8 min read

219 Euro for a streaming DAC delivering a 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio, supporting AirPlay 2 and Roon Ready-without forcing cloud dependency. The Wiim Pro Plus has redefined the budget streamer category, making high-fidelity streaming affordable for the home office. A short review after eight weeks of daily use at the desk, part of our series “Streaming without Big Tech”.

Key Takeaways

• The WiiM Pro Plus costs 219 Euro and delivers DAC quality on par with devices costing three to five times as much. Features the AKM 4493SEQ with Velvet Sound Technology, 120 dB SNR, and -110 dB THD+N.
• Streams audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz via AirPlay 2, Chromecast Audio, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, DLNA, and Roon Ready. No proprietary lock-in to a single ecosystem.
• The WiiM Home app controls multiroom setups using multiple WiiM devices or mixed AirPlay 2 groups. The app is functional but not as refined as Bluesound’s BluOS.
• No voice assistant required for core functionality. Alexa and Google Assistant are optional integrations and not essential to system operation.
• The analog RCA output connects the WiiM to any existing HiFi system or active speakers. The optical digital output (Toslink) offers an alternative for use with external DACs.

What the Wiim Pro Plus is (and isn’t)

The Wiim Pro Plus is a streaming transport with a built-in DAC. It receives music via WiFi or Bluetooth and outputs it in analog format through RCA or digitally via Toslink and coaxial. It is not a speaker, amplifier, or all-in-one system. Instead, it serves as the bridge between streaming services and an existing audio setup.

For IT professionals working from home, this means: if you already have active desktop speakers (such as Edifier, Audioengine, ELAC, or Kali Audio), simply connect the Wiim via RCA to instantly enable Hi-Res streaming. If you’re using a passive system with a separate amplifier, link the Wiim to the amp’s Aux input. No modifications required-just the Wiim itself and an RCA cable are needed.

The device is compact, roughly the size of a hockey puck with a diameter of 10 centimeters. It easily hides behind a monitor or under a desk. Weighing 215 grams, it’s lightweight and unobtrusive. Power is delivered via USB-C, eliminating the need for a separate power adapter if a USB-C port is available on your monitor or docking station.

Sound Quality: What 219 Euros Buys in 2026

The AKM AK4493SEQ DAC in the Wiim Pro Plus is a so-called premium DAC that uses AKM’s Velvet Sound Technology. In practice, this means extremely low background noise, clean highs, well-defined bass, and resolution that reveals musical details typically lost through a laptop’s headphone output. The difference from built-in audio chips in laptops and monitors is immediately audible-even to non-audiophiles.

Compared to the Bluesound Node Nano (299 Euro), the Wiim Pro Plus is 80 Euro cheaper. The Bluesound offers the more mature software (BluOS), Dirac Live as an optional upgrade, and the audiophile reputation of the Lenbrook Group. The Wiim counters with better measured values, a lower price, and broader protocol support. For beginners buying their first streamer, the Wiim Pro Plus is the better choice. For users wanting a mature ecosystem with Dirac room correction, the extra cost for the Bluesound is worth it.

Streaming Protocols: The Wiim Pro Plus Supports Them All

The Wiim Pro Plus supports all relevant streaming protocols: AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and DLNA. This means you can stream music from almost any device and app. No matter if you’re using an iPhone, Android smartphone, Windows PC, or Mac. The Wiim Pro Plus plays along. Even voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are supported. However, they are not necessary for basic operation.

What the Wiim Pro Plus is (and isn’t)

The Wiim Pro Plus is a streaming transport with a built-in DAC. It receives music via WiFi or Bluetooth and outputs it in analog format through RCA or digitally via Toslink and coaxial. It is not a speaker, amplifier, or all-in-one system. Instead, it serves as the bridge between streaming services and an existing audio setup.

For IT professionals working from home, this means: if you already have active desktop speakers (such as Edifier, Audioengine, ELAC, or Kali Audio), simply connect the Wiim via RCA to instantly enable Hi-Res streaming. If you’re using a passive system with a separate amplifier, link the Wiim to the amp’s Aux input. No modifications required-just the Wiim itself and an RCA cable are needed.

The device is compact, roughly the size of a hockey puck with a diameter of 10 centimeters. It easily hides behind a monitor or under a desk. Weighing 215 grams, it’s lightweight and unobtrusive. Power is delivered via USB-C, eliminating the need for a separate power adapter if a USB-C port is available on your monitor or docking station.

Sound Quality: What 219 Euros Buys in 2026

The AKM AK4493SEQ DAC in the Wiim Pro Plus is a so-called premium DAC that uses AKM’s Velvet Sound Technology. In practice, this means extremely low background noise, clean highs, well-defined bass, and resolution that reveals musical details typically lost through a laptop’s headphone output. The difference from built-in audio chips in laptops and monitors is immediately audible-even to non-audiophiles.

Compared to the Bluesound Node Nano (299 Euro), the Wiim Pro Plus is 80 Euro cheaper. The Bluesound offers the more mature software (BluOS), Dirac Live as an optional upgrade, and the audiophile reputation of the Lenbrook Group. The Wiim counters with better measured values, a lower price, and broader protocol support. For beginners buying their first streamer, the Wiim Pro Plus is the better choice. For users wanting a mature ecosystem with Dirac room correction, the extra cost for the Bluesound is worth it.

Streaming Protocols: The Wiim Pro Plus Supports Them All

The Wiim Pro Plus supports all relevant streaming protocols: AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and DLNA. This means you can stream music from almost any device and app. No matter if you’re using an iPhone, Android smartphone, Windows PC, or Mac. The Wiim Pro Plus plays along. Even voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are supported. However, they are not necessary for basic operation.

