Latest news with #WiiM
Stuff.tv
21-05-2025
- Stuff.tv
The WiiM Sound does a pretty convincing impression of Apple's long-rumoured next HomePod
If rumours are to be believed Apple has had a HomePod with a screen in the works for a couple of years now, and at first glance you'd be forgiven for thinking this is it – but the WiiM Sound is more of a Sonos rival than a smart speaker. With its HomePod-esque chassis and 1.8in touchscreen, the WiiM Sound could certainly pass for a new version of Apple's original smart speaker, but the only microphone you'll find is built into the remote (although you can use Alexa or Google Assistant via your phone). Inside there's a 4in woofer and a couple of tweeters, with 100W of amplification to push your choice of tunes out of them, and Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 and ethernet to pipe them into it in the first place. If that WiiM logo at the bottom wasn't enough of a giveaway that this isn't a new HomePod, perhaps the fact that AirPlay 2 and Apple Music are absent is, so you'll just have to make do with Spotify Connect, Chromecast, Tidal Connect, DLNA, or Alexa Cast. Support for hi-res files up to 24-bit/192 kHz is also present and correct. It'll automatically make sonic adjustments to compensate for the acoustics of the room you put it in, but there's also an EQ you can fiddle with in the WiiM app if you're not happy with how it sounds. Buy two WiiM Sound speakers and you can connect them together to form a stereo pair, plus it's also possible to use them as part of a 5.1 surround-sound setup. With the price yet to be revealed it's impossible to say how affordable that will be, although WiiM kit tends to be pretty reasonably priced. We'll find out for sure when the WiiM Sound goes on sale in the second half of this year. Could we still see Apple's own version before then? Related: Best wireless speakers in 2025 for music streaming via Wi-Fi
Digital Trends
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
This AirPlay-friendly mini preamp is only $90 this week
Streaming your favorite artists, albums, and playlists is as easy as connecting your phone or tablet to a Bluetooth speaker, but what if you want to experience said tunes with the best sound quality possible? That's where incredible preamps like the WiiM Mini come into play. And today, you'll be able to grab this little audio hero for only $90, which is a $10 markdown from its usual $100 price. Why you should buy the WiiM Mini The WiiM Mini acts as the perfect middleman between analog and digital components and your music playback system, be it an amplifier, soundbar, or powered speaker. Featuring USB-C, digital optical, and auxiliary ports, the Mini is compatible with most audio devices, and even supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The latter is particularly convenient for streaming music via Apple's AirPlay 2 protocol! The WiiM delivers up to 24-bit at 192kHz, which is some of the best audio quality you can get from a standalone component like this. Do keep in mind you'll want to use premium streaming services like Qobuz and Amazon Music Ultra HD for access to these hi-res tracks. We also love that the WiiM Mini is compatible with Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Amazon Music Cast, and even supports Alexa and Siri voice assistants! Over the last few months, the talented engineers at WiiM have given us plenty of new and exciting products to gush over (including the Amp Ultra, Sub Pro, and WiiM Sound) but it's hard to beat the low cost and simple learning curve of the WiiM Mini. Save $10 when you purchase the device today, and make sure to take a look at our lists of the best Amazon deals, best Walmart deals, and best Bluetooth speaker deals for additional markdowns on other audio hardware.
CNET
14-05-2025
- CNET
This Speaker Has One Thing Sonos' Era 100 Doesn't: a Touchscreen
WiiM has unveiled its first multiroom speaker, the Sound, which includes a touchscreen (unlike the Sonos Era 100, one of the best Wi-Fi wireless speakers) and voice assistant control. The WiiM Sound follows the company's popular line of music streamers and promises 100 watts of power, a 1.8-inch high-resolution touchscreen and can be paired for stereo sound. The company also announced a compatible Sub Pro subwoofer with an 8-inch driver. The WiiM Sound speaker includes a 1.8-inch touchscreen WiiM The speaker, which resembles the Bose Home Speaker 500 or Apple HomePod, includes a 4-inch woofer and dual-balanced mode radiator tweeters, plus support for 24-bit/192 kHz high-resolution streaming. It offers compatibility with Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, DLNA and Alexa Cast. In addition to Wi-Fi 6E, the speaker also includes Bluetooth 5.3 and Ethernet. The WiiM Sound can be controlled via the WiiM Home application, a Google Home speaker or an Amazon Echo. Pairing WiiM's $40 Voice Remote with the Sound will give you hands-free Alexa control. In my testing, WiiM's $149 Pro and $329 Ultra offer excellent sound quality for a more affordable price than competitors such as the $449 Sonos Port. While pricing of the Sound is not yet available, I'm anticipating it will cost between $200 and $300. The speaker will be available in Q3 2025 on Amazonand select retailers.
