The recent What Hi-Fi? streamer survey has left me wondering what’s supposed to be going on.
The (budget) WiiM review includes this assessment of sound quality …..
“the Pro Plus delivers a sound that’s clear, detailed and even quite dynamically adept. Feed it high-quality source files, and you’ll be rewarded with a big soundstage with instruments all relayed in an assured and confident manner. Voices in particular get the benefit of this quality, as the midrange is full of character, attitude and emotion. It’s not quite as muscular or as richly textured as its pricier alternatives, but there’s plenty of attack that keeps a song’s natural rhythm flowing.”
The (high-end) Linn Klimax DSM AV gets a much more effusive …..
“We certainly haven’t heard an alternative that betters the Linn’s detail resolution or dynamic expression.
Time and time again we hear new details in recordings that we have been using for years and know well. When we listen to an old favourite like Arvo Pärt’s Tabula Rasa we’re far more aware of the recording venue than ever before, thanks to the clarity with which the Linn resolves the low-level ambience information. Each instrument is placed securely in position within the soundstage and stays sharply focused no matter how demanding the music gets.
We’re astonished by just how convincing the instrumental textures are and the skilful way the Klimax renders subtle changes in dynamic intensity. The leading edge of each note is outlined with care, but the Linn follows through with rich, well-defined harmonics. There’s plenty of muscle when required, but the whole presentation is also infused with breathtaking subtlety too.”
As the WiiM streamer has exceptional distortion and noise, linearity, and dynamic range performance, as well as comprehensive EQ, I wonder what the Linn machine does that makes it worth $69,100 more than the WiiM. That’s more than 170 x.
https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/wiim-pro-plus-streamer-review.50254/
It’s obvious that Linn Products invest heavily in engineering, functions and facilities, materials and component quality, and presumably in branding advertising, and their profit margin is luxury, for sure. My focus here is on sound quality.
Music & Hi-fi Appreciations 