Loewe multi.room amp

Loewe multi.room amp, multiroom stereo amplifier

Making an existing hi-fi system work with today’s streaming services without replacing its speakers: that is what this compact 2.2 kg box from Loewe offers. Made in Germany, it combines a stereo class D amplification stage capable of 1200 W of total musical power into 4 ohms, a complete network platform (DTS Play-Fi, AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Roon Tested), and connectivity suited to both residential and professional installations.

A square enclosure measuring 22 centimeters on each side

The square format of 21.7 x 7.9 x 21.7 cm and the modest weight of 2.2 kg allow several installation configurations. The enclosure fits on a shelf, on a wall thanks to its integrated mounting bracket, or in a 19-inch rack with a central locking screw. For multi-zone projects, two units can coexist side by side in the same standard rack.

The front panel remains understated. A 2.5-inch (6.5 cm) LED strip display combines a white LED and a color LED whose brightness can be adjusted, even to the point of disappearing into a bookshelf or remaining readable from several meters away. The black chassis follows the line of Loewe products, designed and manufactured in Kronach, Bavaria.

Class D stage up to 1200 watts of musical power

The power stage operates in class D, a switching technique that allows high efficiency in a compact size. Into an 8-ohm load, the amplifier delivers 300 watts RMS and 600 watts of musical power in stereo; into 4 ohms, these values double to reach 600 watts RMS and up to 1200 watts of musical power. The minimum supported impedance is 4 ohms, which covers the vast majority of passive speakers on the market, including high-end models that are demanding in current.

The electrical measurements announced by Loewe remain solid for this category: total harmonic distortion below 0.05% at 1 and 10 watts, a signal-to-noise ratio above 100 dB, 24-bit dynamic range, and a damping factor of the power stage above 50 dB. Frequency response covers 20 to 20,000 Hz at ± 1 dB. Protection circuits against overheating, overcurrent, overvoltage, and short circuit safeguard the electronics and the connected speakers.

Network platform and streaming services

Wired networking (two RJ45 ports for daisy-chain linking) and Wi-Fi 802.11ac provide access to the main streaming services. DTS Play-Fi serves as the main platform and synchronizes multiroom playback among several compatible devices. Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay, and Google Cast are supported directly, covering the majority of use cases from a smartphone or tablet.

Roon Tested certification will interest users already equipped with this ecosystem: the amplifier appears as a Roon zone with bit-perfect playback and signal path display. Bluetooth 5.0 (A2DP SNK and AVRCP protocols) remains available for occasional streaming, and Internet radio can be listened to via the DTS Play-Fi app. The whole system supports Hi-Res Audio and PCM, MP3, M4A, AAC, FLAC, WAV, and AIFF formats.

Daily control is handled through the my Loewe app for device configuration, and through DTS Play-Fi for zone and source management. Voice control relies on Alexa Skills, and software updates arrive via USB or the Internet.

HDMI inputs, USB, and analog connections

For local sources, the amplifier includes an HDMI socket compatible with CEC and ARC, an analog stereo Cinch input, and a USB 2.0 port. HDMI handles only PCM audio, without HDCP 2.2 or eARC; USB playback is limited to MP3 files. These two choices limit its use as a complete replacement for a modern AV receiver. Dolby and DTS decoding is not handled natively; it passes through a klang bar mr connected via wireless audiolink.

The speaker terminals accept standard wire or gold-plated banana plugs. The gold-plated Cinch pre-out connectors offer 2.0 and 2.1 configurations, with dedicated subwoofer gain, but not 5.1 or 3.1. The orientation therefore remains stereo, possibly supplemented by a subwoofer, without claiming to replace a conventional multichannel home theater preamplifier.

Wireless pairing with klang mr speakers

The amplifier integrates the second generation of Loewe Digital Audiolink, a proprietary wireless transmission protocol that links it to active speakers in the klang mr range. Loewe announces lossless and latency-free transmission, making it possible to consider a home theater system combining passive stereo front speakers (connected by wire to the multi.room amp) and wireless surround speakers from the klang mr range.

The compatible models cover several formats. The klang bar5 mr soundbar offers a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos configuration with 800 watts of musical power; the klang bar3 mr offers a 3.1 setup with 360 watts. For wireless active speakers, the catalog distinguishes the klang mr5 (180 W) and klang mr3 (150 W) for multichannel home theater or multiroom use, and the klang mr1 (30 W) for rear surrounds or secondary rooms.

Tools for integrators and professional installations

Several technical choices target integrators and professional installations. Mono mode makes it possible to power a single transducer in bridge mode at full power, which simplifies wiring in bars, restaurants, villas, or yacht installations. The two RJ45 ports allow daisy-chain linking to connect several amplifiers in cascade, without going through a dedicated switch, and 19-inch rack mounting with a central locking screw makes integration into technical racks easier.