Multiroom: Wiim Pro Plus and Wiim Mini in Harmony

With the Wiim Home app, you can easily set up multiroom streaming. Pair the Wiim Pro Plus with other Wiim devices like the Wiim Mini. Or integrate it into an existing AirPlay 2 multiroom system. The app makes it easy to group devices and synchronize playback. You can also use different sources for each zone. For example, stream music to the living room and a podcast to the kitchen.

Daily Use: The Wiim Pro Plus in the Home Office

In the daily work routine, a simple pattern emerged: open the Spotify app, select the Wiim as the playback target, and the music starts. No app switching required, no additional software, no configuration. This is the same convenience as with Sonos, but without the cloud dependency and without the triple price. The latency between selection and playback is less than two seconds, which is irrelevant for background music while working.

The sound quality via the Edifier speakers was a significant improvement over the previous setup (Bluetooth connection from the laptop). More resolution in the mids, tighter bass, clearer treble. The difference is immediately audible even for non-audiophiles when comparing directly. Via headphones (connected via Toslink to a separate headphone amplifier), the difference becomes even more apparent.

An unexpected advantage: the Wiim frees the laptop from audio output. No more occasional Bluetooth dropouts. No more audio glitches under high CPU load. The Wiim streams directly from the router, leaving the laptop free for its work. During video conferences, you switch the audio back to the laptop microphone and headphones. The Wiim then continues to play in the background muted or is paused.

Connections and Outputs: Where Everything Belongs

The Wiim Pro Plus offers four audio outputs: analog RCA, optical digital (Toslink), coaxial digital (S/PDIF), and a 3.5mm line-out jack. This covers almost every connection scenario. Active speakers with RCA input are connected directly. Passive speakers require an amplifier in between. External DACs can be connected via Toslink or coaxial if someone wants to bypass the built-in AKM chip and use their own DAC.

On the input side, in addition to WiFi and Bluetooth 5.1, there is also a line-in (3.5mm). This allows the Wiim to be used as an A/D converter: a turntable with a phono preamp can be connected via the line-in, and the record can be streamed to other rooms via AirPlay 2. This is a niche feature, but for vinyl collectors with multiroom ambitions, it’s a clever solution that otherwise only devices costing 500 Euro and above offer.

The network connection is made via dual-band WiFi (2.4 + 5 GHz) or an Ethernet adapter (optional, USB). For stable streaming, 5 GHz WiFi or Ethernet is recommended. With 2.4 GHz, dropouts can occur in environments with many WiFi devices, especially with Hi-Res streams above 96 kHz. In the test with 5 GHz WiFi, there were no dropouts in eight weeks.

Comparison with the Competition: Wiim vs. Bluesound vs. Sonos Port

The Sonos Port (449 Euro) is the most obvious comparison. Both devices do the same thing: deliver streaming to existing audio systems. The Sonos Port offers Sonos multiroom, a built-in DAC, and the Sonos app. The Wiim Pro Plus offers more protocols (AirPlay 2 + Chromecast + Roon), a better DAC (120 vs. 107 dB SNR according to measurements), and costs less than half. The only advantage of the Sonos is the established multiroom infrastructure if Sonos speakers are already in the house.

Against the Bluesound Node Nano (299 Euro), the Wiim is 80 Euro cheaper. The Bluesound offers the more mature software (BluOS), Dirac Live as an optional upgrade, and the audiophile reputation of the Lenbrook Group. The Wiim counters with better measured values, a lower price, and broader protocol support. For beginners buying their first streamer, the Wiim Pro Plus is the better choice. For users wanting a mature ecosystem with Dirac room correction, the extra cost for the Bluesound is worth it.

Setup Recommendation: Wiim Pro Plus in the Home Office

The optimal desk setup with the Wiim Pro Plus: Wiim Pro Plus (219 Euro) connected via Cinch to active speakers like Edifier R1280DB (90 Euro) or Kali Audio LP-6 (from 300 Euro each). Power via USB-C from the monitor or dock. WiFi connection via the home network. Control via Spotify Connect directly from the Spotify desktop app, no additional software required.

For users who already own a passive HiFi system, the Wiim is the most cost-effective way to bring this system into the streaming era. Connect Cinch cables to the AUX input of the amplifier, connect via WiFi, and you’re done. A system from the 1990s gains access to Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, and local libraries in Hi-Res quality for 219 Euro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the Wiim Pro Plus or is the more affordable Wiim Pro sufficient?

The Wiim Pro (without Plus) costs around 150 Euro and uses an ESS DAC instead of the AKM chip. The sound quality is good, but the Pro Plus delivers measurably better values (120 vs. 115 dB SNR). Those who hear the difference through active speakers should choose the Plus. Those who primarily use the Wiim as a Toslink transport to an external DAC can save money with the Pro.

Can the Wiim Pro Plus replace a Sonos speaker?

Not directly. Sonos is an all-in-one system (streamer + amplifier + speaker). The Wiim is only a streamer/DAC and requires external speakers. However, Wiim + active speakers usually sound better than a Sonos in the same price range because the budget goes into DAC quality rather than a housing with speakers.

Does the Wiim work without the internet?

For local playback from a NAS via DLNA, yes. For streaming services like Spotify or Tidal, the internet is required. AirPlay 2 works in the local network without the internet as long as the sending device (iPhone, Mac) is in the same WiFi. Bluetooth playback works completely without a network.

How does the Wiim Pro Plus compare to the Wiim Ultra?

The Wiim Ultra (299 Euro) offers an improved ESS ES9038Q2M DAC, an integrated headphone amplifier, and a small display. For desk setups where the headphone should be directly connected to the streamer, the Ultra is the better choice. Those who connect the Wiim exclusively to external speakers get practically the same functionality with the Pro Plus for 80 Euro less.

Image source: Pexels / Malcolm Garret (px:14134123)