WIIM – Linkplay

WiiM

Linplay is an independent streaming platform that can integrate sound systems throughout the house. This advanced Wi-Fi audio streaming platform makes it possible to create a multi-room sound system across popular hi-fi brands, and is used precisely in the Wiim products, which were developed by the company behind LinkPlay.

Linkplay has a user-friendly smartphone or tablet app, which gives users the ability to select music, adjust the volume, and determine playback areas/zones. In addition, WiiM Linkplay players and amplifiers can also be used as AirPlay2 receivers, and the pro models also use Chromecast.

Linkplay supports a wide range of popular streaming services including Spotify connect, Apple Music, Tidal connect and many more, providing access to an almost endless library of songs and playlists.

WiiM Linkplay compared to SONOS:

Many people know about SONOS, which is a speaker and multi-room system that offers user-friendly music playback throughout the home, both via the SONOS App and AirPlay. The Linkplay platform offers a similar functionality, but with extended options and compatibility for almost all Wi-Fi speakers. The WiiM can also be used to give passive speakers or older stereos a new "steaming life" with a simple little WiiM amplifier or all-in-one player, like the SONOS Amp and Port can. Similar to the SONOS app, WiiM Home App can be used for multi-room playback and control , but other companies also have LinkPlay Apps, which are of course also compatible with WiiM products.

If you want to use services such as YouSee Music, Telmore Music or Apple Music directly within a combined multi-room App, you should choose a SONOS solution (e.g. with SONOS Amp / Port as player) instead of WiiM amplifier/player, as all these services are supported by SONOS App, where on a WiiM can only be streamed via AirPlay or ChromeCast (Chromecast requires minimum WiiM Pro).

Playing music from a computer/NAS server - WiiM LinkPlay versus SONOS:

WiiM Pro players access local music from via the DLNA protocol, which is, however, somewhat limited in terms of playlists and search ( unfortunately). If you want more functionality, the solution could be to use WiiM in a Roon solution , which is also a multi-room system with its own app. In a Roon system, the WiiM Pro player can be included 100% as Roon Ready Endpoint which is certified for music streaming in the highest quality and thereby used directly in the Roons App. Roon can both access streaming services, but also its own local music library, as SONOS can. Please note that Roon is not a free solution and requires Roon Core software on a computer or NAS server.

SONOS has its own solution for playing your own music (MP3, etc.), from a computer or NAS server on the local network, and thus playlists can be made which can be played directly in the SONOS app. The speakers, player and amplifier from SONOS index the local music library, after setup via a PC and SONOS software. It is not known whether the solution will be supported in the long term or renewed, as it has a number of years behind it and has not been significantly renewed since the start.