Pressvameda
Technology

WiiM Sound Lite vs Sonos Era 100: I let these Wi-Fi speakers slug it out, and the showdown was far closer than I ever would have imagined

January 25, 2026 • 5 min read • views
WiiM Sound Lite vs Sonos Era 100: I let these Wi-Fi speakers slug it out, and the showdown was far closer than I ever would have imagined
  1. Audio
  2. Hi-Fi
  3. Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers
  4. Multi-Room
WiiM Sound Lite vs Sonos Era 100: I let these Wi-Fi speakers slug it out, and the showdown was far closer than I ever would have imagined Features By Josh Russell published 25 January 2026

It’s the rumble playing jungle

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The WiiM Sound Lite side by side with the Sonos Era 100 from a 45 degree angle. (Image credit: Future) Share Share by:
  • Copy link
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Whatsapp
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Threads
  • Email
Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google

With the Sound range, it’s safe to say WiiM has entered the wireless speaker market swinging. Not only has it released the more audiophile-baiting WiiM Sound, but it simultaneously released a cheaper version, the WiiM Sound Lite. Given both are multi-room speakers with an unabashedly mid-market price, it’s pretty clear it’s gunning for Sonos with these devices. I couldn’t resist seeing how they stack up against their closest rival: the Sonos Era 100.

As you may have seen, I’ve already compared the full version of the Lite to Sonos’s speaker in my WiiM Sound vs Sonos Era 100 piece. And while you might think this comparison is going to be more of the same, it’s worth bearing in mind that the Lite is quite a different proposition.

Priced at $229 / £229 / AU$399, the Lite is much closer in cost to the Sonos Era 100’s $219 / £199 / AU$319 than the full WiiM Sound’s $299 / £299 / AU$499 list price. And while it’s had quite a bit of its price slashed, it hasn’t lost a whole lot of functionality to get there, making the Lite a much more nimble opponent for the Era 100 and a credible contender for a spot on our list of the best wireless speakers.

You may like
  • The Wiim Sound side-by-side with the Sonos Era 100 on a polished wood table, in front of a plant and a pink background. WiiM VS Sonos – which Wi-Fi speaker offers the best sound?
  • Lifestyle image of the WiiM Sound Lite in white WiiM just unveiled the ultimate Sonos Era 100 rival — meet the hi-res Sound Lite
  • WiiM Sound on a table, with wine glasses and a TV in the background WiiM Sound review: the multi-room sound specialist's first wireless speaker hits (almost) all the right notes

WiiM Sound Lite vs Sonos Era 100: features

The WiiM Sound Lite side by side with the Sonos Era 100 from a front on angle.

(Image credit: Future)

Just like the WiiM Sound, the Sound Lite packs a 4-inch, 50W woofer for driving bass and a pair of angled, full-range 25W tweeters to broaden its stereo field. Meanwhile, the Sonos Era 100 is similar, containing a mid-woofer for both mid-range and bass and two angled tweeters, only this time with a waveguide frame to disperse sound across 180 degrees per tweeter.

Refreshingly, despite costing less, the Sound Lite offers connectivity as excellent as the full-fat Sound, and that includes its hi-res 24-bit/192kHz playback. It can also connect to WiiM, Google Cast, and Alexa multi-room systems, as well as stream directly from a wide array of services, including Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, TIDAL, Qobuz, Deezer, Napster, Pandora, Plex, SoundCloud, and more. On top of this, it offers a 3.5mm jack input, which is always handy if you’re likely to want to hook it up to external audio kit.

Unfortunately, there is a catch, and if you’re heavily invested in Apple’s ecosystem, it may be too big for you to overlook. The Sound Lite doesn’t support Apple Music or AirPlay 2, meaning you won’t be able to connect your iPhone or MacBook to the speaker via Wi-Fi. If you’re an Apple fan, you might find that a speaker like the Sonos Era 100 gives you far more flexibility.

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inboxContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

On top of AirPlay 2, the Era 100 offers access to all the streaming services above and throws Apple Music support in for good measure. There are a few trade-offs here, too, though. While the Sonos is capable of lossless playback at 24-bit/48kHz, you won’t get the same super-high-quality as the WiiM, though it’s worth noting there’s debate around how much this extra quality is even discernible. And, regrettably, an analog in is also absent, although you can purchase an additional adapter to convert the Era 100’s USB port into either a 3.5mm jack or an Ethernet port.

The WiiM Sound Lite side by side with the Sonos Era 100 in front of a pink background.

