- WiiM Sound vs WiiM Sound Lite: what’s the difference?
- Included accessories
- Elegant minimalist design
- Audio design
- Wireless connectivity
- WiiM Home app
- Connectors
- Key specifications
- Configuration
- My impressions
- WiiM Sound vs Sonos Era 100
- Which WiiM speaker is right for you?
- WiiM Sound & Wiim Sound Lite – Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What we liked
- The tonal balance
- The minimalist, elegant design
- The smooth, intuitive app
- The build quality
- The rechargeable remote control
We would have liked
- AirPlay 2 compatibility
- To have been able to deactivate the WiiM Sound's screen
Our expert’s opinion
Building on the success of its network players and connected amplifiers, the brand is now extending its expertise to multi-purpose wireless speakers. And the results are impressive, both in terms of sound quality and aesthetics. The WiiM Sound and WiiM Sound Lite speakers deliver powerful, balanced sound, which is highly customizable thanks to the intuitive and extremely comprehensive WiiM Home app for a custom experience. Smooth Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity reveal the full potential of these speakers, which are also multi-room compatible via LinkPlay.
They also feature an elegant fabric finish and impeccable build quality. The integrated screen on the flagship model adds an extra touch of sophistication, welcome in a bedroom or kitchen, while the Lite version naturally finds its place in the living room, where the speaker can be added to a wireless home theater system.
This is also one of the strengths of the new WiiM connected speakers: they demonstrate a pleasing versatility for hi-fi and home theater. In short, these are two modern models that can meet a variety of needs. The only downside is the absence of AirPlay 2 compatibility for music lovers with Apple devices. However, support for Google Cast and Bluetooth makes it easy to work around this issue.
Having rapidly become a key player in the network amplifier and player market, WiiM is now diversifying with its first two connected speakers, the WiiM Sound and Sound Lite. These speakers use a tried-and-tested app and a multi-room environment powered by LinkPlay. Presented as true Swiss Army knives for streaming and home theater, these smart speakers are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatible and support the Google Cast protocol, as well as Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa voice commands. Priced at €349 and €269, do they live up to their hi-fi promises, and how do they compete with the Sonos Era 100, the best-selling wireless speaker?
WiiM Sound vs WiiM Sound Lite: what’s the difference?
For this review, we tested both the WiiM Sound (here in the white version) and WiiM Sound Lite (in its black finish) wireless speakers. While the two models share the same audio architecture and features, they differ in two respects. The Sound features a customizable touchscreen on the front panel that can be used to display the time or a personal photo when the device is in standby mode, as well as information on the track being played during a listening session. The WiiM Sound also comes with a remote control. For the rest, both speakers boast exactly the same features.
Included accessories
The WiiM Sound connected speaker comes with a battery-powered aluminum Bluetooth remote control. Naturally, it is accompanied by a USB-C to USB-A cable for charging. Each speaker also comes with a 3.5mm mini-jack to RCA cable and a power cord. Note that the WiiM Sound Lite model can be controlled using the optional WiiM Remote 2.
Elegant minimalist design
The WiiM Sound and Sound Lite wireless speakers have the same dimensions: 15cm wide/deep and 20cm high. They feature an elegant fabric finish, available in black or white. On the underside of the speakers are three screw holes for mounting them on a WiiM Sound wall bracket or specific WiiM Sound speaker stand.
On the top of each speaker is a glass-covered touch-sensitive interface that blends seamlessly with the fabric, creating a sophisticated mix of materials. This area features a motion-sensing system that lights up the controls when your hand is brought close to the speaker. As soon as the controls are not in use, the touch interface switches off to maintain its elegant appearance.
For its part, the WiiM Sound speaker, which incorporates a touchscreen on the front, benefits from additional settings, notably to personalize the screen. It can display a digital or analog clock when in standby mode, and can also display a personalized photo, added via the app. When the WiiM Sound wireless speaker is operating, the screen can display a vintage VU meter with the title of the track and the artist, or source information and controls (pause/play, next/previous). The brightness of the WiiM Sound’s display can be adjusted to 15 levels, but it can’t be deactivated completely, which can be a problem when used as a front speaker in a home theater system.
