The development was foreseeable: First WiiM launched the “Amp”, a great little integrated amplifier (with DAC) at a sensational price(test report), followed later by the Ultra, an impressive streamer in a similar housing format. Now WiiM has created an amalgam of the two with the Amp Ultra. A streaming integrated amplifier in a class of its own, which could give the competition a run for its money at 599 euros. LowBeats investigated whether there was a catch and found none.
WiiM Amp Ultra “cool” – the design
WiiM remains true to its Apple-like design. The shape of the brand-new Amp Ultra, which is now available in Germany, is reminiscent of Apple’s Mac mini and Mac Studio – but is not exactly the same. Slightly different dimensions, different edge radii, different color finish (either “Space Grey” or silver). But like its competitor, the eversolo PLAY(test report), the WiiM cannot hide its inspiration from the Apple brand. WiiM even goes a few steps further than eversolo.
The housing of the Amp Ultra is a so-called “unibody” design. This means that, like the Mac, the “shell” is made entirely from one piece. Without an inserted lid, without screwed-on side panels, but here with a large opening for the display unit that curves elegantly around the front. The manufacturing precision is at the most modern CNC machine level.
At the very latest, a glance at the included remote control reveals that there is a very special proximity to the production facilities for Apple products located in Asia. However, WiiM and its German distributor ATR are remaining silent on the subject. The manufacturer obviously doesn’t want to let anyone look too closely at its cards. But it is more or less known that WiiM devices are manufactured in the same Foxconn plant in Zhengzhou, China, where various Apple products are also produced.
The “WiiM Voice Remote 2” is therefore a very close relative of the Apple Siri Remote. The buttons on the front are grouped slightly differently and the touch-based clickpad is missing, but the side button for activating the voice control is probably the final proof of a close relationship. WiiM buyers will be pleased, because the workmanship and look of the Amp Ultra and the Remote are beyond reproach.
Ultra versatile – technology and connections
On the technical side, there are similarities with eversolo’s main competitor. The WiiM also has a large cooling plate for heat dissipation, which dissipates the heat through slots on the underside made of plastic. The cooling plate is apparently equipped with a heat pipe, as can be deduced from the description. The WiiM can also do without active fans with its concept.
The similarities with the eversolo extend to certain central components. For example, the Amp Ultra features the same Class D-based TI TPA3255 IC amplifier as in the PLAY. The only difference is that WiiM has put a little more power into the power supply, so that the output power exceeds that of the PLAY. The small amplifier fires up to 100 watts into 8 ohms and 200 watts into 4 ohms per channel from the speaker terminals.
Anyone who thinks that the two amps might have been developed from the same source is very much mistaken. WiiM Amp Ultra and eversolo PLAY are entirely separate developments. Despite all the similarities when comparing the basic functions, both concepts pursue different technical approaches and appeal to different target groups with their design. At a later date, in a planned joint summary for the eversolo PLAY and WiiM Amp Ultra, I will discuss this topic in more detail. For now, let’s concentrate on the WiiM.
One of the special technical features of the WiiM is a circuit called Post Filter Feedback (PFFB). Part of the amplifier’s output signal is fed back into the input. This is done after filtering, which means that only the desired frequencies are fed back. The returned signal is combined with the original input signal. This should help to reduce distortion due to cancellation and improve the linearity of the amplifier. PFFB is a variant of other feedback circuits used in amplifiers. These include negative feedback, positive feedback, global feedback and local feedback. They all offer different advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage of PFFB is possible phase changes. I was unable to check whether this results in a sonic advantage because the PFFB circuit cannot simply be deactivated for an A/B comparison.
The Amp Ultra inherits all the streaming and DSP capabilities of the WiiM Ultra streaming DAC preamplifier (without “Amp”). This means that the Amp Ultra supports numerous music services, including the new Connect version of Qobuz, as well as Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and many other services without the Connect feature – but not Apple Music, of all things. Users of the Amp Ultra also have to do without AirPlay. Anyone who has subscribed to Apple Music can only use it on the Amp Ultra via Bluetooth or USB-to-S/PDIF adapter. WiiM says that AirPlay was originally planned, but could not be implemented in the hardware without complex and lengthy measures. In order not to delay the product launch, the decision was made not to use AirPlay. This could be a decisive argument for some people to opt for the eversolo.
There is another equipment gap for vinyl fans. The Amp Ultra does not have MM or even MC phono inputs. However, many turntables in the entry-level and upmarket range today have integrated phono preamps with line outputs and separate phono preamps don’t have to cost the earth, like the Pro-Ject phono box. This means that turntables can also dock onto the WiiM. However, the signal is always digitized, which could annoy analogue purists. But fans of analog purity are probably not the target group for an Amp Ultra either.
In direct comparison with the WiiM Ultra streamer, it is noticeable that the Amp Ultra does not have a headphone connection on the front. A pity, really.
