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For this installment, I sat down with the Product Manager behind the WiiM Amp Ultra to explore its design, features, and what makes it stand out among WiiM’s lineup. From room correction to enhanced connectivity, this discussion gives you an inside look at what makes the Amp Ultra our most advanced integrated streaming amplifier yet.
Ryan: Thanks for joining me today! The WiiM Amp Ultra is generating a lot of excitement in the community. To start, what sets it apart from the WiiM Amp and Amp Pro?
Product Manager: Thanks, Ryan! The Amp Ultra is our most advanced integrated streaming amplifier, bringing together 100W per channel at 8Ω (or 200W at 4Ω), and next-gen connectivity like Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 with the capability for LE Audio, though that’s not enabled currently. We packed the praised touch screen display from the WiiM Ultra to it, so people can interact with the device directly for easy control. It’s a high-performance, all-in-one solution designed for audiophiles who want power, precision, and seamless integration.
Ryan: One of the big aspects of the Amp Ultra is its Post Filter Feedback (PFFB) technology. Can you explain what it does?
Product Manager: Absolutely! PFFB ensures stable, load-independent amplifier performance, meaning it can maintain accuracy and clarity, even with challenging speaker loads. This helps minimize distortion and gives users a cleaner, more refined listening experience.
Ryan: How does the Amp Ultra's Post Filter Feedback (PFFB) compare to traditional feedback mechanisms in Class D amplifiers?
Product Manager: Traditional Class D amplifiers rely on global feedback loops, which can struggle with load dependency and high-frequency distortion, especially when driving complex speaker impedances.
The Amp Ultra’s Post Filter Feedback (PFFB) improves on this by directly measuring output after the low-pass filter, ensuring greater stability, lower distortion, and better damping factor across various speaker loads. This results in tighter bass control, cleaner transient response, and more accurate sound reproduction compared to conventional designs.
Ryan: It would be nice to hear directly from the design team—what were the benefits that led to choosing twin amplifier chips in the Amp Ultra? And from your perspective, which unit in the WiiM lineup offers the best performance, purely in terms of sound?
Product Manager: The decision to use dual amplified chips was about elevating the fidelity and bringing our most premium amplifier to date into the market. By separating the channels with two high-performance chips, we’re able to support a lower impedance of 2 ohms, allowing people to also connect multiple pairs of 4, 6, or 8 ohm speakers with ease. It’s a noticeable improvement, especially for critical listening environments.
Ryan: And in terms of the sonic hierarchy, where does the Amp Ultra stand among the rest of the WiiM family?
Product Manager: From a purely sonic standpoint, the Amp Ultra is our most advanced unit to date. The combination of the dual amplifier, upgraded power capabilities, and refined analog circuitry brings out more detail and dynamic range. Of course, we still want to give people options, such as pairing our streaming Ultra with their own preferred devices or reference gear. As our top all-in-one solution, the Amp Ultra sets a new bar.
Ryan: Some users are wondering about the differences between using an Amp Ultra versus using a WiiM Ultra and Vibelink Amp together. Can you clarify?
Product Manager: Absolutely. The Amp Ultra versus a combination of the WiiM Ultra and the Vibelink Amp are two great options, but each product is designed with flexibility in mind.
The Amp Ultra is our all-in-one solution. It combines powerful, dual-amplification architecture, a premium DAC, and advanced streaming features like room correction and multi-room playback. An added bonus in an all-in-one solution over two separates as there’s no chance for timing errors impacting audio quality. It’s ideal for users who want simplicity and performance wrapped into one compact unit. It doesn’t have all the inputs and outputs found on the Ultra streamer, but has about the same power output as the Vibelink Amp.
Now, when you pair the WiiM Ultra with the Vibelink Amp, you’re essentially creating an even more modular setup. The Ultra offers broader connectivity, like the coax input and full analog RCA outputs, so it’s perfect for users who already own hi-fi components or want maximum flexibility in how they route their signal. The Vibelink Amp, on the other hand, is a pure power amp with a built-in DAC. It uses the same DAC as the Amp Ultra, though the Amp Ultra adds an edge with dual amplifier chips, delivering slightly more output and headroom.
So really, it comes down to preference: If you value minimalism with top-tier features, the Amp Ultra is the go-to. But if you're building around existing gear or just love the idea of customizing each part of your chain, the Ultra plus Vibelink Amp combo gives you that versatility.
And as always, we’re committed to offering flexible, great-sounding solutions at a fair price, whether you lean toward modular or integrated.
Ryan: The design of the Amp Ultra feels like a big step forward. What influenced the choice of materials and form factor?
Product Manager: We wanted the Amp Ultra to feel premium, both in looks and functionality, and to match the existing visual identity of our products. That’s why we went with a unibody aluminum chassis for rigidity and heat management, and included a 3.5” glass touchscreen for intuitive control, so it fits right along with the WiiM Ultra. We see this as not just a powerful amplifier but a beautifully crafted centerpiece for any setup. If you’re looking at the Ultra and Amp Ultra together, the easy way to tell the difference is that the WiiM Ultra has a headphone output on the front by the volume dial, which the Amp Ultra doesn’t include.