(Image credit: Future)

Of course, both speakers come with additional functionality packaged into their apps. Each app offers multi-room connectivity and the ability to hook them up as part of a stereo pair.

EQ is handled a little differently by each brand. Sonos offers treble and bass adjustment and automatic loudness correction for increased bass at lower volumes. Conversely, WiiM offers much more granular control: not only does it come with a 10-band EQ, but its parametric EQ lets you create curves to boost or duck frequencies throughout the whole spectrum, which is seriously impressive. I tested it out in a pretty echoey room and was honestly blown away by how easy it was to smooth out errant frequencies this way.

You may like
  • Lifestyle image of the WiiM Sound Lite in white WiiM just unveiled the ultimate Sonos Era 100 rival — meet the hi-res Sound Lite
  • WiiM Sound on a table, with wine glasses and a TV in the background WiiM Sound review: the multi-room sound specialist's first wireless speaker hits (almost) all the right notes
  • sonos arc ultra vs jbl bar 1000 mk2 I tested the Sonos Arc Ultra and compared it to a top JBL Dolby Atmos soundbar – here’s the one I’d recommend you buy

Finally, both speakers offer room correction algorithms. The process of the Era 100’s advanced tuning mode involves pinwheeling your phone with your arm while you walk around the room, but it achieves pretty credible results. Testing it near a wall, I found it brought the high end more into focus and made the overall sound more cohesive. It also did an impressive job of taming the outrageously resonant bass when I placed the speaker in the middle of an acoustically reflective laminate floor.

Although I gave the WiiM Sound a hard time for its room correction, it seems to have been tightened up for the Sound Lite in a recent update. It may not be a sonic silver bullet, but it does seem to go a little further, occasionally boosting weaker frequencies rather than just trimming excessive ones back. Close to a wall, it sheared off some of the wooliness in its lower frequencies, while in the middle of the floor, it helped whip the overly doughy kick into shape. It’s not quite as sophisticated as Sonos’s algorithm, but it at least gives the sound some much-needed spit and polish.

Honestly, with some of the recent improvements to WiiM’s feature set, this isn’t as big a sweep for Sonos as it was when I tested the Sound. Honestly, if you’re an Apple user or room correction is your biggest priority, the Era 100 is your best bet. But that hi-res playback and parametric EQ means that audiophiles might now find the Sound Lite takes the upper hand.

WiiM Sound Lite vs Sonos Era 100: sound quality

The WiiM Sound Lite at a 45 degree angle in front of a pink background.

(Image credit: Future)

You’re very unlikely to get sound quality that’s utterly unimpeachable. Instead, the WiiM Sound Lite and the Sonos Era 100 each have their individual sonic strengths

When I played Listen by Pola & Bryson & goddard., the Sound Lite made its arpeggiated synth sound utterly gorgeous, and there was more than a hint of bass harmonics. However, switching to the Era 100, it became clear what I was missing – not only did the drop of that D&B bassline sound suitably snarly, but there was something delicious dubby about the way that sub bubbled up every couple of bars.

Unfortunately, like a tragic hero, the Era 100’s strength is also its greatest flaw. While listening to Peace Talk by Maribou State, I found that its bass too often encroached on the mid-range – the heft of the guitar and flabbier low-end sometimes overwhelmed the synth and strings. Conversely, the balance the Sound Lite strikes is far more judicious, allowing these melodic elements more time in the spotlight and giving that gorgeous vocal even more gloss.

Nothing shows up a speaker’s sonic weaknesses faster than poorly controlled treble, so I’m glad that neither of these devices lumbered into that bear trap. Playing Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac, the Sound Lite kept the brightness of its high end carefully in check, with the strumming of the guitars and transient hats and snares never feeling over-exposed. The Sonos Era 100 couldn’t quite strike this balance, though, with the guitar feeling less crisp and the toms focusing on heft rather than bite.

The Sonos Era 100 at a 45 degree angle in front of a pink background.

(Image credit: Future)

Cumulatively, this sonic profile means the Era 100 seems to offer greater cohesion, but sometimes that comes at the expense of precision. For example, when I tested it on Wasting My Young Years by London Grammar, I noticed some instruments were forced to fight for attention. By contrast, the Sound Lite was a lot more airy – the vocals erupted upward in the mix, with the piano subtly underpinning them. It’s not quite the surgically precise separation of a speaker like the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition, but it's definitely decent given its price point.

Perhaps one area where the Era 100 is more balanced than the Sound Lite is listening angles. While neither showed any egregious deadspots in their soundstage, the WiiM’s treble fell off much faster as I moved to the sides of the device, whereas the Sonos was pretty consistent up until I strayed into the bassier area at the rear 90 degrees of the device.

