Can the sensible speaker compete with Sonos and co?

Manufacturer WiiM has set itself the duty of providing hi-res sound on all units and integrating this conveniently and simply into present programs and setups. With the just lately launched WiiM Sound, the producer is getting into the sensible speaker sector for the primary time and needs to tackle high canine comparable to Apple HomePod or Sonos merchandise. 100 watts of energy, 192 kHz/24-bit and AI-supported sound adaptation to the respective room promise quite a bit, however can the WiiM Sound additionally persuade within the check?

Technical information

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WiiM Sound Review: Simple and classy design

Simple understatement and classy front room suitability are the main focus of the brand new sensible speaker. Available in both black or white, the WiiM Sound is available in a compact, cylindrical housing measuring round 146 x 146 x 193 mm and weighing round 2.5 kg, which inserts seamlessly into trendy dwelling or working environments.

The floor is roofed with a high-quality, tightly woven cloth, which is strongly paying homage to Apple’s HomePod. This not solely ensures a high-quality look, but additionally an unobtrusive premium look. Compared to the Sonos Era 100, the sound is noticeably extra strong and completely high-quality.

On the highest, the WiiM Smart Speaker has a easy, touch-sensitive management floor that can be utilized to regulate the quantity and playback. On the entrance, the producer has put in a 1.8-inch touchscreen that may not solely show the time or wallpaper, but additionally extra details about the media at present being performed.

Visually and by way of construct high quality, the WiiM Sound makes fairly an impression and scores factors with its low-vibration housing. The cloth cowl is dust-repellent and simple to scrub, the perimeters are rounded for a safe stand and the general weight ensures ample stability on cabinets or sideboards.

If you like, you may also mount the clever speaker on a wall utilizing the screw threads on the underside. The connections for energy, LAN or jack are intelligently hid behind a small recess in order that the corresponding cables may be routed out of the housing nearly invisibly and with out disturbing anybody.

Features and connectivity

The WiiM Sound boasts a complete function set that makes it a flexible all-rounder within the sensible dwelling sector, with a transparent deal with wi-fi hi-res streaming. However, the speaker can be seamlessly built-in into multi-room programs and, if desired, related to a second sound to type a stereo pair.

In phrases of sound, the Smart Speaker depends on a decision of as much as 24-bit/192 kHz, which surpasses lots of its rivals and may delight audiophile customers particularly. For the sound, the producer depends on a three-component setup and combines two 1-inch tweeters with a 4-inch woofer in order that the totally different frequency bands are reproduced in a differentiated method. For comparability: Apple makes use of a woofer with 5 tweeters within the HomePod 2. With a complete output of 100 watts, the speaker can be very highly effective, however extra on that under.

As an clever speaker, the WiiM connects rapidly and simply to varied platforms comparable to Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, DLNA, Google Cast, Alexa Cast, Roon or TuneIn. Alternatively, Bluetooth 5.3 can be accessible, permitting music and content material to be performed wirelessly, even in high-resolution LDAC codec if desired.

In addition, the WiiM Sound connects by way of Wi-Fi 6E or Ethernet and has a traditional 3.5 mm jack connection for playback from analog sources. What the sound lacks, nonetheless, is AirPlay compatibility, which can not enchantment to iPhone or Apple customers.

However, the sensible speaker affords two thrilling options. One is the AI-supported AI RoomFit know-how: the accompanying WiiM Home app can be utilized to research the room and the position of the speaker in only a few seconds, permitting the sound to be tailored to the respective circumstances by way of bass presentation and readability. And not solely does this work completely in apply, it additionally has a noticeable impact on the acoustics.

Another particular function is the distant management included within the scope of supply, which provides voice management to the system – although the precise speaker comes with out microphones and voice management. However, it’s a disgrace that the voice management solely works with Amazon Alexa. Control by way of Alexa or Google Assistant can be attainable with appropriate units.

Touchscreen and operation

The 1.8-inch contact show of the WiiM Sound is the star of the operation and clearly stands out from pure contact or app-only options by providing direct, visible entry to the speaker’s core features. The spherical display not solely shows album artwork, monitor info and different particulars, but additionally lets you swap between audio sources, regulate the equalizer or choose presets.

Operation is instantaneous and intensely dependable, with out having to undergo the app. Alternatively, the show can present customizable wallpapers and the time (together with varied designs) in standby mode, which may be very handy. The brightness of the display may be adjusted individually.

The high contact floor with capacitive buttons is very simple. Play/pause, two quantity buttons or switching to the earlier and subsequent music. It’s youngster’s play, whereas haptic suggestions confirms inputs with a short vibration.

The included WiiM Voice Remote is a profitable addition. It is pleasantly useful and in addition has a quite simple design, however comes with the aforementioned voice management, lets you change sources and supplies 4 customizable fast begin buttons.

The WiiM Home app is the linchpin for working the sound. It has a pleasantly clear construction and affords in depth customization choices. For instance, for the equalizer (together with detailed parametric EQ), RoomFit calibration, multi-room setups and far more.

Sound high quality of the WiiM Sound

With 100W output energy (4-inch woofer and twin 1-inch tweeters), the WiiM Sound delivers a balanced, detailed sound that’s spectacular for its compactness and stands out positively from comparable rivals.

