THINGS HAVE CHANGED! WiiM Ultra Pre/DAC/Streamer Review

The WiiM Ultra has an amazing feature set and fantastic user app. But how does it sound? Can it rival the more expensive Eversolo DMP-A6?

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Mission 778X

Rega IO

Cambridge Audio AXA35

Cambridge Audio CXA61

Audiolab 7000A

Arcam SA10

Cambridge Audio CXN 100

Auralic Vega S1 & PSU

Wharfedale Super Denton

Elac Uni-Fi Reference UBR62

Iota VX SA3 & PA3 (Early video, apologies for the low production quality)

Audiolab 6000A (Early video, apologies for the low production quality)

Time stamps:
0:00 Intro
1:17 Design & features
4:30 Sound quality
8:07 Setup & partnering equipment
13:23 Conclusion

[derekwebster]

As ever, reviews with clarity, informative and relevant. Good production also.

[shaunroberts]

Great review, thank you! I bought a Wiim Ultra on a whim! It performs perfectly using an external dac via USB. I have to say it sounds fantastic, your 'Oustanding' accreditation is well deserved. It doesn't sound bad with RCA out, but works best for my system as a transport..
The case is aluminium not plastic, and i really like having the screen for close up operation, I especially like the VU meter, not that is makes it sound better. I watched a tear down on this unit and its loaded with good quality components. My BS Node is having a little restbite atm..
Pls keep up the fantastic reviews...👍

[AlexanderG-miip]

Thanks for reviewing something so affordable. The landmark product during my audio journey has to be the Cambridge Audio AXA35 amplifier, which I bought, thanks to your excellent review, a year ago. In spite of its power rating, it works like a beast, comfortably driving my not too sensitive Dali bookshelf speakers...

[drfubars]

Tarun, you get straight to the point, speak clearly and give no fluffs… great job.
I get that audio reviewing is subjective, but there’s something about the way you present that makes me trust you. Somehow I know you speak truthfully. 👍🏻
BTW, I heard that popping you mentioned on the analog in and out on my Ultra; but I changed interconnects and it went away. If you can try it, please provide an update. Thanks.

[ajky]

I just wanted to add, that you can alter the room corrections settings. You just have to save the new eq profile first, then you can alter and fine tune the final result.

It’s also possible to go into the room corrections settings and alter the frequency’s adjusted, the maxiumium gain and the Q factor before you run the corrections. It also lets you choose between harmon, Bk and flat target curves.

All the best!

[andrewforsythe]

Excellent review. Amazing what is achieved for such a low price. Really good for the consumer. Got me thinking. Thanks !

[elmerjohnston]

I watch a lot of audio reviewers, and yours are always top notch, keep up the great work.

[willlodge]

Thanks for a good review. I have owned the Ultra for about 6 weeks now and love it. As for landmark audio kit, it is either the original Sony Walkman or the google chromecast audio, a streaming device for £30 with an optical output. I still have one in my kitchen going into my Marantz amp (using marantz dac) and I love it. Also able to create a multi room set up with the WiiM. And it’s 11 years old. 🎉

[theoriginalcraig]

The WiiM room correction CAN BE adjusted. Every single parameter of it! After running room correction, go into EQ, and it'll be set to the room correction settings, then you can adjust frequency, gain, and q for every one of them. Then you can save it and give it a name, and this can be repeated for twenty saved presets.

[mden]

Thanks for another great review, that is concise and informative! I have had my WiiM Ultra for about 2 months and really like it. I mostly stream tidal and qobuz through it. It’s amazing what they have done for the price, and regardless of what others say it really does make you scratch your head at the prices others are charging for their products, considering one can argue that the the law of diminishing returns is real in hifi, and we are simply paying for the name. WiiM is literally updating the app almost every week and the updating firmware at least monthly and listening to its customers! With the price that some others are charging for their products you would think that they would make an effort such as this! I remember when I had the Cambridge CXN v2 great sounding streamer, but it would take them months for them to fix issues. If you take care of your customers like WiiM does and give them a product that is affordable, well built, updated on a regular basis, listens to it customers and plays and sounds way above its price point. People will keep coming back.

[BobbyBass-xi]

Thanks for the review. I have the Wiim Pro Plus and it works and has a lot of useful features. The DAC sound quality isn’t as good as more expensive units I have but at its price point it’s a great value.

[kimhunter]

Great review but to correct you slightly the room correction eq can be adjusted if you save the eq as a custom parametric eq. Then you can adjust it all you want. You can also contol how much gain the correction gives aswell as the frequency range it eq's before you do the measurement.

[mkcraghead]

My landmark audio product are my speakers, assuming that you aren't restricting the conversation to electronics. They are Martin Logan SL3's. I had originally planned on getting smaller ML, though I don't remember the model. While I was demoing them again I asked it I could hear the SL3 just for giggles. There were no giggles. I was blown away. After I heard them there was no going back to the more "accessible" Martin Logans. I ended up doing a whole ML home theater setup with Scripts in the rear, a Cinema center, and eventually a Descent for sub. I've never regretted that decision at all.

Great review on the Wiim Ultra. I'm thinking about getting one eventually.

[mauort]

I love how dust free that glass top is when you show off your amps. well done

[adaboyz]

I purchased the WiiM Ultra last month and I have been satisfied. It's connect to my TV and integrated amp in the man cave. If it last 5 or so years it was well worth it.

[morgannickw]

Great review. I run a Wiim pro into an Audiolab 7000a. Landmark for me was Apple airport express optical out into an external Dac. I think this really led the way regarding streaming

[therealgoetz]

Great review as always. Being a cable repudiator who does not too often listen to vinyl anymore I‘m very happy with the features of this product. As the phono-input is an ADC there is no need for RCA cable, all passes through the one USB or COAX cable that is connected my WISA transmitter. For me there is no need for airplay as I use Tidal connect to bypass any potentiel sound treatment of my phone.

[joeythedime]

Thank you, Tarun for another very professional review. I believe that Eversolo should have put an eARC input on the DMP-A6 / DMP-A6 Master Edition.

[threecakes]

Thanks for a concise informative review. My 'landmark product' was a second hand Sugden A25 amp, purchased in the mid 90s. This unit was at the centre of my system for over fifteen years - until the push button switches eventually wore out... I still miss it.

[kenr]

Excellent review as always. I’ve had the Wiim Pro Plus for about 6 months and use it exclusively as a streamer. I upgraded the power supply along with the Spdif cable, and the sound is excellent.