WiiM Amp Ultra space grey

The WiiM Amp Ultra marks the brand’s entry into the premium segment of all-in-one connected amplifiers. The result of LinkPlay Technology’s expertise—renowned for its audio streaming modules widely adopted across the industry—this device packs into a compact 20 cm square format a power output of 200 watts at 4 ohms, a latest-generation ESS Sabre audiophile DAC, and a color touchscreen—a first in this price range.

Design and Build: Aluminum Serving Elegance

The WiiM Amp Ultra abandons the polymer of its predecessors in favor of a unibody chassis made from a single piece of brushed aluminum, machined much like a Mac Mini, with which it shares roughly the same dimensions. This monoblock construction eliminates any visible assembly marks and gives the device exemplary rigidity, reducing unwanted vibrations. The subtly rounded corners and the space gray or silver anodized finish reflect a meticulous attention to detail.

The front panel features the Ultra model’s signature element: an 8.9 cm capacitive touchscreen covered with tempered glass. This high-resolution color display not only shows album covers and playback information but also provides direct access to equalizer settings, queue navigation, and even customizable analog VU meters. The infinitely rotating volume knob, positioned to the right of the screen, offers precise level control with immediate visual feedback on the display.

The integration of optimized heat sinks allows for fanless operation, ensuring total silence even during extended high-power listening sessions. The weight of 2.45 kg, substantial for these dimensions, attests to the quality of the internal components and the robustness of the build.

Technical Architecture and Audiophile Innovations

At the heart of the WiiM Amp Ultra lies an architecture carefully designed to deliver audiophile performance. The digital signal is processed by an ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M converter operating at 32 bits up to 384 kHz, renowned for its transparency and exceptional dynamics. This reference DAC feeds two Texas Instruments TPA3255 amplification chips configured in dual mono, each dedicated to a channel for optimal separation and minimal crosstalk.

The major innovation lies in the implementation of PFFB (Post Filter Feedback) technology—a post-filter feedback loop that analyzes the signal in real time after the LC output filters to correct any deviation. This technique, long protected by patent and now accessible, achieves a remarkably low total harmonic distortion of 0.0005% at 5W, rivaling the best traditional class AB amplifiers. PFFB also ensures a stable frequency response regardless of the impedance of the connected speakers—a significant advantage over conventional class D amplifiers, whose signature can vary depending on the load.

Six Texas Instruments OPA1612 operational amplifiers, renowned for their low noise and musicality, handle the preamplification and signal processing stages. This abundance of premium components explains the exceptional measured performance: a signal-to-noise ratio of 120 dB, crosstalk below -90 dB, and a bandwidth extending up to 40 kHz without significant attenuation.

Connectivity and Streaming: Openness as a Philosophy

The rear panel features a comprehensive array of connections designed to integrate into any existing system. The HDMI ARC input allows direct connection to a TV with volume control via the TV remote and Dolby Digital decoding for a convincing home theater experience. The Toslink optical and stereo RCA inputs accommodate traditional digital and analog sources, while a USB-A port enables direct playback from a storage device.

Wireless connectivity is another major asset, with tri-band Wi-Fi 6E ensuring sufficient bandwidth for high-resolution streams up to 192 kHz/24-bit without compression. Bluetooth 5.3 supports SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs for optimal quality from mobile devices. The absence of AirPlay 2—a surprising but deliberate choice by WiiM—is offset by Chromecast compatibility, allowing streaming from iOS devices via numerous apps.

Native integration of Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Roon Ready certification position the Amp Ultra as an open platform. Streaming services such as Qobuz, Deezer, Amazon Music, and even Apple Music (via the WiiM Home app) are directly accessible without a smartphone—a rare feature in this price range.

The LinkPlay Ecosystem: Universal Multiroom

WiiM relies on LinkPlay technology, the de facto standard in the audio streaming industry with over 100 partner brands. This technical foundation enables multiroom synchronization with latency under 150 microseconds between devices—imperceptible even to the most discerning ear. Beyond WiiM products (Mini, Pro, Pro Plus, Ultra), the Amp Ultra can form multiroom groups with equipment from Audio Pro, Octavio, Elipson, and many other brands using LinkPlay.

Integration goes further, with the ability to create mixed zones including Amazon Echo and Google Home speakers. This open approach contrasts with the walled gardens of Sonos or Apple, offering unprecedented flexibility to gradually build a multiroom system without brand constraints. Centralized management via the WiiM Home app unifies control of all these heterogeneous devices with a consistent interface.

WiiM Home App: The Intelligent Control Center

The WiiM Home mobile app, available on iOS and Android, serves as the system’s nerve center. Its streamlined interface conceals impressive functional depth. Beyond basic playback and volume control, it offers a 10-band graphic equalizer and a 10-band parametric equalizer with the ability to save 24 presets. Each source can benefit from an independent EQ curve, allowing you to optimize the sound for different content.

Automatic acoustic calibration uses the smartphone’s microphone to analyze the room’s acoustics and generate a custom correction. The step-by-step process takes less than 5 minutes, and the results are immediately noticeable, with a better-defined stereo image and reduced room resonances. Advanced users can manually fine-tune the correction via the parametric equalizer.

The integration of a sophisticated subwoofer manager allows precise definition of crossover frequency (30–250 Hz), gain, and phase. The main outputs automatically benefit from complementary high-pass filtering, relieving the main speakers of low frequencies and improving midrange clarity. This active management rivals much more expensive dedicated processors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the lack of AirPlay 2 really a problem for Apple users?

While AirPlay 2 is indeed missing, Chromecast offers a viable alternative for most iOS apps. Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz, and even YouTube Music natively support casting. Apple Music is directly accessible via the WiiM Home app with iCloud library synchronization. Only content protected by Apple’s strict DRM (certain podcasts, audiobooks) remains inaccessible. For full AirPlay compatibility, the WiiM Pro Plus remains available in the lineup.

What’s the difference between the WiiM Amp, Amp Pro, and Amp Ultra?

The basic WiiM Amp (€349) offers 60W/channel at 8Ω with an ES9018 DAC. The Amp Pro (€449) maintains the same power but adds a better DAC and audiophile components. The Amp Ultra (€599) doubles the power (100W/8Ω), integrates the high-end ES9039Q2M DAC, adds the touchscreen, PFFB technology, and Wi-Fi 6E. For use with standard bookshelf speakers, the Amp is sufficient. The Ultra is the obvious choice for driving demanding floorstanders or building a high-end, scalable system.

How does automatic acoustic calibration work?

The app guides the user to place the smartphone at the listening position. Test signals (sine sweeps) are played by the speakers and picked up by the microphone. The algorithm analyzes reflections, identifies the room’s resonance modes, and generates a correction curve. Processing is done in 32 bits in the integrated DSP with no signal degradation. The results are generally excellent for correcting major acoustic issues, but purists can further refine the result manually via the parametric equalizer.