I love my speakers, in this case, a pair of KRK Rokit 5 active studio monitors. They sound fantastic, with silk dome tweeters, Kevlar woofers, powerful built-in amplifiers, LCD panels at the rear, and a companion app for fine-tuning. The only thing they lack is the convenience of modern streaming.
Now, I could simply buy a Bluetooth adapter, but that would mean a downgrade in sound quality. I realized that to keep the superior sound and have wireless functionality, I’d have to find another solution, and that’s when I stumbled upon the WiiM Pro. This little box could be the easiest way to give older speakers a whole new lease of life.
Give older speakers the features they were never designed to have
All it takes is this compact, audiophile-quality streaming device
Those of us with high-quality older speakers know that these don’t suddenly become obsolete like most tech. A decent stereo amplifier or pair of active speakers can sound every bit as good twenty years later as they did on the day you bought them. What has changed is how we listen to music.
Unlike many purists, I have embraced the streaming revolution, especially now that hi-res audio is available on most platforms (including Spotify, finally). I’ve tried Bluetooth adapters, but none of them supported hi-res codecs, had limited range, and, when streaming from my phone, experienced frequent interruptions.
The WiiM Pro is a small, affordable hi-res streaming box that solves those problems by adding modern wireless streaming to almost any amplifier or powered speakers you already own. Instead of replacing perfectly good equipment, you’re simply making it smarter.
Small enough not to notice it, powerful enough to transform older speakers
Easy setup and impressive flexibility add to the WiiM Pro’s appeal
Setting up the WiiM Pro is simple. Connect it to your speakers or amplifier using RCA, optical, or coaxial, join it to your Wi-Fi network, and within minutes, your old setup suddenly supports features normally reserved for premium wireless speakers. It supports a wide range of platforms, including Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, AirPlay 2, various streaming sticks, internet radio, Alexa, and DLNA, all in a single compact device.
However, unlike Bluetooth connections, music streams directly from the internet to the WiiM Pro; your phone simply acts as a remote. Not only does this remove the Bluetooth link from the signal chain, thereby improving sound quality, but it also lets you leave the room, answer a call, or switch apps without interrupting audio playback. It feels less like an accessory and more like a premium upgrade to my Rokit 5 speakers, allowing me to experience them in a whole new light.
Simpler alternatives may suit some people better
Bluetooth adapters and smart speakers still have their advantages
The WiiM Pro is a solution that works for me, but it’s not the only option. If you’re not a hi-fi fanatic and listen to music casually from time to time, a basic Bluetooth receiver remains a solid option. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and perfectly adequate for everyday listening.
Alternatively, smart speakers from Sonos, Bose, Google, or Amazon offer an excellent all-in-one experience. They’re quick to set up, often include voice assistants, and require very little effort to use. If I wanted portability and a smaller footprint, this would be the obvious solution, but in my case, I am already happy with my setup and don’t wish to replace my (rather expensive) KRK speakers that I already love.
The WiiM Pro takes a different approach; instead of replacing my equipment, it upgrades it.
Why I’d recommend the WiiM Pro instead
The best balance of convenience, sound quality, and value
The WiiM Pro strikes the perfect balance by providing better sound quality and functionality than a Bluetooth adapter, without having to replace (and likely downgrade) my entire speaker setup. It works with any amplifier, powered speakers, and even my trusty old Steinberg UR22 audio interface (although the WiiM Pro already has a built-in DAC), so I can keep using equipment that I know sounds fantastic, rather than roll the dice with new gear.
I also love the way the WiiM Pro looks on a bookshelf or desktop. It has a sleek design that blends well with pro audio gear and doesn’t take up too much space. Setup is simple via the companion app, which also calibrates the device to your specific room and provides access to all your favorite streaming platforms, so everything can be operated from a single location. All it takes is a few taps, and my old speakers behave exactly like a modern wireless streaming system.
My KRK Rokit 5s suddenly feel brand new again
To me, the best digital devices are those that blend so effortlessly with my lifestyle that I barely notice they are there. The WiiM Pro is one such device that will become part of your music playback experience and rarely be thought about until it receives a firmware update and upgrades its features.
The best part, of course, is that the WiiM Pro breathes new life into my speakers. These deserve to be enjoyed for decades and shouldn’t be replaced just because they lack wireless convenience. Sometimes the best upgrade shouldn’t mean ditching your faithful gear; you just need to make the things you already own smarter.