Note from the expert
The WiiM Sound and WiiM Sound Lite connected speakers stand out for their ability to be integrated into a 5.1 wireless home theater system. Thanks to compatibility with the WiiM Sub subwoofer, WiiM Amp Ultra and WiiM Amp Pro, and the WiiM Ultra network player, they can be used as front, center or surround speakers to deliver an immersive sound experience. The screen-less WiiM Sound Lite model is an excellent choice for discreet installations, where the absence of light makes it ideal, especially under a TV or behind the viewers.
Audio design
The WiiM Sound speakers feature a two-way design. They are equipped with three drivers: a pair of tweeters and a 4″ midbass driver. The whole system is driven by an amplifier module delivering 100 watts of power. These latest-generation smart speakers are capable of diffusing sound throughout a 40m² living room. These two connected speakers optimize their relatively compact size, without making any major compromises on music.
Wireless connectivity
The WiiM Sound Lite and Sound smart speakers focus primarily on wireless connectivity tailored to the modern needs of music lovers. To this end, they feature a Wi-Fi 6E module for faster, more stable connections, guaranteeing smooth delivery of high-resolution content. These two new speakers are also compatible with Google Cast, enabling direct streaming from the apps of a multitude of platforms such as Qobuz, Apple Music, Spotify and Deezer, as well as Bluetooth 5.3 for connectivity with a wide range of devices.
In terms of sound quality, they support Hi-Res Wireless Audio playback up to 24-bit/192kHz, ensuring an accurate, detailed reproduction of high-definition files. In addition to these playback protocols, the WiiM Sound and Sound Lite speakers are compatible with voice commands via Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, making it possible to control music playback and settings simply. However, it’s surprising that the WiiM Sound omits AirPlay 2 connectivity, even though it supports other Apple protocols such as Siri and Apple Music. However, the absence of this feature is well compensated for by the other wireless options, allowing great flexibility in use and music streaming.
WiiM Home app
The WiiM Home app is one of the major assets of the WiiM Sound speakers, offering a comprehensive and intuitive interface for personalizing the listening experience. The app allows you to customize the WiiM Sound display, which can show the time, a vintage VU meter or even a personal photo. This bespoke design also extends to the audio settings, with a 10-band graphic equalizer for fine-tuning sound to suit individual tastes and various listening environments.
In addition to its audio features, the WiiM Home app allows you to set an alarm clock or alert at a desired time. The WiiM Sound speaker is therefore compatible with every room in the house. Music lovers wishing to set up a multi-room system benefit from an optimized control center. This app is a powerful and versatile tool for getting the most out of the WiiM Sound and Sound Lite connected speakers.
Connectors
In addition to their modern, versatile wireless connectivity, the WiiM Sound and Sound Lite speakers feature a 3.5mm mini-jack auxiliary input. This allows you to connect a preamplified turntable, a CD player, or any other audio source without wireless connectivity, thanks to a simple RCA-to-mini-jack cable.
What’s more, the Ethernet port is particularly useful in environments where the Wi-Fi network is unstable, or when the speakers are installed at a distance from the router. It also guarantees a stable, fast connection in all circumstances. This wired connection guarantees optimum stability of the audio stream, particularly for multi-room or home theater use, and contributes to the overall reliability of the WiiM smart speakers.
Key specifications
- Power: 100W
- Drivers: 2x tweeters + 1x 4″ midbass driver
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3
- 24-bit/192kHz streaming
- Google Cast
- Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa voice commands
- Qobuz Connect, Amazon Music Cast, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready and web radios
- Mini-jack auxiliary input and Ethernet port
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 146 x 193 x 146mm
- Weight: 2.5kg
Configuration
Setting up the WiiM Sound and Sound Lite connected speakers is smooth and intuitive. The WiiM Home app guides the user through every step of the process. Once connected to the local network and before enjoying your first listening session, the app allows you to perform an acoustic calibration (Room Fit function) using the smartphone’s microphone to optimize the sound reproduction in the room.
