Is the WiiM Ultra Music Streamer REALLY that Good?

[@ponce538]

With all recent updates sent to my Wiim Pro Plus over the last few months the sound is superb. I have the room-correction which adjusts the Parametric EQ. I do a little tweaking on the EQ, set my speaker settings on my Yamaha RX-A4A (by pass the EQ on the Yamaha) set the audio setting to flat, and the sound quality is clean, clear, and with great bass... without the subwoofer. I don't need to view a clock or a picture of what I am streaming. It's all about the sound.

[@BobbyBass-x6i]

Thanks for the review. Wiim makes great budget friendly equipment. I have a used Pro Plus and it works well with my old AVR. Hard to beat for the price and with so many features. The app works well on my iPhone and iPad. Recommend. Rock on!

[@kevin_m]

Bought it. It’s been fantastic. Nice vid!

[@toorop111]

What amp are you using?

[@kevin_m]

Marantz MM7025.

[@middleearthltd]

One of the better budget streamers Good place to start in budget streaming Been out for a while so there are a lot of reviews out there

[@audioarkitekts]

Yeah I was late to the party lol

[@chrishamilton5960]

I use a Wiim pro plus as a preamp and run a Meridian CD transport, project turntable and an old Musical Fidelity M1 dac and love its sound and functionality. The auto switching for sources makes use so super easy!

[@orborbea9844]

What an amazing review .. why didn’t I found your channel sooner ! Oh well I am here more 😂🎉

[@audioarkitekts]

Glad you liked it!! Welcome 🙏

[@VhOteda]

Okay, I’ve always scratched my head about the obsession around the kislux book totes and their practicality, but this one is adorable!! Congratulations

[@kaminobatto]

This is a neat and great value piece of tech. I am planning on getting one as soon as it becomes available in my market. The only ones I keep seeing are the standard WiiM, the Mini, and the Pro lines, not the Ultra so far. I'm planning to use this with my active Edifier speakers and Denon sub on my work desk. I use a BlueSound Node in my bedroom setup paired to a HK3490, Infinity Beta 10, and a Definitive Technology 800 Pro sub. For my main system, I use my RZ-50 for streaming coupled with a set of Focal Chora, a Klipsch SW-310 sub, and another Klipsch SW-311 sub. With this, I will finally do away with crappy Bluetooth everywhere in my apartment and have real-time streaming everywhere I go.

[@audioarkitekts]

That sounds like a great setup. Where are you located?

[@kaminobatto]

Thanks! I am in the UAE.

[@toai2]

You paired this streamer with the Onkyo AVR?

[@kaminobatto]

Nope, the RZ-50 has streaming capabilities, it just needs to be enabled from your streaming service account. I want to use swim Ultra with a pair of active speakers.

[@CP-gz6lx]

Hi , how is it handling AAC music ? should I re-rip all my music library in Flac ? thanks

[@PopPunkApologist]

I absolutely love mine. I’m not an audiophile, I was really just looking for an all-in-one solution and that’s what I got! Even the phono inputs impressed me. It’s really cool that the Wiim Ultra “remembers” the volumes you want from different sources, so when I switch from Bluetooth to CD to Spotify to Vinyl, there’s no need to mess with the volume every time. Small gripe: why can’t I turn off the display from the app?

[@greenbeginner3353]

Will the room calibration work with an iPad? It’s not an iPhone but it does have a microphone and is an Apple product. Do you know if it will work?

[@jackmccann7147]

After having the Cambridge Audio Dacmagic 200m and MNX10 combo for a while I was a bit bored with the classic 'warm' Cambridge sound. Swapped out the MNX10 for the Ultra through the Dacmagic and the sound is like night and day. So many options and filter variations. The HDMI for TV is great but I primarily use USB out for tunes. Well pleased. A good buy. Recommended but get good quality cables like Chord or similar.

[@toai2]

Question: should I buy this streamer to pair with my Onkyo receiver? I mean the AVR has Airplay2, I was wondering by adding this streamer if it'd improve the sound??

[@KMFDM781]

I feel like the packaging and the ritual of unboxing a new component is a really nice part of the user experience. Personally, I don't tend to trust a product as much or feel as good about it if the packaging is cheap, under-packaged and ugly or plain. Makes me wonder what else they cheaped out on or that they don't care if the item gets damaged.

[@audioarkitekts]

I am so glad finally someone appreciates that side of things like I do. Also, I love KMFDM!!

[@epg2501]

If I am using an external DAC with the Wiim Ultra, can I still use the EQ controls? I run coax out.

