I’ve finally found a digital streaming amp that will delight true audiophiles

wiim ultra music streamer

ZDNET Highlights

• The WiiM Amp Ultra is available on Amazon for $329.
• If your favorite way to listen to music is through streaming services, this is a great amp for you.
• To use a turntable, you will need a preamp.

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I won’t lie, I’m a music lover. Both in terms of the music I listen to and the devices I choose as delivery systems. I’ve spent more money than I can afford on audio equipment, all in the name of achieving that aural high.

When I get audio equipment (especially amps) to review, I have to temper my expectations. This is especially the case if the amp is primarily for streaming. My preferred music delivery is via vinyl, but that doesn’t mean I’m against streaming. I also actually stream a lot because it helps me discover new music.

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For most, streaming is limited to either their computer or phone, but what if I told you there is an amp that is designed specifically for streaming? Well, there is, and it’s quite good.

The amp in question is wiim amp ultraIt’s sleek, easy to use and delivers excellent sound even from streaming services. And if you choose to go with a service that offers high resolution streaming, that’s even better.

my experience

Upon unboxing the Amp Ultra, I won’t lie – I was disappointed to find that it didn’t include a preamp, which meant I wouldn’t be able to connect my turntable to it. Ultimately, that’s okay because vinyl enthusiasts are not the target market for this device. However, if your turntable includes a preamp, you can connect it directly to the Amp Ultra. I have a pair of preamps but they were lost in a move, so I have to test this baby without my beloved Rega P8.

With that in mind, I connected it to my KEF speakers and my System76 Thelio, then connected it (via the remote) to my network. Once this was done, I allowed the system to update and turned on Spotify.

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Note that you can also connect your streaming accounts directly to the amp itself, which works with almost all the major music streaming services, including Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Oobuz, Pandora, TuneIn, Soundcloud, and more. You can also choose to use an audio player on your PC and send that signal to the AMP Ultra – or even a CD player connected to your PC.

In other words, you have a lot of options.

After everything was connected, I fired up Spotify on my PC and gave the Amp Ultra a go, and I was impressed. Not only is the interface very well designed (making it easy to navigate the menu system which is often confusing on such devices), but it also offers some amazing sound.

First, there’s a tool that allows you to customize the sound to best match your listening room. I highly recommend you to go through this process as it will improve the sound quality significantly. Of course, to do this, you will have to download WiiM Mobile App (You had to know it was coming). Through this app you connect the amp to your network and run the RoomFit app to customize the amp’s sound to your room.

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On the Amp Ultra display, you’ll also find a few different EQ options. I cycled between them and found that each was unique. Instead of sticking to a single EQ, I decided to apply a different EQ to specific styles and it made a huge difference. Sure, having to constantly tweak through the EQ options is a pain (especially if you’re listening to a playlist that contains multiple genres), but in this case, it’s worth it.

The good news is that you can also create a custom EQ through the WiiM Home mobile app. Even better, the app’s EQ is 10-band, so you can fine-tune your curves. Play around with it and you’ll find that you can really get some great sounds out of it.

Keep in mind, if you’re working with streaming services, the goal is not to get audiophile-quality sound, but to get the best possible sound for the service, the room, and the speakers. In that sense, the WiiM Amp Ultra works great.

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I would go so far as to say that this is by far the best amp under $400 that I have used. You get a little bit of warmth (more than you’d think from an all-digital amp), ample headroom, a nice wide soundstage (which, of course, depends on your speakers), and zero distortion. One thing I really appreciate is that you get all this without cranking it up to 11. Even at low volumes, the WiiM Amp Ultra sounds great.

I think what most people will appreciate is that the WiiM Amp Ultra is really easy to set up and use. I’ve worked with similar types of amps that are difficult to get up and running and have complex menu systems that are difficult to understand (even for those of us who have been around a sound block a time or two). So, if you often have difficulty setting up technology, you should have no problems with this amp).

ZDNET’s shopping advice

At the end, wiim amp ultra Strikes a good balance between ease of use and amazing sound. If that sounds like something you’re looking for, and you stream most of your music, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option for $329.

Considering that the Amp Ultra takes up very little space, this thing is a winner all around.

WiiM Ultra Digital Preamp Specifications

• Amplification power – 100W per channel at 8Ω; 200W at 4Ω
• Speaker Compatibility – Plays up to four passive speakers
• CHASSIS MATERIAL – Unibody aluminum chassis
• Weight – 5.4 pounds (about 2.45 kg)
• Dimensions – 7.9″ x 2.9″ x 7.9″
• DAC – ESS ES9039Q2M Saber DAC
• Amplifier Chips – Dual TI TPA3255 Class-D
• Op-Amps – Six TI OPA1612
• Distortion – Ultra-Low Distortion
• HDMI ARC – Yes, with Dolby Digital decoding
• USB-A – direct connection to storage devices
• Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi 6E
• Bluetooth – Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio
• Streaming services – Supports Spotify, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Qobuz, and more via the WiiM Home app