The HDMI ARC socket for sound and control (on/off/volume) from the TV is now mandatory. A subwoofer output is of course also available. The Amp Ultra offers great customization options for this. More on this in the practical chapter. The speaker connections are designed as sockets for banana plugs and, like all other connections, are integrated flush into the rear panel. But don’t worry: WiiM has also thought of customers who prefer terminals for cable lugs. In addition to RCA, Toslink and HDMI cables and a USB adapter cable, the scope of delivery also includes speaker adapter plugs with screw terminals.
The mains cable connection for so-called cloverleaf plugs (coupling C5, plug C6) is relatively rare on hi-fi devices. Compared to the widely used IEC socket (C13), this makes the choice a little more difficult if a higher-quality mains cable is to be connected. The connection to the home network is made via Ethernet cable and RJ45 LAN socket (thankfully without annoying traffic LEDs) or via WLAN using the Wi-Fi 6 standard. The Amp Ultra has internal antennas for wireless options including Bluetooth. The usual ugly antenna stubs are therefore a thing of the past.
Another striking feature: the Amp Ultra does not have a power switch like the eversolo PLAY. It also does not have a low-power standby mode, but only a network standby mode, in which only the display is actually switched off and the outputs are deactivated. In principle, the device is therefore “always on”, which is associated with a permanent power consumption of at least 3 to 6 watts.
In the settings, the amp can be set to go into this mode after a short time without a signal. It always remains visible via the WiiM app or via Roon and starts playing immediately when a track is started. A paused track can also be resumed at the last position at any time. If you insist on disconnecting the WiiM from the mains when not in use, for example with a power strip, you will have to live with a 30-40 second boot process the next time you start it up. Its network standby is undoubtedly extremely convenient, but other manufacturers such as Technics and Yamaha achieve even lower power consumption of less than 1.5 watts. This is why there are slight deductions in the practical rating.
Ultra simple – operation and practice
Let’s start with the “Voice Remote 2”. The remote control is an absolute pleasure to use, and not just visually and haptically. The connection is made via Bluetooth, which means that no direct line of sight to the device is required. Pairing is quick and easy during the set-up process. I didn’t test the voice control, as this only works with Alexa, but not with Siri. To be honest, I don’t see much point in voice control that requires an extra button to be pressed on the remote control. But maybe I’m missing something. The Voice Remote 2 is charged via USB-C. The current charge level is displayed in the app under Settings > Remote control > Remote settings, but only in rough steps such as “Normal” or “Low”. The option to change the step size of the volume control in this menu is also very useful.
Like its current arch-rival from eversolo, the WiiM Amp Ultra also has a high-resolution touch display. At 3.5″, it is significantly smaller but also very high-contrast, easy to read and responsive. Nevertheless, there is a big difference to the slightly more expensive eversolo. The WiiM offers considerably fewer display options. On the playback screen, for example, the current resolution and sampling rate are not revealed and the progress bar cannot be used to jump forward or back to any position within the title by touching it. This can only be done via the app. The WiiM also offers considerably fewer display options in the form of virtual VU meters and other fancy displays. On the other hand, the automatic adjustment of the display to the ambient brightness and the clarity of the screens are positive features. This makes the Amp Ultra a little more family-friendly and less “nerdy”.
The functions accessible on the touch display are more limited than on the eversolo. For example, no more in-depth system settings can be made on the WiiM display. This can only be done via the app.
The volume can be finely adjusted and playback paused or resumed using the rotary-push control on the front, which has no grid. During the control process, the level is shown in large letters on the display.
Overall, the operation of the Amp Ultra is pleasing with the well thought-out and logically structured interface, the very sophisticated app (one of the best on the market) and the great remote control. Every member of the family should quickly get to grips with it. WiiM succeeds very well in concealing its wide range of functions and making them easily and comprehensibly accessible.
This also applies to the measurement function of the WiiM. It’s really well done. A very simple and understandable process leads users to the result in just a few minutes. The measurement is best done via an iPad or iPhone and – if connected – also includes precise phase, level and frequency measurement of the subwoofer. In the test, I calibrated my desktop speakers and a subwoofer placed under the table and was very pleasantly surprised by the result. The main speakers and subwoofer then played together very harmoniously and the frequency dip around 200 Hz caused by the table top was ironed out very efficiently. The whole process requires no specialist knowledge. This makes the WiiM’s calibration function the best of all systems I know of in the consumer sector, with a precision and efficiency that comes close to Lyngdorf’s RoomPerfect. And that’s just with a single-point measurement via smartphone. (There is also an option for measuring by walking around the room, which should capture the room acoustics even better. But this is still in beta stage).
Ultra digital – The listening test
Thanks to the nature of the WiiM Amp Ultra, the listening test setup is very simple: a pair of Wilson TuneTot speakers on the speaker terminals, a Nubert XW-800 slim subwoofer on the sub output and that’s it. I’m very familiar with the loudspeakers and listening environment, having used a number of amps, DACs and streamers from a wide range of price categories. Most recently, of course, with the eversolo PLAY, which was here at the same time for direct comparisons.
