What we liked
- The strong, perfectly controlled power
- The tight, energetic bass
- The complete, versatile streaming ecosystem
- The HDMI ARC connectivity
- The compact, elegant format
We would have liked
- A more ergonomic touchscreen
- An integrated headphone output
- A more generous selection of wired connectors
- Finer microphone calibration (highly variable, depending on the phone used)
Our expert’s opinion
With the WiiM Amp Ultra, the brand has succeeded in combining the amplification power of the VibeLink and the ergonomics of the WiiM Ultra streamer in a compact, elegant device. Its streaming ecosystem, one of the most comprehensive on the market thanks to the Linkplay platform, makes it a formidably versatile connected solution, while its power reserve enables it to effortlessly power both bookshelf speakers and demanding floorstanding speakers, where many competitors content themselves with more modest solutions. Listening to this 2025 amplifier, you'll be impressed by its energy, dynamics and firm bass, confirming its determination to go further than the already popular WiiM Amp.
Not everything is perfect, however. While the touchscreen adds a pleasant, modern dimension, its use remains limited compared to that of an Eversolo Play: it's mainly used to view playback and navigate through settings, but the experience quickly becomes dependent on the WiiM Home mobile app to fully harness the potential of this latest-generation amplifier.
Priced at €599, the WiiM Amp Ultra is nonetheless one of the most comprehensive and powerful connected amplifiers in its category. Its energetic, controlled sound reproduction, combined with modern connectivity with an HDMI ARC port, make it an ideal solution for those looking for a versatile, powerful all-in-one device, provided they accept the limitations of its touchscreen interface, which is not very user-friendly.
With the WiiM Amp Ultra connected amplifier, the American brand combines the best of its two flagship models. The WiiM VibeLink Amp’s solid amplification of 2 x 100W into 8 ohms is combined with the WiiM Ultra streamer’s state-of-the-art streaming functions and color touchscreen. The result? An all-in-one solution that’s even more comprehensive and functional than the multi-award-winning bestseller WiiM Amp, already considered a benchmark in its category. Priced at €599, this new connected amplifier aims to be the most versatile and accomplished model in its price range, promising power, ergonomics and a wealth of integration features. What can we expect from this all-in-one amplifier, compared with the more expensive Bluesound Powernode Edge and Eversolo Play flagship models?
Presentation
Design
At first glance, it’s hard to tell the difference between the WiiM Amp Ultra and the WiiM Ultra streamer: both share exactly the same aesthetics and ergonomics. The chassis is minimalist and sleek, measuring just 20x20cm with a thickness of 7.5cm. Its reduced size and elegant design make it easy to fit into any installation, whether alongside a TV, on a desk, in a bookcase or in a hi-fi cabinet. Thanks to its class D operation, the amp heats up only moderately, allowing it to be placed in a closed cabinet. Although the cover is made of polymer with an imitation metal finish, the precision of the assembly and the quality of the coating are such that it’s hard to realize at first glance that everything here is plastic. The true nature of this material can only be revealed by feeling it, but it doesn’t detract from the overall impression of solidity and reliability. The device exudes a sense of care and rigor worthy of much more expensive models.
On the front panel, the 3.5″ color touchscreen remains central. With a simple swipe from left to right, or vice versa, you can navigate through different windows to select the source (except USB input), output, user presets or activate a DSP from the 24 modes available. Navigation is seamless between album tracks and playlists, whether from streaming services or local files. However, this screen suffers from the same shortcomings as the WiiM Ultra, with the need to launch playback from the WiiM Home mobile app. At the time of testing, the screen still didn’t allow direct access to our music library or to the catalog of online platforms. We hope to see this feature added in a future software update.
As it stands, the screen’s main role is aesthetic and informative: it displays album covers, or information such as the title, resolution and current playback time. The WiiM Amp Ultra also features a needle-type mono VU meter. Although very appealing, it has a certain latency that limits the realism of this effect. It’s a far cry from the responsiveness and wide range of themes offered by the Eversolo Play. Finally, on the right side of the screen is a multifunction knob for playing, pausing, and adjusting the volume. Although there is a slight looseness in the control, volume management is smooth and precise, with continuous rotation.
The WiiM Amp Ultra can also be controlled via the mobile app or the included WiiM Remote 2 remote control. The latter is easy to use, with a compact design inspired by the Apple TV remote. The aluminum design and layout of the controls are very similar, allowing you to select the source, change tracks (previous or next), adjust the volume or select one of four customized presets. Best of all, a dedicated button activates the Alexa or Google Assistant voice assistant to control the streamer by voice.
Powerful amplification
The amplification section of the WiiM Amp Ultra has been directly inherited from the WiiM VibeLink Amp, giving it a marked improvement in performance over the already popular WiiM Amp. Here, we benefit from a much more comfortable power reserve, capable of delivering up to 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms and around 200 watts into 4 ohms. These figures show that the amp can easily power the majority of speakers on the market, including demanding floorstanding models with large woofers. Class D operation ensures a lively, responsive reproduction, with constantly available energy and exemplary power handling.
