WiiM Ultra Streaming Processor: Redefining Value in Hi-Fi Streaming

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A big thank you to WiiM Australia for lending us both the WiiM Ultra and Amp Pro for our testing and review.

The WiiM Ultra Streaming Processor brings a fresh perspective to the budget Hi-Fi market, offering a combination of advanced digital streaming, DAC functionality, and pre-amplification—all for just $329 (AU$599). Designed as a versatile all-in-one, it caters to both entry-level and serious audio enthusiasts.

But does it truly live up to its promise of delivering premium performance at a budget price? In this review, we’ll critically examine the WiiM Ultra by evaluating its technical specs, real-world performance, and user feedback. Each category will be scored to measure its strengths and weaknesses, concluding with an overall rating out of 100.

Packaging: A Premium Touch at an Affordable Price

Keywords: WiiM Amp Pro packaging, product presentation, attention to detail

In a market where budget-friendly streaming devices often come in bland and functional packaging, the WiiM Ultra stands out by offering a polished and carefully curated unboxing experience. From the moment you lift the lid, it’s evident that WiiM has put thoughtful effort into ensuring their product feels refined and purposeful right from the start.

Each component is neatly tucked away in its own dedicated, clearly labeled compartments, making it easy to locate the cables, adapters, and the Ultra itself. The attention to detail in organizing the accessories reflects WiiM’s focus on delivering not just an exceptional product, but also an enjoyable first impression. The Ultra arrives securely packaged to prevent scratches or damage, further highlighting the care WiiM puts into presentation.

While the packaging is simple in design, it conveys a sense of sophistication uncommon at this price point. It’s a clear indicator that the WiiM Ultra is built with quality in mind, even before you plug it in.tes how WiiM values the user experience from the very start.

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Design and Build Quality: Minimalist Aesthetic with Some Flaws

Keywords: WiiM Ultra sleek design, aluminum casing, touchscreen utility

At first glance, the WiiM Ultra impresses with its minimalist design, blending a sleek aluminum casing with a 3.5-inch glass-covered touchscreen. Its compact form and clean lines look modern, and the overall visual appeal leans toward a premium aesthetic typically reserved for higher-priced products. However, a closer inspection reveals some imperfections that betray its budget pricing. While the sides are aluminum, the top panel is made of plastic, which detracts from its otherwise sturdy appearance. This choice is reasonable given its price point, but it may disappoint users seeking a fully metal build.

The rotary volume knob is a great addition, but it lacks the smooth tactile experience expected in high-quality components. While some other reviewers and users took issue with this, I didn’t find it a problem. Thankfully, remote and app control options provide robust alternatives for bypassing this issue. However, I will say that WiiM’s other products such as the Amp Pro feature higher-quality rotary knob mechanisms.

While the inclusion of a touchscreen display is a welcome addition, the ever-so-slight lack of responsiveness and dull color palette stand out as weak points. Swiping and navigating the interface feels basic compared to competitors like Bluesound Node or Eversolo. However, the touchscreen still adds utility, providing setup and navigation functions such as album art, VU meters, and input/output options, and is great at this price point.

Score: 7/10

The WiiM Ultra achieves an elegant yet basic design. It makes an excellent first impression, but cost-cutting measures—such as the top panel’s plastic construction and cheap knob—hold it back from being truly premium in feel and utility. However, at this price, we feel these are appropriate cut-backs.

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Connectivity: Outstanding Range with Minor Omissions

Keywords: HDMI ARC, Analog RCA, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3

Where the WiiM Ultra truly shines is in its comprehensive connectivity suite. Whether your audio system leans analog, digital, or a hybrid of both, this device likely has you covered. Inputs include HDMI ARC, phono (turntable), optical (TOSLINK), RCA line-in, USB, and Ethernet, making it one of the most versatile streamers in its price bracket. For outputs, it provides RCA, optical, and coaxial digital, along with a headphone jack and subwoofer out, accommodating everything from traditional amplifiers to powered speakers.

Its wireless capabilities are equally remarkable. Out of the box, the Ultra supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Multi-room functionality impresses, with expansive platform compatibility for Amazon Echo, Google Nest, and WiiM speakers, but it stumbles when facing Apple’s ecosystem, as AirPlay 2 and HomePod grouping are missing.

One glaring omission on the wireless side is LDAC support, a codec heavily favored by audiophiles using Bluetooth for Hi-Res Audio. The absence of LDAC limits its potential appeal to users with premium Bluetooth headphones (e.g., Sony WH-1000XM5) or speakers that support this format.

In addition, I would love to see streaming boxes that support HDMI ARC – such as the WiiM Ultra reviewed here – to include a centre channel output, with a Dolby Pro Logic II or similar in-house processing. It would allow proper voice steering to a centre channel for TV listening, which would make these boxes a lot more easy to recommend in place of a home theatre amp.

