What-Hifi reviews the Wiim Sound

[Indydan]

A mediocre review. They also were harsh on the Wiim Amp ultra.

We’ve tested WiiM’s debut wireless speaker, but does it sound anywhere near as good as the Apple HomePod 2?

Can WiiM’s inaugural smart speaker take on the five-star HomePod 2?

www.whathifi.com

 

[Indydan]

What-Hifi is biased for British brands in my opinion.
Anything by Chord, KEF and Naim automatically gets 5 stars...

 

[MCG555]

What-Hifi is biased for British brands in my opinion.
Anything by Chord, KEF and Naim automatically gets 5 stars...

Sonos Era 100 is American
Apple Homepod 2 as well

 

[Valentino]

No measurements. Review dismissed.

 

[AlanB]

A mediocre review. They also were harsh on the Wiim Amp ultra.

We’ve tested WiiM’s debut wireless speaker, but does it sound anywhere near as good as the Apple HomePod 2?

Can WiiM’s inaugural smart speaker take on the five-star HomePod 2?

www.whathifi.com

Hi Fi review magazines deped on advertising for their survival.

They never give really poor reviews because that upsets their advertisers and only give their biggest advertisers excellent reviews. Everyone else gets so so reviews.

If they did otherwise they would soon go out of business.

 

[DazST]

A mediocre review. They also were harsh on the Wiim Amp ultra.

We’ve tested WiiM’s debut wireless speaker, but does it sound anywhere near as good as the Apple HomePod 2?

Can WiiM’s inaugural smart speaker take on the five-star HomePod 2?

www.whathifi.com

4/5 stars is mediocre?

 

[slartibartfast]

4/5 stars is mediocre?

Only 3 for sound
They also gave the Amp 3 and the Amp Pro and Ultra 4

 

[dominikz]

Only 3 for sound
They also gave the Amp 3 and the Amp Pro and Ultra 4

Would be *really* interesting to see if the review author(s) could pick out Amp vs Amp Pro in a rigorously executed double-blind, level-matched listening test.
Or any two well-designed amps, for that matter.

Especially now after reading their review of WiiM Sound. The speaker is demonstrably bright, yet they imply practically the opposite in their description.
Makes one wonder...

 

[574stereo]

I’ve seen some frankly dreadful pieces of equipment given glowing reviews in What HiFi… can’t say I think it’s a great publication to be honest…

 

[DazST]

I’ve seen some frankly dreadful pieces of equipment given glowing reviews in What HiFi… can’t say I think it’s a great publication to be honest…

Honestly, how could you doubt the credibility of a review site that comes up with pieces of journalistic brilliance such as this, from their recent review of the Onkyo GX-30ARC speakers:
"Did you know that Dolph Lundgren, the blonde-haired, muscle-bound antagonist from Rocky IV and one of the many macho members of the Expendables crew, is a former Kyokushin Karate champ? He’s also the proud holder of a Master’s degree in chemical engineering, speaks more than five languages, and has the sort of jawline that could cut a diamond at twenty paces. It’s similar levels of multifaceted prowess which the Onkyo GX-30ARC speakers are aiming to emulate".

 

[AlanB]

Honestly, how could you doubt the credibility of a review site that comes up with pieces of journalistic brilliance such as this, from their recent review of the Onkyo GX-30ARC speakers:
"Did you know that Dolph Lundgren, the blonde-haired, muscle-bound antagonist from Rocky IV and one of the many macho members of the Expendables crew, is a former Kyokushin Karate champ? He’s also the proud holder of a Master’s degree in chemical engineering, speaks more than five languages, and has the sort of jawline that could cut a diamond at twenty paces. It’s similar levels of multifaceted prowess which the Onkyo GX-30ARC speakers are aiming to emulate".

Yes, but is he an audiophile?

 

[r5yk5]

I bet he has a huge soundstage

 

[Burnside]

I bet he has a huge soundstage

Is he compensating for something?

 

[azoriusmage]

What-Hifi is biased for British brands in my opinion.
Anything by Chord, KEF and Naim automatically gets 5 stars...

Way too much love for Cambridge for sure

 

[MCG555]

Only 3 for sound
They also gave the Amp 3 and the Amp Pro and Ultra 4

I think you have to take other aspects into the equation as well - such as: WiiM is not a dedicated Amp company and their main product is/was the streamer which got highest praise... Now they get into Amps, Loadspeakers, Subs - what's next! Vinyl Phono-players? Vacuum Cleaners? (Joke)
Also Reviewers have bias, beside the sales aspects behind.
I did not hear these small loudspeakers (as I am not specifically interested in this topic), but are they really better than the others? Or is this our bias?

 

[MCG555]

Way too much love for Cambridge for sure

This is indeed obvious!

 

[dominikz]

I did not hear these small loudspeakers (as I am not specifically interested in this topic), but are they really better than the others? Or is this our bias?

IMHO there are definitely better-sounding smart speakers than the WiiM Sound / Sound Lite.

That is not really the problematic part, at least not in my opinion.
The issue is that their 'sound' ratings (and descriptions) in general are as meaningful as a randomly picked number would be, IMO.

 

[Roedelheim]

My eternal question: Nearly 100 % forum users blame those magazines but do not get tired of mentioning them. So clicks and posts created: Target reached!

 

[Valentino]

Way too much love for Cambridge for sure

The Alva Duo phono amp is excellent though.