The Verge
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
WiiM's first smart speaker looks like a HomePod for audiophiles
WiiM has announced three new wireless audiophile devices including the brand's first smart speaker called the Sound with a design that looks inspired by the Apple HomePod. The speaker is joined by the company's first sub-woofer called the Sub Pro that pumps out 250W of bass, and the WiiM Amp Ultra, a new amplifier that can stream directly from services like Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, and Pandora. The WiiM Sound features playback controls on the top as well as a 1.8-inch high-res touchscreen on the side that can also be used for navigating playlists and menus, selecting presets, or just displaying album art for whatever's currently playing. Using a four-inch woofer and 'dual-balanced mode radiator tweeters' the Sound delivers 100W of power or more with two of them configured as a left and right stereo pair. Image: WiiM The speaker uses a built-in microphone to measure the acoustics in a room and optimize its sound output for the space, but it can also be customized using a 10-band EQ or one of 24 different preset sound profiles. With Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and an ethernet port, the WiiM Sound can stream from over 20 different music services or from apps on other devices using Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, DLNA, or Alexa Cast. Hands-free operation is made possible through Alexa, Google Assistant, or an included wireless remote that supports voice commands. WiiM expects the Sound to be available sometime in the third quarter of 2025 through Amazon and 'select retailers,' but says it won't reveal pricing for any of the products it announced today until they launch. If WiiM's smart speaker doesn't deliver enough low-end performance for your ears, it can be paired with the new Sub Pro which features an eight-inch driver and a Class-D amplifier that works in the 25-200Hz frequency range. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, ethernet, and an RCA input for connecting to home theater gear, while the Sub Pro offers the same customizability as the Sound smart speaker with automatic room correction and a 10-band EQ available through WiiM's mobile app. Image: WiiM Wiim calls its new WiiM Amp Ultra its 'most refined streaming amplifier yet.' Featuring a unibody aluminum chassis with a 3.5-inch touchscreen on the front, the amp uses audiophile-grade components including an ESS ES9039Q2M Sabre DAC and can deliver 100W of power per channel to drive up to four passive speakers simultaneously. Dual antennas help ensure fast and stable streaming over a Wi-Fi 6E or Bluetooth 5.3 connection, even while listening to high-res music at 24-bit/192kHz quality. Through the WiiM Home app the WiiM Amp Ultra can stream from several popular services including Spotify and Amazon Music while support for Google Cast, Alexa Cast, DLNA, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, DLNA, and Roon facilitates streaming from other apps. The amp also supports voice controls through Alexa, Google Assistant, and its bundled wireless remote, includes an HDMI ARC port with support for Dolby Digital decoding, and has a dedicated subwoofer output so it can be paired with WiiM's new Sub Pro.
Forbes
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WiiM Boosts Amplifier Lineup With New 100W Model With Elegant Screen And Streamer
The new WiiM Amp Ultra is being launched at High-End Munich and offers 100W pr channel with the ... More latest WiiM streamer technology. It's that time of year again when the world's hi-fi buffs descend on the Bavarian capital of Munich for the High-End Show, where some of the world's most expensive and newest audio equipment is on show. Launching at High-End Munich is the new WiiM Amp Ultra, WiiM's most powerful and refined streaming amplifier to date. Housed in an aluminum chassis and with a 3.5-inch touchscreen, the WiiM Amp Ultra offers 100W per channel output and an ultra-low distortion sound. Designed following feedback from WiiM's community of users, the WiiM Amp Ultra builds on the streaming power of the WiiM Amp Pro and combines it with the premium display used in the WiiM Ultra. Like all the brand's products, the WiiM Amp Ultra connects via the WiiM Home app, enabling whole-home control, automatic room correction, multi-room grouping and access to dozens of streaming platforms. Users can control their entire setup using the app, voice assistants or the WiiM Voice Remote 2 which comes with the Amp Ultra. Regular firmware updates ensure the Amp Ultra gets new features and improvements over time. The new WiiM Amp Ultra combines streamer and amplifier in one device. 'The WiiM Amp Ultra reflects the voice of our community,' says Dr. Lifeng Zhao, CEO of WiiM. 