Manufacturer WiiM has set itself the task of offering hi-res sound on all devices and integrating this conveniently and easily into existing systems and setups. With the recently launched WiiM Sound, the manufacturer is entering the smart speaker sector for the first time and wants to take on top dogs such as Apple HomePod or Sonos products. 100 watts of power, 192 kHz/24-bit and AI-supported sound adaptation to the respective room promise a lot, but can the WiiM Sound also convince in the test?
Technical data
| The product | Sound |
| Drivers | 2x tweeter 1x woofer |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 |
| Connections | USB-C; AUX; Ethernet |
| Special features | AI Room Fit; stereo pairing; remote control; voice control; touch display |
| Dimensions | 146 x 146 x 193 mm |
| weight | 2.5 kg |
| Colors | Black; White; |
| price | WiiM Sound: € 349.00 * / WiiM Sound Lite: € 269.00 * |
WiiM Sound Review: Simple and stylish design
Simple understatement and stylish living room suitability are the focus of the new smart speaker. Available in either black or white, the WiiM Sound comes in a compact, cylindrical housing measuring around 146 x 146 x 193 mm and weighing around 2.5 kg, which fits seamlessly into modern living or working environments.
The surface is covered with a high-quality, tightly woven fabric, which is strongly reminiscent of Apple’s HomePod. This not only ensures a high-quality appearance, but also an unobtrusive premium look. Compared to the Sonos Era 100, the sound is noticeably more robust and absolutely high-quality.
On the top, the WiiM Smart Speaker has a smooth, touch-sensitive control surface that can be used to control the volume and playback. On the front, the manufacturer has installed a 1.8-inch touchscreen that can not only display the time or wallpaper, but also additional information about the media currently being played.
Visually and in terms of build quality, the WiiM Sound makes quite an impression and scores points with its low-vibration housing. The fabric cover is dust-repellent and easy to clean, the edges are rounded for a secure stand and the overall weight ensures sufficient stability on shelves or sideboards.
If you prefer, you can also mount the intelligent speaker on a wall using the screw threads on the underside. The connections for power, LAN or jack are intelligently concealed behind a small recess so that the corresponding cables can be routed out of the housing almost invisibly and without disturbing anyone.
Features and connectivity
The WiiM Sound boasts a comprehensive feature set that makes it a versatile all-rounder in the smart home sector, with a clear focus on wireless hi-res streaming. However, the speaker can also be seamlessly integrated into multi-room systems and, if desired, connected to a second sound to form a stereo pair.
In terms of sound, the Smart Speaker relies on a resolution of up to 24-bit/192 kHz, which surpasses many of its competitors and should delight audiophile users in particular. For the sound, the manufacturer relies on a three-component setup and combines two 1-inch tweeters with a 4-inch woofer so that the different frequency bands are reproduced in a differentiated manner. For comparison: Apple uses a woofer with five tweeters in the HomePod 2. With a total output of 100 watts, the speaker is also very powerful, but more on that below.
As an intelligent speaker, the WiiM connects quickly and easily to various platforms such as Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, DLNA, Google Cast, Alexa Cast, Roon or TuneIn. Alternatively, Bluetooth 5.3 is also available, allowing music and content to be played wirelessly, even in high-resolution LDAC codec if desired.
In addition, the WiiM Sound connects via Wi-Fi 6E or Ethernet and has a classic 3.5 mm jack connection for playback from analog sources. What the sound lacks, however, is AirPlay compatibility, which may not appeal to iPhone or Apple users.
However, the smart speaker offers two exciting features. One is the AI-supported AI RoomFit technology: the accompanying WiiM Home app can be used to analyze the room and the placement of the speaker in just a few seconds, allowing the sound to be adapted to the respective conditions in terms of bass presentation and clarity. And not only does this work perfectly in practice, it also has a noticeable effect on the acoustics.
