WiiM Ultra music streamer
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The WiiM Amp Extremely is accessible on Amazon for $529.
- In case your most popular methodology of listening to music is through streaming companies, it is a nice amp to personal.
- To make use of a turntable, you may want a preamp.
Observe ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
I am not gonna lie, I am a music snob. Each by way of the music I take heed to and the gadgets I select as a supply system. I’ve spent more cash than I care to confess on audio tools, all within the title of chasing that auditory excessive.
After I obtain audio tools to evaluate (particularly amps), I’ve to tone down my expectations. That is particularly so when an amp is primarily meant for streaming. My most popular music supply is dealt with through vinyl, however that does not imply I am in opposition to streaming. I really stream fairly a bit as nicely as a result of it helps me discover new music.
Additionally: Changing these 5 soundbar settings made my living room feel like a movie theater
For many, streaming is proscribed to both their computer systems or telephones, however what if I advised you there was an amp that’s geared particularly for streaming? Effectively, there may be, and it is fairly good.
The amp in query is the WiiM Amp Ultra. It is smooth, straightforward to make use of, and delivers excellent sound, even from streaming companies. And if you happen to decide to go along with a service that provides high-resolution streaming, it is even higher.
Greatest moveable projector offers of the week
Offers are chosen by the CNET Group commerce crew, and could also be unrelated to this text.
My expertise
Upon unboxing the Amp Extremely, I am not gonna lie — I used to be upset to search out that it did not embody a preamp, which meant I wasn’t going to be connecting my turntable to it. In the end, that is superb as a result of vinyl lovers aren’t the goal marketplace for this machine. In case your turntable features a preamp, you possibly can join it on to the Amp Extremely, nevertheless. I’ve a pair of preamps however they have been misplaced within the shuffle of a transfer, so I will have to check this child with out my beloved Rega P8.
With that in thoughts, I related it to my KEF speakers and my System76 Thelio, then related it (through the distant) to my community. As soon as that was executed, I allowed the system to replace and fired up Spotify.
Additionally: This new Spotify feature almost made me ditch Apple Music – but iOS 26 changed my mind
Word that you could join your streaming accounts instantly from the amp itself, which works with just about all the fundamental music streaming companies, together with Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Oobuz, Pandora, TuneIn, Soundcloud, and extra. You might additionally decide to make use of an audio participant in your PC and ship that sign to the Amp Extremely — or perhaps a CD participant related to your PC.
In different phrases, you will have loads of choices.
With every part related, I fired up Spotify on my PC and gave the Amp Extremely the as soon as over, and I used to be impressed. Not solely is the interface very nicely designed (making it straightforward to navigate a menu system that’s usually complicated on such gadgets), however it additionally delivers some superb sound.
First off, there is a device that permits you to customise the sound to finest match your listening room. I extremely suggest you undergo this course of as a result of it is going to vastly enhance the sound high quality. After all, to try this, it’s a must to obtain the WiiM mobile app (you needed to know that was coming). Additionally it is via this app that you simply join the amp to your community and run the RoomFit app to customise the amp’s sound to your room.
The sound customization is dealt with through a built-in mic on the amp.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Additionally: The best MP3 players of 2025
On the Amp Extremely show, you may additionally discover fairly a couple of completely different EQ choices. I cycled via them and located every to be distinctive. As a substitute of sticking with a single EQ, I made a decision to use a special one to particular genres, and it made an enormous distinction. Positive, that is a ache to should continuously be shifting via EQ choices (particularly if you happen to’re listening to a playlist that accommodates a number of genres), however on this case, it is value it.
The excellent news is that you could additionally create a customized EQ via the WiiM House cellular app. Even higher, the app’s EQ is 10-band, so you will get pretty granular together with your curve. Mess around with this and you will find you possibly can actually get some good sound from it.
Be mindful, if you happen to’re coping with streaming companies, the purpose is to not get audiophile-quality sound, however to get the absolute best sound for the service, the room, and the audio system. In that sense, the WiiM Amp Extremely does a superb job.
Additionally: I’ve yet to find a pair of Bluetooth earbuds that nails comfort, audio, and price like this one
I might even go as far as to say that is the very best sub-$600 amp I’ve ever used. You get a bit of heat (greater than you’d assume from an all-digital amp, loads of headroom, a pleasant huge soundstage (which, after all, is dependent upon your audio system), and nil distortion. One factor I actually admire is that you simply get all of that with out having to crank the factor as much as 11. Even at decrease volumes, the WiiM Amp Extremely sounds nice.
I feel the factor that most individuals will admire is that the WiiM Amp Extremely is very easy to arrange and use. I’ve labored with related kinds of amps which are a trouble to rise up and operating and use convoluted menu methods which are arduous to grasp (even for these of us who’ve been across the sound block a time or two). So, if you happen to usually battle getting expertise arrange, you should have no points with this amp).
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
Ultimately, the WiiM Amp Ultra strikes a superb steadiness between ease of use and fantastic sound. If that feels like one thing you are in search of, and also you are inclined to stream most of your music, you would be hard-pressed to discover a higher choice for $529.
Provided that the Amp Extremely takes up little or no house, this factor is a winner throughout.
WiiM Extremely digital preamp specs
- Amplification Energy – 100W per channel at 8Ω; 200W at 4Ω
- Speaker Compatibility – Drives as much as 4 passive audio system
- Chassis Materials – Unibody aluminum chassis
- Weight – 5.4 lbs (roughly 2.45 kg)
- Dimensions – 7.9″ x 2.9″ x 7.9″
- DAC – ESS ES9039Q2M SABRE DAC
- Amplifier Chips – Twin TI TPA3255 Class-D
- Op-Amps – Six TI OPA1612
- Distortion – Extremely-low distortion
- HDMI ARC – Sure, with Dolby Digital decoding
- USB-A – Direct connection for storage gadgets
- Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth – Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio
- Streaming Companies – Helps Spotify, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Qobuz, and extra through WiiM House App
