WiiM Amp Ultra Streaming Amplifier Review

[pieterv1]

In case someone's wondering: the analog RCA input is always going through ADC - to be able to apply EQ, room correction etc... Some people with specific use cases (like connecting an external audio interface in a studio setup) have been complaining it introduces a bit of a delay.

Apart from that, it seems like it is still doing a respectable job though

 

[Mort]

But to me, they sounded uninteresting. Dry, clinical, unmusical. I have transparent Fyne Audio F501SP speakers with quite high sensitivity. But this Wiim seemed a bit too weak for them; the sound was quite flat, and the 'holography' was moderate. Vocals, acoustic instruments lacked saturation, subtlety.

Yeah .... no.

 

[daniboun]

First of all YES! But I have a Wiim Ultra streamer. And the room correction only corrects overall tonality and even that isn't always good. I highly recommend people to get a supported measurement microphone and use REW to develop the EQ. First correct all the room modes, overwrite a Wiim Room Correction with those values and then correct the overall tonality and set that as an EQ. This allows you to set different target responses as EQ's and the room modes will be corrected no matter what.
I should someday make a full write-up of how I did my room correction because I'm really happy with it and I think everyone deserves the result that I'm getting.

Makes sense.
Another approach is to obtain, as you say, a microphone with a calibration file and perform a Room Fit correction up to about 350Hz and apply the Spinorama PEQ (if available) related to your speaker by combining it with the Room fit correction previously performed.

 

[Endibol]

First of all YES! But I have a Wiim Ultra streamer. And the room correction only corrects overall tonality and even that isn't always good. I highly recommend people to get a supported measurement microphone and use REW to develop the EQ. First correct all the room modes, overwrite a Wiim Room Correction with those values and then correct the overall tonality and set that as an EQ. This allows you to set different target responses as EQ's and the room modes will be corrected no matter what.
I should someday make a full write-up of how I did my room correction because I'm really happy with it and I think everyone deserves the result that I'm getting.

First, make sure you optimize the position of the speakers and listening position. Only then use room correction software. The latter will fail if the physical placement is off.

 

[Endibol]

With relief, I returned to SMSL amplifiers based on Infineon chips (like SMSL RAW-HA1), and then to the Sabaj A30a, which, despite its slightly lower power output, drove the Fynes much better, and the sound was much more musical (although this is my subjective opinion, my friends who listened to both systems also agreed with it).

Did you listen to the different amps at exactly the same volume levels? This is crucial.

 

[Deleted member 88178]

Thank you sooo much, I was really waiting for this review

 

[daniboun]

What's it missing? Usb input, headphone output, really 'big' power, multi-subs, that last squeeze of engineering excellence (hf distortion perhaps) ...

The WiiM CI MOD A80 offers a USB input for €50 less than the Wiim amp Ultra...
But on the other hand, we lose power...

The Wiim marketing is pretty clever, though.

WIIM CI MOD A80 Network Amplifier Streamer

The WiiM CI MOD A80 is an all-in-one stereo network player amplifier designed for modern installations where audio quality, connectivity, and integration are important.

www.audiophonics.fr

 

[Good Vibes]

Doesn’t the Amp Ultra have USB input?

 

[Saponetto]

Ultra user here, and also appreciate getting separate things between streamer and amplifier but hey, @amirm , you triggered my curiosity.
Maybe I'll give this thing a try, thanks a lot fot this review!

 

[daniboun]

Doesn’t the Amp Ultra have USB input?

To clarify :

Wiim Amp Ultra VS Wiim Amp Pro VS Wiim Amp CI MOD 80

Wiim amp Ultra :

Wiim Amp Pro :

​

Wiim CI MOD A80 :

 

[Dennis_FL]

I read from the user manual, no AirPlay2. Why? Wiim Ultra and Pro Plus have it. Is it because of amplification inside the device?

I have the Ultra and it doesn't have Airplay. I have a workaround - I use a Raspberry Pi (with a Toslink hat) running Ropiee to input Airplay. However, I use Roon or JRiver most of the time so Airplay is rarely used and I have decided to use the RP for something else.

I probably should sell my Ultra, Gustard DAC (from the Ultra USB) and Fosi amp and replace it with the Ultra AMP.....quite a bit less "stuff."

 

[amarsicola]

This is THE set-and-forget device that can attract people to well performing hi-fi for its shockingly good price. I would recommend it to any Average Joe asking advice. Please Amir would you provide load test as well?

 

[daniboun]

would you provide load test as well?

