Pros
Excellent sound and audio customization choices for a speaker its dimension
Great streaming compatibility with a number of companies
Fun and helpful touchscreen
Useful preset shortcuts
Remote management with voice assistant
Extra aux connection
Especially appropriate with Spotify
In-depth app controls
Cons
As costly as a HomePod, too
App settings take a while to grasp
Voice assistants aren’t the perfect at understanding music instructions
For years, good audio system have targeted on “360-degree” sound, designs made to fill an entire room with music. But the latest providing, Wiim Sound, has impressed me greater than almost any speaker I’ve examined. It’s an incredible answer for music-streaming followers, providing sound that competes with Apple’s dear HomePod and offers extra audio customization than every other good speaker obtainable. That’s what you get when an audio model jumps into the good house world with a standalone mannequin you possibly can put wherever, not simply by the TV. Wiim (as in beam, not whim) is the product of Linkplay, an audio mission that partnered with manufacturers like Harman, Yamaha and Anker earlier than launching its personal model of audio tech. The newest result’s the Wiim Sound, and whereas it is on the costly aspect at $300, it is also totally spectacular, particularly for Spotify streamers and Alexa customers. If you are in search of a higher-end good speaker with unbelievable potential, your search has ended. Wiim Sound design: Like an upgraded HomePod with a touchscreen Wiim’s good speaker, proper out of the field. Tyler Lacoma/CNETYou could be forgiven for considering the Wiim Sound seems to be like a HomePod at first look. The dimension and cylinder form are fairly related, and even the touchscreen controls on the prime of the speaker are paying homage to Apple’s giant, highly effective mannequin. However, Wiim’s speaker — which is barely extra squarish than the HomePod — has key variations, and so they’re virtually all enhancements. In the entrance is a round touchscreen you possibly can set to numerous clock shapes and hues, then swipe to select from preset streaming stations or EQ settings. Play music, and the album art work will show as an alternative. The speaker additionally features a distant management, full with a push-to-talk connection to voice assistants. And it has ports that different good audio system do not, together with an aux audio cable, supplying you with extra setup potentialities. Wiim calibrates its speaker to your widespread positions within the room. Tyler Lacoma/CNETInaspect the speaker are independently tuned silk-dome twin tweeters and a 4-inch paper-cone woofer. I’ll get extra into their efficiency under, however the outcomes are very top quality in comparison with the standard audio of standalone audio system, even the HomePod. Setup is straightforward as soon as you have downloaded the app. Wiim walks you thru fundamental steps and guides you thru the RoomFit calibration course of, which helps the speaker optimize itself for the place you often are within the room. With selections between the onboard touchscreen, the app and the distant management, you possibly can select your most popular management choice — or faucet right into a voice assistant. That brings me to all of the smarts on this speaker. App controls, good assist and streaming — a lot streaming Wiim’s spherical little touchscreen gives a surprisingly giant variety of management choices. Tyler Lacoma/CNETThe Wiim Sound is constructed for streaming out of your favourite platform, together with Tidal, Qobuz, Roon, Soundtrack and lots of others. But it has essentially the most native assist for Spotify and its Lossless audio. As a Spotify person (its menus and stations work finest for me), this was a welcome choice, however you possibly can nonetheless get Hi-Res audio from different sources for those who like an alternate. Wiim helps streaming platforms galore. Tyler Lacoma/CNETApp settings supply extra choices than you usually see on a wise speaker. That contains not simply alarms and standby modes, however Dynamic Bass, EQ settings, and presets. Those presets are one among my favourite additions, a approach to set a music or station from a streaming service to right away play. You can entry your presets on both the app or the Sound’s touchscreen, saving numerous time. Wiim walks you thru how you can set presets with Spotify, however the identical guidelines apply to most streaming stations. Presets allow you to immediately play particular songs, playlists or stations, a really helpful shortcut. Tyler Lacoma/CNETOtherwise, it is often sooner to open up your streaming app and ensure your music is casting to the Wiim Sound after it is related. Wiim does assist good house voice assistants like Alexa and Google Home, with a slight choice for Alexa. However, that is one case the place I do not actually suggest utilizing a voice assistant, even with the helpful distant mic choice. Alexa and its ilk do not do properly recognizing particular band names and songs, particularly for those who’re additionally telling them to play from Spotify to a particular house speaker. Instead of attempting these jumbled instructions, I often desire heading into an app.On the opposite hand, if you do not have a voice assistant but, you can use it for different functions, like controlling good house gadgets, setting reminders and different numerous family duties, so it is nonetheless a superb deal for these and not using a present good speaker.What about audio? It’s Wiim’s sturdy go well with (particularly for those who use Spotify) Wiim gives extra audio customise than different good audio system. Tyler Lacoma/CNETThe Wiim Sound helps as much as 24-bit/192kHz audio with 100-watt peak output and a 50Hz–20kHz response vary. You’re unlikely to hit max audio optimization whereas streaming over Wi-Fi, however the outcomes are nonetheless noticeable in comparison with different good audio system. In my testing, I obtained barely higher efficiency on the HomePod — the chief in good speaker audio high quality — when taking part in instantly from Apple Music. However, in all the things else, I used to be extra impressed with the vary and high quality of Wiim’s speaker taking part in Lossless Spotify audio. Dive into the speaker settings and you will find quite a bit to play with, though Wiim’s app takes just a little endurance. Tyler Lacoma/CNERThe Sound additionally gives way more detailed audio customization and preset choices, which actually pushed it to the highest for me. There’s nothing like spending time tweaking particular person audio settings or dipping into your EQ to boost a particular favourite music. Treble and bass outcomes had been each very sturdy for a speaker of its dimension. Final ideas on the Wiim Sound Wiim is a whole bundle for those who’re not an Apple Music person. Tyler Lacoma/CNETThe Wiim Sound ($300) does a wonderful job of mixing good house options with its A/V experience, leading to among the best good audio system I’ve ever examined. Sure, its audio high quality does not fairly attain the highest-end outcomes of a Sonos speaker setup, however nothing actually can.For those that need a standalone, app-controlled speaker with a voice assistant and high-quality, extremely customizable audio, Wiim gives a extra moderately priced selection. Its speaker additionally performs properly with a wide range of streaming companies like Spotify and alternate options individuals might desire, like Qobuz or Tidal.You’ll nonetheless must pay HomePod-level costs to nab this good speaker, which can be a troublesome ask for those who already personal a dependable speaker. But non-Apple customers in search of a real audio improve will not be disenchanted.