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, recognized for its audio streaming modules widely adopted across the industry, this device packs into a compact 20 cm square format 200 watts into 4 ohms, a latest-generation ESS Sabre audiophile DAC, and a color touchscreen - a first in this price range.
The WiiM Amp Ultra abandons the polymer used in its predecessors in favor of a brushed aluminum unibody chassis, machined from a single piece in the style of a Mac Mini, with which it also shares approximate dimensions. This monoblock construction eliminates any visible assembly marks and gives the device exemplary rigidity, reducing unwanted vibrations. The subtly rounded corners and anodized space gray or silver finish reflect particular attention to detail.
The front panel incorporates this Ultra model’s signature element: an 8.9 cm capacitive touchscreen covered with tempered glass. This high-resolution color display not only lets you view album covers and playback information, but also access equalizer settings directly, navigate the queue, or even display customizable analog VU meters. The infinite-rotation 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 enables fanless operation, guaranteeing total silence even during extended listening at high power. The 2.45 kg weight, substantial for these dimensions, reflects the quality of the internal components and the robustness of the construction.
At the heart of the WiiM Amp Ultra is an architecture carefully designed to deliver audiophile performance. The digital signal is processed by an ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M converter operating in 32-bit 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 one 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, makes it possible to achieve a remarkably low total harmonic distortion of 0.0005% at 5W, rivaling the best traditional class AB amplifiers. PFFB also guarantees a stable frequency response regardless of the impedance of the connected speakers, a considerable 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: 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio, crosstalk below -90 dB, and frequency response extending up to 40 kHz without significant attenuation.
The rear panel brings together comprehensive connectivity designed to integrate into any existing system. The HDMI ARC input allows direct connection to the television with volume control via the TV remote and Dolby Digital decoding for a convincing home theater experience. The optical Toslink and stereo RCA inputs accommodate traditional digital and analog sources, while a USB-A port allows direct playback from a storage device.
Wireless connectivity is the other major strength, with tri-band Wi-Fi 6E guaranteeing sufficient bandwidth for high-resolution streams up to 192 kHz/24-bit without compression. Bluetooth 5.3 includes 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 applications.
Native integration of Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Roon Ready certification position the Amp Ultra as an open platform. Qobuz, Deezer, Amazon Music, and even Apple Music services (via the WiiM Home app) are directly accessible without going through a smartphone, a rare feature in this price range.
WiiM relies on LinkPlay technology, the de facto standard in the audio streaming industry with more than 100 partner brands. This technical foundation enables multiroom synchronization with latency below 150 microseconds between devices, imperceptible even to the most demanding ear. Beyond WiiM products (Mini, Pro, Pro Plus, Ultra), the Amp Ultra can thus form multiroom groups with equipment from Audio Pro, Octavio, Elipson, and many other brands using LinkPlay.
Integration goes further with the possibility of creating 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.
The WiiM Home mobile app, available on iOS and Android, is the nerve center of the system. Its clean interface conceals impressive functional richness. 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, making it possible to optimize the rendering according to the content.
Automatic acoustic calibration uses the smartphone microphone to analyze the room’s acoustics and generate custom correction. The step-by-step guided process takes less than 5 minutes, and the results are immediately perceptible with a better-defined stereo image and reduced room resonances. Advanced users can manually refine the correction via the parametric equalizer.
The integration of a sophisticated subwoofer manager makes it possible to define the crossover frequency (30-250 Hz), gain, and phase precisely. 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.
Even though I’m not a fan of the lack of a headphone output, phono input, and line outputs (compared to the WiiM Ultra), and the absence of AirPlay and native Apple Music support may limit its appeal for fans of the Apple ecosystem, the WiiM Amp Ultra still has a lot to offer. I appreciated its high-quality color touchscreen, generous amplification power, flexible equalizer, room correction and customization settings, as well as its dynamic and refined sound. Paired with a set of high-performance speakers, the WiiM Amp Ultra delivers virtually everything a music lover could expect from an affordable hi-fi system: robust features, excellent sound quality, intuitive operation, and access to almost all popular music streaming services.
Even though I’m not a fan of the lack of a headphone output, phono input, and line outputs (compared with the WiiM Ultra), and although the absence of AirPlay and native Apple Music support may limit its appeal among fans of the Apple ecosystem, the WiiM Amp Ultra has a lot to offer. I appreciated its high-quality color touchscreen, generous amplification power, flexible equalizer, room correction and customization settings, as well as its dynamic and refined sound. Paired with a high-performing set of speakers, the WiiM Amp Ultra offers practically everything a music lover could expect from an affordable hi-fi system: robust features, excellent sound quality, intuitive operation, and access to almost all popular music streaming services.
While AirPlay 2 is indeed missing, Chromecast offers a viable alternative for most iOS applications. 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 range.
The base WiiM Amp (€349) offers 60W/channel into 8Ω with an ES9018 DAC. The Amp Pro (€449) keeps 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 classic bookshelf speakers, the Amp is sufficient. The Ultra is the obvious choice for driving demanding floorstanding speakers or creating an upscale scalable system.
The app guides the user to place the smartphone at the listening position. Test signals (sine sweeps) are emitted by the speakers and captured by the microphone. The algorithm analyzes reflections, identifies the room’s resonance modes, and generates a correction curve. Processing is performed in 32-bit in the integrated DSP without signal degradation. The results are generally excellent for correcting major acoustic problems, but purists can manually refine them via the parametric equalizer.
Philippe
Easy to use, high-performing. Listening with CD transport and Qobuz Connect.
Comment from April 14, 2026 — Experience from April 03, 2026
