-
WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
WiiM Mini Review (Streamer)
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
Witterings
Senior Member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2022
- Messages
- 319
- Likes
- 135
No stuttering on Tidal, Spotify or Amazon music ....... Using Chromecast Audio!
Probably not with a Node either.
Ralph_Cramden
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2020
- Messages
- 2,606
- Likes
- 3,522
Yep, I’ve had no issues running Tidal HiFi. Integration into the WiiM app is really quite good, with biographies, similar artists, etc.
I’ve not had any navigation issues. Getting from the “now playing” screen back to main screen is simply a matter of touching the down arrow at top left. Clicking the “Browse” button gets back to top level, no matter how deeply you’ve drilled down. A pretty well designed UI, though I mostly use the LMS Material Skin, which is what I’m accustomed to.
nothingman
Senior Member
A question for @WiiM Support as long as they’ve been responsive:
Is it normal for Tidal Connect to drop the connection the moment a queue is finished? Is there anything that can be done to hold a Tidal Connect session open for at least 5 or 10 minutes after the queue finishes?
An example: if I am selecting songs one at a time, and letting them all play to conclusion, each and every time a song finishes without another song queued my Tidal Connect drops. That means I have to go back in to the player screen and go to sources and then select the Mini again, and only then hit play, over and over even though I had a perfectly good Tidal Connect session going just a moment earlier. Or an album finishes and it’s time to pick another and I have literally zero seconds after the last song finishes to start another without having to reconnect.
I’m more used to an Airplay type system when there’s a standard timeout that is pretty reasonable. Not excessively short, but doesn’t last forever either. Maybe 5-10mins. I’d have nothing against a longer connection than that, but it’s a reference point.
I mention this in case it’s the Mini that is signaling to Tidal that the job is over and it’s time to disengage Tidal Connect. You all should fix that, if that’s the case, or if it’s Tidal’s fault then please help them understand why they have things set up in a way that doesn’t match how people listen to music.
Otherwise, kudos! Such a great little piece of gear that does its job wonderfully. Thank you.
Is it normal for Tidal Connect to drop the connection the moment a queue is finished? Is there anything that can be done to hold a Tidal Connect session open for at least 5 or 10 minutes after the queue finishes?
An example: if I am selecting songs one at a time, and letting them all play to conclusion, each and every time a song finishes without another song queued my Tidal Connect drops. That means I have to go back in to the player screen and go to sources and then select the Mini again, and only then hit play, over and over even though I had a perfectly good Tidal Connect session going just a moment earlier. Or an album finishes and it’s time to pick another and I have literally zero seconds after the last song finishes to start another without having to reconnect.
I’m more used to an Airplay type system when there’s a standard timeout that is pretty reasonable. Not excessively short, but doesn’t last forever either. Maybe 5-10mins. I’d have nothing against a longer connection than that, but it’s a reference point.
I mention this in case it’s the Mini that is signaling to Tidal that the job is over and it’s time to disengage Tidal Connect. You all should fix that, if that’s the case, or if it’s Tidal’s fault then please help them understand why they have things set up in a way that doesn’t match how people listen to music.
Otherwise, kudos! Such a great little piece of gear that does its job wonderfully. Thank you.
crowdypooster
Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2020
- Messages
- 18
- Likes
- 19
Honestly, I can't hear a difference between Tidal Connect via Wiim and CCA (both through optical). I currently have eight CCA units that I use for whole house audio and one attached to my main listening room. I'm mainly interested in the Wiim as a potential replacement as the CCA was discontinued.
rebbiputzmaker
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2018
- Messages
- 1,099
- Likes
- 463
Just a continuation actually. I picked one up and it is really very nice little device. Works perfectly for what it is, no real problems or anything I could say negative about it. If people are having dropouts, it very well might be their Wi-Fi. I’m not the biggest fan of Wi-Fi for mission critical connectivity and would rather hardwire most things, but… I have many streamer type devices, both wired and Wi-Fi. They are video for the most part and if you have strong Wi-Fi you should have no problems. Music streaming is not really that demanding.
The numbers that were presented in the review are pretty decently accurate as usual, except maybe as the manufacturer mentioned the DAC would show a little bit better if it was tested a bit differently.
Even though Amir is steadfast and will not change his opinion, it is his opinion, and he’s entitled to it. Look the captain of the titanic was sure the damn thing could not sink.
So heck, we all make mistakes sometimes. The Roon controversy is maybe a good thing because it’s generated a good amount of conversation. Maybe that was his intentions all along, even bad press is good press. As long as you spell one’s name correctly.
