WiiM Mini Review (Streamer)

[Merifon]

@Merifon Do you mean those settings? If so, I think they are about the overall quality that comes from the app, despite the output.
When testing, I switched the laptop's output between E50 (USB) and Wiim Mini (WiFi).
View attachment 277850 View attachment 277851

maybe i'm wrong but i remind in sound output, below system default, after choose what device, the possibility to exclusive use or similar. I had an external Yamaha dac and different choices leaded to differente results, maybe just in loudness...
I'm not using anymore the desktop app and cannot verify. Anyway it was on windows10.
Perhaps you use wiim selecting from Mac's sound prefs? In that case wiim will be driven via Airplay2, that i believe is not bit berfect.

 

[CauliflowerEars]

maybe i'm wrong but i remind in sound output, below system default, after choose what device, the possibility to exclusive use or similar. I had an external Yamaha dac and different choices leaded to differente results, maybe just in loudness...
I'm not using anymore the desktop app and cannot verify.

I think you are referring to this, but it would probably lead to differences in the overall output. It doesn't specify USB or WiFi, so my deduction is that the Tidal laptop app plays the same quality and the further limitations could be:
a. Either the laptop's USB vs WiFi - I don't yet know much about this.
b. Or E50's USB vs Opt input - from the specs, it seems this might be the case, but I am not an expert ...

 

[Merifon]

I think you are referring to this, but it would probably lead to differences in the overall output. It doesn't specify USB or WiFi, so my deduction is that the Tidal laptop app plays the same quality and the further limitations could be:
a. Either the laptop's USB vs WiFi - I don't yet know much about this.
b. Or E50's USB vs Opt input - from the specs, it seems this might be the case, but I am not an expert ...
View attachment 277852

yes, on windows systems, exclusive mode take direct control of audio device, bypassing some operating system's modules. It should anyway better, if you don't need other sounds...
This affects USB output use only, not the Wiim that is driven directly by streaming source from the net.

 

[Zapper]

Thank you for your response. I meant the E50's input specs, as below. That's why I am looking for a WiFi streamer with a good USB output. Does anyone have any good recommendations? Hopefully in the Wiim Mini price range or so ...
View attachment 277756

Most people can't hear the difference between 44.1k/16 and 88.2k/24 in a proper blind test. Those tests that show that some people can hear the difference also show that they do so only under optimum conditions. I am confident that no-one ever has or ever will hear the difference between 192k/24 and 768k/32. That just so far exceeds human sensory capacity that it's ridiculous. Unless you're a bat.

Just because engineers can throw more and more bits into the audio stream doesn't make the sound any better. It doesn't make any sense to go looking for a different streamer because the WiiMs can "only" do 192k/24.

Besides there is no low cost streamer with USB output.

 

[Merifon]

Most people can't hear the difference between 44.1k/16 and 88.2k/24 in a proper blind test.

I guess nobody... If you take a file and upsample or downsample it in a proper way on a proper gear.
Differences may eventually lie on the response of a given dac at different sample frequencies or if the editions are not equally treated. Aniway a higher number on display give better feelings and this is frequently much important, at least as much the consciousness that a signal has not been modified...

 

[jkuc003]

I apologise if this has been discussed previously but I can’t seem to find an answer.

I’m interested in the wiim, currently use a Chromecast audio for streaming purposes, but would be keen to get the wiim if the buttons act like they do on the Sonos products. With my little Sonos Roam if I press pause on the device and come back the next day and press play it will continue where it left off. Makes for a simple start to the morning when I can walk down the stairs past the stereo and press the play button, all before I have coffee and can manage looking at my phone. Does anyone know of the wiim does the same?

 

[SunnyRehde]

My experience: WiiM mini (TIDAL Connect) to Topping E50 DAC to Topping PA5 amp to (efficient) speakers make a wonderful budget ‚highend‘ chain. I don‘t miss a thing!

Meanwhile I upgraded from WiiM mini to WiiM Pro, mostly because of the clumsy form factor and the possibility to use a better digital connector.

My PA5 has not yet suffered from any of the common problems. However, I will probably upgrade to the lately announced PA7 .... just because! ;-)

 

[dustinyo]

So out of curiosity, did Wiim ditch Roon support for the mini? They for sure said it was an upcoming feature for the mini at one point, but now there's no mention of it as a planned feature on their website for the mini, they only show it as upcoming for the Pro now. https://wiimhome.com/Roadmap.html

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

So out of curiosity, did Wiim ditch Roon support for the mini? They for sure said it was an upcoming feature for the mini at one point, but now there's no mention of it as a planned feature on their website for the mini, they only show it as upcoming for the Pro now. https://wiimhome.com/Roadmap.html

Yes, the Roon client requires the huge, bloated .NET (for Linux) runtime. It's too big for the Mini.

 

[Big White]

Meanwhile I upgraded from WiiM mini to WiiM Pro, mostly because of the clumsy form factor and the possibility to use a better digital connector.

My PA5 has not yet suffered from any of the common problems. However, I will probably upgrade to the lately announced PA7 .... just because! ;-)

Any sound quality differecences ?

 

[SunnyRehde]

Any sound quality differecences ?

you mean between mini and pro? No, both do a perfect job when working as a streaming client via digital out. I never used them for anything else.

 

[Philipp]

Work related i have a pro thermal camera at home.

In a closed cabinet, stacked on my Denon class AB amp, next to the Dac, it runs on 37 Celsius.

Scientific enough to cover as an excuse for me playing around with this awesome piece of equipment

It covers the „it runs quiet hot“ discussion from a scientific angle, the amp runs for 15 years now, the damage done to it and its interior by the enclosed situation is a chapter where I cannot deliver measurements ;-)

Cheers!