At the guts of the WiiM Sound is a effectively thought-out acoustic idea: the 2-way driver configuration combines a ten cm woofer with two tweeters and ensures a transparent separation of the frequency ranges. This separate operation signifies that every driver operates in its optimum vary, leading to decrease distortion, higher element decision and an total exact, relaxed sound – even at increased volumes.

In apply, this structure is clearly evident: voices are offered naturally and current with out sounding nasal or artificially emphasised. The mid-range – usually probably the most vital space for music replica – seems balanced and clear. The treble is finely resolved and managed, however stays disagreeable even at increased ranges. It is especially spectacular how the WiiM Sound, regardless of its compact measurement, produces a large sound picture that fills the room evenly with out showing selective or slim.

In phrases of bass replica, the WiiM Sound does effectively for a compact speaker: low frequencies are reproduced in a good and managed method with out showing artificially bloated. While an actual dance feeling or room-filling deep bass explosions are usually not achieved for bodily causes, the speaker affords a musically coherent stability that’s utterly ample for front room or background sound.

The sound stays clear and secure even with digital music with highly effective beats, which is because of the precision of the woofer system and the cautious tuning. There are not any problematic peaks or uncontrolled beats within the lowest frequencies – the WiiM Sound delivers a clear bass response that will not be record-breakingly deep, however is completely musical and built-in.

In direct comparability with established sensible audio system such because the Sonos Era 100, the WiiM Sound is extra tonally managed and mature. Voices and mids are sometimes extra clearly outlined, whereas the highs seem clearer. However, it must be famous that AirPlay assist is lacking, which doesn’t instantly have an effect on the sound, however is a limitation when integrating into sure ecosystems.

Room correction and digital sound optimization

A key function that has a major influence on sound notion is AI RoomFit room correction. This know-how measures the acoustic properties of the room during which the system is put in and adjusts the sound accordingly, which really brings audible advantages in on a regular basis life. Once the room correction is activated, the sound turns into noticeably extra balanced and problematic resonances are decreased with out distorting the fundamental sound.

In addition, digital sign processing (DSP) permits a clear stability between readability and dynamics, holding the WiiM sound tonally constant and nice. Unlike what is commonly the case with sensible audio system, WiiM doesn’t depend on synthetic results, however on a pure, detailed sound character.

Short Review: WiiM Sound Lite – Same sound, cheaper price?

If you are able to do with out the distant management and show, the WiiM Sound Lite is a less expensive various to the “big” WiiM Sound. The excellent news is that you just don’t have to just accept any compromises by way of sound, because the cheaper Lite mannequin additionally makes use of the identical mixture of drivers, an similar housing and delivers the identical wonderful sound.

Technically, the Sound Lite can be primarily based on a 2-way acoustic resolution with 100 W peak energy, Hi-Res assist as much as 24 bit/192 kHz and computerized room correction – virtually the identical core competencies because the bigger mannequin. The distinction lies primarily within the omission of the contact show and the shortage of a voice distant management within the scope of supply; management right here is totally by way of the WiiM Home app, by way of voice assistants or by way of the buttons on the system itself.

This permits the Sound Lite to keep up its compact minimalist design and cheaper price with out considerably sacrificing sound efficiency.

How a lot does the WiiM Sound Lite price? With an RRP of €269, the WiiM Sound Lite is the far more enticing choice by way of worth if you are able to do with out the show.

In phrases of sound and know-how, there are not any variations. The solely distinction is the operation, which works simply as effectively with the WiiM Sound Lite. Just with out the show and distant.

If you wish to purchase each units, you possibly can mix them right into a stereo pair and specify within the WiiM Home app which speaker is on the left and which on the best. This in fact considerably improves the stereo sound picture.

WiiM Sound Review: Conclusion

The WiiM Sound impresses with its high-quality workmanship, compact design and built-in contact show, which permits easy management instantly on the system. The strong development, the versatile streaming choices and the delicate app with assist for quite a few providers are notably spectacular. In phrases of sound, the speaker additionally delivers a balanced, clear replica that’s spectacular in on a regular basis and multi-room use.

However, there are some weaknesses by way of compatibility: there are not any native AirPlay features and voice management is just attainable by way of the distant management, not by way of built-in microphones. And the entire thing solely works with Alexa. In addition, the worth is within the higher section for compact streaming audio system, which makes the WiiM Sound much less enticing for some customers.

In phrases of sound, the speaker affords a powerful total package deal: the sound high quality is sort of spectacular for a compact sensible speaker, however doesn’t attain the depth and dynamics of bigger hi-fi programs. For on a regular basis use and multi-room setups, nonetheless, the efficiency is greater than ample, making the WiiM Sound a flexible, well-equipped sensible speaker with only some compromises.

PRO

• Excellent sound
• Elegant design
• Practical touchscreen
• Convincing companion app
• Versatile streaming

CONTRA

• No AirPlay
• Comparatively costly
• Voice management solely with Alexa

Workmanship

Ease of use

Sound high quality

Features

Value For Money

91/100

The WiiM Sound and Sound Lite are a high-quality sensible speaker that impresses with nice sound and intuitive operation. Unfortunately, AirPlay is lacking, whereas the worth is a bit of excessive.

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