Last edited:
rebbiputzmaker
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2018
- Messages
- 1,099
- Likes
- 463
When people insist on double blind testing I just put on some Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder and keep it moving.
Facebook is a surveillance engine only Boomers seem to be staying at, out of inertia or something. People below 50 have moved elsewhere.
I'm 48.
They will run out of chips and then there is nothing else to sell. At that point they would rather focus energy on their next product than to support the old one they can't sell anymore. It's highly unlikely that a company finishes the hardest to implement feature after all the hardware is sold.
But you have to agree that Roon makes sense on this device, as it would be implemented purely in software, phono doesn't.
Are you new to this kind of product? If the hardest problem is not solved in the product from the start, it never will be. They will drop support the second the sales drop (be it because the competition has something more popular or they can't produce another batch because they run out of semiconductors). Expecting core features to be implemented after the sale is done, is naive.
And that is why i don't think it will be supported ever.
Facebook is a surveillance engine only Boomers seem to be staying at, out of inertia or something. People below 50 have moved elsewhere.
I'm 48.
They will run out of chips and then there is nothing else to sell. At that point they would rather focus energy on their next product than to support the old one they can't sell anymore. It's highly unlikely that a company finishes the hardest to implement feature after all the hardware is sold.
But you have to agree that Roon makes sense on this device, as it would be implemented purely in software, phono doesn't.
Are you new to this kind of product? If the hardest problem is not solved in the product from the start, it never will be. They will drop support the second the sales drop (be it because the competition has something more popular or they can't produce another batch because they run out of semiconductors). Expecting core features to be implemented after the sale is done, is naive.
And that is why i don't think it will be supported ever.
I bet you’re fun at parties
I'm fifty nine and abstain from Facebook. I don't know why anyone would help support Zuck's crooked greed.Facebook is a surveillance engine only Boomers seem to be staying at, out of inertia or something. People below 50 have moved elsewhere.
I'm 48.
Jokes on you, for that one would need a social life.I bet you’re fun at parties
Check out the dude that did MySpace. He sold, got a few millions and was never heard from again. No need to build an empire and grow it forever.
I like your signatures content. Cost efficient and straight to the point.
Yep, I agree. That's why I won't be a WiiM customer (regardless of price) until evidence shows that they have achieved Ultra HD (hi res.) streaming with Amazon. That might be never.
Some wise man on the web (I forgot whom) said never to buy a device based upon future enhancement promises. Most of the time, they don't happen.
.....
So, I'm still looking for an economical way to do high res. streaming on my bedroom system. Currently, I suffer through an old, discontinued Amazon Echo interface that does lossy playback. (The 'remote' is my voice to Alexa. Just don't turn the volume up or listen too closely. But it is already paid for.)
P.S. I did try Bluetooth from my Pixel to my amp that has BT A2DP, but the results were pretty much garbage sound.
Try a fire tv stick then. I have one plugged Into my amp over hdmi (with the video then going to a tv) and it plays Amazon Music HD up to 24/192, albeit not bit perfect.
Ralph_Cramden
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2020
- Messages
- 2,606
- Likes
- 3,522
I'll ask again because I haven't gotten a response - has anyone figured out how to get gapless playback with replaygain of local (network) music files?
Emby works well for gapless
LMS should do gapless and replay gain using the DLNA bridge but I'm getting pauses/skips at the end of tracks
Any other software to try?
Emby works well for gapless
LMS should do gapless and replay gain using the DLNA bridge but I'm getting pauses/skips at the end of tracks
Any other software to try?
Maybe Minimserver?
Appreciate the Wiim review, as I was curious how it tested. I picked one up and noticed a few things.
- Airplay 2 streaming sounds markedly different when using the Wiim app vs Apple Music app. When looping Radiohead's No Surprises, the vocals were flat and slightly recessed streaming from Apple Music to the Wiim. However, streaming Airplay inside the Wiim app made the vocals pop, full of detail. App's EQ was turned off. Not sure why the difference. You gotta start by selecting the track in Apple Music and then switch apps.
- On a budget note... The Burr-Brown DAC chip on this might be a step down for some, but for anyone wondering - it is much better than the DAC chip in the Apple dongle.
I’m not sure what you mean by 1., particularly by ‘streaming airplay inside the WiiM app’ - could you please expand on the steps you took to do this? To me, the WiiM device is an Airplay target you choose from your source app, and I can’t see where you could choose to stream Airplay within the WiiM app. I’m confused…
Similar threads
