Having much experience in high-end audio, I’ve encountered everything from jaw-droppingly expensive components to hidden gems in the budget realm. The journey to find a balanced setup—something that delivers exceptional performance without an exotic price tag—has been my lifelong pursuit. Enter the WiiM Ultra, a product that not only redefines the concept of “value” in HiFi but also challenges preconceived notions of what affordable audio gear can achieve.
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At just $329, the WiiM Ultra is a streamer, DAC, and preamp bundled into one sleek, aluminum-clad package. In a world where high-end audio often carries a price tag equivalent to luxury cars, this little device delivers a shockingly high level of performance, rivaling systems costing tens of thousands of dollars.
A Closer Look at the WiiM Ultra
The manufacturer positions the WiiM Ultra as the central digital hub of your audio system. Equipped with audiophile-grade components, a rich switching arsenal, and a bright 3.5-inch full-color touch screen. WiiM allows you to listen to high-quality music from external sources, from a smartphone, NAS server, and streaming services such as Qobuz, Tidal, Napster, Deezer, Spotify, and TuneIn using a special application or AirPlay2, Chromecast Audio, Bluetooth, and LinkPlay.
One of the most remarkable features of the WiiM Ultra is its ability to seamlessly connect to a wide range of devices. From turntables to TVs, headphones, and smart speakers, the WiiM Ultra offers a complete and versatile audio solution. With advanced high-resolution audio capabilities, users can enjoy their favorite music, podcasts, and audiobooks with exceptional clarity, detail, and depth, no matter the source. Built-in room correction takes precise acoustic measurements of your room, creating customized speaker and subwoofer adjustments.
The WiiM Ultra’s connectivity includes a Phono input with a ground connector, HDMI ARC port, a 3.5 mm mini-jack on the front panel for connecting headphones, optical input/output, analog line input/output, digital coaxial output, subwoofer output, and a USB-A port for playing media files from flash drives. A Wi-Fi adapter and an RJ45 Ethernet port are provided for integration into a home computer network. There is also a 12-volt trigger for controlling, for example, an amplifier.
History of Wiim Ultra
Origins and Development
WiiM is driven by a passion for music and the belief that everyone deserves high-fidelity sound without breaking the bank. Founded by a team of audio enthusiasts with extensive expertise in streaming audio software and hardware, They collaborated with top brands like Harman, JBL, Yamaha, and Marshall to launch millions of smart audio devices worldwide. With WiiM, their mission is simple: make exceptional sound quality accessible to all.
Key Milestones
- Early Prototypes (2013-2015): Initial prototypes feature improved motion sensors and primary VR capabilities.
- Beta Testing (2016-2017): Extensive beta testing involved gamers and developers to refine the hardware and software.
- Official Announcement (2018): Nintendo announced the Wiim Ultra, creating a lot of excitement among gamers.
- Launch (2020): The Wiim Ultra was released and got lots of praise for its new features.
Elevating Your Audio Experience
The Wiim Ultra is more than just an audio device; it is a well-designed piece that is designed to give users an amazing sound experience. In the presence of bright 3.5″ color touchscreen and physical volume knobs, it is easy to use for anyone and can’t need to be an expert for using this. What makes Wiim Ultra special is its variety of inputs and outputs and delivering high-quality sound.
Seamless Connectivity, Boundless Versatility
You don’t worry about connectivity because one of the most advanced features is that it is easy to connect with many other devices, like turntables, TVs, headphones, and smart speakers. Wiim Ultra provides a flexible sound quality. this means users can enjoy music, podcasts, and audiobooks with great clarity and detail, no matter where the sound coming from.
Features of Wiim Ultra
Advanced Motion Sensing: The Wiim Ultra also improved its motion sensing with its advanced gyroscopic sensors and accelerometers. These sensor tracks the movements accurately and make gameplay more immersive and amazing. The controller of Wiim Ultra called UltraMotes, captures even the smallest gestures for a smooth gaming experience.
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Virtual Reality Integration: With many advanced features one of the best features of Wiim Ultra is its built-in VR capabilities. The Ultra VR headset provides high-definition visuals and a wide field of view, creating an immersive virtual environment. This lets players step into their games and experience them from a first-person perspective.
High-Definition Graphics: The Wiim Ultra has a powerful graphic engine that provides games in 4k resolution. This engine improves the gaming experience with detailed textures, vibrant colors,s, and realistic lighting. The console’s GPS is built to handle modern games, by ensuring smooth performance even in the demanding scenes.
