Where to put a WiiM Sound or other compact speakers?

[RyanWithWiiM]

With the coming launch of the WiiM Sound, I’m curious how folks are looking to use compact speakers in their everyday spaces. If you’re already using a compact speaker, where does it live? Whether it’s for background music while working, filling a small room with sound, or pairing with other gear, how would you use one?

I’ll kick things off with a photo of my WiiM Sound in action. It’s tucked into a cozy corner in my kitchen. Compact, clean, and surprisingly powerful.

Drop your use cases, setups, or creative placements below! Bonus points for pics

 

[Erebus]

I ended up getting a WiiM Mini and an Amazon Echo due to the delay in the WiiM Sound's release and the expected price in Australia if it is ever released here. It works well as a satellite speaker with my main speakers, and is in a permanent WiiM Group with the Pro Plus. The Echo in this setup is a dumb speaker as I use Alexa through the Pro Plus.

 

[RyanWithWiiM]

I ended up getting a WiiM Mini and an Amazon Echo due to the delay in the WiiM Sound's release and the expected price in Australia if it is ever released here. It works well as a satellite speaker with my main speakers, and is in a permanent WiiM Group with the Pro Plus. The Echo in this setup is a dumb speaker as I use Alexa through the Pro Plus.

The WiiM Sound will be available in Australia, probably in early November but don't quote me on that. Maybe you'll find a good spot for one when it does

 

[Erebus]

Maybe you'll find a good spot for one

Plenty of good spots available, it's the funds that aren't! Thank you for the update.

 

[Treaty]

I'm hoping to put one in the dining room to extend some good quality audio to that room. We do game night in the dining room and game nights need a good soundtrack!

 

[Asheashe]

I ended up getting a WiiM Mini and an Amazon Echo due to the delay in the WiiM Sound's release and the expected price in Australia if it is ever released here. It works well as a satellite speaker with my main speakers, and is in a permanent WiiM Group with the Pro Plus. The Echo in this setup is a dumb speaker as I use Alexa through the Pro Plus.

View attachment 27672

Do you do any multiroom? Is there any delay from this set up if so?

 

[Asheashe]

We have a WiiM ultra in the living room connected to our main speaker setup- 2x ATC SCM40 speakers, 2x SVS SB16 ultra subwoofers and a Lyngdorf TDAI-3400 stereo amplifier.

My turntable phono stage connects to the WiiM ultra via lineout as i wasn't too impressed with the built in photo stage.

In the office upstairs I have a pair of Dali Oberon 1's with a WiiM amp ultra. Quite pleased with how well multiroom works with no jarring delay between the two zones

In the kitchen, we currently have Sonos moves. I'm really wanting to immerse in the WiiM system but this speaker is waterproof, battery operated for up to 24h & easy to clean. Ideally I'd replace it with a move but I am concerned as to how the speaker cloth will hold up in a kitchen environment. With the best will in the world, drinks get spilled, pets exist by their own rules and cleaning products get sprayed daily - the white is an absolute non-starter but even the black has me worried. I'd consider a bracket but then it has to be up on a wall and that has its own issues. Ideally I'd like to have the kitchen back in the multiroom zone along with the other speakers, but the cloth has me worried especially as a cat owner

The back of the Sonos works brilliantly as it's got a recessed area for carrying it, which also acts as an easy mount point allowing it to be lifted on/off with ease - be a great idea for any future iteration

 

[Erebus]

Do you do any multiroom? Is there any delay from this set up if so?

No, it's all in one living, dining kitchen area. Using Audio Sync in the app ensures there is no delay.

 

[Aquaman]

Mine will be mounted on the wall in my bedroom above the TV in order to better the TV sound and for some smooth snoozing music.
It will replace a Bliusound Pulse Flex 2i.

But that's only going to happen if the Sound speaker supports auto-sense for its inputs.
This is the major shortcoming of the BS speaker. I power it off (incl. the TV) when not in use. And every time i switch it back on again I manually have to set it to analoge input for the TV.

 

[Asheashe]

Mine will be mounted on the wall in my bedroom above the TV in order to better the TV sound and for some smooth snoozing music.
It will replace a Bliusound Pulse Flex 2i.

