WiiM Amp Ultra Streaming Amplifier Review

[DanielT]

Thanks for the test Amir. Great product.

Is WiiM the best thing that has happened to Hifi in recent years? I think so anyway.

OT
@amirm don't forget to create a thread with 2025 in the title:

Nominate Your Favorite Track of 2024 (Contest)

I'm serious and not joking/mocking. How can a participant be fair to all if they make up their own rule(s) that go against the contest rules?

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[capslock]

Has the ESS DAC been tested?

There is no analog out so no test (unless you were asking about the sub out).

 

[MCH]

I cannot change their advertising. Technically it certainly is USB audio.

Yeah... no

 

[OldTimer]

I use one of these in my living room 2.1 system with an LG OLED and utilize an appletv into the tv, then earc to the wiim amp ultra. I have to admit I have noticed a little bit of lipsync issues when I watch video from the appletv.. I use roomfit and have the tv pass through 5.1 through the earc.. is there anything I can do to reduce latency? turn off roomfit or have my tv only output 2 channel?

As you can see in normal AV receiver such as Yamaha or Denon, there is HDMi input then output. I think Wiim design it for audio purpose only via HDMI. Please don’t complain because you don’t know what the product purpose before you buy. I usually read all the user manual before deciding to purchase a product.

Now go to your TV settings to delay the video so it can match the delayed audio.

 

[user456101]

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 wondered the same thing quite awhile back. Not being cheeky but basically you won't get a response. This is a situation that neither company will respond to. Wiim and Apple had some sort of disagreement, perhaps about Airplay re-casting from the Wiim devices, which was unacceptable to Apple, but I don't know. I have two of the Pro Plu and the original Wiim Amp, and Airplay came with all of them and continues to be supported. Wiim stopped shipping new products with Airplay several new devices ago (Amp Pro doesn't have it, the Wiim Ultra streamer doesn't have it etc.). So, its just not there. And they won't answer. The fact that they don't answer that it will never be there might leave open the possibility that it will come back but there is absolutley no indication of that and I don't intend to imply that I know anything. Just trying to read the tea leaves. I would like it to be supported but Spotify is now lossless, and they other streaming services are benefitting and perhaps getting somewhat of a boost because Airplay isn't supported on these wildly popular (rightly so) Wiim devices. Note - I only use Spotify and Airplay at this time.

AI has more information if you search for it. You can Bluetooth to the device using airplay. You can apparently also buy a device that plugs into the Wiim device that creates an Airplay capability through that device etc.

 

[EXIF68]

Hello,
WiiM is the perfect solution for a “WAF” compatible setup in living room:

I’m using here the WiiM Amp Pro, connected via HDMI with the TV (Sony oled) and the speakers are the DIY “MMR” shown here on another thread.
I’m using no room correction in the large living room (42m2) at all. For me, it sounds better without it.
For the 2nd setup I was for the decision WiiM Amp Ultra or WiiM Ultra/Vibelink. At last Black Friday the WiiM duo was offered for €619,— so not much more than WiiM Amp ultra alone. Bought it. This is a very special setup and I think there is no competitor out there for this amount of money with that performance.
Greetings, Walter

 

[Power Pop 23]

You can apparently also buy a device that plugs into the Wiim device that creates an Airplay capability through that device etc.

An Airplay-capable WiiM device, like the WiiM Mini streamer, can be connected physically or 'grouped' using the WiiM Home app and WiFi to bring Airplay capability to a WiiM device that does not support Airplay.

 

[chelgrian]

As you can see in normal AV receiver such as Yamaha or Denon, there is HDMi input then output. I think Wiim design it for audio purpose only via HDMI. Please don’t complain because you don’t know what the product purpose before you buy. I usually read all the user manual before deciding to purchase a product.

Now go to your TV settings to delay the video so it can match the delayed audio.

‘Normal’ receivers also support ARC and can send the audio from the TV to a device. To make that deployable HDMI has had mechanism to communicate latency since HDMI 1.3.

However as far as I know this only works if the video processing latency is longer than the audio processing latency so the correction is only delaying the audio.

Most TVs don’t have a video delay as it’s expensive to implement so if roomfit is causing an audio delay longer than the video processing delay I’m not sure there is anything that can be done about it.