This increased power is accompanied by more rigorous control thanks to a Post Filter Feedback (PFFB) system. This involves real-time analysis of the signal delivered to the speakers after the output filter, to automatically compensate for variations in load impedance. The amplifier therefore maintains a more linear response, low distortion, and greater stability regardless of the pair of speakers connected. The result is a more precise reproduction, better preserved dynamics, and a feeling of greater control in both the bass and transients.
DSP, equalizer and acoustic calibration
To suit any environment, the WiiM Amp Ultra offers a wide range of settings accessible from its touchscreen or from the WiiM Home mobile app for iOS and Android. Users can fine-tune tonal balance with a 10-band graphic equalizer or parametric equalizer (only in the app), or choose from several presets optimized for different musical styles and sound signatures.
In addition to these manual adjustments, the amp benefits from RoomFit acoustic calibration technology, already tried and tested on the brand’s other models. The principle is simple: using the microphone integrated into the smartphone on which the WiiM Home app is launched, the WiiM Amp Ultra measures the room’s response and automatically compensates for excess bass or dips in the midrange and treble. Operation is quick and intuitive, taking less than two minutes. All you have to do is remain seated in the listening position, with the smartphone at ear level during the series of measurements. At the end of this process, the amplifier generates a customized correction curve, guaranteeing a balanced and faithful reproduction, perfectly adapted to your system and the acoustics of the living room. However, the accuracy of this calibration depends on the quality of the smartphone’s built-in microphone. Results may therefore vary from one user to another. For more precise measurements, you can connect an external microphone (not included) to the smartphone.
Streaming services
The WiiM Home mobile app is the nerve center for playback of digital files. Frequently updated, it offers a simple, highly functional display. Stable and intuitive, it provides access to streaming services, web radios, music shared on the network and various streamer settings. Based on the LinkPlay ecosystem, WiiM’s parent company, it provides access to most major streaming services: Spotify, Qobuz, Deezer, Amazon Music, Tidal, Pandora and SoundCloud. Web radio fans will enjoy vTuner, TuneIn, iHeartRadio and Radio Paradise to access stations from all over the world. What’s more, the WiiM Amp Ultra enables playback of DLNA audio files shared over the local network, with support for up to 24-bit/192kHz internally. Conversion is performed using an ESS ES9039Q2M DAC, successor to the one used on the WiiM Ultra and WiiM Amp Pro. This WiiM can therefore read files up to 32-bit/384kHz, but only for USB export to an external DAC, making the amplification part unusable.
Direct streaming from a smartphone, tablet or computer can be done via Chromecast or Bluetooth. Practical and versatile, the Bluetooth 5.3 module is bidirectional: not only can it receive music wirelessly, it can also redirect sound from wired sources or streaming services to Bluetooth headphones or wireless speakers. It’s a shame, however, that it doesn’t support HD codecs.
Thanks to the LinkPlay ecosystem, the WiiM Amp Ultra can be integrated into a multi-room group to enjoy music throughout the home. It can be connected to WiiM amplifiers and players, as well as any other LinkPlay-enabled equipment. Increasingly popular, this technology is now used by a number of manufacturers, including Audio Pro, Octavio and Elipson (Elipson Multiroom range). All this equipment from different brands will be able to work in symbiosis. Multi-room listening is also possible with Amazon Echo and Google Home devices.
Analog and digital connectors
In addition to its wide range of streaming options, the WiiM Amp Ultra also features a number of wired inputs. While the connectivity may seem limited compared to that of traditional hi-fi amplifiers, it remains sufficient to meet the vast majority of needs. In particular, there’s a stereo RCA input for connecting an analog source such as a CD player, as well as an optical and USB-A input for connecting an external hard drive or USB stick. Best of all, an HDMI ARC socket allows you to retrieve the sound from your TV, making it considerably easier to integrate the amplifier into a modern living room: a single HDMI connection is all you need to enjoy TV programs, films and TV series, with sound that’s much higher quality than it would be with the TV’s built-in drivers. For easy operation, it’s possible to use the TV’s remote control for the amplifier. For added immersion, a dedicated output lets you connect a subwoofer. Finally, the speaker terminals are only compatible with banana plugs. Wiim has had the good idea, like Sonos, of equipping the amplifier with four gold-plated terminals to ensure a perfect connection.
Installing the amp
Installation of the WiiM Amp Ultra takes just a few quick steps from the WiiM Home app. You’re prompted to add the device to the Wi-Fi network if it’s not connected via Ethernet, rename it and select the room in which it’s installed. You can then enjoy wired sources directly, or associate your various streaming services to start playing your music tracks.
