Bashing the Marantz M1 like these guys are doing here is all very well, but they are missing the point of the M1 - it's aimed at those who have higher quality speakers (even with a challenging impedance fluctuations) and listen to high quality music sources. Many audio enthusiasts prefer not to have their source feed polluted by EQ and LFE processing. If you have the right pair of speakers, there's no need to tinker with EQs. Even bass and treble is an unnecessary inclusion for people who know how to position their speakers precisely. HEOS isn't everyone's idea of the perfect streaming system, but there isn't one which is. Anyone who wants their idea of the perfect streamer can buy one and use it with the M1. Marantz M1 strikes me as being aimed at those who want a high quality compact integrated amplifier which retains more of the signal purity. The Wiim Amp seems more like a Wiim streamer with a whatever 2 channel amp bundled-in. An amp which can drive challenging speaker loads without losing it's sonic dignity is not found in a box retailing at $300.
100% agree. Plus, M1 has already been compared by other reviewers like Darko. It is a big step up over WiiM amp. The real comparison should be a WiiM pro plus a separate amp/preamp - for $1k does the M1 compete? My understanding is that it is pretty decent if you compare it to other options costing $1k, including a WiiM pro plus a separate amp. I personally would go WiiM pro plus separates instead of the M1, but to each their own.
You used the word "seems" to describe the Wiim. I respect people who try products 1st then criticise after trying, not people who make assumptions based upon their not trying things first.
I have HEOS and WiiM and HEOS works just as well as WiiM for me, especially since the recent HEOS app upgrade. I have BluOS too, but prefer both HEOS and WiiM. I have little use for Google Cast, but would like it to be added to HEOS for the rare occasion it might be useful. I'd also like better Bluetooth CODECs added to both HEOS and WiiM, as are supported by BlueOS. However, where WiiM leaps ahead, is in such features as multiband G/PEQ and room correction, and a very active and responsive software development team.
We've used the HEOS amp as a multizone solution for years, we've never had a problem. This M1 is a high end version of the HEOS amp (Denon). Luxury multizone is what they are targeting... main competitor is the Sonos Amp...
This video is urtterly unfair, biased , misleading and unprofessional, shame on you attacking the m1 without even properly reviewing it especially when it is obvious that the two products are not directly comparable in more than one aspect
I find it funny how negative some people are in regards to the wiim amp, not so far in the past the dac chip used was in flagship devices. Streaming hasn't come that far and the wiim is capable of actually sounding great.
I'd go for the Stereo 70s. It's a warm class A/B amplifier that is really good for music. I have the Cinema 70s which is the 7.1 version. You'd have a harder choice choosing a pair of stand-mounted speakers. But go for the Marantz!
Sound quality wise, the M1 is a step above the WiiM, but for the price, I could get a WiiM pro, decent amp, and Dac. For a little more, add in a preamp with bass management. The M1 is great for someone wanting a good sounding setup for a reasonable price. The WiiM amp is Ok sounding but not on the same level. WiiM is more about streaming and plugging into a separates setup. I’m not sold on the cheap class D analytical sound from the WiiM amp, and there are too many good speakers out there it can’t drive well. I hope someday WiiM builds a unit with a better class D amp, but it will probably be awhile before they move off of the cheap ones they are currently using.
HDAM is just Marantz's term for a discrete implementation of an IC chip. M1 also has low pass and high pass for bass management. If you are mainly concerned about streaming then WiiM is teh way. If you car about sound get Marantz.
The wiim ultra is out next month and the wiim amp Pro is coming shortly for £369 with big chip upgrades, and that's going to be the real bargain I've got the wiim pro plus and it's just so easy to use and incredibly good value
Heos might have had a face lift but it’s still hard work - when I wanna play and skip to another track I just get options pop up all I wanna do is play the next track
DELAYs! Thank you Joe... for the M1 does NOT have a Delay parameter..., which is a show-stopper! WiiM Ultra used as a Preamp with 10 band Parametric EQ + proper Delays + kickass external amp! -OR- use the Digital out to your DAC or AVR or Preamp Processor (...which can now be a bit out-dated and NOT have decent / any EQ). The WiiM Ultra (IMO) changes the game people!!! ...and IF the new WiiM Amp Pro has addressed the poor amplification stage of the original WiiM Amp, then it's Lights-out for the Marantz M1, as well as a slew of other affordable options (like anything < $2000 w/amplificaion and < $1000 w/o amplificaion).
Checkout other reviews. I don’t have a WiiM amp, but the consensus is that it sounds like a WiiM pro streamer plus a very cheap class D amp, so not great. M1 is supposedly much better from what few reviews are out there, but for its price, the competition is pretty fierce.
None of them as there is no headphone input for late night sessions but if the Marantz had the headphone input that’s the one I would buy. Also heos need some improvement like let me just skip to the next track with out a bunch of options popping up
Any one into music should always support the artist so anyone that uses Spotify is not - and why would anyone use Spotify when you can have better quality at a lower prices and those streaming services respect and pay more to the artists that give us the pleasure of music to use on our HiFi equipment. Nuff said
If this thing had a USB in you could use with a computer along with room correction, that would be sick. But as it stands, this is just a bluesound powernode clone.
Great now you can have an expensive Maranz crafted from a Japanese "Amp Master" (is that his title?). As for the Wiim I just updated the firmware and can confirm it has now 10 band PEQ. The room correction function (to be released "soon") is supposed to first only work on iPhones/iPads, using their in-built mic.
I have one of these and the room correction is really impressive. I run it with a pair of triangle borea br03 speakers and it's wonderful. My other system is an audiolab 9000a with bowers 705s2. Also I run a WiiM pro plus with my expensive system which also has room correction which is mind blowing. Hard to compete with WiiM as far as I'm concerned.
