WiiM Ultra, Mine Is Coming, Let's Talk About it! / Plus A Fun-Fi Tube Amp That Cooks!

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[@snoepox1257]

It has still not enough power to sit in my living room 😢 why the hell did they not upgrade the power output? Cant believe they didnt solved the only big problem the old one has.

[@flyindo]

Interesting. Will the screen of the Wiim Ultra also show volumelevel information when you turn the volume up or down?

[@jake46467]

Thanks, as always, for covering fun-fi from such a balanced perspective. As the offerings from Wiim, Fosi, Ayima, and others continue to advance do you think we'll get to a point where we see a proper pre-amp for non-desktop use from one or more of these companies? I'm someone who has a dedicated power amp and source (a CD player in my case) that I want to continue using but I'm using an decade+ old A/V receiver as a pre-amp mainly for the volume control and remote. The receiver does its job well but to be able to have a smaller component with some newer parts that doesn't get into that 'audiophile' price premium would be excellent. Something along the lines of what Schitt does with their comparatively lower priced pre-amps is what I have in mind.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Fosi has a new one coming to pair with their balanced offerings but it will likely be the desktop form factor.

[@barbarashissias9567]

Matt, can this device output the video of the streamer to the tv? My roku tv with earc dropped Tidal the other way around. I like to view videos from tidal on my tv. Thanks for the informative video.

[@user-fh7cv7vm7j]

Thanks for the vlog. Wiim has definitely carved their place in this market! I’ve recently upgraded from the Wiim Pro to the Volumio Rivo streamer feeding my existing Gustard R26 dac. A big difference in all aspects. The Wiim was powered by an external LPS that I now use for the Rivo. HOWEVER, I have to say the sound I was getting from the Wiim Pro via LPS and into the dac was insane for the price. There isn’t another audio brand that offers the same value for money as the Wiim streamers. This is a brand for the masses and is only going to keep improving.

[@MattCoykendall1]

I also have a Rivo, I will have to do some comparisons.

[@user-fh7cv7vm7j]

Sounds good. I’ve connected the Rivo via USB to my dac. I really do find that the LPS makes a difference. I also use Tidal via Roon.

[@patrikwatthammar7682]

Can the Wiim Ultra work as safe preamp if connected to a poweramp? I'm thinking that digital preamps sometimes have been known for faulty volume control damaging the speakers when the volume goes to max. Or does the Ultra have to be connected to an analouge preamp?

[@michaelwright1602]

Thanks Matt, will be looking forward to the new video on the Ultra. On a side note, I own a Pi2 Design Mercury V2 streamer. I have not used it since getting the WiiM Pro, so yesterday, I went and loaded up a fresh new copy of RoPieee and fired her up using Audirvana Studio and Qobuz. I have the WiiM Pro via digital coax, and the Mercury unit via i2s attached to my PS Audio DAC, and out to the ToneWinner AD-2PRO+ amp > Maggie LRS+/Zu DW6 Supremes, I can run both speakers off of this amp, and easily A/B the streamers on the DAC, so cool. Both the WiiM Pro and the Mercury V2 are powered with LHY Linear Power Supplies and hard wired into my network. I think I gave $800 for the Mercury V2, they have since come out with a V3. Anyhow, splitting hairs in regards to overall sound quality, at least on my system. I cannot tell the difference between the two. I had the Node N130 in here, the Cambridge CXN V2 and that other one, around a grand... Whatever. Bottom line, for the money, $100 for the power supply, $149 for the WiiM, $250 all in and it is beats up more expensive units with ease. These WiiM streamers are going to be hard to beat, and I can only imagine what they have up their sleeve in the coming years.

[@trauma50disaster1]

I still don't know what the wiim does? Is it so I can stream tidal? Right now I have to send tidal from my phone to the Sony 7000 AVR. Same with amazon music I think I have to airplay that. So it it better quality through a player like wiim? I like spatial audio, atmos music and Sony 360 Reality Audio. I have a roku ultra but it does not do music in spatial, just stereo.

[@Rustyybucket]

Hey Matt, Great video, really excited for the WiiM Ultra. Here's a use case that you might want to test out when you get around to making the review. I believe that the Ultra will be used in this config by a lot of people like myself since not many stereo amps have HPF. Could you test out connecting the sub to the WiiM for the low frequencies, and then Optical out to an external DAC or into an integrated amplifier for the higher frequencies. I think there'll be a lot of people out there who'll get the WiiM Ultra for this function, would be great to know how well it works.

[@TheJunkLullaby]

I’ve just logged on to say this is the EXACT reason I’m interested in the Ultra. I’m looking to pair it with my Topping MX5, which unfortunately lacks a sub out.

