The connected amplifier is the centerpiece of a modern audio setup: it drives your passive or in-wall speakers while integrating streaming, multiroom and voice control. In Morocco, three models dominate the market: the Sonos Amp, the WiiM Amp and the WiiM Amp Ultra. At first glance, the 1-to-3 price ratio between WiiM and Sonos seems to settle the question. But do the technical differences justify this gap? Here is our complete analysis.
Comparison table
| Feature | Sonos Amp | WiiM Amp | WiiM Amp Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Living price | 8,399 MAD | 2,490 MAD | 2,999 MAD |
| Power | 2 × 125W (8Ω) | 2 × 60W (8Ω) | 2 × 120W (4Ω) |
| HDMI | HDMI ARC | No | HDMI ARC |
| Display | No | No | Colour touchscreen |
| DAC | Yes (integrated) | ESS ES9018K2M | ESS ES9038Q2M |
| AirPlay 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chromecast | No | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No (Wi-Fi only) | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.3 aptX HD |
| Ethernet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto calibration | Trueplay (iPhone) | No | Yes (integrated) |
| Native multiroom | Sonos (proprietary) | WiiM Home | WiiM Home |
| Sub out | Yes (RCA) | No | Yes (RCA) |
| 12V trigger | No | No | No |
| Dimensions | 217 × 217 × 64 mm | 195 × 160 × 56 mm | 252 × 178 × 66 mm |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
Power: what drives what?
Amplifier power must match the speakers. Here are practical guidelines:
- 6" in-wall speakers (Elipson IC6, IW6) — Sensitivity ~88 dB, 8Ω impedance. The WiiM Amp (60W) is enough for a room up to 20 m² at conversational volume. The Sonos Amp (125W) offers dynamic headroom for larger rooms or high-volume listening.
- 8" in-wall speakers (Elipson IC8, IW8, INF 8) — Sensitivity ~89-90 dB, 8Ω. The WiiM Amp Ultra (120W at 4Ω, ~80W at 8Ω) or Sonos Amp (125W) are recommended.
- Outdoor speakers (Elipson Rain 6/8) — 8Ω impedance, outdoor use where sound dissipates. The Sonos Amp is preferable for its power reserve.
- Hi-Fi floorstanders (Elipson Facet 14F) — Sensitivity ~91 dB, 8Ω. All three amps work, but the Sonos Amp or WiiM Amp Ultra are recommended to fully exploit dynamics.
Rule of thumb: If the speaker has sensitivity ≥ 89 dB and the room is < 25 m², the WiiM Amp (60W) is enough. For everything else, aim for the WiiM Amp Ultra or Sonos Amp.
Impedance: a common mistake to avoid
Impedance (in ohms, Ω) is the electrical resistance of the speaker. The lower it is, the more current the speaker draws from the amp.
- The Sonos Amp supports 8Ω and 4Ω. You can connect two pairs of 8Ω speakers in parallel (= 4Ω total) — practical for two zones with a single amp.
- The WiiM Amp is specified for 4-8Ω. Two pairs in parallel (4Ω) work but at the limit of its capacity — not recommended at high volume.
- The WiiM Amp Ultra supports 4-8Ω comfortably thanks to its higher power.
Never connect speakers whose total impedance drops below 4Ω. That's the surest way to blow an amp. When in doubt, one amp per speaker pair is the safest solution.
Streaming and sources: WiiM advantage
On paper, WiiM offers more connectivity:
- Chromecast built-in — Android users are not left out (absent on Sonos).
- Bluetooth — Handy for guests without Wi-Fi. The WiiM Amp Ultra supports aptX HD for near-lossless Bluetooth quality.
- DLNA / UPnP — For audiophiles using a musical NAS server.
Sonos responds with its proprietary ecosystem: the Sonos app aggregates 100+ streaming services in a unified interface. Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Qobuz, Amazon Music, Tidal — all controlled from a single app. The user experience is smoother than the WiiM Home app, which is improving quickly but remains a step behind in polish.
Both support Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2: the two most used protocols in Morocco.
Use cases: which amp for which situation?
