Jump from Amp to Amp Ultra?

[Phil_E]

I mostly see discussions on the benefits (or lack thereof) of making a switch from the Amp Pro to the Amp Ultra, but I currently have the original Wiim Amp and am considering making the jump to the Amp Ultra.

Have any of you done some comparisons between the two or made the same switch? What was your experience regarding the sound?

FYI I'm using the amp with a set of Dali Opticon 2 MK2s.

Thanks!

 

[dominikz]

Hi there!

Note I only own the WiiM Amp Pro and the Amp Ultra, and I don't have first hand experience with the plain Amp.
However, based on analysis and test of various amplifiers I did so far, and published measurements of the Amp, these are the objective differences you can expect between Amp and Amp Ultra, in order of relevance:

• Amp Ultra plays about 2-3dB louder than Amp.
• Due to PFFB Amp Ultra is less load-dependent than Amp - this will probably mean +0,5-1dB hotter high frequencies with Amp compared to Amp Ultra.
• Amp Ultra can drive 2Ohm loads, Amp cannot. I wouldn't expect this to be a factor with your speakers however (rated 4Ohm).
• Amp Ultra has better noise and distortion figures. I wouldn't expect this to be a major factor with your speakers; sensitivity of 86,5 dB [2.83V/1m] is unlikely to make noise audible, and distortion is anyway unlikely to be audible with either amp.
• Amp Ultra's power supply has a ground connection, while Amp does not. This means that one might pick up ground loops and 50/60 cycle hum where the other doesn't.

Apart from that, there's of course some difference in functionality between the two amps - perhaps some of those could be relevant to you:

• Amp support Airplay, while Amp Ultra doesn't
• Amp Ultra has the touchscreen and a nicer remote
• Amp Ultra has newer WiFi and BT protocols supported

Hope this helps!

 

[Mr Ee]

On the flip side my purely subjective experience going from an amp pro to an amp ultra was a noticable difference (for the better) in all my setups. Not huge, but quite evident. iirc, cleaner and sharper were two terms I used.

With my Paradigm speakers the amp pro was (is) quite simply incapable of making them sing. Sounds awful, tbh.The amp ultra was (is) soooo much better with them. Sounds good. Very good. If it only had more gain then it could well be all I need. Note I say need, not want

So, my 'expectation' is that if you are happy with the amp right now then changing to an amp ultra would be an upgrade, but maybe not a vast one. However, imo it's more capable with a wider range of speakers, so start thinking about your next set of speakers too

 

[Eddie Spaghetti]

However, imo it's more capable with a wider range of speakers,

This is probably the most significant benefit of the Amp Ultra over the Amp/Amp Pro. My experience going from the Amp Pro to the Amp Ultra was similar to yours, though my Paradigms didn’t sound ‘awful’ with the Amp Pro, just not as good. They definitely got louder, cleaner and generally fuller with the Amp Ultra - in short, it brought them alive. I would think there’ll be a very noticeable difference driving those Dali’s.

 

[HighNRG]

No curtains raised?

 

[Mr Ee]

No curtains raised?

Pull yourself together, man.

 

[Burnside]

Pull yourself together, man.

His wife in the next room was responsible for raising the curtains - even she heard the difference

 

[HighNRG]

Critique on this "language" comes very often from people who blame flowerish hifi phrases. The curtains are a tremendous example. It is totally different if the say it themself

 

[goodmore]

Same old problem....the never ending quest for better sound.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

Same old problem....the never ending quest for better sound.

Is it better, or is it just different.

 

[HighNRG]

You are so damned right!
“Sometimes I feel so tired.” (Al Bundy, legendary fullback of Polk High School Panthers)

 

[Aquaman]

In my limited experience with amplifiers the only thing that betters high power is even more power, given that everything is free of distortion.

Our class-D amps don‘t draw more than 25 - 27 watts in normal operation (household energy metre, so this maybe doesn‘t ‚see‘ any peaks??). This is true for the Amp Ultra, a Lyngdorf TDAI 2170, a Lyngdorf SDA-2400 and my new Apollon Purifi ET9040 DM.

And yet, the higher up you go in the watts range, the more bass control there is.
How this goes together with my lay energy measurements, I have no idea.

To come to the point, I would definitely exchange the Amp with Amp Ultra.

 

[lukcinrk]

I have had Amp and upgraded to Amp Ultra. I have Dali Oberon 5. Amp Ultra has more details in highs and more details overall and it is lauder. I think bass is also more controlled. It looks a lot better and it has a better remote control.
But it is also 2 times more expensive.
I am happy with upgrade but it is no tat significant like some reviewers says.