[@BoRerunn]

How do you think it'll match up to a J2 or an AUNE S9 pro

[@johnstump2433]

Do you think that the HDMI will display the screen information? I enjoy that feature with my Apple TV with my iTunes library, but the downside is I have to have the monitor on to navigate the information and with this new WiiM, it seems like you can use the small screen at times without having to turn your monitor on every time youwant to stream. And I was wondering if it would display album art with Amazon Music? I do own the mini and the pro plus, but have not been a fan of the DAC even in the pro plus and definitely not the mini “lol” so I have been using an outboard DAC With it. Without looking up, which one is in it, I take it the new Sabre is different than the pro plus ? is that correct?

[@MattCoykendall1]

I don’t believe we will get screen info over the hdmi, the dac in the pro plus is decent but the 9038 is a step higher tier in the lineup.

[@stevezeidman7224]

Nice job. I’m really looking forward to the Ultra. I’m kinda interested most in their room correction.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Agreed, that’s a big one for a lot of people

[@JoseFerreira-zb7wh]

It seems right now it only works with apple/ ios devices. They're trying to make it work using the built in mic from the remote. That would be killer!

[@beefsupreme510]

Ultra looks really dope! Wish it had an USB output w 768 pass through for up sampling w Roon. That would kill like all streamers! Also feel like the headphone amp isn’t needed. I’d rather have the USB out & a balanced XLR out

[@MattCoykendall1]

I would likely go with the balanced and USB as well

[@johndawson959]

AFAIK it does have USB output. I think balanced is for pro audio, can't see it necessary for entry level audio. Can anyone really hear the difference?

[@beefsupreme510]

@@johndawson959 The USB on this device is for input only, I’d like to see an USB output so it can be used w a better external dac. And no, balanced definitely is not for pro use only. There’s tons & tons of dacs & amps that run balanced & they usually sound better using that connection since some are designed around that as a priority over single ended

[@JensenTech]

The USB is also for output to a dac. It's your choice in the settings.

[@jimfarrell4635]

Horses for courses. I just received a Hifi Rose Rs130 for my main system. The screen is beautiful and useful, compared to my previous Aries G2 but my main driver is state of the art SQ with future proofing like optical ethernet, I2S and supercapacitor Psu. But in my AV system I use a Wiim Pro which sounds far superior to HEOS in my Denon. I think this new Wiim will appeal to lots of people with desktop, budget, mid fi and AV systems.

[@MattCoykendall1]

I have a bit of jealousy for that RS130, really neat device. I think you’re spot on with HEOS also.

[@mikecampbell5856]

Wiim is seriously kicking some butt! Affordable excellence. Great review Matt!

[@MattCoykendall1]

Thanks Mike

[@randomsuper]

Can't wait for the Ultra to arrive. My only complaint is that it doesn't come with a coaxial input and the addition of a phono stage. I personally would prefer an additional analog input.

[@steven2809]

Why would you want a phono stage on a streamer...? 😖

[@991carreras3]

I find that the screens on these device are just more of gimmicky thing control with a phone or tablet is much better. And a hdmi port why? It's not a A/V receiver so I'm not sure how using the hdmi is better than optical. If you could please compare the output stage & power supply compared to the pro plus that might be the reason to upgrade.

[@D1N02]

HDMI-ARC for hooking up a TV and being able to control the volume with your TV-remote. You can't do that with optical.

[@tmdillon1969]

@@D1N02 bingo. If this was out when I was putting together my family room system it would be the core for the HDMI-ARC. It's much easier to get the wife on board when the system is integrated with the TV without the intermediate steps.

[@991carreras3]

@D1N02 You can control the TV volume with the wiim pro plus remote with a optical connection.

[@991carreras3]

@D1N02 control isn't the issue sound quality was the main issue.

[@991carreras3]

@D1N02 You can control the TV volume with the wiim pro plus remote using a optical connection.

[@IvanITpro]

Please keep in mind that to this date all WiiM products that have an RCA input have always had an ADC step before sending it to the DAC and that includes a WiiM AMP that I have. IMHO that step changes the sound a bit - that’s being fed, but useful for people that want to stream that input to another WiiM device such as a turntable. I love my WiiM AMP, but the RCA input is useless for any quality listening, even if you feed it with a better DAC and opamp. It will be interesting how WiiM will implement an RIAA EQ in the phono input, I bet it will just have a digital EQ preset for it as the signal will most likely become digital again ... 😅🤷‍♂️

[@dougwhittet5538]

Can the ultra be used to play music from a desktop computer via a wired connection? It doesn’t appear to have the right kind of usb input for that.

[@punkhillbilly3869]

I got a USB C to RCA audio cable to connect the Wiim Pro Plus to my MacBook and it works perfectly.

[@dougwhittet5538]

So your cable has a built in DAC? Would prefer to use the DAC in the WiiM, but how?