Scenario 1: Sound a living room with TV
You want to connect the amp to your TV and play both TV sound and streaming music.
Recommendation: Sonos Amp or WiiM Amp Ultra. Both have HDMI ARC. The WiiM Amp (no HDMI) is not suitable for this use.
Scenario 2: In-wall speakers in a bedroom
Background music use, moderate volume, 15 m² room.
Recommendation: WiiM Amp. Its 60W is more than enough, and at 2,490 MAD it frees budget for speakers. Our budget in-wall pack WiiM + Elipson is designed for this exact case.
Scenario 3: Terrace with outdoor speakers
Outdoors, sound dissipates and you turn up the volume. Musical peaks demand power reserve.
Recommendation: Sonos Amp. Its 125W/channel won't clip even at high volume with Elipson Rain 8.
Scenario 4: Multiroom 3+ zones, controlled budget
3 rooms to sound, limited budget.
Recommendation: 3 × WiiM Amp = 7,470 MAD, vs 3 × Sonos Amp = 25,197 MAD. AirPlay 2 grouping ensures inter-zone sync. Our living room budget pack WiiM + Elipson is an excellent starting point.
Scenario 5: Demanding Hi-Fi installation
You're an audiophile, you want quality DAC and faithful reproduction.
Recommendation: WiiM Amp Ultra. Its ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M DAC is superior to the Sonos Amp and WiiM Amp. Integrated acoustic calibration and touchscreen add to ease of use. Alternatively, the Elipson Ampli Connect 250 (2,890 MAD, 2×50W) offers a "French" sound designed for Elipson speakers.
Acoustic calibration: Trueplay vs WiiM Room Correction
Calibration adapts the amp's response to your room's acoustics — that's what makes the difference between "correct" and "magical" sound:
- Sonos Trueplay — Requires an iPhone (the iPhone mic measures the room). You walk around the room for 45 seconds waving the phone. The result is often impressive, especially in difficult rooms (large bay windows, tiling).
- WiiM Amp Ultra Room Correction — Uses the built-in mic. Calibration is automatic and doesn't require an iPhone. Less precise than Trueplay in our tests, but a major advantage for Android users.
- WiiM Amp (standard) — No automatic calibration. You can adjust the equalizer manually in the WiiM Home app.
Bi-amplification: for advanced installations
Bi-amplification means using two amps for a single speaker pair: one for bass/midrange, one for treble. This is only relevant for speakers with bi-wiring terminals (Elipson Prestige Facet 8B, 14F).
In practice, for the vast majority of installations in Morocco, one amp per speaker pair is enough. Bi-amplification is reserved for audiophiles with a dedicated listening room.
What about the Elipson Ampli Connect 250?
The Elipson Ampli Connect 250 (2,890 MAD) is an interesting outsider: French-designed connected Hi-Fi amp, 2×50W, Wi-Fi + Bluetooth. It doesn't offer native multiroom as rich as Sonos or WiiM, but its advantage is synergy with Elipson speakers (factory-optimised tonal balance). It's the "purist" choice for a single zone with Elipson speakers.
Our Smart Living verdict
| Profile | Our recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Controlled budget, no TV | WiiM Amp | 2,490 MAD, enough for 80% of bedroom/office installations |
| Controlled budget, with TV | WiiM Amp Ultra | 2,999 MAD, HDMI ARC + superior DAC + calibration |
| Premium, integrated ecosystem | Sonos Amp | 8,399 MAD, but Sonos ecosystem and Trueplay justify the price |
| Audiophile, single zone | Elipson Ampli Connect 250 | Optimised tonal balance with Elipson speakers |
| Multiroom 3+ zones budget | WiiM + Sonos mix | WiiM for secondary zones, Sonos for living room/terrace |
Final tip: Don't focus solely on the amp. It's the amp + speaker combination that determines the sound. A WiiM Amp at 2,490 MAD paired with Elipson IC8 at 2,990 MAD (total: 5,480 MAD) will sound better than a Sonos Amp alone without suitable speakers. Invest at least 40% of your budget in speakers.
Need help choosing? Our Smart Living team runs comparative listening sessions in our showroom and travels for tailored advice in Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech.