Another special feature is the remote control included in the scope of delivery, which adds voice control to the system – even though the actual speaker comes without microphones and voice control. However, it is a shame that the voice control only works with Amazon Alexa. Control via Alexa or Google Assistant is also possible with compatible devices.
Touchscreen and operation
The 1.8-inch touch display of the WiiM Sound is the star of the operation and clearly stands out from pure touch or app-only solutions by offering direct, visual access to the speaker’s core functions. The round screen not only displays album art, track information and other details, but also allows you to switch between audio sources, adjust the equalizer or select presets.
Operation is instantaneous and extremely reliable, without having to go through the app. Alternatively, the display can show customizable wallpapers and the time (including various designs) in standby mode, which is very convenient. The brightness of the screen can be adjusted individually.
The top touch surface with capacitive buttons is extremely simple. Play/pause, two volume buttons or switching to the previous and next song. It’s child’s play, while haptic feedback confirms inputs with a brief vibration.
The included WiiM Voice Remote is a successful addition. It is pleasantly handy and also has a very simple design, but comes with the aforementioned voice control, allows you to change sources and provides four customizable quick start buttons.
The WiiM Home app is the linchpin for operating the sound. It has a pleasantly clear structure and offers extensive customization options. For example, for the equalizer (including detailed parametric EQ), RoomFit calibration, multi-room setups and much more.
Sound quality of the WiiM Sound
With 100W output power (4-inch woofer and dual 1-inch tweeters), the WiiM Sound delivers a balanced, detailed sound that is impressive for its compactness and stands out positively from comparable competitors.
At the heart of the WiiM Sound is a well thought-out acoustic concept: the 2-way driver configuration combines a 10 cm woofer with two tweeters and ensures a clear separation of the frequency ranges. This separate operation means that each driver operates in its optimum range, resulting in lower distortion, greater detail resolution and an overall precise, relaxed sound – even at higher volumes.
In practice, this architecture is clearly evident: voices are presented naturally and present without sounding nasal or artificially emphasized. The mid-range – often the most critical area for music reproduction – appears balanced and transparent. The treble is finely resolved and controlled, but remains unpleasant even at higher levels. It is particularly impressive how the WiiM Sound, despite its compact size, produces a wide sound image that fills the room evenly without appearing selective or narrow.
In terms of bass reproduction, the WiiM Sound does well for a compact speaker: low frequencies are reproduced in a tight and controlled manner without appearing artificially bloated. While a real dance feeling or room-filling deep bass explosions are not achieved for physical reasons, the speaker offers a musically coherent balance that is completely sufficient for living room or background sound.
The sound remains clean and stable even with electronic music with powerful beats, which is due to the precision of the woofer system and the careful tuning. There are no problematic peaks or uncontrolled beats in the lowest frequencies – the WiiM Sound delivers a clean bass response that may not be record-breakingly deep, but is absolutely musical and integrated.
In direct comparison with established smart speakers such as the Sonos Era 100, the WiiM Sound is more tonally controlled and mature. Voices and mids are often more clearly defined, while the highs appear clearer. However, it should be noted that AirPlay support is missing, which does not directly affect the sound, but is a limitation when integrating into certain ecosystems.
Room correction and digital sound optimization
A key feature that has a significant impact on sound perception is AI RoomFit room correction. This technology measures the acoustic properties of the room in which the system is installed and adjusts the sound accordingly, which actually brings audible benefits in everyday life. Once the room correction is activated, the sound becomes noticeably more balanced and problematic resonances are reduced without distorting the basic sound.
In addition, digital signal processing (DSP) allows a clean balance between clarity and dynamics, keeping the WiiM sound tonally consistent and pleasant. Unlike what is often the case with smart speakers, WiiM does not rely on artificial effects, but on a natural, detailed sound character.
Short Review: WiiM Sound Lite – Same sound, lower price?
