WiiM Ultra Network Streamer, Silver

The WiiM Ultra is a network streamer with a colour touchscreen, ESS Sabre converter, phono input and headphone output. In silver it's the variant for racks where brushed aluminium already sets the tone — technically identical to the Space Gray version.

Why the WiiM Ultra?

Because it ends the clutter on the rack. Turntable? A phono input for MM and MC is built in, including a grounding terminal. TV? HDMI ARC is there. Headphones? Its own output on the front. Subwoofer? A separate RCA output. And everything else that counts as streaming runs anyway: Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Amazon Music Cast, DLNA, Roon Ready.

Add to that a 3.5-inch touchscreen behind glass showing album art, VU meters or a clock, and a real volume knob. You underestimate how much that changes daily life until you've turned the volume down once without reaching for your phone.

What you hear

The ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M delivers 121 dB signal-to-noise ratio and a total harmonic distortion of -116 dB at the line output — that's rarefied air for a device in this price class. In practice that means: a very calm background, clean imaging, and recordings that used to sound a bit flat regain depth.

The headphone output runs on its own TI TPA6120A2 chip and delivers around 150 mW at 32 ohms. With high-impedance headphones it performs confidently — hifitest.de confirmed this in a test with a 250-ohm Beyerdynamic. With very low-impedance models and in-ears, however, the comparatively high output impedance colours the sound audibly. For a good hour of headphone listening in the evening, that's plenty; anyone mainly listening via headphones is better off hanging a dedicated headphone amplifier off the line output.

Who is the WiiM Ultra for?

For anyone who wants one source for everything: network, vinyl, TV, headphones. And for anyone using the streamer as a preamp and going straight to a power amp or active speakers — the output level can be switched to adjustable for that.

Straight talk: the Ultra doesn't have AirPlay 2. If your household runs entirely on Apple and AirPlay is your main route to music, you're better served with the WiiM Pro Plus — that one has it. And it has no built-in power amp: you don't connect speakers directly, that needs an amplifier or active speakers downstream. If you want both in one housing, look at the WiiM Amp Ultra.

Our verdict

The WiiM Ultra is one of the few streamers where you read the connection list twice, thinking you misread it. Phono, HDMI, headphones, sub-out and a decent converter for this price — that simply didn't exist for a long time. Which colour ultimately fits your rack is best worked out in conversation: silver often looks calmer next to light-coloured furniture, Space Gray disappears into dark racks.

Awarded: Top class, 5 out of 5 stars – HiFi Test 1/2026 · 5 out of 5 stars – What Hi-Fi?, February 2025

What the trade press says: "The build quality is excellent, and the features allow for a broad range of use, with the high sound quality rounding off the package." – HiFi Test 1/2026

Technical data

• Type: network streamer with DAC, phono input and headphone output
• Display: 3.5-inch colour touchscreen behind glass
• WiFi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4 and 5 GHz)
• Network connection: LAN 10/100
• Bluetooth: 5.3 LE
• DAC: ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 121 dB (line-out), 119 dB (headphones)
• Total harmonic distortion THD+N: -116 dB (0.00015%) at line-out
• Maximum resolution: 192 kHz / 24-bit
• Inputs: 1 × RCA analogue (line-in), 1 × phono MM/MC with grounding terminal, 1 × optical Toslink, 1 × HDMI ARC, 1 × USB-A (storage media), 1 × LAN
• Outputs: 1 × RCA analogue (line-out, max. 2.1 V), 1 × subwoofer (RCA), 1 × optical Toslink, 1 × coaxial (RCA), 1 × USB audio, 12 V trigger
• Output level: switchable — fixed or adjustable via app, remote control and rotary knob
• Headphone output: present — 3.5 mm jack on the front, TI TPA6120A2 chip, around 150 mW at 32 ohms (manufacturer's figure); no 6.3 mm jack, no balanced output, no gain switching
• Streaming protocols: Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Amazon Music Cast, DLNA, Roon Ready, internet radio, NAS (no AirPlay 2)
• Voice control: Alexa and Google Assistant via the respective devices
• Sound settings: 10-band equalizer, parametric EQ, room correction
• Power supply: internal power supply, 100–240 V
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 211 × 72 × 200 mm
• Weight: 1.42 kg
• Colour: silver
• Scope of delivery: WiiM Ultra, WiiM Voice Remote, power cable, HDMI cable, RCA cable, optical cable, phono grounding adapter, quick guide

Frequently asked questions

Can I connect headphones to the WiiM Ultra?

Yes. There's a headphone output with a 3.5 mm jack on the front, with its own TPA6120A2 chip, around 150 mW at 32 ohms. With high-impedance headphones it performs very well; with low-impedance models and in-ears it colours the sound audibly. For a 6.3 mm plug you need an adapter — we have those in store.

Does the WiiM Ultra replace a dedicated headphone amplifier?

For occasional listening, yes; for daily headphone use, no. It lacks a 6.3 mm jack, balanced output and gain switching, and the output impedance is notably higher than on dedicated devices. If headphones are your main playback, hang a proper headphone amp off the line output — we'll show you suitable models.

Is there a difference between the silver and the grey version?

No, technically both are identical — same connections, same converter, same scope of delivery. It's purely about looks: silver goes well with light-coloured furniture and brushed aluminium, Space Gray stands out less in dark racks. Both variants are sold at the same price.

Do I still need a phono preamp for my turntable?

No. The WiiM Ultra has a built-in phono input for MM and MC cartridges, including a grounding terminal. You connect the turntable directly. And because the Ultra digitises the signal, your record also plays across the multiroom network on request — in the bathroom, if you want.

Does the WiiM Ultra have AirPlay 2?

No. The WiiM Ultra supports Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Amazon Music Cast, DLNA and Roon Ready, but not AirPlay 2. Anyone using AirPlay as their main route finds it on the WiiM Pro Plus or the WiiM Amp — we're happy to tell you which path fits your household.

Why buy the WiiM Ultra at HD Zürisee?

Because the Ultra replaces many devices and precisely because of that needs planning: what goes out, what stays, what needs rewiring? We go through that with you instead of just shipping you a box. Our technician Maurizio takes care of installation and setup at your home on request.

Goes well with

The Ultra wants a good amplifier behind it — found among the integrated amplifiers and power amplifiers. Matching headphones are among the headphones, the amplification to go with them among the headphone amplifiers. The turntable is among the turntables, the foundation among the subwoofers. Everything from WiiM: WiiM overview.