[@naibafabdulkobor4301]

Sure you can.

[@seanoatney8551]

Great video! Seems like a must have

[@audioarkitekts]

It’s really good Sean!

[@carminedesanto6746]

GM ☕️🍩 Running the Wiim pro into a Denafrips Ares DAC 🙂

[@audioarkitekts]

I bet that sounds fantastic

[@carminedesanto6746]

@@audioarkitekts it sounds good ..but is it as good as I could possibly get (wifi based streamer ..wife won’t let be drill and run cable to the unit ) .i hear (joke intended) that the HiFi Rose 🌹 streamer ( unit with no DAC ) is about as good as you can get ..with out going to the next level In the streaming wars ..a more expensive streamer and a mega kilo buck DAC ..and the chase goes on from there … Have a great week.

[@manzanaresantonio]

@@carminedesanto6746 The sound of a streamer is based on the DAC, if you use an external DAC. More expensive doesn't always translate to better sound quality.

[@carminedesanto6746]

@@manzanaresantonio And yet get 3 different streamers ..feeding the same music service to a SINGLE DAC …you get 3 different interpretations of the digital stream. There’s a reason why Wiim ,Rose and DCS exist .

[@trekkis]

Room correction works without any problem with android. Regarding air play vs bt, technically air play has a lot worse quality than modern bt. So air play should be declined by whole audio market, would be better for everyone.

[@NOVAISPERES]

yah but this one is BT? Wifi is way better than bt

[@trekkis]

@@NOVAISPERES not in case of air play. Air play despite wifi is only compressed aac 256kbt. Bt can be fully lossless - way better. Also without difference in case of Lossless wifi.

[@charlesking678]

I ordered the wiim ultra and I honestly don't see what all the hype is about. Sounds is ok. Definitely prefer my node. All the reviews say it's a giant slayer. I find its performance is in line with its price, you get what you pay for and I'm sending mine back.

[@audioarkitekts]

That's unfortunate, I thought it was fantastic.

[@trekkis]

Hyor is regarding functionality, far better than all others. Sound quality is bad in case of each streamer and always external dac should be used.

[@BroncoRD]

I think you'll find although the DAC chip can facilitate 32Bit/384kHz the inputs/outputs only go as high as 24BIT 192kHz?

[@xaviborrell9078]

This product sounds amazing!

[@jong5306]

Let’s talk about buttered sausage.

[@audioarkitekts]

You like that? lol

[@jong5306]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/apqqoaZ-lrWbbrMsi=FigrpKVZ0JIhkDX5 😂

[@brankozivkovic6555]

Can stereo VU meters visualization be accomplished on display?

[@audioarkitekts]

The answer is somewhere in the video ;) but to save you some time, yes 👍

[@brankozivkovic6555]

@@audioarkitekts Thank you. I bought it today 👍

[@derberti2280]

Does theUltra offer Bass management for the sub?

[@naibafabdulkobor4301]

Yes, it does. Crossover frequency from 30 Hz all the way up to 250 Hz. Proper high pass filtering of that mains at that same frequency, using 4th order Linkwitz-Riley filters. Adjustable sub level (+/- 15 dB). Polarity switch (+/- 180°). Delay setting in milliseconds either for the sub (less likely to be needed) or the mains (in case the sub causes a delay). The latest addition are the options to bypass the high pass filter (pretty much like setting the speaker size to "large" with an AVR) or bypassing the low pass filter to the sub (in case the sub doesn't provide an LFE setting or your want to play with it's own filtering capabilities. Yes, there are devices offering even more flexibility, but not even remotely close to the price point of the WiiM Ultra.

[@marinescucandrei]

Room calibration works with my android phone. Nokia X30 5G

[@derberti2280]

I would like the possibility to create and store playlists on the device itself.

[@xaviborrell9078]

I would like to know if this product used as a dac with a for instance cd van be good

[@audioarkitekts]

It sounds great, I tested it that way as well and it sounded really good. The DAC and Output Stage on this thing is impressive

[@xaviborrell9078]

@@audioarkitekts good news then! I bought one and waiting for it. I compared it vs cambridge and maybe the cambridge litte warmer what no big differences. Difficult to guess which one was sounding. Which cable did you use coaxial or optical.?

[@TomT-bn1lm]

I have a Bluesound Node 2i and the Wiim Pro streamer. I only use the Coax Digital output to an external dac. The Wiim Pro streamer sounds worse than the Node 2i in this setting. Does the Wiim Ultra have a better Coax digital output?

