• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

Rate this streamer/DAC/Preamp:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 5 1.2%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 43 10.2%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 161 38.3%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 211 50.2%

  • Total voters
    420
I will laugh forever that they included weights inside at the year 2025 to add premium feeling.
Some VERY seasoned person in there advises them but they probably didn't expect a teardown so soon.
Embarrassing really.


View attachment 423283
What's so embarrassing about that?

These weights probably have a functional purpose: to keep the unit in place under the weight of the cables and generally make it a bit more stable.
It shows they pay attention to detail and go to great lengths when it comes to user experience.
 
I will laugh forever that they included weights inside at the year 2025 to add premium feeling.
Some VERY seasoned person in there advises them but they probably didn't expect a teardown so soon.
Embarrassing really.


View attachment 423283

Nothing even remotely embarrassing.

Your car almost certainly has ports and holes to make the ‘thud’ sound more appealing when you close it.

By your metric, any penny spent on making a product look or feel ‘better’, but which actually doesn’t improve sound quality, is wasted.

By the way, that’s every single piece of hi-fi out there. I wonder why you don’t mention anything about them?
 
By the way, that’s every single piece of hi-fi out there. I wonder why you don’t mention anything about them?
Don't I?
Go a round around my posts to see,you'll find out I don't give free tickets to anyone.
Either the ones who ADD weight insted of a thicker case for example or the ones who REDUCE weight and size for cost at the expense of thermals.

We have repeatedly shamed CDP's from far back using the same trick for example.
You should do your homework before answering.

Edit:and oh!I'm the first about looks!Original looks preferably if you know what I mean.
 
I don't mind if extra weight can be achieved with simple steel plates inside instead of a 5mm thick aluminum enclosure. As long as the device still feels rigid (which it does). That's just smart design.
 
I will laugh forever that they included weights inside at the year 2025 to add premium feeling.
Some VERY seasoned person in there advises them but they probably didn't expect a teardown so soon.
Embarrassing really.


View attachment 423283
I can only guess it could be to add some additional stability to support thicker heavier cables etc. avoid dragging it over!
 
I can only guess it could be to add some additional stability to support thicker heavier cables etc. avoid dragging it over!
My E-MU weights 430 gr and even double 2 meters star quad mogami cable hanging out of it don't drag it.Why?Nice,soft (still after 20 years) feet who stick down.
There are solutions for everything.
 
What's the point you're trying to make? The Ultra has a nice rubber bottom.

Doesn't mean WiiM can't go the extra mile and add some additional weight if they want to?
 
I will laugh forever that they included weights inside at the year 2025 to add premium feeling.
Some VERY seasoned person in there advises them but they probably didn't expect a teardown so soon.
Embarrassing really.


View attachment 423283

It’s not something I’d get hot under the collar about and come to a forum for a rant.

IMG_6058.jpeg
 
Last edited:
I don't mind if extra weight can be achieved with simple steel plates inside instead of a 5mm thick aluminum enclosure. As long as the device still feels rigid (which it does). That's just smart design.
Even so.Is this the best place to add weight so to fit the purpose?
The right place would be at the front,bottom end.
Nah,I'll say it again,some old fox is lurking in there.
 
As far as I know they already added these weights into their WIIM Pro+ compared to the non +, which I find quite useful. The regular pro is quite easy to move - there are people out there using door stoppers on top of the device.
 
Thanks for the detailed response. The pop might bug me.

Would love to get your subjective comparison but this being ASR, I know that's verboten and would only derail the thread.

Being this is ASR, I can tell you they all sound transparent enough that it would be hard to consistently pick them apart blind A/B.

The build quality of the IOM is absolutely tops. No question about it. It’s built like a tank! All the components are just top quality (for example the binding posts, in amazingly thick and hefty enclosure, etc.). Power was way more than sufficient for LS50 Metas. And of course aesthetically it wins by a country mile. Plus, there’s no extra power brick to deal with, and for many, that is a huge positive. Finally, it is amazingly efficient and runs no more than lukewarm. On the negatives, I can say the IOM may or may not have a limitation down the line if you ever move away from the WiiM Ultra to another streamer or source that doesn’t have a 12V trigger out, because the IOM Ultra won’t work without a 12V trigger signal, period. The power switch next to the IEC power port doesn’t force the amp on, it simply allows the amp to be triggered on by the 12V trigger. Also, the IOM sends a mild pop to the speakers when powering on or off. It’s not loud enough to do damage to the speakers, but if you frequently turn your WiiM Ultra off and on, it may be somewhat disturbing.

The V3 Monos have an audio signal-based auto-on/off that is user-defeatable, so some would consider this an advantage for overall flexibility. It doesn’t have any speaker noise when powering on or off. In terms of negatives, some would say thermal management is poor. Some components are cheap (e.g. binding posts).

