WiiM, known for its innovative audio solutions, is generating buzz with the upcoming reveal of three new additions to its product lineup at the prestigious Munich High-End audio show. Following the success of the WiiM AMP and AMP Pro, the company is poised to introduce the AMP Ultra, alongside a smart speaker dubbed the Sound and a complementary subwoofer, the Sub Pro.
The most striking feature of the WiiM AMP Ultra is its integrated 3.5″ glass-covered touchscreen. This user-friendly display offers convenient access to basic settings, playback controls, a customizable clock screensaver and wallpapers, "now playing" information, and visually engaging VU meters, mirroring the design of WiiM’s Ultra streaming DAC.
Under the hood, the AMP Ultra promises a robust power output of 100 watts per channel into 8 Ohms, doubling to 200 watts into 4 Ohms. This power is delivered by a configuration featuring dual TI TPA3255 Class-D amplifier chips and six TI OPA1612 op-amps, achieving impressive specifications of -106 dB THD+N and a 120 dB SNR at 5W. Further enhancing its audio performance, the new amplifier incorporates "Post-Filter Feedback Technology," designed to ensure stable and consistent performance across various speaker types, resulting in cleaner sound and improved amplifier control.
Connectivity options on the rear panel are comprehensive, including analogue RCA inputs, TOSLINK optical, a USB-A port for storage devices, and an HDMI ARC port with Dolby Digital decoding. At its core, the AMP Ultra utilizes an ESS Labs 9039Q2M DAC chip, driven by a DSP that enables smartphone-calculated room correction and a 10-band parametric EQ for precise audio tuning. A dedicated subwoofer output with bass management is also included.
For music streaming, the AMP Ultra offers a wide array of options, including 2-way Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 6E, and Ethernet. It supports popular casting protocols like Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Alexa Cast, along with DLNA and Roon Ready compatibility. Notably absent is Apple AirPlay 2, although the rapid development pace of WiiM's software suggests potential future integration of Qobuz Connect, with current Qobuz and Amazon Music users able to utilize the integrations within the WiiM Home app. The amplifier will also ship with a Voice Remote 2.
Joining the AMP Ultra is the WiiM Sound, a compact yet powerful smart speaker positioned to compete with the likes of the Apple Homepod. Despite its diminutive size, the Sound boasts 100W of room-filling audio, delivered through a 4-inch woofer and dual-balanced mode radiator tweeters. It offers stereo pairing capabilities and can integrate into a home theatre setup as surround or centre channel speakers. The Sound supports high-resolution audio up to 24bit/192kHz and features room correction with a 10-band parametric EQ. A 1.5-inch front baffle touchscreen provides direct interaction, and voice control is also integrated. Similar to the AMP Ultra, the Sound supports a range of streaming services via the WiiM Home app, along with Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, DLNA, and Alexa Cast. AirPlay 2 support is, however, not listed.
Completing the trio is the WiiM Sub Pro, a dedicated subwoofer designed to complement the Sound speaker. Featuring an 8-inch driver powered by a 250-Watt Class-D amplifier, the Sub Pro delivers a frequency response of 25Hz to 200Hz. Intriguingly, it supports both audio Wi-Fi/Ethernet streaming and room correction via the WiiM Home App, suggesting the potential for wireless placement, although a traditional RCA input is also provided.
While these exciting new products will be showcased at Munich High-End, audiophiles will have to wait a little longer to bring them home. The WiiM AMP Ultra, Sound, and Sub Pro are all slated for release in Q3 of 2025, and their pricing details remain undisclosed for now. This sneak peek from WiiM promises a compelling range of audio solutions for the modern listener.
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