WiiM Mini Network Audio Player Review

A Perfect Combination of Compact Design and High Value

In today’s audio device market, the WiiM Mini, priced at £79, impresses with its exceptional performance and versatility. For this price, the WiiM Mini offers incredible value, boasting great flexibility and impressive sound quality, making it hard not to recommend.

What is the WiiM Mini?
The WiiM Mini is a network audio player we test regularly. While its specifications are similar to other devices in its category, it stands out in several key areas. First, the WiiM Mini is the smallest device we’ve tested, with a size that significantly differs from its competitors. Second, it is one of the most affordable network audio players available at £79.

The WiiM Mini supports PCM audio transmission up to 24bit/192kHz and is compatible with MQA decoding, allowing it to fully leverage high-resolution audio sources. It can access content on NAS drives via the UPnP protocol and supports major streaming services like Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music, Spotify, Napster, TuneIn, Calm, VTuner, Soundcloud, and Pandora. With its integrated app, the WiiM Mini offers easy access to various streaming content, featuring a clean, intuitive interface and smooth operation.

Features and Design
Although most of the WiiM Mini’s functions are controlled via the app, it still provides some basic physical controls. The device itself is equipped with touch-sensitive buttons for play/pause and track skipping. A small LED indicator clearly shows the device’s current status, including playback progress and connection status.

The WiiM Mini does not have an Ethernet port and relies entirely on wireless connectivity. Despite this, the device performed reliably during testing, with smooth setup and no extra troubleshooting required. This simple design meets the needs of most users, avoiding complicated wiring or additional configuration steps.

In terms of hardware, the WiiM Mini offers multiple audio output options. In addition to a 3.5mm analog output, it also includes the rarer line-in and optical (TOSLINK) outputs, enhancing its compatibility with a wider range of audio systems. In fact, the WiiM Mini can be seen as the spiritual successor to the Chromecast Audio, capable of turning any audio system with digital input into a wireless streaming player. Moreover, the WiiM Mini supports AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth 5.0 (with AAC codec), covering a wide range of streaming needs.

While its design is relatively understated and minimal, the WiiM Mini’s compact size, solid build quality, and stable performance help it stand out among similar products. It comes with a 5V USB input for power, and users have the flexibility to choose an appropriate power supply method based on their needs.

Sound Quality Performance
Despite its affordable price, the WiiM Mini delivers impressive sound quality. The guitar solo during playback exhibits a rich and powerful tone, and while the soundstage may not be vast, the detail and clarity are remarkable, offering a fully immersive experience.

When connecting the WiiM Mini’s optical output to a high-end DAC like the Chord Mojo, the sound quality becomes even more impressive. Even compared to some more expensive streaming devices, the WiiM Mini offers a very close performance. In certain situations, you might prefer using a more advanced device for handling more audio formats, but overall, the WiiM Mini excels in delivering highly transparent audio performance.

Conclusion
In today’s audio market, where prices of many devices continue to rise, the WiiM Mini breaks this trend by offering incredible value at a price of just £79. For this cost, any complaints about its specifications are easily overlooked, as it provides performance and features that far exceed its price. Among similar products, the WiiM Mini stands out as one of the most cost-effective devices, effortlessly turning any audio system with analog or optical inputs into a modern wireless streaming player.

Overall, the WiiM Mini is a highly recommended, value-packed audio player that offers excellent sound quality and a full range of features at an affordable price. It is undoubtedly one of the hidden gems in the market. If you’re looking for a powerful, high-quality, and budget-friendly streaming player, the WiiM Mini is an excellent choice to consider.