WiiM Amp Ultra review

Want a small, neatly styled streaming hi-fi system that won’t break the bank? The WiiM Amp Ultra could well be the answer, given its competitive pricing, slick appearance and compact dimensions. Add some quality small speakers and this stylish streaming amplifier has the potential to be the ideal set-up for many.

WiiM has been throwing rocks into the affordable hi-fi pond for a few years now, and has been successful enough to make us, and the market as a whole, reconsider what can be achieved at lower price points.

The Amp Ultra on test here is the premium option in WiiM’s trio of streaming amplifier offerings, packing in a capable streaming module, sensible connectivity and surprisingly muscular 100-watts per channel output into that compact chassis.

While the Ultra is certainly the best performing of the three, the move to a higher price (the step-down Amp Pro costs £399 / $379 / AU$699) means that we also have to be more demanding as to what we expect from the product.

Build

Our first impressions are entirely positive. We can’t believe that WiiM has managed to produce such a sophisticated package for what is still a relatively low price. The Amp Ultra is a superbly finished unit that puts us in mind of Apple’s products, which is some compliment. It makes price rivals like the Bluesound Powernode Edge look pretty basic.

The Amp Ultra’s unibody aluminium casework is shared with WiiM’s excellent standalone Ultra streamer (£349 / $329 / AU$599) and is none the worse for that. There are two finish options, the Space Gray of our review sample, and Silver.

On the front, you will find a crisp and responsive 3.5-inch touchscreen display adjacent to a multi-functional rotary control that feels reassuringly positive in use. That rotary dial governs the volume level, play/pause and various set-up functions.

Of course, most people will just use the partnering WiiM Home app to control the unit, and by general standards, it is good. We have no complaints about its layout, stability or responsiveness, and we are up and running in minutes.

If you don’t want to use the app, there is always the rather nice metal remote. It is a simple design that is intuitive to use. This handset is rechargeable and puts the cheap plastic offerings served up by most of the industry to shame.

Features & connections

While WiiM doesn’t go to extremes when it comes to sonic adjustability, it still offers RoomFit room calibration, numerous EQ presets and a parametric equaliser. Our test rooms are acoustically treated and well behaved, so the RoomFit system, which makes use of your phone/tablet’s microphone, proves a bit of a mixed bag.

It improves certain aspects of the sound, such as tonal evenness and bass weight, but also robs the presentation of a little agility. However, we can still see it proving useful in less-than-perfect surroundings.

The WiiM Amp Ultra’s streaming section is as well-equipped as we’ve come to expect. It will access music files from across your home network and play internet radio. All the usual streaming services are present; you have Connect versions of Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz among the myriad of choices. Google Cast is included, but AirPlay isn’t. For users of Apple products, this could be a big miss.

There is also a USB Type A port on the back panel to access stored music, and if switched from the app, it will deliver a digital feed to drive an external DAC. Adding an external DAC to an all-in-one electronics package like this doesn’t make sense to us.

The highly rated ESS ES9039Q2M Sabre DAC chip sits at the heart of the WiiM’s digital module. The company claims file compatibility of up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM, but our sample also plays DSD files, albeit converting them to PCM in the process.

Two-way Bluetooth is on the menu, so you can use your phone or computer as a source or swap to another source and send the sound out to a pair of suitable headphones. Bluetooth pairing to our iPhone 14 Pro Max (running the latest iOS 26.2 software) or a pair of Mark Levinson No.5909 headphones is swift and seamless.

As for physical connectivity, there is an HDMI ARC to make integration into an AV system easier, an optical input, a single stereo RCA input and a subwoofer output. We would have liked another analogue input for those that have, say, both a CD player and a record player, though the latter will also need an outboard phonostage.

And there is no physical headphone output, which is a shame for those who own wired designs.

Design & compatibility

Given the unit’s price, compact dimensions and lack of external heatsinking, we’re impressed by the WiiM’s power output figures. The Class D power amplifier circuitry will deliver a claimed 100 watts per channel into an 8-ohm load and double that as impedance halves. That’s impressive, especially as the unit only gets warm rather than hot when pushed.

As a precaution, we still recommend that you leave plenty of space around it for ventilation purposes.

The WiiM’s Class D circuit uses ‘Post Filter Feedback Technology’ to overcome the speaker-dependent nature of the configuration. It seems to work, as the Amp Ultra’s presentation and tonal balance remain consistent as we swap between various speaker designs.

We try price-compatible choices like the Dali Kupid and Wharfedale Diamond 12.1, as well as pricier alternatives like the KEF LS50 Meta. For fun, we even connect our reference ATC SCM50 speakers with reasonable results. A Cyrus CDi CD player is pressed into service to test the WiiM Amp Ultra’s analogue and optical inputs.

Given its aggressive price, excellent build and slick usability, we’re feeling mighty good about this WiiM. Our positivity remains even after we start listening, though there are areas where we want more from the product.

Sound

The Amp Ultra has a clean and crisp presentation. There is a good amount of detail and, even given a complex piece of music like Orff’s Carmina Burana, the level of cohesion and organisation deserves praise.

The unit’s generous power output pays dividends when it comes to delivering the ferocious crescendoes of this Orff piece, with the WiiM sounding taut and controlled. There is little sense of harshness or stress at any reasonable volume level, and a good degree of separation between notes is maintained when the music becomes dense.

Tonally, it all sounds pretty even, and there is enough scope in the various equaliser functions to balance things if necessary, though doing that does affect overall transparency and articulation.

There is a fair sense of scale and authority, though the Amp Ultra does sound a touch lean and lacking in body, in absolute terms. Given its price, we are happy to overlook this.

It is harder to ignore the slightly restrained dynamic expression, though.

This streaming amp, like its cheaper siblings, isn’t great at communicating subtle shifts in intensity or conveying dynamic contrasts. The result is that the sound, while perfectly listenable, doesn’t convey the emotional impact of the music as it should.

It doesn’t help that rhythmic precision is also lacking, so that when we play recordings as varied as Get Lucky by Daft Punk or A.R. Rahman’s Chaiyya Chaiyya, there is an element of musical propulsion and engagement missing. The sound remains pleasant, crisp and decently refined, but we can’t help wanting a little more.

Still, the midrange is open and well projected, so voices come through with clarity, while the top-end balances bite and refinement well. Look further down the frequency range and you will find that bass notes punch hard.

The Amp Ultra’s unfussy nature is another plus point. Play a poor recording and the WiiM doesn’t make a meal of it, which is ideal for people who base their listening habits around music they like rather than prioritise recording quality.

Verdict

Regardless of its sonic shortcomings, we think that this WiiM has a strong place in the market. It is small, neatly styled and a pleasure to use. We still can’t figure out how the brand can make such a slick product for so much less than most of its rivals.

The Amp Ultra certainly sounds better than its cheaper siblings, and our complaints about dynamics and rhythmic drive don’t stop it from being a pleasant sonic companion. While this streaming amp isn’t for those who put sound quality first, it certainly has a place for those looking for a fuss-free audio solution.

Review published: 16th January 2026

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 5
• Features 4

MORE:

Read our review of the WiiM Amp Pro

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