[@alexlopez-u3i]

The wiim sounds its best and quite good as a streamer using the usb out. Thats the best output for pretty much all streamers unless you have the option of I2S which the wiim doesnt either.

[@jin_016]

Maybe check whether you properly configured the audio settings in WiiM app

[@TomT-bn1lm]

@@alexlopez-u3i No USB on the Wiim Pro or Pro Plus. SPDIF output still sounds worse than the Node 2i.

[@TomT-bn1lm]

@@jin_016 No settings in the App change the sound quality of the SPDIF Coax output.

[@alexlopez-u3i]

@@TomT-bn1lm i never said the pro or pro plus had usb. Only the ultra does

[@thetrumanshow4791]

I was SO EXCITED for the Wiim Ultra. Well, i was for about 5 minutes . . . when Bluesound announced they would completely revamp their entire line-up from the Nano, to the all new Node N132, to the Icon. GO BLUESOUND!!!!!

[@palmito22]

3 times prive Tag

[@lagoas72]

My Samsung also allows to do Room correction.

[@6stringstandard136]

I have a Wiim Pro and the only issue I have is with the app on my iPad. Just not that well laid out and is way behind the SONOS app in terms of usability. Still a good value streamer overall, just needs a bit more work on the app. Don't think I have a use case for the Ultra but good review.

[@sherylkatz8827]

I had a Sonos speaker and I threw it in the trash because the software was a nightmare. I got a WiiM ultra. The software was good enough that I also got a basic WiiM streamer. The problem with Sonos was that an update broke my unit for months. The wired input also never worked. The connectivity on the Sonos was completely undependable. I realize I’m referring to a speaker so different product. But I don’t trust Sonos.

[@audioarkitekts]

Thanks for checking out the review. I have a Sonos system, I haven’t had issues with it working, however getting it to work from the beginning was the challenge for me.

[@6stringstandard136]

I've had my SONOS system for 15 years and still running the S1 app in 5 zones around the house. When one of the SONOS devices died, I thought the cost to replace it was exorbitant and ended up getting a WiiM Pro. My main issue with the WiiM app has to do with using it with my NAS. Selecting things to play and modifying a queue seems more difficult than it should be. Sometimes making a small change like adding a song to a queue ends up changing the queue in ways not intended. Still it's a good device, just needs a bit more work on the app.

[@davidborsay4845]

I wish WiiM would put out a streamer with bigger screen and just digital outs to use a DAC with. I think the removal of all the other stuff for a bigger screen would be a great option in their line up for those of us that only want a well priced streamer with screen but use our own external DACs and such.

[@audioarkitekts]

I’m sure they’ll get there.

[@khalbrando2990]

The Bluesound Node Nano, although screenless, has been surprisingly one of my favorite additions to my system. After trying so many streamers, it’s the first one I’ve truly loved and felt I couldn’t “live without.” I personally don’t need a screen on the streamer since the phone, tablet, computer or tv has a screen. I have it connected to a couple of dacs for a variety of flavors, it sounds amazing.

[@jacek1930]

I use an old 10" tablet with screen always on, positioned on a support next to Wiim Pro with Wiim app on it so I have a big screen already! ;)

[@kazzzer4876]

But it has coax out and u can connect an external dac or i see this wrong?

[@rw80]

No sure if their target segment will use external dacs.

[@toai2]

Holo Audio Red- from a chinese company, check that out. I've heard lot of praises on that little streamer

[@BobbyBass-x6i]

I almost got one to match with my Cyan 2 DAC using I2S cable but I didn’t want to leave my BluOs system. It’s very well built and designed to match up well. Maybe someday. Holo makes great equipment.

[@audioarkitekts]

Their products are extremely good, they just don’t work with a lot of reviewers. I suppose they don’t need to.

[@is3commander]

Holo Red is great. It’s ultimate pie build. It will be supported forever as you can swap SD card with OS

[@MaZEEZaM]

Thats the thing, i bet if many of these companies such as Apple for their high-end monitor and PC, they would make up the revenue difference in massively widening their market and increased sales simply because their products are great, they are just out of reach for the majority. Like who can afford the Apple Pro Display XDR for which when fully speced out costs just over $12,000 AUD for a monitor! Thats a Never going to happen for me.

[@plcamp1]

The DAC in this product meets the transparency standard, so you won’t get anything more than an imaginary improvement by using an external DAC.

[@audioarkitekts]

So, you don’t hear any difference in sound when you swap out DACs?

[@lawkrlvin4995]

Great Value,Design and Features…. After 1 hr listening I dislike The Sound Quality Bad …and back to cd player

[@audioarkitekts]

Sorry to hear that you had some issues with it.

