WiiM Ultra

HiFi, DAC
WiiM Ultra — The Streamer That Changed Everything

WiiM has done to streaming what Schiit did to amplification — taken a category dominated by expensive products and delivered exceptional performance at a price that embarrasses the competition. The Ultra is their flagship, and it’s sent shockwaves through the streaming world.

Build & Design

Compact and attractive with a touchscreen display that actually works well. The Ultra packs streaming, DAC, preamp, and headphone amp into a surprisingly small package. Build quality is good — solid plastic and metal construction that feels well-made without being premium. Connectivity is excellent: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, USB, optical, coaxial, and HDMI ARC. Outputs include RCA, optical, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The app is where WiiM really shines — it’s intuitive, responsive, and supports virtually every streaming service (Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music via AirPlay).

Sound

As a Streamer/DAC

Clean, detailed, and impressively neutral. The Ultra’s internal DAC is a genuine step up from its predecessors, with an ESS chip delivering measured performance that competes with standalone DACs at several times the price. Through my Sparkos Gemini, the Ultra sounds open, detailed, and musical — the DAC section doesn’t embarrass itself against my RME ADI-2 for casual listening.

As a Transport

Where the Ultra arguably shines brightest is as a pure digital transport, feeding an external DAC via coaxial or USB. Connected to my RME ADI-2, it provides bit-perfect streaming with excellent app control. This is how most audiophiles will use it — and it’s superb in this role.

Comparisons

Against the Bluesound Node, the WiiM is half the price with arguably better app support and similar sound quality. Against dedicated streamers costing thousands, the Ultra closes the gap to the point where diminishing returns becomes a genuine conversation. What HiFi praised it as “the best value streamer we’ve tested,” and the audiophile community has largely agreed.

Verdict

Pros

  • Outstanding value for a full-featured streamer
  • Excellent app with comprehensive service support
  • Internal DAC is genuinely capable
  • Versatile connectivity

Cons

  • Internal DAC trails dedicated units
  • Headphone output is basic
  • Build quality is good, not premium
  • Some advanced features require firmware updates

Ratings:

  • Build & Design: 7.5 / 10
  • Sound: 8 / 10
  • Features: 9.5 / 10
  • Value: 10 / 10

The WiiM Ultra has democratised high-quality streaming. If you’re not streaming yet, this is where to start. If you are streaming, this might be where to upgrade.