'Our users wanted more power, refinement, and connectivity, without losing the high-fidelity audio, and we listened. This amplifier was designed for discerning listeners who want to elevate their setups with precision, clarity, and smarter connectivity.' The WiiM Amp Ultra can drive up to four passive speakers, making it suitable for creating immersive sound in one large room or across multiple zones around the home. Whether connecting to a TV for theater-quality audio, streaming playlists or upgrading vintage stereo gear, the Amp Ultra has many uses. With 100W per channel at 8Ω and the ability to drive up to four speakers, the WiiM Amp Ultra offers Dolby Digital decoding, HDMI ARC and a dedicated subwoofer output for creating a home theater sound. Designed with flexible input and out options, the device uses 32-bit/384kHz ESS ES9039Q2M SABRE DAC, dual TI TPA3255 Class-D amp chips and six TI OPA1612 op-amps for low distortion and detailed sound. WiiM Amp Ultra is a small and neat all-one streamer and amplifier. The display on the new WiiM Amp Ultra is a touchscreen and measures 3.5 inches. The glass-covered screen has playback controls, input switching, EQ settings, queue view, custom wallpapers, VU meters, Smart Preset, Recently Played, Internet Radio and more. Other features include post-filter feedback technology for stable, load-independent performance across all speaker types, serving up clean sound and improved amplifier control. With Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio and dual antennas, WiiM says its new amp offers fast and reliable wireless streaming. Automatic Room Correction is included with the WiiM Amp Ultra and can correct sound using precise acoustic measurements of a room, creating customized corrections. The WiiM Amp Ultra supports Google Cast, Alexa Cast, DLNA, Spotify Connect, and TIDAL Connect, with seamless access to top music services like Spotify, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Qobuz, and more via the WiiM Home App. It also works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and the WiiM Voice Remote for hands-free control. It pairs with the WiiM Sound and WiiM streamers for a complete setup, working within the broader WiiM Ecosystem. However, like the WiiM Amp Pro, it has no support for Apple AirPlay, which might put some people off. The two other WiiM products being launched at High-End Munich are the WiiM Sound portable speaker and the WiiM Sub Pro. The WiiM Sound and WiiM Sub Pro are the first smart speaker and subwoofer from WiiM. This launch marks a turning point in the WiiM ecosystem, expanding its reach with more connected audio products. The little WiiM Sound speakers is a standalone wireless speaker designed to compete with Sonos. The WiiM Sound is a compact and powerful speaker that can be placed on a shelf, counter or wall mounted. It offers 100W of output through a 4-inch woofer and dual-balanced mode radiator tweeters. There is support for up to 192 kHz/32-bit high-resolution streaming. With the WiiM Sound, users can quickly switch playlists, adjust the volume or move the music to another room by using the WiiM app on a smartphone. Multiple WiiM Sound speakers can be added throughout a home for multi-room operation, with music playing in every space and controlled using the WiiM Home App or by asking Google or Alexa. The new WiiM Sound is the first all-in-one speaks from the brand. Users can also control playback directly via the speaker's 1.8-inch touchscreen, while the WiiM Home App enables automatic room correction, EQ customization, and preset management for a personalized listening experience. The new Sound speaker is equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 and 100 Mbps Ethernet for reliable streaming. Advanced sound customization provides 24 preset EQ profiles and a 10-band graphic and parametric EQ for even more precise adjustments. Room Correction takes precise acoustic measurements of a room, creating a customized correction. Two WiiM Sound speakers can be paired to create a left/right stereo setup for a wider soundstage. There new WiiM Sub Pro has 250W of output and automatic room correction. As well as being used as a standalone speaker, the WiiM Sound can also function as a surround or center channel speaker in a Dolby 5.1 setup for home cinema use. The speaker also supports direct streaming from Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, DLNA or Alexa Cast. No support for AirPlay, though. The last of the trio of new products from WiiM is a 250W subwoofer designed to amplify home audio with deep bass. Engineered with an 8-inch driver and Class-D amplifier, the new WiiM Sub Pro has a frequency range from 30Hz to 200Hz, making it suitable for music, movies and games. The Sub Pro also has automatic room correction, an RCA input for flexible connectivity, plus support for audio streaming via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth using the WiiM Home app. The WiiM Amp Ultra, including the Voice Remote 2, will be available in Q3 2025 through Amazon and select retail partners. WiiM Sound and Sub Pro will be available in Q3 2025 on Amazon and at select retailers. No pricing info has been released yet. For more information, visit