"Erin : However, all the 2/4/8-Ohm data are provided on my Patreon page (Patreon link)."

https://www.patreon.com/posts/wiim-amp-ultra-132183153?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

 

[Mnyb]

In case someone's wondering: the analog RCA input is always going through ADC - to be able to apply EQ, room correction etc... Some people with specific use cases (like connecting an external audio interface in a studio setup) have been complaining it introduces a bit of a delay.

Apart from that, it seems like it is still doing a respectable job though

I bought the WiiM ultra ( not amp ) for this exact reasons ADC to my digital speakers.

BTW subwoofer xover is also a digital domain affair .

This is imho how a modern preamp( amp ) should be done input switching analog or digital does not matter showe everything trough a well designed digital pipeline with all the magic you want and provide all kind off digital and analog outputs.

WiiM is ahead with very versatile products .

 

[Svensson]

It is possible to put together a 'separates system' with DAC, amp and streamer for less money e.g. ARSY Ne2 (DAC) + Fosi ZA3 (Stereo amo) or Fosi V3 x2 (Mono Amps). Buuuuuut.... this is far too pretty, just one box has sub-out and EQ.

 

[Ajax]

Looks like this is the only flaw @amirm spotted - can anyone owning this device comment on it?
I'm owning two WiiM streamers and founds the app to be working fine.

IMO it is an excellent product. I have had one for about 3 months, replacing my previous front end of a Sonos Connect with opitical out into a Benchmak DAC 2 and then Hypex 252, without any disernable loss of sound quality but with much greater features.

The App is excellent and provides a sub crossover and extensive PEQ and room equalisation.

For about US$500 it is an absolute bargain. Highly recommended.

 

[Guddu]

Thanks @amirm

BTW amigos,

Based on the internal picture of the Wiim amp Ultra, we can deduce that it incorporates two TPA325X chips.
My guess : the Wiim Amp Ultra is runing in PBTL mode
View attachment 500505

Yes, they have clearly mentioned dual-TPA3255 chip on product pages as well.

 

[capslock]

Thanks for the review. It confirms what the test at the Wiim forum (sadly without two tone IMD) seemed to imply: the Amp Ultra has virtually identical performance with the Amp Pro but adds some power courtesy of its dual 3255 instead of a single one in the Amp Pro.

I have one nit to pick though. The performance of the Vibelink is much better, just look at two tone IMD, multitone or 15 kHz THD+N. The Vibelink plays in the same league as the best TPA implementations out there, i.e. Topping and 3e audio, whereas the Pro and the Ultra are just competent implementations of standard PFFB (in fact, in some of these measurements, the non-Pro amp, i.e. without PFFB, outperforms the Pro).

If they could pull it off in the vibelink, why couldn't they in the Pro? Surely, going from BTL to PBTL does not prohibit the advanced feedback and compensation used by Topping and 3e, as the A5se and A7se retain the excellent distortion performance of their PBTL siblings.

One speculative explanation: contrary to marketing info, the Vibelink may use an overvolted 3251, but I think that is rather unlikely. (edit: as confirmed by Wiim to Harkpabst, the Vibelink uses a single 3255).

 

[MCH]

Wiim CI MOD A80 :

View attachment 500523
View attachment 500526

USB audio input with a usb-A? What cable do you use for that? Or is it for memory sticks?

 

[daniboun]

Thanks for the review. It confirms what the test at the Wiim forum (sadly without two tone IMD) seemed to imply: the Amp Ultra has virtually identical performance with the Amp Pro but adds some power courtesy of its dual 3255 instead of a single one in the Amp Pro.

I have one nit to pick though. The performance of the Vibelink is much better, just look at two tone IMD, multitone or 15 kHz THD+N. The vibelink plays in a league with the best TPA implementations out there, i.e. Topping and 3e audio, whereas the Pro and the Ultra are just competent implentations of standarf PFFB (in fact, in some of these measurents, the non-Pro amp, i.e. without PFFB, outperforms the Pro).

If they could pull it off in the vibelink, why couldn't they in the Pro? Surely, going from BTL to PBTL does not prohibit the advanced feedback and compenation used by Topping and 3e, as the A5se and A7se retain the excellent distortion performance of their PBTL siblings.

One speculative explanation: contrary to marketing info, the Vibelink may use an overvolted 3251, but I think that is rather unlikely.

My guess about this point :

The Wiim Vibelink probably uses two mono tpa325X in PBTL with PFFB . (same as the Wiim Amp Ultra)
OR : the Wiim Vibelink uses one TPA3255 (BTL) chipset with a more powerful and optimized PSU (48/50V @ 10A ?)
We see that the Vibelink performs better in the Multitone test and for the 19+20 kHz and 45 kHz tests. (I could imagine = two mono tpa3251 in PBTL with an optimized PSU)


Wiim Vibelink :

Wiim amp Ultra :