Conversely, when it comes to stereo field, I’d give the Sound Lite the slight edge. Playing The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel, I struggled to identify any panning at all, with most of the sound seeming to emerge directly from the speaker’s center. By contrast, the Era 100 doesn’t have the widest soundstage I’ve heard, but I could at least perceive a slight spread to the drum and guitar parts, even though there was hardly a gulf between them.

Honestly, it’s hard to pick a clear winner here because the best option for you is going to depend so much on what you personally want out of a wireless speaker. Want spacious mids and considered expression but aren’t offended by milquetoast bass? Then the Sound Lite is absolutely a solid choice. But if your definition of a speaker is something bassy and brassy with omnidirectional sound, then the Era 100 will definitely be more your vibe.

WiiM Sound Lite vs Sonos Era 100: design

The top of the Sonos Era 100, showing its volume bar, and play/pause, skip and mute microphone buttons.

(Image credit: Future)

Naturally, when it comes to design, the situation here is not all that different from my WiiM Sound vs Sonos Era 100 piece. Not only is the Era 100 the exact same unit, but the Sound Lite has an almost identical form factor as its more premium stablemate.

The one big departure for the Sound Lite is that it doesn’t have the Sound’s porthole-style display. However, while this was a fun addition that helped the Sound stand out a little more, I wouldn’t say it’s a deal breaker. It’s nice to be able to see album art or photos on your speaker, but the resolution and vibrancy weren’t so eye-wateringly gorgeous that it’s truly unmissable. If your biggest priority is getting the best sonic bang for your buck, the display is probably the easiest thing to let go of.

Elsewhere, the WiiM and the Sonos come from very similar schools of design. Both have a cylindrical build with controls on their top face, and both come in black or white colorways. The Sound Lite has a little more bulk, weighing in at 2.5kg compared to the Era 100’s 2.02kg, and it comes wrapped in fabric rather than the latter’s metal grille. But otherwise, at first glance, they give a similar general impression.

There are some small points of difference in that control scheme, though. Each has the same basic functions laid out on its surface, with touch-capacitive buttons for pausing or playing content, adjusting volume, or skipping back and forth. However, the Sound Lite’s buttons are hidden until it detects your hand nearby, at which point they light up. On top of giving it a slightly classier look when the lights are off, this also means it’s easier to use in darker rooms.

The top of the WiiM Sound Lite, showing its volume bar, and play/pause, skip and mute microphone buttons.

(Image credit: Future)

That’s a definite point in the WiiM’s favor. But while its glass top panel gives it a slightly more premium look than the Era 100’s matt black plastic, it also shows up way more marks from your greasy mitts. I only prodded the odd button here and there to test the Sound Lite’s functionality, as I mostly operated it from the connected app, but it quickly resembled a scene from CSI as it got covered in oily fingerprints. Fortunately, it wipes clean pretty easily, but better keep a microfiber cloth handy just in case.

Neither speaker draws the line at physical or app control. The Era 100 comes with built-in voice control via either Sonos Voice Control or Amazon Alexa, which is always an enormous help when you're feeling too lazy to reach for your phone or the device. The Sound Lite doesn’t offer voice control built into the unit itself, but if you buy its separate WiiM Voice Remote 2 Lite, its push-to-talk button lets you control the device via Alexa or Google Assistant.

While I’m a little disappointed the remote isn’t included in the box as it was for the WiiM Sound, I’d argue it’s still a worthy purchase at $39 / £39 / $79. It’s robustly crafted from aluminum and has wonderfully clicky buttons, making it a great choice for anyone who prefers a more tactile way of interacting with their gadgets than yet another phone app.

Personally, when it comes to design, I just about favor the Sound Lite. Light-up controls can help when you’re operating it in darker rooms, and its fabric-and-glass build looks a skosh classier to me. But I recognize that if you prefer to use voice control for your speaker, the Era 100’s on-device mic is far more convenient than having to fork over additional money for a remote.

WiiM Sound Lite VS Sonos Era 100: verdict

The WiiM Sound Lite side by side with the Sonos Era 100 in front of a pink background.

(Image credit: Future)

When comparing the full WiiM Sound to the Sonos Era 100, I definitely came down in favor of the latter. So it may seem odd that I’ve changed my tune now I’ve swapped in the supposedly ‘Lite’ version. However, I’d argue the Lite is anything but.

