I’ve always loved Sonos speakers. They sound excellent, work with major streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify, and quickly and seamlessly connect to create a surround-sound system or to stream audio to multiple rooms. I already had a home-stereo setup — powered bookshelf speakers and a DAC (a digital-to-analog converter) for routing audio from my Apple TV — that I really love, so decking my home out in Sonos gear always seemed excessive. But every time I walked away from my stereo to take care of something, I would miss my tunes unless I cranked the volume. Now that I have the WiiM Ultra, which connects speakers like mine to music-streaming services and Bluetooth-capable devices and can pair with other WiiM stereos, I can finally use my bookshelf speakers like the Sonos ones.
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It’s as easy as plug and play
Of the eight devices WiiM makes, the Ultra is one of the most features-packed and requires the least amount of additional components. I chose this version since my powered bookshelf speakers don’t need an amp (WiiM makes the similar Amp Ultra, if you do need one). The Ultra looks like a larger Mac Mini and is about the size of two paperbacks stacked on top of each other. It has a dial on the front and features a touch display to tweak settings like EQ and input, show cover art when you’re listening to something, and access presets to quickly play your favorites.
The Ultra comes with all the necessary cables for any input, so after I got it out of the box, setup took only a few minutes. Once I plugged it into my speakers and an outlet, all I had to do was create a WiiM account and log in to my streaming service of choice (Spotify), a process comparable to the initial setup for any Sonos speaker. Also similar to Sonos’s setup, you can (and should) opt to go through the company’s RoomFit process, which calibrates your speakers specifically to the room’s acoustics. It takes less than five minutes, and I noticed a bump in clarity once the process was complete.
In addition to working with major streaming services such as Spotify and YouTube Music, WiiM also works with services like Tidal, Qobuz, and Roon that support lossless playback, plus more than a dozen others. The biggest blind spot is WiiM’s lack of Apple Music support. But the Ultra does support Bluetooth connectivity, so you can still play music that way (of course, the sound quality won’t be as good as over Wi-Fi). It’s just not as convenient as having the WiiM connected directly to a service like Spotify, where you can control it using the Spotify Connect feature.
Beyond streaming, the WiiM has line-in for connecting non-wireless devices (like a soundbar. You can switch between inputs using the Ultra’s touchscreen, the included remote, or the app. There’s also a sub-out line, so you can connect a subwoofer directly to the WiiM.
Notably absent from the Ultra’s supported protocols, though, is AirPlay, which I missed when listening to music through apps like NTS Radio that don’t work natively on the Ultra. This is frustrating, as some of WiiM’s other products, including the Pro and Pro Plus, do support AirPlay, but unlike the Ultra, they lack a sub-out, so you can’t connect them directly to a subwoofer. Bluetooth works in those cases, but you have to leap through a couple more hoops to make sure your phone’s connected over Bluetooth each time. Additionally, Bluetooth may introduce some latency issues, depending on how far away your device is and any obstructions between it and the WiiM.
It’s more than a gadget — it’s an ecosystem
If you want to integrate multiple stereos and play music across several rooms — as you can with a Sonos setup — WiiM does that, too. Inside WiiM’s app, which I’ve found to be intuitive and less cluttered and easier to navigate than the Sonos app, there’s a devices panel where you click a link button next to any speaker in your system and chain it to another speaker. Once that’s done, you can set one to the left channel and another to the right, or keep them all as left + right channels, depending on your arrangement. You can also adjust the volume simultaneously or individually.
I tried it out with the Ultra connected to the bookshelf speakers in my office and plugged a WiiM Mini (which doesn’t have an amp and has a lower quality DAC than the Ultra) into a shared stereo downstairs. Once I linked the two devices and started playing, I could move between floors without missing a beat.
Beyond its own lineup, WiiM has started partnering with third-party companies to allow them to integrate WiiM’s software directly on-device. Audio Pro’s C10 MKII, which we recommended as the best Bluetooth speaker for audiophiles, is the first third-party speaker with WiiM integration.
Should you buy it?
If you already own an existing hi-fi stereo — or want to build your own multiroom setup with existing speakers and other audio equipment — and want to stream music to it, WiiM’s system is almost as seamless as Sonos’s, and with the right equipment, it can sound just as good, if not better. Note that WiiM devices with a built-in amp will have “Amp” in the name, and you’ll want one of those if you have passive speakers. Depending on your setup, you may be able to get by with the WiiM Pro Plus or the Mini (you’ll need an amp or powered speakers), both of which support AirPlay. But if you want an all-in-one option that requires only a set of powered speakers and a nearby outlet, get the Ultra.
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