To optimize sound reproduction, RoomFit acoustic calibration can be used. In our room, this effectively attenuated a slight resonance in the bass, but at the cost of a loss of depth in the lows and finesse in the highs. We therefore opted to fine-tune the settings manually to achieve a more natural balance suited to our listening preferences.
For this review, we paired the WiiM Amp Ultra with several pairs of speakers to assess its versatility: Elipson Planet L Performance, Elipson Prestige Facet 8B II and Dali Oberon 5 bookshelves, as well as Q Acoustics 5050 and Dali Oberon 5 floorstanding speakers. In every configuration, the amplifier proved up to the task, offering precise control and exemplary stability. Its excellent performance even enabled it to master larger speakers without difficulty, such as the Elipson Heritage XLS 15, equipped with a large 12″ woofer, confirming its ability to power demanding models.
Listening impressions
The WiiM Amp Ultra delivered a full, perfectly controlled reproduction, with a sense of rhythm reminiscent of the successful WiiM Amp, but with more power and control. The dynamism was constant: attacks were direct, dynamics generous, and the sound always seemed lively. Rather than flattering the listener with artificial roundness, the amp favored a firm, dense low register, with perfectly taut bass. On Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, the low end was rapid and energetic, giving weight to the bass lines while maintaining excellent control. The amp was punchy, without ever sounding muddled.
On Nirvana’s Nevermind, the WiiM Amp Ultra revealed its sense of rhythm and its mastery of saturated guitars. From the very first bars of Smells Like Teen Spirit, the guitar attack was rendered with striking vigor, without ever becoming shrill. The drumming was energetic, yet perfectly sustained, with each snare drum slamming with authority. The bass line, dense and well-structured, anchored the track firmly without blurring the overall legibility. Even as the volume rose, Kurt Cobain’s raspy vocals took center stage, their presence intact and their texture perfectly preserved. The WiiM Amp Ultra managed to convey the full ardor of this rock song, while maintaining a coherent, perfectly structured soundstage.
The class D amplification coupled with the ESS DAC gives the WiiM Amp Ultra a slightly linear character, sometimes perceived as cold, but this neutrality is accompanied by great precision. On Norah Jones’s Don’t Know Why, the vocals took center stage with great naturalness. The breath, inflections and softness of her timbre were perfectly clear, as if the artist were singing just a few feet away. The piano notes stood out clearly, the strings of the acoustic guitar were effectively highlighted, and the song as a whole conveyed a beautiful impression of proximity. The music had room to breathe, with a wide, open soundstage.
WiiM Amp Ultra vs Eversolo Play
Compared with its direct competitor, the Eversolo Play, the WiiM Amp Ultra has a different philosophy. The Eversolo’s main appeal lies in its ergonomic design: its larger, truly functional touchscreen allows direct navigation through local music libraries or streaming catalogs, without having to depend on an external app. It supports an even wider range of streaming services, and boasts extensive compatibility with high-resolution formats, up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512, making it the ideal solution for the most comprehensive Hi-Res libraries.
On the other hand, this functional richness comes up against a much more modest amplification section. The Eversolo Play lacks power and struggles to match the authority of the WiiM Amp Ultra. Its reproduction seems less dynamic, with bass that lacks impact and depth. It is therefore best suited to bookshelf speakers with a good sensitivity rating and installed in small rooms, while the WiiM Amp Ultra is much more at ease powering demanding models, including floorstanding speakers, and providing sound in larger spaces.
Who is the WiiM Amp Ultra designed for?
The WiiM Amp Ultra is aimed at music lovers looking for an all-in-one solution that’s modern, powerful and easy to use. It’s ideal for powering a pair of bookshelf or floorstanding speakers without having to install multiple devices, while enjoying a wide range of streaming services and modern connectivity, notably HDMI ARC for a TV. Thanks to its power reserve, it will suit owners of bookshelf speakers as well as floorstanding speakers in living rooms up to 50m². Its color touchscreen will appeal to those who appreciate beautiful objects and direct interaction with their music, even if the mobile app remains the preferred tool to make the most of what this amp has to offer.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions
Thanks to its comfortable power rating (100W / 8Ω), it can power both bookshelf and floorstanding speakers, including demanding models.
Yes, it has an HDMI ARC input, making it easy to retrieve sound from the TV and control the volume with the TV remote.
It’s compatible with Spotify, Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music, TuneIn and many others via the Linkplay ecosystem. It also supports Chromecast, Alexa Cast and WiiM multi-room.
Yes, it supports files up to 24-bit/192kHz, both in streaming and in network playback via UPnP/DLNA.
It’s handy for visualizing playback and quickly accessing settings, but its use remains limited: navigation of music catalogs is mainly done via the WiiM Home mobile app.
No, the WiiM Amp Ultra has no built-in phono input. You’ll need to use a turntable with a phono preamp, or add a separate preamp.
No, thanks to its class D amplification, it remains very energy-efficient and hardly heats up at all, even after several hours of sustained use at high volume.
