WiiM Sound: letting go of traditional Hi-fi thinking
27.4.2026
Translation: Katherine Martin
Pictures: Florian Bodoky
The WiiM Sound is a multi-room streaming speaker with a smart assistant. Software is the device’s main focus – but is the all-singing, all-dancing concept behind it any good?
At first glance, the Wiim Sound is hard to categorise. The device may look simple from the outside, but the technology inside aims to fulfil a wide array of functions: streaming hub, multi-room hub, speaker. Linkplay, a relatively new manufacturer, mostly employs software developers with a background in audio. Given their expertise in amplifiers and similar equipment, they concentrate most of their efforts on software, streaming and network connectivity.
I regularly used the speaker over an extended period of time, testing it in various scenarios. As well as the audio experience, I was keen to get a sense of the product overall. How well would the app, network and speaker work in tandem? How intuitive would the software be?
Design and build quality: understated, but well thought out
Appearance-wise, the WiiM Sound is a bit of a wallflower. The only trace of the manufacturer is a small logo on the front. With its non-experimental design, it blends seamlessly into a variety of backgrounds. When it’s on, the circular display shows you the covers of albums or singles you’re currently playing, making the device more pleasant to use. You can also use the display to swipe through playlists or browse radio stations. If, however, you’re using the manufacturer’s impressive app (described further down), you don’t even need to do that. The screen also displays the time – either in analogue or digital format, with a dark, light, coloured or custom background. Again, the design’s beautifully simple, forgoing the use of flashing lights.
The build quality seems robust, with sturdy casing. Weighing in at a good 2.5 kilogrammes, it has the feel of a high-quality product. Its outer covering’s made entirely of acoustic fabric. With the WiiM Sound, you don’t get one of those cheap, plastic cases that’s covered in fingerprints in just five minutes. The touch controls are on the top of the device. There are no physical buttons. You can use the touch elements to adjust the volume, control playback or pause the music. Alternatively, you can do the same things using the slim remote control. On the back of the speaker, hidden away at the bottom, you’ll find another headphone jack and network port. There’s also a power connection, positioned in a way that doesn’t ruin the design. It’s also cool that the LEDs with icons are turned off by default. If you wave your hand over them, they turn on automatically. Without being touched. Very Star Trek!
Now that’s what I call an app
Setting up the speaker using the accompanying app only takes a few minutes. You can connect the device to a network, install updates and integrate your streaming platforms by simply tapping on a logo. There’s no need to wade through complicated menus. The device’s display helps guide you through the process by showing your progress and providing instructions. During setup, the speaker conducts a room acoustics analysis. Using built-in microphones, it measures the acoustics of your surroundings and automatically adjusts the playback to suit them. This tailors the audio to your space, resulting in a more balanced sound in rooms with different layouts, without you having to make any manual adjustments.
From this point onwards, the app serves as your control centre. It lets you navigate the entire system and access a wide range of streaming services directly. More than 20 platforms are supported in total, including Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music and Deezer. In addition, you can use the app to listen to internet radio via TuneIn. You can easily switch between services and resume playback without having to constantly move between apps. You’ve also got the option of combining playlists, using multiple sources simultaneously and assigning music to specific rooms. Plus, it’s DLNA-compatible. Other available features include a sleep timer, an alarm clock and automated sequences that you configure based on the time of day or your use case. You can customise the sound to your liking using the wide range of equaliser settings.
Updates run in the background, adding new functions without you having to do anything. You can also use voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant on the device to request songs verbally.
Multi-room functionality and streaming: even vinyl’s an option
Multi-room functionality’s one of the WiiM Sound’s core features. So as you’d expect, it’s very comprehensive. Multiple speakers can be grouped or controlled individually, all without any synchronisation issues. Even if you’re playing music in multiple rooms at once, the playback’s always stable. This can be controlled straight from the app. You can combine rooms in whichever way you like, adjust volume levels individually or in groups, save scenarios and bring them up again later at the touch of a button. This means the system adapts quickly to different situations without having to be reconfigured each time.
Since the WiiM Sound isn’t tied to a specific ecosystem, it gives you more flexibility than systems like the Apple HomePod. Cable-based connections are an option too. You can use the RCA cable included with the device to connect, say, a record player to an amplifier.
Sound quality: the right choice if you want nuanced sound
My fear that the company’s software engineers would focus too much on the app and multi-room function turned out to be unfounded. The WiiM Sound really can go toe to toe with the competition. It’s significantly better than cheaper, Bluetooth-only speakers.
The trebles sound clear and crisp. Details such as hi-hats and synthetic elements stay clearly audible, without being overpowering. This balanced sound is particularly evident when you’re listening to electronic music. Rather than boosting specific frequency ranges, the speaker prioritises natural sound.
When it comes to mids, the speaker produces a stable, natural sound experience. Vocals take on a distinct presence in the room, blending nicely into the overall sound. Instruments retain their structure and distinctiveness – something particularly evident in minimalist arrangements. This calibration doesn’t just make listening to music enjoyable – it’s also great for podcasts and spoken word, where understanding voices is especially important.
The WiiM Sound delivers controlled, solid bass. Low frequencies are clearly present, but they stay precise and stable – even at higher volumes. The bass blends seamlessly into the overall sound and doesn’t push its way into the foreground. Despite its compact design, the device delivers impressive bass. That being said, you might’ve heard a more powerful bassline on other devices. If you’re a bass lover, you should definitely try before you buy.
In a nutshell
Watch out, Sonos! Here comes WiiM
The WiiM Sound’s strength lies in its versatility. However you plan to use it – be it as a streaming hub or just as a Bluetooth speaker – you can always rely on it to work. The app in particular makes life easier, boasting quick and intuitive setup, controls and sound adjustment. When it comes to audio quality, you can expect balanced, crisp sound that clearly surpasses the quality of typical Bluetooth speakers. It’s only in the low-frequency range that minor imperfections begin to surface – a drawback created by the device’s compact design. If you’re after a versatile, well-connected sound system that isn’t tied to a closed ecosystem, the WiiM Sound might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Pro
- Very well-conceived software
- Excellent build quality
- Balanced sound
Contra
- Bass could be stronger
Header image: Florian Bodoky
I've been tinkering with digital networks ever since I found out how to activate both telephone channels on the ISDN card for greater bandwidth. As for the analogue variety, I've been doing that since I learned to talk. Though Winterthur is my adoptive home city, my heart still bleeds red and blue.
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