ZA3 has user-defeatable 12V trigger and I think this is great. It has better thermal management than V3 Mono. The included volume dial, while not remote operable, can come in handy (for example, if running directly from an external DAC without adjustable output voltage, the built in attenuator is perfect for implementing a safety margin for incoming voltage to the amp without requiring a separate preamp). Components, like the V3 Mono, can be cheap (again, binding posts).

B100 sounds sublime, they really do—as long as you have sensitive/efficient speakers. Quality of build and components is excellent, user-defeatable 12V triggers are great. There’s still extra power bricks to deal with. Mainly the problem is low power/headroom.

-Ed
 
I will laugh forever that they included weights inside at the year 2025 to add premium feeling.
Some VERY seasoned person in there advises them but they probably didn't expect a teardown so soon.
Embarrassing really.


View attachment 423283
That's funny

But I guess helps lower center of gravity and potential falling off for people are stacking this. My nosy dog appreciates it.
 
Being this is ASR, I can tell you they all sound transparent enough that it would be hard to consistently pick them apart blind A/B.

The build quality of the IOM is absolutely tops. No question about it. It’s built like a tank! All the components are just top quality (for example the binding posts, in amazingly thick and hefty enclosure, etc.). Power was way more than sufficient for LS50 Metas. And of course aesthetically it wins by a country mile. Plus, there’s no extra power brick to deal with, and for many, that is a huge positive. Finally, it is amazingly efficient and runs no more than lukewarm. On the negatives, I can say the IOM may or may not have a limitation down the line if you ever move away from the WiiM Ultra to another streamer or source that doesn’t have a 12V trigger out, because the IOM Ultra won’t work without a 12V trigger signal, period. The power switch next to the IEC power port doesn’t force the amp on, it simply allows the amp to be triggered on by the 12V trigger. Also, the IOM sends a mild pop to the speakers when powering on or off. It’s not loud enough to do damage to the speakers, but if you frequently turn your WiiM Ultra off and on, it may be somewhat disturbing.

The V3 Monos have an audio signal-based auto-on/off that is user-defeatable, so some would consider this an advantage for overall flexibility. It doesn’t have any speaker noise when powering on or off. In terms of negatives, some would say thermal management is poor. Some components are cheap (e.g. binding posts).

ZA3 has user-defeatable 12V trigger and I think this is great. It has better thermal management than V3 Mono. The included volume dial, while not remote operable, can come in handy (for example, if running directly from an external DAC without adjustable output voltage, the built in attenuator is perfect for implementing a safety margin for incoming voltage to the amp without requiring a separate preamp). Components, like the V3 Mono, can be cheap (again, binding posts).

B100 sounds sublime, they really do—as long as you have sensitive/efficient speakers. Quality of build and components is excellent, user-defeatable 12V triggers are great. There’s still extra power bricks to deal with. Mainly the problem is low power/headroom.

-Ed
Hi Ed, what kind of cable do I need for the 12v trigger? Does it come with the amp?
Thanks, JMac
 
Hi Ed, what kind of cable do I need for the 12v trigger? Does it come with the amp?
Thanks, JMac
The IOM Ultra includes a short 3.5mm stereo miniDIN to miniDIN cable that works fine if you’re stacking the amp with the streamer. If you want to place them farther apart, you need a longer one. I tend to use monaural 3.5mm cables, but apparently stereo will work also.

-Ed
 
I used the WiiM Ultra's headphone out today for the first time. The IEMs I used were the TruthEar Zero Reds. I found the listening experience quite pleasurable and I needed no more than 1/2 volume to reach very loud levels, above which I never listen.

So with the Reds the overall experience well exceeded my expectations given less than SOTA measurements by Amir.
 
That's funny

But I guess helps lower center of gravity and potential falling off for people are stacking this. My nosy dog appreciates it.
That's the top you see there where the weights are,not the bottom.An added "lip" at the bottom lid (even hidden one,pointing upwards) at the front of half the weight would have the same and maybe better effect for making it rock stable.But...
 
These weights probably have a functional purpose
Yes, I think so too.
Possibly connection to the Bluetooth or / and WiFi antenna or heat dissipation.
I can't imagine anyone attaching metal plates to a hi-fi device just to increase the weight.
That makes no sense, unless you want to minimize resonances.
 
Last edited:
Yes, I think so too.
Possibly connection to the Bluetooth antenna or heat dissipation.
I can't imagine anyone attaching metal plates to a hi-fi device just to increase the weight.
That makes no sense
Absolutely none of that... The video shows they're not connected to anything.

It's purely for weight/structural purposes.
 
Back
Top Bottom