The WiiM Amp Ultra Review. The Most Important HiFi Product Ever Made?
By Steve Huff
The video
It’s affordable and what it offers for the money is incredible, stunning and well, unreal. It is “the best” ever offered because to me, it is one product that almost anyone looking to set up a two channel stereo can purchase, and it is fantastic. It’s around $529 and it brings a streamer, a DAC and a full on 100 WPC amplifier in one sleek chassis, with a touch screen. Just add speakers (I 100% recommend these) and some cable (these) and you are in business. This WiiM Ultra Amp makes it simple to get into HiFi and this setup here with the WiiM and Triangle speakers will give you a big taste of what to expect if you dig deeper into the hobby.
THIS IS WHY I say what I say here, that this is the best product ever made for this hobby. Not because it is the best in sound or build but it is indeed the best you will get for this kind of money and due to the low price and great performance so many more can get into this audio hobby. That is a big deal as this hobby would die if it were not for products such as this. So maybe I should have used “the most important product ever made for hifi”. Either way, the WiiM Amp Ultra is great for this hobby,
This WiiM is also great for those who want to downsize, to save money or even add a second system. It’s not just for those getting into the hobby as it offers so much more than that.
At $529 How Good is the Wiim Amp Ultra Really?
I have been known to do reviews of some very exotic level priced audio gear. I have also been known to review pieces like this Wiim as I have no bias against expensive or cheap audio gear. All I care about is how it performs and what it brings for the money. Using this set of criteria, the Wiim Amp Ultra is the biggest bang for the buck I have ever seen in my 40+ years of being in this audio hobby. It’s good as in incredible for the cash outlay but it is more than that and can offer someone a complete two channel solution in one, surprisingly well made box.
The WiiM Amo Ultra is so good in fact that I have been comparing it to a $15k all in one that does the same things, maybe morel ike a phono stage and headphone amp but all in all, this $15k box called the Allegro from USA based brand AGD does the same thing. It has a streamer, a DAC and a class D GaN amplifier that puts out 100 watts into 8 ohms and 200 into 4 ohms.
The AGD is a stunning work of audio art that has gorgeous casework and is deathly silent as well, zero noise. It also uses the brands proprietary Gan tech, which many now consider, even me, as the best Class D sound ever. So how does a $529 box that does the same thing compare to the $15k box? Well, in reality it doesn’t as the AGD Allegro is a true high end integrated amp that makes no compromises and cuts no corners when it comes to build, parts quality and overall sound quality. If you are seeking the best sound for your system and want simple without compromise, AGD is a great way to go.
On the other hand, if you seek something affordable that will allow you to stream music from Spotify connect, tidal connect or Qobuz connect as well as other methods and include the powerful amp section and DAC then the WiiM Amp Ultra is the best game in town for this. I will tell you why.
The Details
The WiiM Amp Ultra does it all, and I mean all. It has a beefy metal voice remote (V2), it has a premium ESS ES9039 Q2M DAC, brings 100 watts of power into 8 ohm loads, has a built in EQ and even room correction to fix any glaring room issues you may have. Has optical, USB, coax and RCA inputs and a set of speaker outputs. This also has HDMI Arc and a subwoofer output. It’s a true ready to go plug and play machine that gets you listening to high quality streaming music within minutes.
The WiiM amp ultra is also quite powerful now with the beefier amp section, which does use Class D. The box runs cool, feels hefty and is unusually well made for its price point. Yea, of course it is made in China because if it was made in the USA it would cost $3500, as it sits now.
WiiM has been making unreal products for audio lovers for a few years now and they keep getting better and better. The Ultra amp I have here is so good that most will have issues with it being so cheap. Most will think that if this costs $500 it must be awful or of poor quality. Many feel a product can only be good if it costs thousands of dollars and sometimes this is the case but on rare occasions we get something extra special for a much lower cost. A product that does what it says and just works and sounds great for much less cash outlay.
If you go with this amp and a set of these super affordable but awesome Triangle speakers you will indeed have the best sound $1200 can buy you, and then some. While not “high end’ it can truly give you a taste of a nice soundstage, gentle imaging, and a warm-ish meaty sound.
The Sound of the WiiM Amp Ultra
The sound of the WiiM Amp Ultra is not of the high end variety, meaning it will not immerse you in a massive 3D sound bubble nor will it illuminate the treble so much that you hear sizzle and endless air from the system. The WiiM is in all reality a super musical kind of amp, and one that doesn’t grate my brain with details and exposing every last speckle of sound within a recording. It’s a tad laid back and has some warmth in the mids and top end. There is detail to be dug out and its does thanks to the ESS DAC on board which balances it all out.
