I switched to a digital preamp for music streaming, and it was the best decision ever
If you stream your music and want better audio than a Bluetooth speaker can offer, the WiiM Amp Ultra is the way to go.
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ZDNET's key takeaways
- The WiiM Amp Ultra is available on Amazon for $529.
- If your preferred method of listening to music is via streaming services, this is a great amp to own.
- To use a turntable, you'll need a preamp.
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I'm not gonna lie, I'm a music snob. Both in terms of the music I listen to and the devices I choose as a delivery system. I've spent more money than I care to admit on audio equipment, all in the name of chasing that auditory high.
When I receive audio equipment to review (especially amps), I have to tone down my expectations. This is especially so when an amp is primarily meant for streaming. My preferred music delivery is handled via vinyl, but that doesn't mean I'm against streaming. I actually stream quite a bit as well because it helps me find new music.
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For most, streaming is limited to either their computers or phones, but what if I told you there was an amp that is geared specifically for streaming? Well, there is, and it's quite nice.
The amp in question is the WiiM Amp Ultra. It's sleek, easy to use, and delivers outstanding sound, even from streaming services. And if you opt to go with a service that offers high-resolution streaming, it's even better.
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My experience
Upon unboxing the Amp Ultra, I'm not gonna lie -- I was disappointed to find that it didn't include a preamp, which meant I wasn't going to be connecting my turntable to it. Ultimately, this is fine because vinyl enthusiasts aren't the target market for this device. If your turntable includes a preamp, you can connect it directly to the Amp Ultra, however. I have a pair of preamps but they were lost in the shuffle of a move, so I'll have to test this baby without my beloved Rega P8.
With that in mind, I connected it to my KEF speakers and my System76 Thelio, then connected it (via the remote) to my network. Once that was done, I allowed the system to update and fired up Spotify.
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Note that you can connect your streaming accounts directly from the amp itself, which works with virtually all of the main music streaming services, including Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Oobuz, Pandora, TuneIn, Soundcloud, and more. You could also opt to use an audio player on your PC and send that signal to the Amp Ultra -- or even a CD player connected to your PC.
In other words, you have plenty of options.
With everything connected, I fired up Spotify on my PC and gave the Amp Ultra the once over, and I was impressed. Not only is the interface very well designed (making it easy to navigate a menu system that is often confusing on such devices), but it also delivers some amazing sound.
First off, there's a tool that allows you to customize the sound to best match your listening room. I highly recommend you go through this process because it will vastly improve the sound quality. Of course, to do that, you have to download the WiiM mobile app (you had to know that was coming). It is also through this app that you connect the amp to your network and run the RoomFit app to customize the amp's sound to your room.
The sound customization is handled via a built-in mic on the amp.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
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On the Amp Ultra display, you'll also find quite a few different EQ options. I cycled through them and found each to be unique. Instead of sticking with a single EQ, I decided to apply a different one to specific genres, and it made a huge difference. Sure, that's a pain to have to constantly be shifting through EQ options (especially if you're listening to a playlist that contains several genres), but in this case, it's worth it.
The good news is that you can also create a custom EQ through the WiiM Home mobile app. Even better, the app's EQ is 10-band, so you can get fairly granular with your curve. Play around with this and you'll find you can really get some brilliant sound from it.
Keep in mind, if you're dealing with streaming services, the goal is not to get audiophile-quality sound, but to get the best possible sound for the service, the room, and the speakers. In that sense, the WiiM Amp Ultra does a brilliant job.
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I would even go so far as to say this is the best sub-$600 amp I've ever used. You get a bit of warmth (more than you'd think from an all-digital amp, plenty of headroom, a nice wide soundstage (which, of course, depends on your speakers), and zero distortion. One thing I really appreciate is that you get all of that without having to crank the thing up to 11. Even at lower volumes, the WiiM Amp Ultra sounds great.
I think the thing that most people will appreciate is that the WiiM Amp Ultra is really easy to set up and use. I've worked with similar types of amps that are a hassle to get up and running and use convoluted menu systems that are hard to understand (even for those of us who've been around the sound block a time or two). So, if you often struggle getting technology set up, you shouldn't have any issues with this amp).
ZDNET's buying advice
In the end, the WiiM Amp Ultra strikes a fine balance between ease of use and wonderful sound. If that sounds like something you're looking for, and you tend to stream most of your music, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better option for $529.
Given that the Amp Ultra takes up very little space, this thing is a winner all around.
WiiM Ultra digital preamp specs
- Amplification Power - 100W per channel at 8Ω; 200W at 4Ω
- Speaker Compatibility - Drives up to four passive speakers
- Chassis Material - Unibody aluminum chassis
- Weight - 5.4 lbs (approximately 2.45 kg)
- Dimensions - 7.9" x 2.9" x 7.9"
- DAC - ESS ES9039Q2M SABRE DAC
- Amplifier Chips - Dual TI TPA3255 Class-D
- Op-Amps - Six TI OPA1612
- Distortion - Ultra-low distortion
- HDMI ARC - Yes, with Dolby Digital decoding
- USB-A - Direct connection for storage devices
- Wi-Fi - Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth - Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio
- Streaming Services - Supports Spotify, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Qobuz, and more via WiiM Home App