If you can do without the remote control and display, the WiiM Sound Lite is a cheaper alternative to the “big” WiiM Sound. The good news is that you don’t have to accept any compromises in terms of sound, as the cheaper Lite model also uses the same combination of drivers, an identical housing and delivers the same excellent sound.
Technically, the Sound Lite is also based on a 2-way acoustic solution with 100 W peak power, Hi-Res support up to 24 bit/192 kHz and automatic room correction – practically the same core competencies as the larger model. The difference lies primarily in the omission of the touch display and the lack of a voice remote control in the scope of delivery; control here is entirely via the WiiM Home app, via voice assistants or via the buttons on the device itself.
This allows the Sound Lite to maintain its compact minimalist design and lower price without significantly sacrificing sound performance.
How much does the WiiM Sound Lite cost? With an RRP of €269, the WiiM Sound Lite is the much more attractive option in terms of price if you can do without the display.
| Feature | WiiM Sound | WiiM Sound Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Price (RRP) | ~349 € (original model) | ~269 € (Lite version) |
| Touch display | ✔️ 1.8″ hi-res touch display for direct control | ❌ No display (app or voice control) |
| Scope of delivery | WiiM Voice Remote 2 Lite voice remote control included | ❌ No remote control included in the scope of delivery |
| Operation / control | Touch display, app, voice remote control | App, voice assistant, buttons on the device |
| Acoustics / driver | 2-way system with 4″ woofer + 2 tweeters | Same 2-way system with 4″ woofer + 2 tweeters |
| Maximum power | ~100 W peak | ~100 W peak |
| Hi-Res audio | ✔️ up to 24 bit/192 kHz | ✔️ up to 24 bit/192 kHz |
| Room correction (AI RoomFit) | ✔️ Automatic RoomFit calibration | ✔️ Automatic RoomFit calibration |
| Multi-room & streaming | ✔️ Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, many services | ✔️ Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Ethernet, broad streaming support |
| Multiroom/home cinema function | ✔️ Stereo pairing, part of a system | ✔️ Stereo pairing, can serve as part of a home theater setup |
| Voice assistants | ✔️ via remote & compatible with Alexa/Google | ✔️ via app/compatible voice assistants |
| App functions | EQ, presets, group control | EQ, presets, group control |
In terms of sound and technology, there are no differences. The only difference is the operation, which works just as well with the WiiM Sound Lite. Just without the display and remote.
If you want to buy both devices, you can combine them into a stereo pair and specify in the WiiM Home app which speaker is on the left and which on the right. This of course significantly improves the stereo sound image.
WiiM Sound Review: Conclusion
The WiiM Sound impresses with its high-quality workmanship, compact design and integrated touch display, which enables simple control directly on the device. The solid construction, the versatile streaming options and the sophisticated app with support for numerous services are particularly impressive. In terms of sound, the speaker also delivers a balanced, clear reproduction that is impressive in everyday and multi-room use.
However, there are some weaknesses in terms of compatibility: there are no native AirPlay functions and voice control is only possible via the remote control, not via built-in microphones. And the whole thing only works with Alexa. In addition, the price is in the upper segment for compact streaming speakers, which makes the WiiM Sound less attractive for some users.
In terms of sound, the speaker offers a strong overall package: the sound quality is quite impressive for a compact smart speaker, but does not reach the depth and dynamics of larger hi-fi systems. For everyday use and multi-room setups, however, the performance is more than sufficient, making the WiiM Sound a versatile, well-equipped smart speaker with only a few compromises.
- Excellent sound
- Elegant design
- Practical touchscreen
- Convincing companion app
- Versatile streaming
- No AirPlay
- Comparatively expensive
- Voice control only with Alexa
WiiM Sound / Sound Lite
Workmanship
Ease of use
Sound quality
Features
Value For Money
91/100
The WiiM Sound and Sound Lite are a high-quality smart speaker that impresses with great sound and intuitive operation. Unfortunately, AirPlay is missing, while the price is a little high.