 

[Urib]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the WiiM Mini Wifi/Bluetooth streamer. It is on kind loan from a member and is on sale on Amazon for US $89.

View attachment 200172

As you can see the former factor is a "hockey puck." An included phone charger needs to be used to power the unit over USB-C. It did not work so when I used my computer USB port.

Initial setup is by connecting using Bluetooth and the available App. I connected using BT but the Android app would not see it. I had to shut off BT and turn it back on for it to recognize it. While this is disappointing, I have had similar issues with other streamers. Once there, the app was reliable and gave me the option of configuring Toslink output for bit exact and its maximum sample rate which I appreciated. It also updated the device on first connection.

WiiM Mini Measurements
My first tests were using Aiplay 2.0 as initiated by my Roon player. As usual, Airplay itself becomes the bottleneck as we see with Toslink digital out:
View attachment 200173

Not sure if Airplay forced the sample rate to change to 48 kHz or the device did it. Using it with analog out we get:
View attachment 200174

While we are beating the company spec, performance is lackluster as is typically the case in this category of product. Noise performance is not great either:

View attachment 200175

There is however good news if you use the App and output over Toslink:

View attachment 200176

This is the best you can do with 24-bit dithered signal. At 141 dB, your limit then will be what your DAC can do as even state of the are units have a SINAD of 123 dB.

Using the same signal but now testing the analog output we get:
View attachment 200177

So just a hair better than using Airplay. The internal DAC as expected, is a mass market product than high performance.

Using the same for jitter we have:
View attachment 200178

Noise floor is fairly high which can hide a lot of sins.

Since my analyzer can't control streaming devices, these are all the tests I can reasonably run. I think we have a good picture though.

Edit: by request, here is the frequency response from the internal DAC:

View attachment 200372

Edit WiiM Mini ADC Analog In Measurements
Feeding the Mini analog input and capturing the same, gives this output:
View attachment 200375

Performance is dominated by distortion. Switching to Toslink out to eliminate effect of the DAC we basically get the same result:

View attachment 200376

So just like the DAC, this is a mass market ADC implementation. Good enough for common uses though but I would not route the clean output of any DAC through it.

Conclusions
If you use the App and Toslink output, you basically have a transparent wireless link to your stereo. Connect it to your favorite DAC and your performance will only be limited by the rest of your system. For me personally lack of Roon support is a big deal. I don't want to use their App to play or stream content. I hope the company looks at supporting Roon endpoint. Analog output of the unit is just OK.

Personally I can't recommend the WiiM Mini due to lack of support for Roon player. That aside, it is great to see bit exact digital output in a budget streamer allowing you to improve its performance to any level you want using your own DAC.

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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

Having using it for a while, recently it's software got crazy. Everything is upside down. Impossible to operate. Sent an email to their support with no reply from them. Is anyone encountered such a problem?

 

[Greenman]

Having using it for a while, recently it's software got crazy. Everything is upside down. Impossible to operate. Sent an email to their support with no reply from them. Is anyone encountered such a problem?

Do you mean the WiiM Home app?

what version of the app and firmware are you on.

Im on
app: 2.5.1.23070416
firmware: 4.6.521630

and everything seems ok…no issues..

 

[Power Pop 23]

Linkplay is now selling a 'refurbished' WiiM Mini audio streamer at their outlet store on Ebay for $59.99 USD.

WiiM Mini AirPlay 2 Wireless Hi-Res Audio Streamer | eBay

WiiM Mini turns your stereo into anâ¯AirPlayâ¯2-enabled speakerâ¯toâ¯streamâ¯theâ¯musicâ¯thatâ¯you loveâ¯from iOS and Mac devices or stream TV audio from Apple TV. WiiM Mini can stream up to 24-bit/192 kHz music wirelessly on its digital and analog output.

www.ebay.com

 

[ClassicGuy]

Also WiiM Pro, in case anybody is interested:

WiiM Pro Airplay2 Receiver, Chromecast Audio, WiFi Multiroom Streamer | eBay

WiiM Pro turns your existing stereo system into smart, so you can play all your favorite music from your music app, the WiiM App or your voice by using Alexa, Google Voice or Siri all in the highest possible sound fidelity.

www.ebay.com

 

[DeepSpace57]

Great prices !!! Have u ever seen any deal like this at an EU store?

 

[Karmacoma]

Having using it for a while, recently it's software got crazy. Everything is upside down. Impossible to operate. Sent an email to their support with no reply from them. Is anyone encountered such a problem?

Use it daily, using it right now. No problem. Had several issues when i bought it (couple or weeks after release) when using Amazon music (using Amazon app and/or Wiim app) that have been fixed in several updates, but right now it's ok and not going ''crazy'', probably some connection issues or something related to your streaming platform implementation.

 

[Joe Smith]

Ordered one of the refurbished ones for $64 shipped, want to try in place of my current Bluetooth receivers. Planning to use with my iPhone SE as controller with their application. And will hook via the toslink to my Modi DAC, connect that to amp.

So with the Mini, the iPhone is only used for controlling, the actual data stream comes directly into the Mini from the wireless network - correct?

Use both Spotify and Amazon HD at present, will work with them and see which is easier to use via their app.

 

[Greenman]

the actual data stream comes directly into the Mini from the wireless network - correct?

Yes. I use via an iPad and Qobuz and it works as you say. That is as long as you use the WiiM app, this however does not appear to handle playlists etc very well. (Though spotify connect may offer improved functionality?)

The alternative is you can use (in your case) the Spotify or Amazon music app on your iPhone and ‘cast’ the music via the WiiM using Airplay2. This works in the same way (I.e the wimm takes control) but you are just limited to CD quality rather than hires via this route.