WiiM Pro vs WiiM Pro Plus: Which One Should You Buy in India?

Key Differences at a Glance

• DAC: Pro uses TI PCM5121; Pro Plus steps up to the premium AKM AK4493SEQ
• Analog resolution: Pro Plus decodes to 768kHz/DSD512 vs the Pro's 384kHz
• Line-in ADC: Pro Plus adds an upgraded TI PCM1861 for better analog input
• Clocking and power: Pro Plus uses an ultra-low-noise clock and supply
• 12V trigger: only the Pro Plus can auto-wake a connected amplifier
• Bluetooth: Pro is 5.0, Pro Plus is 5.1 two-way
• Digital transport, streaming platform and app are identical on both

Full Specification Comparison

These are the current WiiM specifications. The streaming platform, digital outputs and app are shared; the Pro Plus's advantages are concentrated in the analog stage, the internal DAC, ADC, clocking and power, rather than in streaming features or digital transport.

Where They Differ in Real Use

The DAC Is the Whole Story

Everything meaningful about this comparison sits in the analog stage. The Pro's TI Burr-Brown PCM5121 is a genuinely good converter, but the Pro Plus's AKM AK4493SEQ is a class above: Velvet Sound technology, a 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio, and decoding all the way to 768kHz PCM and DSD512. WiiM pairs it with a dedicated op-amp, an ultra-low-noise clock, a cleaner power supply and a revised PCB layout. In practice that means lower noise, tighter attack and better layer separation from the RCA outputs. If your system relies on the streamer's own conversion, this is a real, audible step up, not a spec-sheet flourish.

Analog Input and Build

The Pro Plus also upgrades the line-in path with a TI Burr-Brown PCM1861 ADC, so digitising a turntable (with a phono stage) or another analog source and streaming it to other WiiM units sounds cleaner than on the Pro. Both units share the same compact chassis and the same RCA, optical and coaxial connectivity, but the Pro Plus adds a 12V trigger output that can automatically wake and sleep a connected amplifier, a genuinely useful convenience in a fixed Hi-Fi rack, and moves to Bluetooth 5.1.

Connectivity and Control

On streaming and networking the two are deliberately identical. Both are certified Roon Ready, both carry Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect and DLNA, and both run the same WiiM Home app with its full parametric EQ and room correction. Both stream bit-perfect to 24-bit/192kHz and hand off an identical bit-perfect signal over optical or coaxial. If you already own an external DAC you love, there is no transport advantage to the Pro Plus whatsoever.

Value for Money

This is the crux. Used as a pure transport into an outboard DAC, the Pro and Pro Plus are the same device, so the more affordable Pro is the obvious value choice. Used as an all-in-one with its internal DAC feeding an amplifier or active speakers, the Pro Plus is worth its premium, WiiM positions its analog output as comparable to a Pro paired with a capable external DAC, which is a strong argument for buyers who would rather not add a separate box. Decide based on whether an external DAC is in your system today or in your plans. Check the table above for current pricing.

Which One Should You Buy?

For listeners who use an external DAC, or intend to, the WiiM Pro is the smarter spend because it is an identical bit-perfect transport for less. For anyone running the streamer straight into an amplifier or powered speakers, the WiiM Pro Plus is the better all-in-one thanks to its premium AKM DAC, upgraded ADC and cleaner analog design.

Choose the WiiM Pro if:

• You feed an external DAC over optical or coaxial
• You want a bit-perfect Roon Ready transport for less
• You do not need a 12V trigger or the upgraded analog stage
• Your priority is streaming flexibility, not internal conversion

Choose the WiiM Pro Plus if:

• You run RCA analog out into an amplifier or active speakers
• You want the premium AKM AK4493SEQ DAC and its lower noise
• You digitise a turntable or analog source and value the better ADC
• A 12V trigger and the bundled voice remote suit your rack

FAQ

What is the main difference between the WiiM Pro and WiiM Pro Plus?

The DAC. The WiiM Pro uses a TI Burr-Brown PCM5121, while the WiiM Pro Plus uses the premium AKM AK4493SEQ with a 120 dB SNR, plus an upgraded ADC, cleaner clocking and power, a 12V trigger and Bluetooth 5.1. The streaming platform, app and digital outputs are identical.

Is the WiiM Pro Plus worth it over the WiiM Pro?

If you use the streamer's internal DAC into an amplifier or powered speakers, yes, the Pro Plus offers noticeably better analog audio. If you use an external DAC over optical or coaxial, the two are identical transports and the more affordable Pro makes more sense.

Do both the WiiM Pro and Pro Plus support Roon?

Yes. Both are certified Roon Ready, and both also support AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, DLNA and multi-room audio through the WiiM Home app.

Does the WiiM Pro Plus stream at a higher resolution than the WiiM Pro?

Over the network both stream bit-perfect up to 24-bit/192kHz, and both output bit-perfect digital at that resolution. The Pro Plus's higher 768kHz/DSD512 figure applies to its internal analog DAC stage, which benefits listeners using its RCA outputs rather than an external DAC.

Can either streamer trigger my amplifier on and off?

Only the WiiM Pro Plus has a 12V trigger output, which can automatically wake and sleep a connected amplifier. The WiiM Pro does not include a trigger.