WiiM Ultra

Updated on 4/19/2024

Hi Team,

We're excited to give you a sneak peek at the WiiM Ultra, your future go-to digital hub for all things music! We're putting the final touches on this innovative product and are on track for a Q2 release. Stay tuned for more updates as we gear up for launch!




Original message by Brantome:
As mentioned in a user reply from the WiiM/Linkplay CEO on the WiiM Fan Page on Facebook, WiiM are developing a new device called the WiiM Ultra which will have a screen, aluminium case and USB audio output. It should be available Q2 2024, so a good five to six months away.

Guess @Smartplug is due a prize (e.g. I'll lay off gently ribbing them about their constant 'when' questions) as I think they first suggested that name a while ago

That's the entirety of the information I have, but WiiM do say they'll release more details in due course.

 

[Doublej]

I got a WiiM amp for my mom and absolutely love it.

I was just about to rethink my own audio setup, leaning towards HypeX Nilai power amp kits (though the idle power drain is annoying), and trying to find a preamp+streamer to go with it with phono & HDMI eARC ... It looks like the WiiM Ultra has the potential for being a perfect match .... at least if it gets balanced outputs, but I suppose with the adjustable gain jumper in the amp RCA to XLR cables might do... Hopefully no ground loop

Alternatives on the market are rare and overpriced (NAD C658 is one but $$$$)

Mid level AVRs like the Yamaha RX-A4A will give you streaming, amplification, a phono input, e-arc, room correction, and perhaps a customizable equalizer in one unit.

 

[adias]

Mid level AVRs like the Yamaha RX-A4A will give you streaming, amplification, a phono input, e-arc, room correction, and perhaps a customizable equalizer in one unit.

Yeah, I agree. The ‘wishlist’ hopes for a bloated product with the kitchen sink thrown in.

 

[deanerino]

Wiim has given new life to a "stereo" in the classic sense, at least at my house. No, it's not part of a TV. Oh! My wife can turn the volume down from a google mini. A little music in the background is fine. I have the Wiim Pro. I now have an Emotiva A 100 and the trigger works just fine. Tell Google to play something and it does. Turns off when it's through. Life is good. Improvements? Maybe a new version of Pro or Plus with a "CD" player input. Yeah, I know it's a streamer. OK. A co-ax input would get more use than the co-ax output, imho,.. Not really wanting more complexity, just functionality.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

Wiim has given new life to a "stereo" in the classic sense, at least at my house. No, it's not part of a TV. Oh! My wife can turn the volume down from a google mini. A little music in the background is fine. I have the Wiim Pro. I now have an Emotiva A 100 and the trigger works just fine. Tell Google to play something and it does. Turns off when it's through. Life is good. Improvements? Maybe a new version of Pro or Plus with a "CD" player input. Yeah, I know it's a streamer. OK. A co-ax input would get more use than the co-ax output, imho,.. Not really wanting more complexity, just functionality.

I believe the Pro/Plus can add a CD player via optical in. If your CD player doesn’t have an optical out, you can get a coax to optical converter for very little.

 

[Doublej]

I believe the Pro/Plus can add a CD player via optical in. If your CD player doesn’t have an optical out, you can get a coax to optical converter for very little.

Or you can use the Line In with the analog output from a CD player. Analog audio output is also available on many DVD players.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

Or you can use the Line In with the analog output from a CD player. Analog audio output is also available on many DVD players.

I’d avoid that if possible.

It would involve taking the digital information on the CD, converting it to analogue in the player (possibly not a great DAC), converting from analogue back to digital after entering the WiiM, before being converted back to analogue before the output.

I think there are very few CD/DVD players with only analogue outs and no digital output.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

In my darker moments, while we wait…

Please, WiiM. Don’t let the Ultra be this:

A WiiM Amp. With a screen. But no Amp. A couple of more insane outs. And more PEQ/room correction “maybe coming at some point”.

If that’s what it is at launch - and many reviews out there are of pre-release models - that’ll be a real damp squib, and possibly spoil the model’s reputation before it gets off the ground.

Updates in the future for things we haven’t thought of yet, well that’s great, obviously. But for what this is supposed to be, please let’s have a ‘finished model’ at launch.

 

[Aquarius]

Would be great if WiiM Team would give an ETA on release-date and maybe a little clarification. There has been too much rumors the last months

 

[Brantome]

Would be great if WiiM Team would give an ETA on release-date and maybe a little clarification. There has been too much rumors the last months

As said before, you’ll only really get a realistic ETA much closer to the actual release date. My gut feeling from previous releases is June /July time rather than Apr/May and initially only in the USA, but I could be way out on those estimates.

 

[Fender]

The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.
(Arnold H. Glasow)

 

[Brantome]

The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.
(Arnold H. Glasow)

But smashing it gets you a quicker omelette

 

[Fender]

But smashing it gets you a quicker omelette

too mundane

 

[Matterhorn]

too mundane

You prefer a soufflé?

 

[Fender]

my preferences would blast many imaginations ;-)

 

[Aquarius]

As said before, you’ll only really get a realistic ETA much closer to the actual release date. My gut feeling from previous releases is June /July time rather than Apr/May and initially only in the USA, but I could be way out on those estimates.

I now see that WiiM replied on 31st december. I thought it was early october. So maybe we see nothing until fall. But its okay, i live happily with my Pro and a good DAC - and for me the Ultra needs to be more tempting than more connections I dont need and a fysical screen

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

As said before, you’ll only really get a realistic ETA much closer to the actual release date. My gut feeling from previous releases is June /July time rather than Apr/May and initially only in the USA, but I could be way out on those estimates.

Am I right in saying, they pretty much launched the WiiM Amp full spec and pics didn’t appear until the day it was launched for sale?

My memory could be wrong there, but I don’t think it was months before.

 

[Brantome]

Am I right in saying, they pretty much launched the WiiM Amp full spec and pics didn’t appear until the day it was launched for sale?

My memory could be wrong there, but I don’t think it was months before.

They announced it with a mock up image of what it would look like in Aug ‘23, a good 4 months before release. Haven’t seen any mock-ups of the Ultra yet so take from that what you will

Thread 'WiiM Amp'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/wiim-amp.1322/

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

They announced it with a mock up image of what it would look like in Aug ‘23, a good 4 months before release. Haven’t seen any mock-ups of the Ultra yet so take from that what you will

Thread 'WiiM Amp'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/wiim-amp.1322/

Cheers. Lesson for everyone - never trust my memory.

 

[Brantome]

Cheers. Lesson for everyone - never trust my memory.

I'm in the same boat - if I didn't have some sort of search tool to hand, whether that be here in the forum or Google, I'd be a complete amnesiac

 

[Smartplug]

Cheers. Lesson for everyone - never trust my memory.

lol if we used that as reference we’re in trouble.