The WiiM Ultra sits at the top of the WiiM streamer range, and it is aimed at listeners who want one box to cover music streaming, TV sound and a turntable. It runs about $329 at WiiM’s online store, which makes it the priciest of the four streamers the brand sells.
This page is a research-based read. It draws on WiiM’s published specifications, the brand’s return and warranty terms, and the findings of independent audio reviewers. It is not a hands-on test, and it does not pretend to be one.
In short, the Ultra delivers a long connection list and a real screen for the money, and reviewers like how its digital side sounds. Two things deserve a closer look before you order. It has no AirPlay 2, and its built-in phono input drew criticism.
What Is Inside the Ultra
Digital conversion comes from an ES9038Q2M SABRE DAC. The Ultra plays files up to 24-bit/192kHz, and on the line output WiiM claims a 121dB signal-to-noise figure.
For streaming services, it works with Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Google Cast and Alexa. Bluetooth 5.3 is built in, and the unit is Roon Ready.
The connection list is where the Ultra pulls away from cheaper WiiM boxes. Here is what the spec sheet lays out:
- Analog: RCA line in and out, plus a phono input of the moving-magnet type for turntables.
- Digital: optical in and out, coaxial out, and a USB port for local files.
- TV: HDMI ARC, compatible with PCM and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio sent by a TV.
- Bass: a dedicated subwoofer output.
- Display: a 3.5-inch color touchscreen that shows album art and handles input choice, EQ and VU meters.
- Build: a single aluminum chassis.
Compared with the Pro Plus, the Ultra offers roughly twice the connectivity. The screen also means routine changes do not require picking up a phone.
On the software side, WiiM’s feature list includes a 10-band EQ that offers graphic and parametric modes, RoomFit room correction and Absolute Sync for linking several devices across rooms. On higher-end models, EQ settings can be saved per input, which suits a unit that mixes a turntable and streaming sources.
Behind the hardware is Linkplay Technology, which spent years building wireless streaming modules for other audio brands before it launched WiiM under its own name. The brand’s products have since picked up Red Dot and iF design awards.
What Reviewers Say
Independent audio reviewers singled out two strengths. One is a clean, balanced sound that holds up across different genres. The other is the touchscreen, which they judged to be a working tool and not a marketing gimmick, especially at this price.
Their criticism is narrower. Beyond the AirPlay gap covered next, reviewers pointed at the phono stage as the weakest part of the unit. They found that path cloudy and said the dynamics sounded compressed next to the digital inputs.
That matters if vinyl is a big part of your listening. Treat the phono input as a handy extra, and plan on a dedicated phono preamp if records are your main source.
The AirPlay 2 Catch
The Ultra does not support AirPlay 2. The Mini, Pro, Pro Plus and Amp all do, so the Ultra is the single exception among current WiiM streamers and amps.
WiiM has confirmed that this is a hardware limit. A firmware update will not add it later.
For an iPhone household that leans on AirPlay every day, this is the factor that decides everything. WiiM’s support guidance points to Bluetooth 5.3 as the workaround, and the company says its 256kbps AAC codec delivers the same quality AirPlay would.
Another route is to add an AirPlay-capable WiiM device, such as a Mini or a Pro, and group it with the Ultra for multiroom. Whichever way you go, settle the question before you buy.
How It Compares
Within the WiiM range, no other model combines a touchscreen, a phono stage and HDMI ARC. Those extras are what justify the step up from the Pro Plus, which costs about $219, keeps AirPlay 2, adds a premium DAC and ships with a voice remote.
Bluesound’s Node is the natural rival to weigh against it. In listening comparisons, reviewers put the Node slightly ahead on clarity and instrument separation. A separate head-to-head piece called the Node warmer and fuller, and the WiiM a touch more restricted and flat.
The same reviewers called the gap small, and said it shows mostly in systems that already lean bright. With a warmer room or warmer speakers, the difference fades.
The Ultra answers with more connections and a lower price. The Node has no screen, and it does not match the Ultra’s phono stage, HDMI ARC or subwoofer output at a similar price. The Node costs a little more. If features matter more than the last bit of clarity, the Ultra is the more practical pick, and you can see WiiM’s range at its online store before you decide.
Who Should Buy It, and Who Should Skip
The Ultra fits listeners who already have a turntable, powered speakers or a receiver and would like hi-res streaming without replacing any of it. It also fits if you want TV audio over HDMI ARC from the same box.
Skip it if AirPlay 2 is non-negotiable in your home. Skip it too if vinyl is your main source and you expect the phono stage to carry the load.
It also does not amplify speakers by itself. The Ultra belongs to WiiM’s streamer group, a family that feeds a separate receiver, amp or pair of powered speakers. For passive speakers with no amp, WiiM’s amplifier range is the better match.
A quick household check settles most doubts. Think about who streams from an iPhone, how your TV connects and how often records get played.
On a tighter budget, the Mini at about $89 and the Pro at about $149 cover the streaming basics, and both keep AirPlay 2.
Returns and Warranty
Buying from WiiM brings two protections: a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year limited warranty. Both are tied to WiiM’s own site. A purchase from a reseller follows that retailer’s return rules first, although WiiM’s warranty team can still help if you can show proof of purchase.
The return window opens on the day the package arrives. Any undamaged product can go back for any reason, and WiiM covers the shipping. A full refund depends on three things:
- The unit looks like new and travels in its original box.
- Every accessory and manual is included.
- An order number or other proof of purchase is attached.
Once WiiM has received and inspected the return, the money goes back to the original payment method within 10 business days. Returns are not available for bulk or commercial orders of 10 or more units, gift cards, items marked final sale or non-returnable, and products damaged by misuse, accidents or unauthorized repair. Hold on to the box until you are sure the Ultra is staying.
The warranty runs for a year from the purchase date and covers the original buyer of a unit from WiiM’s own site. It addresses defects in materials or workmanship that appear under normal use, and WiiM can answer with a repair, a replacement or a refund. Keep the factory serial number intact, because removing or altering it voids the coverage.
To start a return, open the order history in your WiiM account, or write to WiiM support and quote the order number and a reason. WiiM replies with an RMA, instructions and a label, and it does not accept shipments that arrive without one.
WiiM Ultra FAQ
Does the Ultra support AirPlay 2?
No. It is the only current WiiM streamer or amp without it, and WiiM says the limit is in the hardware. Bluetooth 5.3 is the suggested workaround for Apple devices.
Can I connect a turntable?
Yes, through the built-in moving-magnet phono input. Reviewers rated it as the weakest part of the unit, so serious vinyl fans may prefer a separate phono preamp.
Does it work with a TV?
Yes, over HDMI ARC. The connection handles PCM and Dolby Digital 5.1 signals.
Which USB drive formats does it read?
Drives formatted as FAT32, NTFS or EXT4 work. Any other format will not be recognized.
Which company stands behind WiiM?
Linkplay Technology, a company founded in 2014 with its base in Newark, California. WiiM is the consumer line it launched.
The Verdict
The Ultra gathers hi-res playback, a working touchscreen, HDMI ARC and a turntable input into one aluminum box for about $329.
Its limits are clear and well documented. There is no AirPlay 2, and the phono stage is not its strong suit. If neither bothers you, it is the only WiiM streamer that pairs a touchscreen, a phono input and HDMI ARC.
If either one is a dealbreaker, the Pro Plus keeps AirPlay 2 for less money. Browse WiiM’s range at its online store to compare models, and read the return terms above before you decide.
