, but it did work as advertised when I tried it.
- Build Quality: They both feel pretty similar. Small, plastic boxes. Nothing fancy, but they don’t feel cheap either.
Final Verdict
So, is the Wiim Pro Plus worth the extra money? It depends. For casual listening, the Wiim Pro is perfectly fine. It sounds good, has all the features you need, and is cheaper. But if you’re a bit of an audiophile and you want that extra bit of sound quality, the Wiim Pro Plus might be worth considering. I personally lean towards the “Plus” now that I’ve heard the difference, but it’s not a night-and-day change. If you have a really high-end system, the improved DAC in the “Plus” makes a bit more sense.
Just my two cents! Hope this helps!