WiiM Ultra Music Streamer & Digital Preamp | 3.5" Touchscreen, Compatible with Google Cast & Alexa, Stream Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal & More | HDMI ARC, Phono Input & Headphone Output | Space Gray

A review of an audio device should come with some context of the writer, what they listen to, and what their other gear is: My uses are for multiple kinds of music from classic rock, to some classical, to some electronic dance, and even some outlaw country. My system includes a clean Onkyo amplifier, older JBL 10” 3-way speakers, and I am bypassing the WiiM DAC by passing the SPDIF data into a Denafrips Ares 2 DAC. That said, my review is probably not audiophile-grade, but audiophile-ish. My perception of sound quality in this review is compared to that of a Marantz CD6007 CD player and my perception of sound quality.The most important thing about the WiiM Ultra for me was the ability to bypass the built-in DAC so I could maximize sound quality to my ears by passing through my own DAC. Great news: It does that, beautifully. And it’s amazing. By using my own DAC, I can only barely tell the difference between a CD and even Spotify. That could set a clear line in the sand about my hearing, but I’m baffled at how close to CD quality the WiiM with my Denafrips DAC can get. It’s gets so close, it’s no longer distracting how different the sound is between streaming and CD.Now, I acknowledge that the DAC is a specialized piece of gear, but it has allowed me to homogenize the tonality of sound between CD and streaming. The WiiM connects via SPDIF, allowing for connection to any DAC you like, which was the use case that led me to finally buy a dedicated streamer. The versatility to do this pushes this into the zone where it’s an interesting to those interested in maximizing and curating a tailor-fit sound quality. The WiiM Ultra hits the mark here.It’s also beautifully easy to use. I can operate my streams from my phone, carry it around the house. Love that. It’s great.It may also be valuable to know that the screen is super fun, because I can finally just walk by and see what’s playing - and so can anyone else in the house. So nice to not have this all hidden only in one person’s phone.The design of the device is also super beautiful. Sits next to my Marantz CD player and fits right in. That’s phenomenal at this price point.So, here’s the thing - I’m probably a “practical audiophile” - I love music, I’m a little picky about sound quality, but I don’t have tens of thousands of dollars worth of gear, but I do have a sizeable investment in equipment to get as good of sound as I can. I’ve been skeptical about streaming because of sound quality (and the need for perpetual subscriptions). And the WiiM Ultra is the first dedicated streaming device I’ve ever chosen to give a chance — because of the ability to use my own DAC. It hits all the right marks given my use case: Super easy to use, beautiful design, the ability to attach my own DAC, and there aren’t any gimmicks … it’s great.Even on Spotify, with my DAC, it’s so close to CD quality, I’m no longer distracted by the fact that the stream sound quality has such different sound signature than CD. In my use case, this is a perfect solution, and it’s clear that I’m WiiM’s perfect customer. I’m sold, and I would recommend this to anyone who wants great flexibility to expand in the future, but have something beautifully functional in the meantime that likely needs no upgrades at all to still be phenomenal.Five stars on providing an affordable device that finally hits in the zone of the venerable CD for music lovers.

Great product with great support/app/software, and updates!Really easy to use and enjoy!Build quality is really good, but all plastic. Connectivity~ lots of inputs and options! Would like a few more screen graphics/options. Very good sound quality for the money! Best bang for the bucks out there!

This has got to be one of the best home audio purchases I’ve ever made!!I own the Edifier S3000 mkii’s as well as the Klipsch R-40PM’s and use either depending on the sound I’m in the mood for. I hook them up to my Klipsch R-100SW subwoofer via the sub out line on the WiiM and use the WiiM room correction sound tool to customize the sound to my room. And wow! The improved clarity and sound profile this provides vs simply hooking your speakers up to the TV via an optical cord is reason to purchase alone!The built in DAC is phenomenal and enables endless sound customization and the ability to play Dolby Atmos sound (converted to PCM Atmos) via my TV. The WiiM app is cool and has TONS of features to play around with to satisfy most non-professional audiophile’s like myself.I’d say if you’re looking to greatly improve your speakers performance and want to leverage the latest home theater technology at a bargain price, get this ASAP!!

I love the WiiM. I strive to be helpful. This review explains my use case (yours may be very different, but somewhere out there someone is looking for this set up), then ease of use, and, finally, quality of output. The disclaimer is I do not claim to be an audiophile; I'm just a guy who likes to have music on. Here is the preface. I needed a system for a little place we have so we can look in on my elderly father, and we might eventually move him into this condo. At home, I am running a Sonos Amp with Magenpan speakers and a Hsu subwoofer. But 2500 miles away, we have kept things simple.Here is what I am trying to do. I failed initially. I thought I would use Sonos Roam units, but I could not, unless I settled for mono. We have internet at home of course. We have a 100% legitimate means to access wifi at the condo as well: the subscription we bought includes a national network of hotspots. Since we are only at the unit intermittently, it would have be inordinately expensive to sign up for another ISP. The catch, then, with Sonos or anything running over a wifi network is you cannot rely on a shared network to make it work, even if your source is on the same network. The Sonos has bluetooth connectivity, but it won't pair units, so it cannot generate stereo sound. In addition, however, I have old, first generational Harman Kardon Soundsticks. They use old school USB cables. I like their sound. They were just gathering dust. Enter WiiM. It allowed me to stream music to the Soundsticks. That is a great strength of this design. It has every input and every output I can think of. The legacy ports extend the lifespan of devices.I had to fiddle a bit to get it working. I did not become frustrated. Within ten minutes of unboxing, we were up and running. My wife is the primary user. She puts on what she wants to hear on her iPhone. It might be possible to do something more directly from the WiiM control panel, but I am satisfied.As to the sound, I like the vintage equipment. It is good not too loud. Anything sounds good if the volume is turned up. But it has as much clarity and detail as I can discern, quiet — the space is not big, and we strive to be decent neighbors. I read about the codec. This is lossy. It suffices. I doubt anyone who is looking for the best in sound reproduction is streaming to begin with. I would opine, without expertise, the home setup is superior enough you would notice in a side by side blind test. But for the weekends we are listening to the WiiM, we have no complaints. You trade convenience for quality.Finally, I’d say from the look and feel of the machine, it is a quality piece of kit. I expect to get several years of service.