Loewe also offers a tuning tool in the form of a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, available on request from technical support. It allows the amplifier settings to be adapted to the precise characteristics of the speakers used and to the room acoustics: two-way filtering with variable level and frequency, limiter, adjustable output power, custom setting. The generated file is exported in text format to the amplifier via a FAT32 USB drive. The logic remains manual and requires Microsoft Excel with macros enabled locally, which is far from modern graphical interfaces but offers great flexibility to installers who master the tool.

Technical specifications

Amplification

• Configuration: 2.0 (stereo)
• Two-way crossover: yes (variable level and frequency)
• Frequency response: 20 to 20,000 Hz at ± 1 dB
• Amplification type: class D (minimum speaker impedance 4 ohms)
• Power
  • At 8 ohms: 300 W sine wave and 600 W music
  • At 4 ohms: 600 W sine wave and 1200 W music
• Total harmonic distortion: less than 0.05% at 1 W and at 10 W
• Dynamics: 24 bits
• Signal-to-noise ratio: greater than 100 dB
• Damping factor of the power stage: greater than 50 dB
• Adjustable output power, limiter and custom tuning: yes
• Bass and treble adjustment: yes (by remote control)
• Loudness: no
• Balance and gain adjustment: yes (gain for subwoofer)
• Mono mixing function: yes
• Protection circuits: overheating, overcurrent, overvoltage, short circuit
• Dolby and DTS decoding: provided via a klang bar mr

System and control

• Display: white LED and color LED (adjustable intensity), in a light strip
• Display diagonal: 6.5 cm (2.5 inches)
• Applications: DTS Play-Fi, my Loewe app
• Voice control: Alexa Skills
• Software update: via USB and via Internet (DTS Play-Fi)

Media and reception

• USB music player: yes
• Bluetooth music player: yes
• Internet radio: yes (via the DTS Play-Fi application)
• DTS Play-Fi: yes
• Hi-Res Audio: yes
• Spotify Connect, Google Cast, Apple AirPlay: yes
• Roon Tested certification: yes
• Multiroom: yes
• Multichannel home cinema: yes (front and rear surround channels)

Connectivity and interfaces

• HDMI: 1 input (PCM audio only)
  • HDMI-CEC and ARC: yes
  • HDCP 2.2 and eARC: no
• USB: 1 USB 2.0 port (MP3 playback only)
• Bluetooth: yes
• Built-in Wi-Fi (WLAN): yes
• Wired network: 2 RJ45 ports (daisy chain)
• Wireless Loewe Digital Audiolink (second generation): yes
• Cinch pre-out for AV receiver
  • 2.1 and 2.0: available (gold-plated)
  • 5.1 and 3.1: not available
• Analog Cinch audio input and output (stereo): yes (gold-plated)
• Speaker terminals and banana plugs (stereo): yes (gold-plated)
• Integrated wall mounting: yes

Network and formats

• Wi-Fi standard: IEEE 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac
• Maximum Wi-Fi power
  • Less than 100 mW (2400-2485 MHz)
  • Less than 200 mW (5150-5250 MHz)
  • Less than 100 mW (5250-5350 MHz and 5470-5725 MHz)
  • Less than 25 mW (5725-5875 MHz, SRD)
• Wi-Fi encryption: WEP 64 and 128 bits (ASCII, HEX), WPA PSK, WPA2 AES, WPS
• Bluetooth standard: 5.0
• Maximum Bluetooth power: less than 10 mW
• Bluetooth frequency band: 2.4 GHz
• Bluetooth protocols: A2DP SNK, AVRCP
• Supported audio formats: PCM, MP3, M4A, AAC, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, Hi-Res Audio
• Video formats: none

Power and environment

• Power supply voltage: 220-240 V, 50 / 60 Hz
• Eco standby consumption: 0.5 W
• Consumption in multiroom standby mode (sleep): 5 W
• Ambient operating temperature: 5 to 40 °C
• Relative humidity (non-condensing): 20 to 90%

Dimensions and weight

• Width x height x depth: 21.7 x 7.9 x 21.7 cm
• Weight: approximately 2.2 kg

Professional installation

• Mono mode and robust terminals for B2B installations: bars, restaurants, villas, yachts
• Loop-through LAN connection (daisy chain) for stable installations
• Rack mounting possible in a 19-inch rack with central locking screw
  • Possibility to install two multi.room amp side by side in a 19-inch rack
• Tuning tool based on Microsoft Excel
  • Available from Loewe technical support
  • Makes it possible to adapt the amplifier to the speakers and the room acoustics
  • Export of the .txt settings file to the device via FAT32 USB drive

Box contents

• Loewe remote mr remote control (2 CR2032 batteries included)
• Power cord
• HDMI cable
• User manual
• Quick start guide

Recommended optional accessories

• klang bar5 mr, klang bar3 mr, klang mr5, klang mr3, klang mr1