[@randomsuper]

wiim needs to ditch the phono stage and adopt a second analog input.

[@audioarkitekts]

Agreed. There’s just a lot of people who pretend to like vinyl and I think that’s where the appeal might lie.

[@steveevans1850]

I reluctantly have to agree. I'll probably buy the ultra BECAUSE it has a phono input. But I'm using it for a very niche application. I don't put a record on and stream it, and never will

[@RobStrong-rq2ev]

@@audioarkitekts The majority want convenience i.e., so we hook up a turntable for the in frequent occasions that we want to hear vinyl. I have turntable, DVD & TV connected to the Ultra and love the convenience & sound.

[@SeppDelaney9]

Agree. I’ve got a good dedicated phono stage already. But non-digitized play through would be nice.

[@shaunhw]

Disagreed. However, they could make the phono stage line/phono switchable for those who wish to have a second line input instead of a phono stage. I bought mine, *because* it has a phono stage, which works very well for my needs, such as playing my old vinyl records via a moving magnet pickup cartridge on a reasonable quality turntable.

[@jukingeo]

While I had come here for the Wiim Ultra, it is nice to find someone that agrees with me about overpriced audio gear. The biggest thing is what you said about rich people and their conception about the more you pay, the better an item is. I have learned over MANY years, that isn't always the case with audio equipment. In fact, in some areas, such as speakers, you can be really taken for a ride, especially with imported (to the US) speakers. I have seen build qualities vary greatly and there is one popular hi-end amplifier company that is often touted to being similar to McIntosh, when I know for a fact, they are not. I seen the inside of their amplifier and for the one that they are selling for $2400, it should be selling for around $850. Okay, perhaps $1000. But that is pushing it. For certain, it is NO WAY built like a McIntosh. But therein lies the problem. These lesser companies that charge a high price for something that is Okay quality gets out to the companies, like McIntosh that make a good product, and the execs (at Mac) say, "Hey, if they are getting that much for that crap, lets charge more since we know ours is better." I have seen this happen with not only McIntosh, but also the Klipsch Heritage line. So when there is a good company out there, it is priced so high that it is untouchable by the average Joe. Going used doesn't often help either because people on Ebay think what they have is gold and often charge close to the original asking price, unless it is something that is really beat up, old, or has a problem. You mention why companies like Cambridge and Rose charge ridiculous prices and it is really greed. They think they have something, and that their stuff is "all that". They price it high to appeal to the rich that think they are getting top end stuff. Really, I have seen some of the Cambridge stuff and it looks dull and boring. I know I shouldn't base an item solely on looks, but I just roll my eyes when I see these companies that charge more than $1000 for a DAC, or a DAC Streamer. While one might argue and say that, "My $3000 Cambridge Dac will blow the pants off what is in that Wiim." Alright, while, at that price it MIGHT be better, does it sound 10 times better than the Wiim? Okay, so lets go in fairness and say the Cambridge is using better quality components. It certainly doesn't look fancy or is lined in real gold trim, so lets be fair and ask, does it at least sound twice as good? I bet the answer will be, "No". Why is that? Well, now you enter the realm of The Law of Diminishing Returns. Yes, it does exist, especially in high end audio and truth be told that if you want something to sound twice as good as the Wiim Ultra, you might be investing in a 5 figure or more sound system and that I find totally ridiculous. Audiophiles get sucked into this huge rabbit hole and sometimes they become worse than gamblers. They keep stuffing more and more money into a sound system until they get to the point where they take a mortgage out on their house. While I am all for upgrading, things have to be done within moderation and reason and paying ridiculous figures on products that produce minuscule upgrades in sound. I mean really, spending $10k on a speaker system, $5k on an amplifier, $350,000 on a turntable (yes, I have actually seen this), $7k on a streamer, another $5k on a DAC, is absurd and demonstrates a mentality that borders on the imbecilic. Spending ridiculous figures like this is just feeding the trolls. The greedy people that make the products, market them and export them. I know that many people might think, why the long comment when I can't really stop the people out there that truly believe they are getting what they pay for with very high priced gear. Still, it is worth mentioning, because trolling has to stop and educating people and telling them that you need to do your due diligence and research to make sure what you ARE getting what you pay for and not something that is worth 100's or even 1000's less. Another story I have seen here is that a popular European speaker builder exports a speaker here to the US and it sells for $2200. A reviewer here on You Tube had taken the speaker apart and the cost in materials amounted to a speaker that the company should be charging around $400 for. As it turns out, the speaker sells for around $800 in Europe, so where does the rest of the $1400 go? I guess to line an exporters wallet. When it comes to audio, I pride myself in putting together a great sounding system that doesn't break the bank. Supporting companies that believe this too is the way to go for me. Fosi Audio, Wiim, Elac, and Emotiva share in this belief and put out a good product for a decent price. Of course there are some companies out there that do make a good product and command a premium for them. McIntosh was one I mentioned already. I have looked into Wharfedale speakers, and they are the real deal as well. Many of their cabinets feature actual wood veneer and cast frame drivers. When it comes to speakers, I recommend checking out Danny's page at GR Research and Erin's Audio Corner. These guys do extensive testing on speakers and will let you know what is good or not. For most affordable equipment, I have been a big fan of CheapAudioMan's You Tube channel, however, as of late, he has been posting expensive items as well as affordable items. Yet, when he is in his element and does a review on an affordable piece of equipment, he does a good job of it, so I still recommend his page. Anyway, sorry for the long rant as to why I don't like to spend the amount of a car on a sound system. I just found what you said interesting and it correlates with my beliefs in putting together a good sound system and no you don't have to spend more than $5000 to do it. (To all) In fact I have put together many systems in the $1000 to $2000 range. If you still think you need to spend 5 figures or more on a sound system, then I can't help you. Four out of Five times you are probably wasting your money.

