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 may attraction 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 an important improve
The brand new WiiM Sound sensible speaker includes a design clearly impressed by Apple’s HomePod, which may see a brand 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 “somewhat 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 cloth 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 can show album artwork, presets and menu settings. It additionally gives direct navigation management for playlists and apps.
Audiophile-grade options
Picture: 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.
Some of the spectacular facets of WiiM Sound is its subtle room optimization know-how. The speaker options automated room correction that takes “exact acoustic measurements of your room, crafting custom-made corrections in your audio tools.” This adaptive know-how permits the speaker to optimize its sound output based mostly on its placement and the acoustic properties of the encircling area.
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 common music providers by way of Chromecast, Spotify Join, TIDAL Join, DLNA or Alexa Forged.
Customers can stream from greater than 20 completely different music providers or from apps on different units, 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 area.
Voice management is offered 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 presents 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 Forged 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 machine that has an HDMI ARC enter, similar to the brand new WiiM Amp Extremely.
WiiM demonstrated the potential at Excessive Finish Munich 2025, the place WiiM Sound audio system had been used along with 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 units 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 area.
The third new product is WiiM Amp Extremely, described as the corporate’s “most refined streaming amplifier but.” This machine includes a unibody aluminum chassis with a 3.5-inch touchscreen on the entrance. It makes use of audiophile-grade elements together with an ESS ES9039Q2M Sabre DAC. It could possibly ship 100W of energy per channel to drive as much as 4 passive audio system concurrently.
WiiM Sound could possibly be hassle for Apple HomePod
Picture: 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 akin 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 may face severe 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 is likely to be precisely what they’re on the lookout 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 repute for “delivering well-thought-out merchandise at very reasonably priced costs,” as one trade observer put it, specialists anticipate WiiM Sound may put up severe competitors for HomePod 2, which retails for $299. Trade analysts count on WiiM Sound will probably undercut Apple’s pricing. That may be according to WiiM’s traditional pricing technique, which has fueled a lot of its success so far.