Seamless Connectivity: Connectivity is vital in modern gaming and Wiim Ultra stands out in this area. For stable online gaming, it includes WiFi 6, Bluetooth for connecting accessories, and HDMI 2.1 for high-speed video outputs. Cloud gaming is also supported by consoles, so players can stream games easily without the need for physical copies.
Extensive Game Library: The Wiim Ultra is compatible with a huge library of games, including classics from the old Nintendo consoles and new titles made just for this platform. This wide selection ensures that there’s something for everyone, from casual players to hardcore gamers.
Wiim Ultra user manual:
You can get the Wimm Ultra user manual here
Wiim Ultra Specifications:
Touch Display
Glass-covered 3.5″ vibrant touchscreen display:
Displays App widgets, large album pictures, playback control, playing queue, presets, EQ, audio input and output, and device settings Guides users through the OOBE and OTA
Provides feedback when there’s a change in the play mode
Controls
Volume knob, play/pause, set up, and more
LED
4 Color RGBW LED indicates the device status
Audio Input
HDMI ARC, Optical, Line, and Phono (including MM, MC), up to 24-bit/ 192 kHz
Audio Output
RCA, Headphone, Coax, Optical, and USB, up to 192 kHz/ 24-bit
Wireless to another BT, DLNA receiver
Performance
Line out：
Maximum output: 2.1V RMS
SNR: 121 dB (A-wt)
THD+N (1 kHz): 0.00018% (-115 dB) for 44.1k to 192k
FR curve:+/-0.05 dB
Headphone out：
300 ohms: SNR (119 dB), THD+N (-99 dB)
32 ohms: SNR (119 dB), THD+N (-92 dB)
EQ
24 preset EQ settings, 10-band Graphics EQ, 10-band parametric EQ
Subwoofer Output
Comprehensive bass management
Adjustable crossover frequency, level, phase, and latency.
Power Supply
100-240V AC input, 50/60 Hz, 0.5A Max
Network
Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11 b/g/n/ax 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz triple bands.
10M/100 Mbps LAN
External Storage
Access personal media library and use it as a media server for other WiiM and DLNA devices,
Support FAT32, NTFS, and EXT4 file systems.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3 with BLE and BT LE Audio, supports both A2DP receiver and transmitter, AVRCP, and HID, and works with the WiiM voice remote.
Supported Streaming Protocol
Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Google Cast Audio (CastLite), Alexa built-in, DLNA, Squeezelite, Roon Ready
Performance: Punching Above Its Weight
I tested the WiiM Ultra in a setup that included $10k KEF Blade Two Meta speakers and $10k McIntosh MC611 mono amps—a system totaling $30k. Replacing my $15k reference streamer and preamp setup with the Ultra was a leap of faith, but I was blown away by what I heard.
Sound Quality
The Ultra produced a sound that was:
- Quiet: Remarkably low-noise floor, even with high-end amps and speakers.
- Rich and Musical: Slightly warm, with weighty bass and a natural midrange.
- Engaging: While not as detailed or holographic as my reference gear, it was incredibly enjoyable.
Tracks like Anna Leone’s “All That I Ever Did” showcased the Ultra’s ability to render vocals with solidity and emotional impact. Compared to my AGD Alto II DAC and preamp, the Ultra was slightly less open and detailed but made up for it with a more cohesive, analog-like sound.
Comparison to High-End Gear
While the Ultra didn’t dethrone my stack in resolution or separation, it wasn’t embarrassed by the comparison. It held its own, providing a musical experience that was just as enjoyable, albeit with a different flavor.
What Sets It Apart
The WiiM Ultra proves that diminishing returns are very real in audio. Spending more money might yield incremental improvements in detail and build quality, but the Ultra delivers 85% of the performance of reference-grade gear at a fraction of the cost.
Its value proposition is unmatched. Even compared to competitors like the Bluesound Node or Eversolo DMP A8, the Ultra offers a warmer, more musical presentation at a significantly lower price.
Conclusion:
The WiiM Ultra is not just an entry-level product; it’s a disruptor. It’s rare to find a budget piece of HiFi gear that integrates so seamlessly into high-end systems without compromising the experience. For those looking to explore high-fidelity sound without breaking the bank, the Ultra is the best product of 2024 hands down.
Whether you’re a seasoned audiophile or a newcomer, the WiiM Ultra proves that great sound doesn’t have to cost a fortune. For $329, this is a no-brainer.
Rating: 5/5
Pros: Exceptional value, musical sound, versatile features.
Cons: Slight lag with high-res streaming, build quality not on par with ultra-high-end gear.
If this is just the beginning for WiiM, the high-end audio world should take notice. The future of affordable HiFi is here.