One way to get around this issue is to use speakers that have absolutely flawless imaging even off-centre – such as our own SHC LCR10 speakers – almost feeling like you have headphones on. While that is a tall ask of anything with a simple tweeter without a horn, that would be my recommendation if you are going to be listening to a lot of TV through stereo speakers.

Score: 9/10

The WiiM Ultra offers unmatched connectivity for its price. A treasure trove of inputs, outputs, and wireless features ensures maximum versatility, though the lack of LDAC and AirPlay 2 slightly tarnish an otherwise stellar score.

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Audio Performance: Exceptional for the Price

Keywords: ESS Sabre ES9038 Q2M, Hi-Res Audio, 32-bit/384kHz

The WiiM Ultra’s audio performance cements its position as a serious contender for audiophiles on a budget. At the core of its sound is the ESS Sabre ES9038 Q2M DAC, a renowned component used in audio products costing two or three times more. Its specs are impressive for the price, supporting 32-bit/384kHz audio, with a Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N) level of -116 dB. The Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of 121 dB ensures clean, distortion-free performance with substantial dynamic range. These specs mostly bore out during Audio Science Forum’s review.

Listening Impressions:

• Rich Musicality: The Ultra delivers a warm, fluid, and natural sound signature, avoiding the clinical sharpness often found in other budget Sabre DACs.
• Bass Weight: The sound is lively and engaging, with a full-bodied bass response.
• Dynamic Staging: Imaging and soundstage are solid for its price, though it doesn’t achieve the holographic precision found in ultra-high-end systems. Again, speaker matching can help with this.

While its performance stands tall at this price point, it can’t fully rival $5,000+ streamers in terms of hyper-detail and airy resolution. Additionally, the headphone out will struggle with high-impedance headphones, making it less viable for headphone enthusiasts seeking reference-quality sound.

Score: 8.5/10

The WiiM Ultra punches above its weight with rich, detailed sound and a warm tonal character. It excels for most users but slightly lacks precision and headphone output strength compared to premium alternatives.

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Usability: App Shines, Touchscreen Falls Behind

Keywords: WiiM Home App, Intuitive Control, Multiroom Setup

The WiiM Home App is a standout feature, I enjoyed its ease of use, seamless responsiveness, and reliability across platforms. It supports native controls for streaming services like Spotify, TIDAL Connect, and Qobuz. Features like EQ customization, gapless playback, and multiroom audio control make it one of the most polished apps in the budget-streamer category. Compared to alternatives like HEOS or Volumio, the WiiM Home app wins for its user-friendliness and intuitive design.

However, the usability of the on-device controls and touchscreen leaves room for improvement. While swiping gestures reveal VU meters, EQ controls, and other menus, it’s not necessarily intuitive. Moreover, the touchscreen’s slightly laggy responsiveness and limited resolution make it feel slightly less polished than rivals. However, as discussed previously, these are understandable cut-backs considering the cost of the device, and they don’t distract from the excellent value of the device.

Score: 8/10

The app experience is top-tier, but the touchscreen and physical UI fall slightly short. Improvements here could elevate the overall usability significantly.

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PRICE CHECK

Use the below links to check the most up-to-date product price.

Retailers
Amazon.com
Amazon.com.au

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Value Proposition: Unmatched Bang for Your Buck

Keywords: Affordable Hi-Fi, Sub-$400 Streamer, Budget Audiophile Gear

Priced at just $329, the WiiM Ultra is game-changing. It offers many of the features found in devices costing $800–$1,200, such as the Bluesound Node or Eversolo DMP A8/A6, while delivering comparable sound performance, superior connectivity options, and excellent streaming capabilities. For its price bracket, it has no true rival.

Score: 10/10

The WiiM Ultra’s value is undeniable. It is the reigning champion of affordable Hi-Fi products.

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Final Product Score and Summary

Category Scores:

Criterion	Score
Design & Build	7/10
Connectivity	9/10
Audio Performance	8.5/10
Usability	8/10
Value	10/10

Overall Rating: 85/100

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Conclusion – Should You Buy the WiiM Ultra?

The WiiM Ultra Streaming Processor redefines what’s possible in the budget Hi-Fi category. While it isn’t flawless, the sheer amount of practical functionality, audio fidelity, and connectivity it delivers for $329 (AU$599) makes it a must-buy for most users. Its minor shortcomings in build quality and tactile controls are forgivable given the monumental value it offers in terms of sound performance and features. For anyone seeking to dip their toes into high-resolution streaming or those upgrading from basic audiophile gear, the WiiM Ultra is a logical choice.

Recommendation: If you’re a Hi-Fi enthusiast on a budget—or someone seeking a high-performing streaming DAC for under $400 (AU$600)—the WiiM Ultra is a no-brainer.

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PRICE CHECK

Use the below links to check the most up-to-date product price.

Retailers
Amazon.com
Amazon.com.au