It has the same drivers, the same audio quality, and the same features – plus it's had a couple of recent quality-of-life updates. The only thing that’s changed is that the display has disappeared, and, as I pointed out in my intro, the price has dropped from $299 / £299 / AU$499 down to $229 / £229 / AU$399. Getting essentially the same performance for a lower price changes the equation for me and brings both speakers much more in line with each other.

In light of this, I’d say the WiiM Sound Lite and Sonos Era 100 are fairly evenly matched, albeit with different strengths. If you’re an audiophile, you’ll likely find the Sound Lite's hi-res streaming support and more open, expressive sound compelling – not to mention its granular parametric EQ. However, should you be into substantial bass, smarter room correction, or Apple’s ecosystem, I’d say you’ll get a lot more mileage out of the Era 100 instead.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

TOPICS Sonos CATEGORIES Multi-Room Josh RussellJosh RussellSocial Links NavigationReviews Editor

Josh is Reviews Editor at TechRadar. With over ten years of experience covering tech both in print and online, he’s served as editor of T3 and net magazines and written about everything from groundbreaking gadgets to innovative Silicon Valley startups. He’s an expert in a wide range of products from Spatial Audio headphones to gaming handhelds. When he’s not putting trailblazing tech through its paces, he can be found making melodic techno or seeking out the perfect cold brew coffee. 

Show More Comments

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Lifestyle image of the WiiM Sound Lite in white WiiM just unveiled the ultimate Sonos Era 100 rival — meet the hi-res Sound Lite    WiiM Sound on a table, with wine glasses and a TV in the background WiiM Sound review: the multi-room sound specialist's first wireless speaker hits (almost) all the right notes    sonos arc ultra vs jbl bar 1000 mk2 I tested the Sonos Arc Ultra and compared it to a top JBL Dolby Atmos soundbar – here’s the one I’d recommend you buy    Sonos and Marshall logos on two soundbars Sonos Beam Gen 2 vs Marshall Heston 60: here’s the compact Dolby Atmos soundbar I’d recommend    Edifier ES60 on table, against pink background Edifier ES60 review: a solid speaker that falls just short of the competition    Edifier S880DB MKII active bookshelf speakers on a wooden surface in front of a window, overlooked by a beautiful long-haired cat. Edifier S880DB MKII review: eye-candy small-format active bookshelf speakers that are a feature-filled delight    Latest in Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers JBL BandBox Trio on a desk with a woman playing guitar next to it JBL's new speakers can remove instruments or vocals from songs in realtime    A Marshall Heddon hub atop a shelving unit full of vinyl, sat next to a record player Marshall's Wi-Fi music hub turns Bluetooth speakers into multi-room marvels    The Wiim Sound side-by-side with the Sonos Era 100 on a polished wood table, in front of a plant and a pink background. Ditched your Sonos speaker? Ensure your upgrade has this vital feature    Jinkyo Han retro bluetooth speaker concept design on a white surface and background This dictaphone-style music player would be my perfect commuting companion    Edifier ES60 on table, against pink background Edifier ES60 review: a solid speaker that falls just short of the competition    Roland Cube Street Mini on a dark grey background Roland's cheap new Bluetooth speaker is for performing as well as chilling    Latest in Features The Humane AI Pin on a shirt New report suggests Apple will release an AI Pin in 2027    an image of the Galaxy S25 with the Rumors Rated badge I've rated all the key Samsung Galaxy S26 rumors    Samsung Galaxy Unpacked signage at SAP Center in San Jose 5 things to expect at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked – and 5 things we probably won’t see    Roborock Saros 10 navigating around tester's home The 3 biggest lies robot vacuum brands are telling us, by a professional tester    JLab JBuds Mini ANC attached to a set of keys, with the case open and one earbud outside the case I tried the world's smallest ANC earbuds, and they sound amazing for $40    Jennifer Lawrence closes her eyes as confetti falls on her face Die My Love is streaming on MUBI now — here's your camera starter kit inspired by the movie    LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1WiiM Sound Lite vs Sonos Era 100: I let these Wi-Fi speakers slug it out, and the showdown was far closer than I ever would have imagined
  2. 2I field-tested the best-selling Wandrd PRVKE backpack, and the hype is real — it's my new favorite camera bag that doesn't look like one
  3. 3'Tesla's chip game is no joke': Elon Musk confirms it has restarted work on its biggest supercomputer yet - but what will it actually be used for?
  4. 4The Insta360 CEO just leaked two upcoming cameras in one teaser image – here's what might be coming
  5. 5The PowerA Advantage Wireless Controller is an okay Switch 2 pick on sale — but it’s no Pro Controller

Related Articles