WiiM Amp or Amp Ultra: the smarter streaming amp for your speakers?

Display

Product B wins. The WiiM Amp Ultra adds a built-in touchscreen, which makes it far nicer to use day to day than the standard WiiM Amp, which relies more on app control, HDMI CEC, and voice assistants. For quick source changes, volume checks, and browsing settings without reaching for your phone, the Ultra feels more modern and more “hi-fi component” than “hidden box”. Product A is perfectly functional, but it cannot match the immediacy or premium feel of a proper front display.

Performance

Product B wins again, and this is the heart of the decision. The Amp Ultra uses a premium ESS ES9039Q2M DAC and dual TI TPA3255 amplifier stages, rated at 100W streaming amplification, so it is built to extract more refinement and drive from demanding speakers. Product A is still a capable all-in-one streamer amp, but it is the more modest machine: great for compact systems, less ambitious with difficult loads, and not as obviously engineered for audiophile-grade transparency. If you have bookshelf speakers around 86-88dB sensitivity or want better control over bass and dynamics, the Ultra’s extra headroom and higher-end conversion stage should be audible.

Build quality and design

Product B wins. The Ultra’s touchscreen, more premium internal amplification, and bundled Voice Remote 2 signal a more complete, higher-end product. It also feels better suited to being a visible part of a hi-fi rack rather than just a discreet streaming box. Product A is still neatly finished in Space Gray and compact enough for most setups, but it is the simpler design. If you value a more luxurious tactile experience, the Ultra is the one that feels like a serious upgrade.

Battery life

Neither product really has a battery, so this category is not applicable in the usual sense. For a mains-powered amplifier, the more relevant point is control convenience and standby behaviour. On that basis, Product B is still ahead because the touchscreen and remote reduce dependency on a phone, while Product A remains more basic in everyday interaction.

Price and value for money

Product A wins clearly here. At £319, it is £180 cheaper than the £499 Amp Ultra, and that is a substantial saving in the UK market. For many listeners, the standard WiiM Amp already covers the essentials brilliantly: AirPlay, Google Cast, Alexa, multiroom streaming, HDMI, and access to Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, and more. If your speakers are easy to drive and you want a clean, compact, all-in-one streaming solution, Product A delivers outstanding value. Product B is better equipped, but you are paying a meaningful premium for the ESS DAC, dual TPA3255 amps, RoomFit EQ, touchscreen, and remote.

Game library/features

Product B wins, though this category is really about streaming and system features rather than games. The Amp Ultra has the stronger feature set: built-in RoomFit EQ for room correction, HDMI ARC, optical and RCA inputs, touchscreen control, and the Voice Remote 2. That makes it more flexible for TV sound, external sources, and fine-tuning the sound to your room. Product A is still very well featured with multiroom streaming, AirPlay, Google Cast, Alexa, and HDMI, but it is the simpler package. If you want the most complete set of tools in one box, the Ultra is the more capable platform.

Overall user experience

Product B wins for enthusiasts; Product A wins for simplicity and value. The Amp Ultra feels like the version you buy when you want to stop compromising: better DAC architecture, more powerful amplification, better control, and room correction that can genuinely improve the sound in real homes. The standard WiiM Amp is the smarter buy if you want the core WiiM streaming experience at the lowest sensible cost, and it is still an easy recommendation for casual listening, kitchen systems, or smaller lounges. But if this is your main system and you care about squeezing the most musical performance out of your speakers, the Ultra is the more satisfying long-term purchase.

Overall summary: choose Product A if you want the best pound-for-pound streaming amplifier and don’t need the premium extras. Choose Product B if you want the better-sounding, better-equipped, more future-proof amp and are happy to pay for it. For most hi-fi buyers chasing the best experience rather than the cheapest one, the WiiM Amp Ultra is the definitive winner.