WiiM Amp Ultra Streaming Amplifier Review

[qirex]

Could someone really tell the difference between a -110 dB noise floor at 0.004% THD and -120 at 0.001% in real world conditions?

 

[Mnyb]

I use the streamer I use the analog in for my phono pre ( not the built in phono ) , I think I'm good. if something is not perfect it can be use case dependent if it is a problem.
The "perfect" devices in the upper end of the blue part of the chart can never be an issue for anyone .

The ADC in the streamer has close to 100dB signal to noise, the Sinad is lower around 87-85 dB because some distorsion spikes but i use it for my Vinyl player with typical close to 1% THD in the pickup

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/wiim-ultra-streamer-preamp-review.57342/

 

[Mnyb]

Could someone really tell the difference between a -110 dB noise floor at 0.004% THD and -120 at 0.001% in real world conditions?

Unlikely .

 

[john61ct]

Why can’t the WiiM Amp Ultra have a USB-C input or at least an USB-B so I can use it with my Mac or my phone to listen to music uncompressed!

Schiit Eitr 2

 

[Ruediger]

If the mac and the phone are in the same network, the WiiM is available to them as a receiver. No need for a direct connection to listen to music.

I have seen stutter of dsd hires files over a wifi farer away on 1-2 bars. That's where a lan cable for the WiiM is better.

 

[elmoe420]

I've both Wiim Amp Ultra to pair it with my Dali Opticon 2. It was very bad combo. Amp Ultra made speakers sound really bad, the sound was washed out, no dynamics at all. I've contacted the seller and he agreed to test other units with my speaker ( in case mine was faulty). All gave the same results. We tried changing cables, all sort of things in Wiim software with no significant improvements. Both of us were very disappointed. After that we tried some 350$ Denon amp with Wiim Ultra as DAC and it sounded grate.
If I haven't heard my speakers before connecting to Amp Ultra I would have been really disappointed with them since I've been convinced that Wiim Amp Ultra is excellent device. Now I know better.
I've tried Wiim Amp Ultra with Monitor Audio Bronze and it sounded much better than with Opticon. That leads me to conclusion that device is load dependant contrary to specification.

The WiiM Amp Ultra sounds the same to me as my Purifi amp powering my Dali Rubicons. However, I also don't hear differences in optical vs coax cables or different kinds of power supplies on my DACs.

The WiiM Amp Ultra works great with all speakers I have tried (Dali and Philharmonic). I would highly recommend this device as a great price for an all-in-one setup.

 

[StephenMarkLay]

The WiiM Amp Ultra sounds the same to me as my Purifi amp powering my Dali Rubicons. However, I also don't hear differences in optical vs coax cables or different kinds of power supplies on my DACs.

The WiiM Amp Ultra works great with all speakers I have tried (Dali and Philharmonic). I would highly recommend this device as a great price for an all-in-one setup.

I have had similar positive experiences with both my Kef LS50 and Wharfedale Linton 85. They both dip below 4ohm and both sound great. I have two WIIM amp ultras driving them.

 

[4udio]

The WiiM Amp Ultra sounds the same to me as my Purifi amp powering my Dali Rubicons. However, I also don't hear differences in optical vs coax cables or different kinds of power supplies on my DACs.

The WiiM Amp Ultra works great with all speakers I have tried (Dali and Philharmonic). I would highly recommend this device as a great price for an all-in-one setup.

Then it's all good for you. My experience is not the same. Maybe both Amp Ultras were malfunctioning or we have totally different definition of acceptable sound. Whatever it is, my advice still stands: try speaker and amp combo before buying.
Kind regards.

 

[Guddu]

Then it's all good for you. My experience is not the same. Maybe both Amp Ultras were malfunctioning or we have totally different definition of acceptable sound. Whatever it is, my advice still stands: try speaker and amp combo before buying.
Kind regards.

Your advise is reasonable and has been same for so many years but trying speaker and amplifier combo before buying might not be possible in many cases and even if it is possible then those audition rooms aren't same as ours.
Closest you could get is buy it with decent return policy and then use at your place to decide.

 

[Ruediger]

Then it's all good for you. My experience is not the same. Maybe both Amp Ultras were malfunctioning or we have totally different definition of acceptable sound. Whatever it is, my advice still stands: try speaker and amp combo before buying.
Kind regards.

I think you might be very used to that $350 denon sound.

 

[4udio]

I think you might be very used to that $350 denon sound.

Yeah, you've got me. I just love that $350 sound.

 

[Ruediger]

Yeah, you've got me. I just love that $350 sound.

Didn't mean it in a negative sense. I own a stack of amps myself and know what they can and can not do. The difference being mostly the very basic or mediocre preamplification and signal processing.

 

[rjp]

I am curious why the SINAD performance is better with the digital input than with the analog input. The digital input has to pass through a DAC in there somewhere right? SO how do we compare digital vs analog input cases? This doesn't seem possible, so I must be misunderstanding something.

 

[Mnyb]

I am curious why the SINAD performance is better with the digital input than with the analog input. The digital input has to pass through a DAC in there somewhere right? SO how do we compare digital vs analog input cases? This doesn't seem possible, so I must be misunderstanding something.

The analog goes trough an ADC as every other function is sorted by an DSP , it’s basically a digital device with an analog input.

I use this to my advantage have an old turntable and speakers with digital inputs so this works for me .

 

[john61ct]

I am curious why the SINAD performance is better with the digital input than with the analog input.

Yes it's a not quite SOTA ADC implementation.

I doubt you can actually hear a difference, but using say PocketADC to test would not be expensive.

The Wiim Ultra headphone output is a weak link for sure though, many use the USB output to a better DAC/HPamp unit for that.

 

[tobyjug]

I canto seem to find a review or the Wiim ultra non amp version

 

[Mnyb]

I canto seem to find a review or the Wiim ultra non amp version

WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the WiiM Ultra network streamer, DAC, phono stage and preamplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $329. Physical attribute are modern and attractive enough. Alas, I can't say the same thing about the graphical interface. Icons seem...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Ruediger]

I canto seem to find a review or the Wiim ultra non amp version

To find the reviews on this site enter "WiiM Ultra" into search, tick titles only and from user: amirm

Other users do reviews too. Search just for titles and no username usually does not give too much hits and all is there.

 

[tobyjug]

Thanks Gents.