[@alexlopez-u3i]

Wiim ultra is perfect for most people. I had it and loved it. However i then discovered the eversolo which sounds better and it also has dsd capability and you can use it as a music server. A lot more features but then again its $860 compared to $330. Overall though ultra is great for majority. Great product

[@audioarkitekts]

I haven’t experienced Eversolo gear, I’ll have to look into it.

[@trekkis]

EverSolo is a lot worse. No lfe, no bass/cross management, no arc, no analog input, no Chromecast, worse soft, and sound far, far worse than wiim plus better external dac (plus lfe sub with bass management) both still cheaper than eversolo alone. I changed eversolo for wiim, and wiim is from entirely different league.

[@alexlopez-u3i]

@@trekkis could not disagree more. Eversolo as a streamer alone (which is my use) sounds much better. The wiim is a better “preamp” i will give you that but as far as sound no contest. Eversolo has eq capability as well (before it didnt). Also the dsd capability and the internal HD and the ability to i stall a 4 tb HD is incredible. The eversolo is a more highend product. The wiim (like i stated in my original comment) is a better buy for the masses . From a sound perspective you cant compare them. Even if you want to use the internal dac, the eversolo has a much more superior output stage which makes it sound better. Ive had them both as well. The only reason i can see the wiim as better is if you wanna use it as a preamp. Then yes, sub out and hdmi are a factor. I will agree with you in that respect. On the rest, agree to disagree. These are good problems to have! Enjoy the music.

[@trekkis]

@@alexlopez-u3i Eversolo is classic cheap sigma, exactly the same type as wiim with all the same classic sigma OS problems. No any comparison with real much better dacs Nos type. And totally no any comparison in case of properly used lfe. Once again, I had eversolo and sold it. No any competition. It is technically impossible to have sound on the same level with eversolo (without cross management), and eversolo alone is simply poor, as every sigma is (including rme - also sold). Especially when one invests huge difference in price in real dac. Uncomparably better effect (separate real dac Nos type + cross management). EQ alone is not bass / cross management. Simply, if there is sigma there is no high end. Output stage in this case simply doesn't matter, Dsd has also no any meaning. Internal hdd do not make any real difference, especially when library functionality is so poor and slow as it is in eversolo.

[@alexlopez-u3i]

@@trekkis lol. Ok bud. Enjoy your wiim.

[@jkim4712]

I wonder if SMPS in the Wiim ultra can be upgraded with LPS like Eversolo streamer, because as the pure steamer Wiim pro I upgraded with custom LPS, power and USB cable was a clearly next level streamer. I know this for sure, because I have two Wiim pro and I do compare them in the same system simultaneously. With an upgrade I can hear better texture, extra bottom end, smoother and more extended high, wider sound stage, more definition on vocals, just about every aspect of sound has improved. I like the Wiim ultra, but if it can not be upgraded with LPS, I am not interested since my upgraded Wiim pro is the next level streamer already.

[@kazzzer4876]

Feeling you perfectly mate, I recently added a linear power supply to my streamer and was shocked at how much has changed! It's like a new streamer! Without which I will definitely not go anymore.

[@KelvinHannah-v5p]

Burley View

[@SnapperX3]

Clock background wallpaper could be more attractive, otherwise no complaints