Ryan: Speaking of headphones, there is a big difference between the two units. The community has been asking for the main reason we opted not to include the headphone output on the Amp Ultra?
Product Manager: When we designed the Amp Ultra, we focused on creating a streamlined, powerful amplifier tailored for speaker-focused setups. Including a headphone output would’ve introduced additional design complexity, circuitry, and, in some cases, performance trade-offs in thermals and layout.
The Ultra, by comparison, is more of a connectivity hub, with outputs optimized for a variety of sources, including headphones, DACs, and hi-fi amps. That said, the USB connection on the Amp Ultra can also be used to output audio to devices connected there.
The Amp Ultra is more about delivering serious power to speakers with minimal compromise. The software does have a Bluetooth output option to connect Bluetooth headphones as well as the USB connection, but nothing more serious than that. We know how important headphone listening is to many users, so we’ll keep that desire for both flexibility and high-performance in one box in mind for the future.
Ryan: Room correction is a standout feature. Does it work differently on the Amp Ultra than on our other devices?
Product Manager: The Amp Ultra uses the same great room correction software, now called RoomFit™, as our other devices. If you’re new to the topic, RoomFit™ analyzes your listening space and adjusts the output for your speakers and subwoofer, optimizing the soundstage and tonal balance. This ensures that your audio sounds as natural and immersive as possible, no matter where your speakers are placed. We’ve got some new room correction software in the works as well, including ways to adjust further after running room correction, and we’ll keep on improving it over time.
Ryan: What microphone type is ideal for calibrating the Amp Ultra’s room correction, and does WiiM plan to offer a dedicated measurement mic?
Product Manager: For the most accurate calibration, a high-quality measurement microphone with an omnidirectional pickup pattern and flat frequency response is ideal. These microphones ensure precise spatial readings by capturing sound reflections and speaker interactions without coloration. You can also add a calibration file to the WiiM app.
While the Amp Ultra’s MMM (Moving Microphone Method) room correction is designed to work with a standard microphone on a mobile device, an externally calibrated measurement mic, such as those used in professional acoustics testing, may yield more refined results. Mobile device microphones can get clogged up with pocket lint and may not have the best starting point.
As for a dedicated WiiM measurement mic, we’ve heard the request for this from our community but haven’t committed to it.
Ryan: And for users looking to integrate the Amp Ultra into a home theater setup, what should they know?
Product Manager: The HDMI ARC input with Dolby Digital decoding ensures cinematic audio performance, and with dedicated subwoofer output, it’s built to deliver immersive sound that enhances movies, TV, and gaming experiences. The Amp Ultra can function as the primary device in a 5.1 setup, as Front Right and Front Left channels, or be paired with another device as the Surround Right and Surround Left. Using our new Dolby Digital 5.1 software, you can add a wireless center channel and surrounds as well.
Ryan: How does the HDMI ARC implementation handle audio conversion? Is it bit-perfect when processing Dolby Digital streams?
Product Manager: The HDMI ARC implementation on the Amp Ultra is designed to preserve audio integrity while maintaining compatibility with home theater setups. It supports Dolby Digital decoding, ensuring accurate reproduction of multi-channel content.
In terms of bit-perfect processing, the Amp Ultra passes through Dolby Digital streams without unnecessary resampling, maintaining the original fidelity of the source. However, some processing may occur depending on the room correction settings. If enabled, the system applies DSP adjustments tailored to your space.
For users seeking unprocessed passthrough, disabling room correction ensures that the signal remains as close to the original as possible. Ultimately, the goal is to provide both audiophile-grade accuracy and adaptable enhancements based on listening preferences. Let me know if you’d like this refined further!
Ryan: How does WiiM see the future of streaming amplifiers evolving, and what role will the Amp Ultra play in that progression?
Product Manager: Streaming amplifiers are moving toward seamless high-res playback, advanced wireless integration, and intelligent room adaptation. The Amp Ultra embodies this shift with Wi-Fi 6E, precision DSP, and room correction, merging audiophile-grade performance with modern convenience.
Looking ahead, we see AI-driven sound profiling, adaptive power delivery, and deeper smart home integration shaping the next generation of amplifiers. The Amp Ultra is our foundation for this future, delivering cutting-edge tech while evolving with user needs.
Ryan: This was a great deep dive into what makes the Amp Ultra special. Any final thoughts for the community?
Product Manager: We’re thrilled to bring the Amp Ultra to our users and we can’t wait to see how the community integrates it into their setups. Your feedback always plays a role in our development, and we look forward to continuing this conversation!
Thanks for following along everyone! We'll keep an eye out for more questions and if there's enough interest I'll do a follow-up interview!
