The Amp Pro also plays nice with Alexa Cast, Google Cast, Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect, in addition to being Roon Ready and DLNA compliant. It has access to an absolute stack of music streaming services, internet radio providers, and what-have-you accessible via the WiiM Home app which is free for iOS and Android.
The app itself can take a moment or two to catch up if the device hosting it goes to sleep, and it’s not absolutely the last word in logic when it comes to navigation, but otherwise it’s one of the most thorough and useful examples of that type around. In addition to access to Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz, vTuner and many other services, it features a room correction routine, a 10-band EQ (with a staggering 24 presets), room for a dozen “favorites,” ‘ a balance control, and even an alarm clock.
Easy listening
The device ships with a fairly comprehensive remote if you prefer to operate your devices that way, and if you’re interested in simply vocalizing your demands, the Amp Pro is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Photo: Simon Lucas
No matter how you prefer to control it, the WiiM Amp Pro is a friendly and easy-to-operate device. Provided you keep things sensible and proportionate when it comes to the speakers driving it and the source equipment supporting it, it’s no trouble at all to listen to either.
Playing to its strengths with a 24-bit/48-kHz FLAC file of “Common Land” by James Holden via TIDAL Connect, the Amp Pro appears to be tremendously accomplished in a number of ways. For example, it strikes a beautiful tonal balance – there’s just a tiny hint of heat at the bottom of the frequency range, but nothing problematic. In every other area it is as neutral and as natural as can be. And apart from a slight (and probably quite sensible) roll-off of the highest frequencies, the top-to-bottom frequency response is even and smooth.
At the lower end of the frequency range, the Amp Pro hits with real determination. It controls the attack of bass sounds with the kind of authority that allows it to express rhythms with proper confidence. There’s authentic variation on the low-end stuff, lots of tonal and texture detail revealed, and all of it placed in convincing context.