As expected, the WiiM with its TI amplifier chips and powerful power supply units (plus active bass support) had no problems keeping the speakers under control. Initially, we listened without any use of DSP, with the Amp Ultra delivering a similar performance to its competitor: High transparency, uncolored mids (apart from the influence caused by the tabletop, which was later ironed out via room correction), as well as precise room imaging. However, the eversolo was able to score points for the latter with a slightly better plasticity. The PLAY reproduced voices and instruments somewhat more three-dimensionally between the speakers. The Amp Ultra, on the other hand, was able to counter with a touch more ease at very high levels, which I rarely experience. Otherwise, the two competitors played at a very similar and high level for their price range.
There were no real points of criticism. Thanks to the good measurement function, the sound of the WiiM with the correction curve activated was even better. This was mainly because the correction compensated very well for the neuralgic frequencies described above due to the table placement and the sub under the table. As a result, the sound image seemed more of a unified whole. In terms of calibration and correction (including the subwoofer), the WiiM delivered slightly better results than the eversolo in my test environment.
But you shouldn’t expect miracles with this either. Simply throwing the speakers somewhere and letting the calibration do the rest doesn’t work. A DSP that turns water into wine does not yet exist. WiiM has already done an excellent job of making a properly set up stereo system even better.
Conclusion WiiM Amp Ultra: the non-plus-ultra …
… when it comes to an easy-to-use, family-friendly, yet incredibly versatile streaming amplifier that also sounds good and works with almost any standard speaker. What WiiM delivers here with the Amp Ultra for just 599 euros is nothing less than sensational. If there is anything at all to criticize, then at most the power consumption in network standby, which could be a little lower.
Is the Amp Ultra better than the recently tested eversolo PLAY? Yes and no! We will soon explain the decisive differences, which of the two is more suitable for you, or whether another solution might suit you better in a joint summary.
The speaker recommendations mentioned in the eversolo test also apply 1:1 to the WiiM (German language):
Compact loudspeaker:
- Q Acoustics 5020 (approx. 800 Euro)
- Wharfedale Super Denton (approx. 1,200 euros)
- KEF LS50 Meta (approx. 1.300 Euro)
- The audiophile classic: ProAc Tablette 10 (approx. 1,400 euros)
- Particularly affordable, for a complete system under 1,000 euros:
Q Acoustics 3010i and 3020i (approx. 250 / 300 euros)
Floorstanding loudspeaker:
- Teufel Ultima 40 (approx. 500 Euro)
- Q Acoustics 5040 (approx. 1,300 euros)
Subwoofer:
- Nubert nuSub XW-800 slim (approx. 590 Euro)
- Velodyne Wi-Q 10 (approx. 300 Euro)
WiiM Amp Ultra | 2025/08 |
 | |
OUTSTANDING | |
Reviews
SoundUsabilityWorkmanship |
| The rating always refers to the respective price category. |
| | fresh, lively sound |
| | decent power reserves |
| | Many streaming options and ease of use |
| | Outstanding price/performance ratio |
Distribution (Germany):
AUDIO-TRADE Hi-Fi Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH
Wallufer Straße 2
65343 Eltville am Rhein
www.audiotra.de
Price (manufacturer’s recommendation):
WiiM Amp Ultra: 599 Euro
Technical data
| WiiM AMP ULTRA | |
|---|---|
| Concept: | Streaming integrated amplifier |
| Output power: | 2x 100 W at 8 Ω, 2x 200 W at 4 Ω |
| Transducer assembly: | ESS 9039Q2M |
| Digital inputs: | Toslink, HDMI ARC, USB media, LAN, WLAN, Bluetooth |
| Digital outputs: | none |
| Analog inputs: | 1x stereo RCA |
| Analog outputs: | 1x subwoofer, LS terminals |
| App / remote control: | WiiM App, Bluetooth Remote |
| Special features: | 3.5″ LCD color touchscreen, room calibration, PEQ |
| Colors: | Silver, Space Grey |
| Dimensions (W x D x H): | 20 x 21.1 x 7.6 cm |
| Weight: | 2.45 kg |
| All technical data | |
More from WiiM (German language):
Test WiiM Amp: the all-round happy streaming amplifier for 349 euros
With display and phono access: new WiiM Ultra streamer
More streaming integrated amplifiers (German language):
Test Marantz Model 60n streaming integrated amplifier: Mister Ehrlich is uncomplicated
Maxi test: Axxess Forté integrated streaming amplifier
Hegel H120 streaming integrated amplifier test – clear edge
Test result of the streaming amp around 1,500 euros: Nubert vs. Technics vs. Yamaha
Test network receiver Technics SA-C600 CD: Premium class for under 1,000 euros?
