WiiM, a rising star within the reasonably priced audio streaming market, unveiled its first-ever sensible speaker final week: WiiM Sound. It seems to be loads like HomePod 2 and straight challenges it — and no matter model of it Apple releases subsequent — with a powerful function set.
WiiM Sound might enchantment to audiophiles in search of high-resolution audio in a wise bundle — at a value that undercuts Apple’s.
WiiM Sound sensible speaker: A HomePod-inspired design with a vital improve
The brand new WiiM Sound sensible speaker options a design clearly impressed by Apple’s HomePod, which might see a new model as a house hub with touchscreen later this yr. WiiM Sound is roughly the identical dimension and form as HomePod 2, although maybe “just a little narrower and squarer” based on early hands-on impressions from What Hello-Fi? at audio present Excessive Finish Munich 2025, the place the HomePod doppelgänger debuted.
The highest panel options touch-capacitive controls for playback and quantity, with a sturdy woven material overlaying. However WiiM made one important design enchancment over the present HomePod 2: the addition of a 1.8-inch high-resolution touchscreen show on the aspect of the speaker. This function has lengthy been rumored for Apple’s HomePod however hasn’t materialized but, permitting WiiM to beat Apple to the punch. The display screen can show album artwork, presets and menu settings. It additionally supplies direct navigation management for playlists and apps.
Audiophile-grade options
Photograph: WiiM
The WiiM Sound speaker guarantees distinctive audio constancy with high-resolution 24-bit/192 kHz playback functionality. It delivers 100W of energy by a 4-inch woofer and dual-balanced mode radiator tweeters, designed to offer room-filling audio.
Probably the most spectacular features of WiiM Sound is its subtle room optimization know-how. The speaker options computerized room correction that takes “exact acoustic measurements of your room, crafting personalized corrections in your audio gear.” This adaptive know-how permits the speaker to optimize its sound output primarily based on its placement and the acoustic properties of the encompassing house.
Sound customization goes even additional with 24 preset EQ profiles and a 10-band graphic and parametric EQ for exact changes. These assist customers tailor the sound to their preferences.
Connectivity and streaming choices
WiiM Sound comes geared up with next-generation connectivity together with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and 100Mbps Ethernet for quick, dependable streaming. The speaker helps common casting from fashionable music providers through Chromecast, Spotify Join, TIDAL Join, DLNA or Alexa Solid.
Customers can stream from greater than 20 completely different music providers or from apps on different gadgets, making it extraordinarily versatile for numerous streaming wants. Notably absent, nevertheless, is help for Apple’s AirPlay. That’s not too stunning given WiiM’s direct competitors with Apple on this house.
Voice management is accessible by Alexa, Google Assistant or the included WiiM Voice Distant, offering a number of choices for hands-free operation.
Multi-room and residential theater capabilities
WiiM Sound affords spectacular versatility past standalone use. Customers can pair two WiiM Sound audio system to create a left/proper stereo setup for an expanded soundstage. The speaker additionally helps multi-room synchronization, permitting customers to stream audio throughout their residence with WiiM, Google Solid or Alexa multi-room.
Maybe most impressively, WiiM Sound can perform as a encompass or middle channel speaker in a Dolby 5.1 setup for immersive residence cinema experiences when paired with a WiiM system that has an HDMI ARC enter, equivalent to the brand new WiiM Amp Extremely.
WiiM demonstrated the potential at Excessive Finish Munich 2025, the place WiiM Sound audio system have been used at the side of Audio Professional wi-fi audio system as entrance and left/proper audio system, showcasing a really compact TV/cinema setup.
WiiM’s increasing product ecosystem
WiiM Sound is only one of three new WiiM wi-fi audiophile gadgets anticipated in Q3 2025.
One other is the corporate’s first subwoofer, Sub Professional. It pumps out 250W of bass with an eight-inch driver and a frequency vary of 25-200Hz. Sub Professional options the identical room correction know-how as Sound, adjusting its output to optimize bass response in any house.
The third new product is WiiM Amp Extremely, described as the corporate’s “most refined streaming amplifier but.” This system encompasses a unibody aluminum chassis with a 3.5-inch touchscreen on the entrance. It makes use of audiophile-grade parts together with an ESS ES9039Q2M Sabre DAC. It might ship 100W of energy per channel to drive as much as 4 passive audio system concurrently.
WiiM Sound might be hassle for Apple HomePod
Photograph: WiiM
In lieu of correct testing upon launch, WiiM Sound’s precise audio high quality stays unknown. However early impressions appear promising. If WiiM can ship audio efficiency corresponding to the HomePod 2 at a lower cost level, whereas providing extra options just like the touchscreen show, intensive EQ choices and broader streaming service compatibility, Apple might face critical competitors within the premium sensible speaker market.
For audiophiles ready for a wise speaker that prioritizes sound high quality and customization with out being locked into a particular ecosystem, WiiM Sound could be precisely what they’re searching for.
WiiM Sound sensible speaker pricing and availability
WiiM plans to launch the Sound sensible speaker in Q3 2025 on Amazon and different retailers. Nevertheless, the corporate has not but introduced pricing particulars.
Given WiiM’s popularity for “delivering well-thought-out merchandise at very reasonably priced costs,” as one business observer put it, specialists anticipate WiiM Sound might put up critical competitors for HomePod 2, which retails for $299. Business analysts anticipate WiiM Sound will probably undercut Apple’s pricing. That might be in line with WiiM’s normal pricing technique, which has fueled a lot of its success to this point.