But that's only going to happen if the Sound speaker supports auto-sense for its inputs.
This is the major shortcoming of the BS speaker. I power it off (incl. the TV) when not in use. And every time i switch it back on again I manually have to set it to analoge input for the TV.

Is there no smart functionality you could do to create an automation to do what you need?

When we watch tv we either push a discrete button or use Alexa to trigger it. An automation turns on the tv and sets input, turns on avr, stereo amp and sets inputs on those and sets the lighting for the time of day.

 

[Aquaman]

Is there no smart functionality you could do to create an automation to do what you need?

I wouldn't know how to. The BS speaker is on alright. But when I start the TV there is no sound until I manually switch to 'analoge in' either in the BS app or via a preset button on the speaker. I'm not using Alexa or the likes, but even if I did, I cannot see how this could solve the issue.
A HDMI eARC connection would be ideal, but maybe that's asking too much of such a basic setup.

 

[Asheashe]

I wouldn't know how to. The BS speaker is on alright. But when I start the TV there is no sound until I manually switch to 'analoge in' either in the BS app or via a preset button on the speaker. I'm not using Alexa or the likes, but even if I did, I cannot see how this could solve the issue.
A HDMI eARC connection would be ideal, but maybe that's asking too much of such a basic setup.

Home assistant could potentially do it - many smart devices have api's that allow them to be controlled but depends on what you have.

At worst something like harmony elite or similar products have IR blasters that will do remote control inputs if there is no direct api interface - my stereo amp is controlled in that way as there is no smart integration so it turns it on via replicating its remote and switches it to the input, my tv, avr, subs etc all have direct integration so they're easy

It does look like blue sound has a home assistant plugin, but depend if you want that route




Have you tried this?

How do I enable the Player to play sound automatically from my TV?

Bluesound Players can automatically switch the audio source to the externally connected Digital Input (Optical, Coaxial, or HDMI) when a valid signal is detected from a TV, CD Player, or any other ...

support1.bluesound.com

 

[Aquaman]

Home assistant could potentially do it - many smart devices have api's that allow them to be controlled but depends on what you have.

At worst something like harmony elite or similar products have IR blasters that will do remote control inputs if there is no direct api interface - my stereo amp is controlled in that way as there is no smart integration so it turns it on via replicating its remote and switches it to the input, my tv, avr, subs etc all have direct integration so they're easy

It does look like blue sound has a home assistant plugin, but depend if you want that route

View attachment 28359


Have you tried this?

How do I enable the Player to play sound automatically from my TV?

Bluesound Players can automatically switch the audio source to the externally connected Digital Input (Optical, Coaxial, or HDMI) when a valid signal is detected from a TV, CD Player, or any other ...

support1.bluesound.com

Thank you, Asheashe,
No, I haven‘t but I will look into it.

 

[BullsIT]

I wouldn't know how to. The BS speaker is on alright. But when I start the TV there is no sound until I manually switch to 'analoge in' either in the BS app or via a preset button on the speaker.

If your TV remote is IR, you can create a preset in the BluOS app/controller chosing analog input as source. Use an "unused" button on your TV remote to switch input.

 

[Aquaman]

If your TV remote is IR, you can create a preset in the BluOS app/controller chosing analog input as source. Use an "unused" button on your TV remote to switch input.

Now that sounds very practical indeed. I‘ll give that a try!
Thank you for the hint, BullsIT.

Not all is bad about the BS products. So I will eventually not have to change anything in my current setup. Given that I‘ve only had them for a year or so before discovering the WiiM ecosystem this is a pleasant outlook.

 

[Aquaman]

@BullsIT
It actually works!
I didn‘t even have to go via a preset. There‘s a pre-defined function to activate the anlogue input when the IR remote switches on the TV. Great!

 

[Asheashe]

Result

 

[Aquaman]

So I‘ll have to place the WiiM Sound in the kitchen to sync with my main system in the lounge.

 

[Lomax_hjs]

I got an Edifier MS50A in the kitchen, connected to the WiiM Amp Pro in the living room so that I can enjoy the music while cooking or washing up.