 

[daniboun]

the speakers are the DIY “MMR” shown here on another thread.

Any link with measurements please ?

 

[harkpabst]

WiiM is the perfect solution for a “WAF” compatible setup in living room:

You really must hide that cable ...

... before your wife takes notice!

 

[OldTimer]

‘Normal’ receivers also support ARC and can send the audio from the TV to a device. To make that deployable HDMI has had mechanism to communicate latency since HDMI 1.3.

However as far as I know this only works if the video processing latency is longer than the audio processing latency so the correction is only delaying the audio.

Most TVs don’t have a video delay as it’s expensive to implement so if roomfit is causing an audio delay longer than the video processing delay I’m not sure there is anything that can be done about it.

I remember there’s KODI app that can fix lipsync. I don’t know if KODI still exists. So, you need to use KODI app to play video.

 

[EXIF68]

Any link with measurements please ?

Here it is:

MRR Mini Monitor Ribbon - The perfect directivity?

Hello Forum, a few yeras ago i have build this speaker heree, a very special design and is in use for my "Home-Theater", that means this system is responsiblbe for the perfect sound from the Flat-TV. The system is called "Mini Monitor Ribbon" from the german DIY-Magazine "Hobby HiFi". This...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[daniboun]

Here it is:

MRR Mini Monitor Ribbon - The perfect directivity?

Hello Forum, a few yeras ago i have build this speaker heree, a very special design and is in use for my "Home-Theater", that means this system is responsiblbe for the perfect sound from the Flat-TV. The system is called "Mini Monitor Ribbon" from the german DIY-Magazine "Hobby HiFi". This...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Nice project ) thanks for sharing

 

[BillG]

That is a good point )
So what settings did you use? Do you have a subwoofer?
The problem with Room Fit, if it's not properly configured, is that you can quickly fall into confirmation bias.

Here are the settings. I obtained them from a professional audio engineer, by the way.

No, I'm not running a sub at the moment, but will be as soon after I've purchased some AsciLAB C6Bs. I'll most likely purchase WiiM Sub Pro because it's easy integration.

 

[keiron99]

Can someone who understands these measurements better than I do please tell me: Would this Wiim Amp Ultra match the performance of my Wiim Ultra (just the streamer/DAC) combined with a pair of Fosi V3 mono amps?

I did originally have a Wiim Amp pro but when cranking the volume up with my Falcon Q7 speakers (basically, an LS3/5A...sorry...) I did get audible distortion (clipping?).

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Can someone who understands these measurements better than I do please tell me: Would this Wiim Amp Ultra match the performance of my Wiim Ultra (just the streamer/DAC) combined with a pair of Fosi V3 mono amps?

I did originally have a Wiim Amp pro but when cranking the volume up with my Falcon Q7 speakers (basically, an LS3/5A...sorry...) I did get audible distortion (clipping?).

The WiiM Ultra streaming DAC+Pair of Fosi V3 Monos will have higher overall gain, so you would be able to apply more negative pregain to eliminate digital clipping in the event you use any sort of boost filters in PEQ/room correction. On the other hand, WiiM Amp Ultra is a more elegant single box solution. Those should be the primary focus of your decision making. As far as acoustic performance between the two setups, both have PFFB/load-independent frequency response and are sufficiently transparent enough (low enough in distortion) that in a level-matched, blind-A/B test, you won't be able to consistently pick one from the other.

 

[daniboun]

likely purchase WiiM Sub Pro because it's easy integration

Would like to see Erin measuring this new Wiim sub....I wonder how it performs VS the SVS 1000 pro

 

[keiron99]

I'll most likely purchase WiiM Sub Pro because it's easy integration.

Would it be any easier to integrate than any other sub?

 

[Bwaslo]

Looks nice, but I do wish it had stereo sub or pre outputs.
FIR eq would maybe be a good addition too, but of course much less plug-n-play.

 

[elsonido]

I’ve had one for about two months. It’s the future, at least for me. It’s difficult to make arguments for separates, in my opinion, for the performance offered (baring needs for very demanding speakers or other certain use cases). I love being able to quickly finely tune equalization and have that directly connected to the amp/dac. Also, and this is not small, everyone has an easy time using it making easier for others to enjoy music. This is the way for new audiophiles considering price/performance. eq, and ease of use.