My impressions
Listening to the WiiM Sound and WiiM Sound Lite connected speakers, I was impressed by their excellent tonal balance, delivering a pleasantly even reproduction whatever the musical style. Registers were well defined, with a clear midrange and controlled bass, without excessive ostentation, as is often the case with this type of wireless speaker.
The sound can also be fine-tuned using the WiiM Home app, which features a comprehensive equalizer and 24 particularly detailed DSP modes (Classical, Hip-Hop, Piano, Spoken Word, Small Speakers, etc.), allowing you to adapt the sound signature precisely to your tastes, the acoustics of the room, and the style of music being played.
Stereo spatialization, made possible by the two 45° tweeters on either side of the speaker, is adequate for the compact size of these WiiM Sound and WiiM Sound Lite speakers, although I would have appreciated a fuller, more enveloping soundstage. However, this remains consistent with their size. What’s more, by combining two speakers in a stereo or multi-room configuration via the app, the sound reproduction becomes much wider and more immersive, offering a much more convincing listening experience, both for music and for home theater use.
WiiM Sound vs Sonos Era 100
The two speakers offer a very similar sound reproduction. However, the American speaker is slightly more compact and lighter. It also benefits from AirPlay 2 compatibility, which the WiiM Sound lacks.
That said, the latter has the advantage of integrating a more open multi-room system, with Google Cast as well as LinkPlay. While build quality is impeccable on both sides, the use of fabric and glass for the WiiM speaker gives it more charm than the plastic shell of the Era 100. Finally, the integration of a customizable screen and the remote control supplied with the WiiM Sound extend the possibilities for customization and control of the device.
Which WiiM speaker is right for you?
The WiiM Sound and WiiM Sound Lite wireless speakers have a strictly identical technical foundation. They share the same audio specifications, the same internal architecture, and all streaming and personalization functions via the WiiM Home app. Sound performance is therefore the same for both models, so the choice between these two speakers is primarily based on criteria such as usage and ergonomics.
The WiiM Sound features a customizable front panel display, capable of showing the time, playback information or a VU meter, as well as the supplied remote control. These features add to the comfort of use, and add an appreciable aesthetic touch to a visible installation, particularly in a living room or kitchen. These additional features justify its €349 price tag.
In contrast, the WiiM Sound Lite opts for discretion by doing without a screen. This approach is particularly appropriate for use in home theaters or bedrooms, where the absence of light is a real advantage, especially as the alarm function can be programmed from the app. Finally, its more affordable price (€269) makes it a very attractive solution for setting up a multi-room system or a high-performance audio installation at a lower cost.
WiiM Sound & Wiim Sound Lite – Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
The WiiM Sound and WiiM Sound Lite share the same audio and streaming features. The main difference lies in the presence of a customizable screen and a remote control supplied with the WiiM Sound. The Lite version is distinguished by the absence of a screen, making it more discreet and better suited to use in a home theater or bedroom.
No, the WiiM Sound and WiiM Sound Lite speakers are not AirPlay 2 compatible. However, they do support DLNA, Google Cast, Bluetooth and numerous integrated streaming services, making it easy to stream music from most devices.
Yes, the WiiM Sound and WiiM Sound Lite can be integrated into a 5.1 wireless home theater system. Combined with a WiiM Sub and a WiiM Ultra, WiiM Amp Ultra or WiiM Amp Pro, they can be used as front, center and/or surround speakers.
Yes, the WiiM Home app is essential for initial setup and full operation of the speakers. In particular, it enables you to manage LinkPlay multi-room, access streaming services, adjust sound with the 10-band equalizer, set alarms and, for the WiiM Sound, customize the screen display.
Yes, both models feature a 3.5mm mini-jack analog input, enabling you to connect an external source such as a TV or audio player. They are also equipped with an Ethernet port, handy for ensuring a stable network connection.
No, the WiiM sound Lite does not come with a remote control. However, this model is compatible with the optional WiiM Remote 2. The top-of-the-range WiiM Sound comes with a remote control.
Yes, the brand NorStone offers wall mounts designed specifically for the WiiM Sound and Sound Lite speakers. These brackets, available in black or white to match the speaker’s finish, can be swiveled and tilted to create a custom installation.