I can listen to rock, metal. jazz, bluegrass, electronic, ambient or whatever and just get back a very nice musical performance. Nothing is over the top, dynamics are not crazy and it’s not deathly silent as there may be a little hiss from your speakers if you have very sensitive speakers over 95db efficient. These are all things we pay dearly for in the high end so we do not get them all here but overall the WiiM Amp Ultra is meant to be a starter piece and one that makes it so easy for almost anyone to get into this hobby.
I remember when the PS Audio Sprout was the big deal in the “starter” lane of HiFi. That was something like $1200+ I do not remember the exact price but the WiiM Amp Ultra is a much better piece and amp in all ways. The WiiM sounds better, more powerful, less flat and 2D as tat sprout was using old Class D amp tech before these class D amps started to sound full of life, force and richness. So today you can get something much better than that Sprout for way less than half the cost.
THIS IS WHY I FEEL it is one of the best HiFi products ever made. Because of what it brings for the money. Because it will bring so many new people into the hobby. Many are sick of seeing amps and HiFi that costs $10k or more to get into as most will never spend that, even if they could, on a piece of audio gear. WiiM brings an all in one solution that is solid, apple like and just works for a few hundred dollars. This is why this piece is so important for the hobby and an incredible piece.
It looks cool, it is built well and sounds rather amazing for the cost incurred.
PRICING a FULL $1,300 SYSTEM based on the Ultra Amp.
- The WiiM Amp Ultra – Available at amazon via prime. I would buy this way as if it’s something you do not like you can easily return and get a refund. No hassle. Amazon sell the WiiM Amp Ultra for $529 and with fast shipping. GET IT HERE.
- The Triangle BR04 Speakers – I reviewed these in 2025 and they surprised me with their open sound and great bass for the size and price. Very nice in sound and a prefect mate to the WiiM Amp Ultra. GET THEM HERE.
- Cables – You will need a set of speaker cables only to get started here. These are my fave affordable cables, and I tested a ton. You can get them at Amazon for $40 or so. GET THEM HERE
This is a simply setup with bookshelf speakers, the WiiM Ultra and some speaker cables. You may or may not need stands depending on if you have a set already or plan on placing speakers on a shelf or whatever. I do recommend stands for best sound and if you need them, this is a nice affordable and adjustable set.
This system, with stands will set you back around $1350 or so and it will sound pretty great in a small to small mid sized room. In fact I have a friend who has this setup and he loves it, says it is all he will ever need but we are not all crazy audio nerds like me, lol.
WiiM is DISRUPTING the HiFi Audio Market
As I sit and listen to the $529 WiiM Amp Ultra and then fire up the $15k AGD Allegro that does the same things, and then some, I wonder if the AGD is worth $14,500 more? Does he AGD look nicer? YES. Is the AGD built to a much higher standard? YES. Does the AGD sound better? YES. Does the AGD bring THAT MUCH more to make it worth it? Well, that depends on YOU and what your priorities are. Me, I love both.
I love the WiiM for the fact that it is what it is. A super affordable but super performing all in one box that is made to help anyone get into this audio hobby. It is made for those who want to downsize and get rid of the pricey stuff for a small compromise in sound. It is for those who want a second system for a smaller room. It’s for anyone who loves music and wants to get more into the health benefits it brings (yes, I use music for therapy).
The WiiM just is, and it works like an Apple product meaning it just works. It is also m making many of us realize that we do not need to spend so much to enjoy high quality music listening. I mean, I outlined a dull system here for $1300 that will look and sound fantastic for a small to small medium room. It’s not about being the best in sound but rather having “enough” to enjoy the music fully, without frustration. Let me mention again that the WiiM has EQ presets (can customize as well) and room correction.
The AGD Allegro is a different beast as it is made using custom metalwork, bespoke parts and each inch of this all in one was designed to work together without compromise. It has zero noise, sounds as close to a a SET amp that I have ever heard solid state sound and barely gets warm. It’s the all in one designed for those who do not want to settle for anything less and for that audience, it is very well worth the $15,000 price tag.
It’s about what you like, what you seek and what you can spend. Even so, anyone can love the WiiM Amp Ultra as it will not bring buyers remorse, will not empty your bank account or max out your credit card. It will allow you to enjoy music day in and out, and it will bring millions of songs and artists to your fingertips for instant music gratification.
You can also use this as a streaming transport as I tested it this way with the Allegro, and it did very well. The Ultra Amp brings all one needs into one sleek box and it should cost a lot more. If this is a sign of the times for audio, as in more affordable options that are not junk, I dig it.
The WiiM Amp Ultra has won the HiFi Huff Bronze Award for bringing a HUGE bang for the buck.
You can buy the WiiM Amp Ultra at Amazon via Prime HERE
