WiiM Ultra
WiiM Ultra 3.5" full-color touchscreen

WiiM Ultra

Part Number: WIIMULTRA
Your Price:$459.00
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WiiM Ultra (Space Gray)

High-res streaming, lots of connections, and a full-color touchscreen

WiiM asked their customers, their customers responded, and WiiM listened: they've incorporated a full-color touchscreen, an HDMI ARC input, room correction, and more into their new flagship streamer, the Ultra. It lets you add high-res streaming to pretty much any sound system using WiiM's powerful, user-friendly app. Whether you control it from the front panel or your smartphone, great sound is always at your fingertips.

High-res streaming with full-color touchscreen control.

This streamer's high-performance ESS SABRE™ DAC circuitry delivers rich, detailed sound that rivals streamers costing several times more, so you can get the best out of music services like Qobuz, TIDAL, Spotify, and more.

The Ultra does not have AirPlay 2 like previous WiiM devices. I'm an Apple user, but for me the lack of AirPlay support isn't a big deal. The sound quality and response time are noticeably better when you stream using the WiiM Home app.

This streamer can also be part of a multi-room music system that allows you to add digital and analog sources with ease - even a turntable - thanks to its analog-to-digital (ADC) chip. And it all fits into a sleek, compact aluminum chassis that you can place almost anywhere.

User-friendly streaming options

The Ultra connects to your home network using Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and it's super-easy to set up using the free WiiM Home app for Apple® and Android™ devices. You can access and manage a bunch of music services - including high-res music files stored on an external storage drive connected to the USB input - from within the app. You can also control music across multiple WiiM players in different rooms (additional players sold separately). A sync audio option in the WiiM app uses a built-in mic on the Ultra to get rid of any playback latency between grouped devices.

Plenty of users will take advantage of its Google Cast and Alexa support - both for single-zone and multi-room streaming. It also works with Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect, which give you access to the Ultra natively from within those apps.

Two-way Bluetooth lets you stream wirelessly from your compatible smartphone, tablet, computer, or other device using that familiar and popular platform to play music through whatever sound system your Ultra is connected to. You can also stream from the Ultra to your favorite Bluetooth headphones or speaker.

Hands-on with WiiM's flagship streamer

I'm glad to report that the WiiM Ultra retains all of the user-friendliness I've found across the company's range. Setup was a glitch-free experience that took about five minutes, most of which was waiting for the firmware to automatically update.

Getting connected

I tested the Ultra's premium onboard DAC by hooking up the analog RCA output to an NAD C700 driving ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 stand-mount speakers. I also connected my Pro-Ject X2 turntable to the Ultra's phono input. There's an included screw-lock ground pin that plugs into a corresponding rear-panel socket.

Vinyl and streaming

I had Elton John's Honky Chateau on the platter, so I cued the digital version of that album up in the WiiM app and did some comparative listening. But before doing so, I ran the Ultra's room correction, which I found in the app's audio settings.

Test-driving WiiM's room correction

As WiiM recommends, I positioned my iPhone's mic toward the speakers at ear level from my listening position. A quick tone-sweep played, and the app took a moment to produce a corrected set of EQ curves. Toggling between the corrected and flat EQ settings in the app lets you easily hear the difference. It definitely added bass. More bass than I had previously heard out of the ELACs - possibly too much bass.

Pro tip: WiiM's website has tips for getting the best results. Among other things, they recommend removing your iPhone's case before running room correction. Doing it that way definitely produced more balanced results for me - I preferred listening to the corrected EQ over the flat.

Listening impressions

The John/Taupin-penned “Amy” has an uncluttered, funky arrangement that features electric violin and congas along with the core piano-bass-guitar-drum group. The Ultra presented the infectious track in super-sharp detail. I must've listened to it a dozen times - and still wanted more.

And the vinyl version playing through the Ultra's phono input also got the benefit of room correction. That's a big checkmark in the “buy me” column of this already value-packed little unit, even if the streaming version of "Amy" sounds a hair fuller and clearer.

Connect a turntable, TV, powered subwoofer, and more

You can connect to your receiver, amp, or powered speakers using the analog stereo RCA output to take advantage of the Ultra's DAC. Or use a digital output to connect to your favorite outboard DAC.

A dedicated phono input lets you connect a turntable with a moving magnet or moving coil cartridge. You can also connect another analog source to its stereo RCA input, or a digital audio source like a CD player to the optical digital input. Connect your TV to the HDMI ARC port for soundtrack audio. You can then stream any connected sources to other compatible multi-room speakers or WiiM components in your system.

A front-panel headphone jack powered by a built-in amplifier lets you listen discreetly on your favorite high-performance wired 'phones. And the Ultra also has an output for a powered subwoofer (sold separately) with handy in-app bass management.

Product highlights:

  • Featured in our article: Best network music players for 2024
  • high-performance ES9038 Q2M SABRE DAC with up to 32-bit/384kHz decoding
  • 3.5" full-color touchscreen
  • built-in room correction creates customized output for your speakers
  • control with free WiiM Home app for Apple and Android devices
    • play music from Qobuz, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Deezer, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and more
    • control and group with other WiiM devices (sold separately) on your network
  • supports Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect for streaming from within those apps
  • supports Google Cast
  • does not support Apple AirPlay/AirPlay 2
  • two-way Bluetooth can wirelessly receive audio from compatible devices and send audio to compatible headphones and speakers
  • works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant-compatible devices (sold separately)
  • works as a Roon player (requires subscription and Roon Core running on your network)
    • Roon Core is media server software that runs on your computer, NAS drive, or other compatible hardware
  • built-in tri-band Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
  • turn front panel knob to control volume, press to start or pause playback
  • rear-panel mic for ensuring multi-room synchronization
  • front-panel headphone jack with separate headphone amplifier built-in
  • remote control included
    • volume and playback control
    • four presets - one touch starts your favorite playlists
    • built-in mic accepts Alexa voice commands
Connections:
  • analog stereo RCA output for connecting to an amplifier, receiver, preamp, or powered speakers
  • coaxial and optical digital outputs for connecting to an outboard DAC or an amplifier or preamplifier with digital inputs
    • supports resolutions up to 24-bit/192kHz via coaxial
  • line-level analog stereo RCA input
  • analog stereo RCA phono input for a turntable with moving magnet or moving coil cartridge
  • HDMI ARC input for connecting a TV
    • supports 2-channel PCM only up to 24-bit/192kHz
  • optical digital input for connecting sources to play through the WiiM
    • supports resolutions up to 24-bit/192kHz via optical
  • USB Type-A input/output port
    • input for connecting an external drive loaded with music (requires future firmware update)
    • output to external DAC
  • mono RCA output for connecting a powered subwoofer
  • Ethernet port for a wired connection to your home network
  • 2.5mm 12V trigger output
  • detachable power cord
Dimensions and warranty:
  • 8"W x 2-7/8"H x 9-13/16"D
  • weight: 2.9 lbs.
  • warranty: 1 year
  • MFR # ASR004G_4
  • Item # 399WMULTRA

What's in the box:

WiiM Ultra owner's manual

  • Wireless audio streamer
  • 5' AC power cord
  • Remote control
  • 4' HDMI cable
  • 4' Stereo RCA cable
  • 4' Optical digital cable
  • Phono ground adapter
  • User Quick Guide

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