What’s WiiM… and is it a real Sonos rival?

As audio streaming choices develop, WiiM has emerged as an inexpensive and easy method to improve your audio system with multi-room streaming capabilities. 

WiiM has been described as an inexpensive choice “at a time when multi-room rivals have misplaced their streaming smarts” – which is clearly a dig on the as soon as undisputed multi-room champion Sonos.

Should you’re not conscious, Sonos has misplaced some severe credibility this yr, and WiiM is completely positioned to capitilize.

WiiM is a model born out of Linkplay Know-how, which was based again in 2014 “by a core workforce of excessive caliber expertise entrepreneurs” from the likes of Google, Broadcom and Harman.

Not like Sonos, WiiM doesn’t have its personal proprietary multi-room syncing expertise. As a substitute, it depends on industry-standard protocols like AirPlay 2, Spotify Join, Tidal and Chromecast to realize multi-room performance. 

Nevertheless, WiiM’s gapless playback helps as much as 24-bit/192 kHz audio high quality, and you may create teams of WiiM units and play the identical music or totally different music in numerous rooms, so it behaves similar to a Sonos system.

However it’s not simply WiiM-branded units, the corporate is dedicated to growing bespoke audio streaming software program and {hardware} for companions too. 

Companions akin to Audio Professional who, in October 2024, launched two new WiiM-enabled audio system; the C5 MK II WiiM Version and the A10 MK II WiiM version (beneath).

These audio system combine right into a WiiM system as in the event that they have been native WiiM units, and sign a future the place WiiM may steal a march on the likes of Sonos by changing into the spine of a multi-room speaker setup that’s model agnostic.

So, whether or not you’re trying to breathe new life into outdated audio system or add multi-room streaming to your house setup, WiiM merchandise may present the answer for audiophiles and informal listeners alike.

Learn on to seek out out extra..

What’s WiiM precisely?

WiiM’s focus is making high-resolution audio streaming accessible and straightforward to combine. On the entire, its units are designed to hook up with your current audio system, stereo techniques, or AV receivers, enabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming from a wide range of providers.

There are at the moment seven totally different WiiM units that can be purchased, starting from the WiiM Mini on the backside finish – an Echo-dot sequence machine designed to hook up with an current system utilizing an Auxiliary cable – to the Extremely ($329) and Amp Professional ($379) on the prime of the tree.

This higher-end duo tackle the likes of the Sonos Amp with a number of enter and output choices, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, bit-perfect output, as much as 192 kHz, 24-bit with digital optical or coaxial output, and a large number of streaming choices.

There are additionally CI fashions aimed on the skilled installer markets, such because the WiiM CI MOD A80 and the WiiM CI MOD S, which have been revealed again in September.

How does it work?

Throughout the vary WiiM helps high-quality codecs like 24-bit/192kHz audio, and works with an array of of Codecs (together with MP3, AAC, ALAC, APE, FLAC, WAV, WMA and OGG) giving audiophiles loads of causes to take observe.

Not like Sonos, Denon and Bluesound, WiiM don’t actually make audio system. It focuses on streaming units that plug into audio system, including modern multi-room audio smarts.

The exception to this rule is the WiiM Wake-Up Mild, an All-in-one dawn alarm clock, bedside studying mild, and sound machine with Alexa built-in.

Getting began with WiiM

Establishing WiiM units is simple. You’ll simply want the WiiM Residence app, out there for each iOS and Android, to configure your machine.

The app guides you thru connecting your WiiM machine to your house Wi-Fi community and linking your streaming providers. 

The app additionally permits you to customise sound settings, combine with sensible house setups, and handle multi-room playback you probably have a number of WiiM items, with the WiiM OS software program powering the present.

Streaming choices and audio high quality

WiiM units help a powerful vary of streaming providers, together with main platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer, and area of interest ones like Qobuz and Tidal, which supply higher-quality audio choices. 

On the subject of protocols, just about the all the main platforms are on provide together with AirPlay 2, Google Forged Audio, DLNA, Spotify Join, Tidal Join, Amazon Alexa Multiroom, Qplay 2.0 and Roon.

For these trying to preserve the integrity of their music, WiiM units help lossless streaming and high-resolution codecs.

WiiM versus Sonos and the remaining

WiiM sits in a novel area, balancing affordability with high-quality audio options usually reserved for pricier units. 

In comparison with manufacturers like Sonos and Bluesound, which supply built-in audio system, WiiM focuses on upgrading your current setup. 

This strategy offers it a leg up for individuals with legacy techniques that want a contemporary, streaming-capable refresh with out compromising on sound high quality or eliminating their current, usually dear, speaker and hi-fi setups.

With WiiM partnering with manufacturers like Audio Professional as properly, you can even use the platform to broaden your current setups into multi-room techniques with a number of branded audio system all in concord. 

WiiM units in contrast