The WiiM Sound is WiiM's first standalone smart speaker, aimed at buyers who want an all-in-one entry into the brand's digital audio streaming ecosystem, rather than pairing a WiiM device with a separate speaker. In a home Wi-Fi speaker market dominated by Sonos and Apple, WiiM positions itself as a flexible option for listeners who use a range of music apps and streaming services rather than sticking to one brand's ecosystem. That said, it's a less natural fit for Apple-centered setups, since it doesn't support AirPlay. Its voice control also depends on the included remote rather than hands-free commands.
Our Verdict
The WiiM Sound is decent for music. It has a fairly balanced sound with RoomFit enabled and Dynamic Bass off, though it doesn't reproduce much deep bass, so kicks and basslines have more punch than rumble. The Dynamic Bass feature, which is on by default, lets you listen at low levels and hear a bit more bass. The treble is also a touch subdued, but not so much that voices sound muffled. This speaker can play stereo content without downmixing to mono, and its good directivity helps keep the sound fairly consistent from different listening angles. It also has lots of sound customization tools in the WiiM Home app, including the aforementioned Dynamic Bass, RoomFit, more than 20 EQ presets, a 10-band graphic EQ, and parametric EQ.
Lots of sound customization tools.
Plays stereo content without downmixing to mono.
Good directivity.
Low Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices.
Limited bass.
No built-in battery.
No Apple AirPlay support.
Very high Wi-Fi latency.
The WiiM Sound is passable for videos and movies. Dialogue is reasonably clear thanks to its balanced response, and it can play stereo content without downmixing to mono, helping ensure you hear the spatial details in movie soundtracks. However, it doesn't reproduce much deep bass, so action scenes won't have the weight or rumble you'd get from a larger speaker or a setup with a dedicated subwoofer. Bluetooth latency on iOS and Android devices is low enough for most video content, though different apps and devices handle latency differently. That said, Wi-Fi streaming latency is very high, with the audio noticeably ahead of the video, so Wi-Fi playback is better suited to music than movies.
Lots of sound customization tools.
Plays stereo content without downmixing to mono.
Good directivity.
Low Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices.
Limited bass.
No built-in battery.
No Apple AirPlay support.
Very high Wi-Fi latency.
The WiiM Sound is okay for podcasts. Its fairly balanced response helps voices sound clear, and it gets loud enough for casual listening in an average-sized room. It also has good directivity, so a podcast won't sound dramatically different if you're moving around the kitchen or listening from off to the side. That said, since it's an AC-only speaker with no built-in battery, you can't carry it around with you from room to room while listening to your audio.
Lots of sound customization tools.
Good directivity.
Low Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices.
No built-in battery.
No Apple AirPlay support.
Very high Wi-Fi latency.
The WiiM Sound doesn't have a built-in mic, so you can't use hands-free voice commands from across the room. Since our methodology only uses a speaker's built-in mic, the WiiM scores poorly. However, the included remote has a built-in mic that you can activate with a button, making it easy to access Alexa with one hand. Used this way, you can access Alexa via the remote easily. You can also use Google Assistant through a connected smartphone, but there's no Siri support. It's quite usable for occasional voice commands, but it doesn't work like a conventional hands-free smart speaker.
Lots of sound customization tools.
No built-in battery.
No hands-free voice assistant support.
Very high Wi-Fi latency.
The WiiM Sound is not suitable for outdoor use. It's an AC-only home speaker with no built-in battery, so it needs to stay plugged in. It also doesn't have any dust or water resistance rating.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The WiiM Sound comes in two color variants: 'Black' and 'White.' We tested the 'Black' variant (and took a photo of its label), but we expect other colors to perform similarly. WiiM also makes a Lite variant, which they say is sonically the same but lacks the front touchscreen and Voice Remote.
If you encounter another variant of this speaker, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The WiiM Sound is WiiM's all-in-one answer to home speakers like the Sonos Era 100 and Apple HomePod (2nd generation). WiiM positions it as a flexible, customizable home speaker for listeners who don't want to be locked into one brand's ecosystem (although WiiM have their own hardware ecosystem, too). Compared with the Apple speaker, the WiiM is much more customizable and better suited to non-Apple setups, with support for a wide range of streaming services, including Spotify, TIDAL, Roon Ready, and Plex, plus Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AUX, and Ethernet. The Sonos Era 100 is the more polished middle-ground option for most homes, with AirPlay, built-in Alexa, better loudness, and strong Sonos ecosystem integration, but the WiiM offers more granular sound customization, including a parametric EQ.
If you want a speaker you can take outside, the Sonos Play or Sonos Move 2 make more sense thanks to their built-in batteries and weather-resistant designs. Higher-end home speakers like the Sonos Era 300 and JBL Authentics 500 offer more impactful sound, but the WiiM is a strong fit if you want a stationary streaming speaker that plays nicely with multiple ecosystems.
Looking for more options? Check out our recommendations for the best home speakers, the best smart speakers, and the best Alexa speakers.
The Sonos Era 100 and the WiiM Sound are both wired home speakers with strong app support, but they're designed for different ecosystems. The Sonos is designed to fit into the Sonos ecosystem, and if you're already invested in that, it's a polished choice. It offers built-in Alexa, Apple AirPlay, and a fuller low-end than the WiiM. If you're more ecosystem agnostic, the WiiM Sound is a compelling alternative. It offers numerous ways to customize the sound, access to a host of music streaming services, including self-hosted ones like Plex. Its voice assistant support comes from its remote, not the body of the speaker. You may or may not prefer that. If you want an easy Sonos home speaker, get the Era 100. If you want a customizable streaming box with speakers built in, the WiiM makes more sense.
The Sonos Play and the WiiM Sound are aimed at different kinds of buyers. The Sonos is the better all-around choice if you want one speaker for both home and travel: it has a built-in battery, an IP67 rating, AirPlay support, and hands-free Alexa, making it much more versatile around the house, on a patio, or packed for a weekend away. The WiiM Sound is a wired home speaker, so it isn't trying to win that fight. Instead, it's a better fit if you want a stationary streaming hub with deeper app control, lots of sound customization options, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi playback, and a wired Ethernet connection. Just note that the WiiM lacks AirPlay.
The Google Home Max and the WiiM Sound are both AC-only speakers with Google Chromecast support, but they have very different strengths. The Google is much better for voice control thanks to built-in Google Assistant and far-field microphones, and it's also a lot louder, making it better suited to larger rooms. Its Chromecast latency is low, too, so it's a better choice for videos over Wi-Fi. The WiiM Sound is smaller but much more flexible for music streaming. It has a more versatile companion app with a host of sound customization options and support for a wide range of music services. However, its Chromecast latency is very high, and its voice control relies on the included remote rather than hands-free commands.
Depending on your ecosystem, you may prefer either the WiiM Sound or the Apple HomePod (2nd generation). The Apple, unsurprisingly, is the better fit for Apple users: it supports AirPlay, has built-in Siri, and offers excellent voice command recognition, so it works much more naturally as a hands-free smart speaker. It also reproduces much deeper bass than the WiiM, which helps music and action scenes feel fuller. That said, the WiiM is more flexible if you use a mix of streaming services and platforms. It supports Bluetooth audio playback, Wi-Fi playback, has AUX and Ethernet ports, and comes with built-in support for a wide range of music streaming services. It also offers far more sound customization tools, including graphic and parametric EQ. And it can also play stereo content without downmixing to mono, unlike the Apple.
Test Results
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