[@punkhillbilly3869]

I use the DAC in the Wiim. The thing that sold me on the Wiim was their firmware updates and app. My son has Sonos and prefers my Wiim.

[@Mike-nh3be]

You should be able to use a USB C to HDMI cable which are about $20 on Amazon. I'm planning to do that from my iMac.

[@CarlVanDoren61]

How's the interface? BluOS user-friendly w Android 😊

[@MattCoykendall1]

The WiiM interface is pretty strong honestly, loads of good updates.

[@michaelwright1602]

The WiiM products have the best UI I have found on any streamer. Rock solid too. I have had a few streamers through here, Node too, and much more expensive ones than this, they have all been sold off. If I was going to upgrade my WiiM Pro, I would go with the Aurender N150 @ $3500. That is where I believe you will hear a discernible difference in overall sound quality, but cannot say on the UI.

[@AlexGrGR66]

Just add two Fosi monoblocks to the preouts and you have a boom!

[@johndawson959]

2 * Aiyima A07 Max in a single monoblock chassis for me...same idea though. Should be good.

[@AlexGrGR66]

At this price point the main difference to other preamps is the PEQ and the subwoofer out bass crossover control

[@pjeffries301]

Is no "coax in" a deal killer for anyone else.

[@tonymolina7744]

@MattCoykendall1 Hiya, this is interesting. I'm happy about the DAC upgrade. I'll wait until some of the dust settles around this. WiiM is great ... but so many releases turns yesterday's release into today's obsolete tech. At some point I imagine this will settle down and I'll take a look. At first glance, the display is nice, but a bit bigger would help. Thanks for another top-notch review my friend. 🙃

[@MattCoykendall1]

Certainly a lot of releases, I think it’s a case of a company gaining traction and just not wanting to let up. The upgrades on this one are pretty interesting, hoping it performs as well as it potentially should. Good to hear from you Tony!

[@riffraff9000]

I disconnect any LEDs under the tubes.

[@MattCoykendall1]

I get it

[@corrrect]

I was waiting for this to replace the wiim pro plus until I saw how small the screen was. I bite the bullet and bought a eversolo dmp-a6 master edition. I'm using it as a streamer with an external dac, and the sound quality upgrade is pretty big. The upgraded clock using spdif is worth it because the wiim as a source was a bottle neck in my system.

[@SnapperX3]

Thanks Matt

[@MattCoykendall1]

You bet!

[@D1N02]

I am just sceptical about the sound quality the Ultra will have compared to more audiophile dedicated streaming options. I don't care for screens on my gear because of limited usability compared to an app and light pollution. Sure WIIM has said we will be able to turn it off, but I will still be paying for it. A waste of my money and the planets resources. It is too bad the Ultra doesn't have balanced out, otherwise it would be an ideal pairing candidate with the ZA3 and V3 Mono's. Fosi is developing a pre-amp that will be balanced though and most people already have a streamer they van hook up to that.

[@MattCoykendall1]

The balanced connections would have been great here I agree. I have a feeling they know and understand the demand for that feature as well but are keeping to some form of upgrade or progression path for their devices. I plan to get that Fosi pre in as well once it finally comes out!

[@garrickhanson]

What advantage do you see with balanced, unless you have noise problems in your system?

[@D1N02]

@@garrickhanson for better integration with other components and a lower noise floor. Also planning on mono blocks, so I will be needing longer runs.

[@garrickhanson]

@@D1N02 That makes sense. I'm hoping to keep my runs short, but I can definitely see how it would be nice to have the option.

[@Nordraw]

Seems like WiiM will be releasing an upgrade to this soon, making this obsolete very quickly. So it’s a no go

[@steven2809]

It won't be 'obsolete'...unless you suffer from FOMO.....🙄

[@c0mbat15]

Seems like? Where did that rumour come from?

[@Nordraw]

@@steven2809 once they make an improved model nobody will touch that one.

[@trumptardtearcollector9867]

All I can see them doing at this point is adding an amplifier to it and I'm not interested in their amplifiers I have plenty of my own.

[@roybrolsbeak]

YEAH SPIT SOME FACTS SIR, WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT

[@wtcwtc9861]

I don't get why so many reviewers are geeking out over a budget streamer that they haven't even had their mitts on? Why not wait until you actually have one in hand and do a proper review, you know, like you do with any other product?

[@Smfins]

Probably because the WiiM products have been excellent. I ended up getting rid of my high dollar streamers and have settled on the WiiM pro plus with no regrets. $219 compared to streamers between $600-$2000

[@NeverTakeNoShortcuts]

So you get paid to "review" this?

[@MattCoykendall1]

I did not get paid to review this. The only paid part of this video is the short ad which allows me to even make these videos.