Wow! Just WOW!! I can't really tell you have long I have been looking for an audio product under $200 that can do just about everything that I would want. The Wiim does nearly everything I want at less than $90 (current price).
This is going to be a long article, but if you want to skip ahead, I will have different titles for specific features. I am going to start with Hi Res since that is the one that really sets this product apart. However, I will move into other features that were pretty awesome before the latest Hi Res update.
Note: I may get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page. Also, I get some products for free to review from Amazon (though, I do have to pay taxes on them).
This is going to be a long article, but if you want to skip ahead, I will have different titles for specific features. I am going to start with Hi Res since that is the one that really sets this product apart. However, I will move into other features that were pretty awesome before the latest Hi Res update.
Note: I may get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page. Also, I get some products for free to review from Amazon (though, I do have to pay taxes on them).
Hi Res Audio for a C Note (or less)
Yesterday, I contacted Wiim to see when we would get the firmware update that turned this 16/48Khz device into a Hi Res audio device. They said it was already being rolled out and it was! About 2 hours later, I had the update on myWiiM Mini. I also had an update to the WiiM app on my iOS device. With this update, we now have Hi Res audio available from both the analog (according to WiiM) and the optical output. I personally don't own one DAC that can take a 24/192k signal over optical, but I did test the 24/96k output. WiiM was quite clever with their integration by giving you the ability to choose a sample rate of 48kHz, 96kHz, or 192kHz along with a bit depth of 16 bits or 24 bits. Once you make the selection, you can play test audio and it will play if your DAC is able to play the signal.
They will also let you turn on "Fixed volume output", which I assume gets you a bit perfect signal without the volume control of the iOS device causing issues.
Qobuz and UPNP
The WiiM currently has a couple ways of playing Hi Res. You can use Qobuz inside the WiiM app and choose your output and it will play Hi Res from the WiiM app. As I mentioned, I can only test up to 96kHz and it worked great. If you choose a lower rate file (16/44.1) it will play it without upsampling. I confirmed this using my Cambridge DACMagic.
UPNP also works great. I have discussed the Audirvana app on this site many times and it is awesome with the WiiM Mini. I tested it with my own Led Zeppelin 24/96 file and also tested it with Qobuz and Tidal. It works with all of the above at 24/96 and lower resolutions. I noticed that Tidal has files in 88.2 and it played them in their native formats, as well. I also tested LMS (Logitech Media Server) and it works via UPNP.
Amazon Ultra?
Amazon and Tidal both have streaming available inside the WiiM app. Neither offer Hi Res via the app at this point (as I mentioned above, you can get Tidal via UPNP running on Audirvana). I emailed the company and they are hoping to add Amazon Hi Res files in April this year. They aren't sure if they will add support for Tidal due to the MQA issues.
Amazon's Music Service is available in their app, though. You can even use an Echo device to control what is playing on the WiiM by voice if you have Amazon Music and an Echo. I tested it with Apple Music, which works on the Echo, but it says "Apple Music is not supported on this device". When you use the voice features on the Echo, I believe it uses Bluetooth to send the signal. In any event, you will get a 44.1 signal using this method.
Amazon's Music Service is available in their app, though. You can even use an Echo device to control what is playing on the WiiM by voice if you have Amazon Music and an Echo. I tested it with Apple Music, which works on the Echo, but it says "Apple Music is not supported on this device". When you use the voice features on the Echo, I believe it uses Bluetooth to send the signal. In any event, you will get a 44.1 signal using this method.
Airplay 2 and Apple Music
I believe Airplay 2 gives you audio access to every app on iOS. Sorry, I haven't tested the WiiM on Android...but maybe I will try that down the road for a separate review. I noticed that the signal for Airplay 2 is locked in at 48kHz regardless of the signal I am sending to the WiiM. This is the same resolution that the AppleTV uses for Airplay, so I assume that is why they implemented the feature this way (I have an email out asking them, so will update, if necessary). I tested sending audio from Netflix and Youtube. I didn't see any issues with lips being out of sync, but I am not saying it isn't there if you are super sensitive to it. It looked fine to me, though. You do need to be careful jumping back and forth between apps if you have "Fixed volume output" enabled. Each app seems to have their own set volume, so some are softer or louder than others.
One of the upsides to using Airplay with Apple Music is that it can be controlled with Siri (once you add WiiM to the Home App). This can be controlled via the iPhone (Apple Watch), HomePod, iPad, and MacOS. This also allows for easy multi-room control.
Note (3/4/22) - I asked WiiM about the Airplay issue and they have resubmitted their app to Apple to get Airplay to use 44.1 rather than 48k. I will update when I see that update come through.
One of the upsides to using Airplay with Apple Music is that it can be controlled with Siri (once you add WiiM to the Home App). This can be controlled via the iPhone (Apple Watch), HomePod, iPad, and MacOS. This also allows for easy multi-room control.
Note (3/4/22) - I asked WiiM about the Airplay issue and they have resubmitted their app to Apple to get Airplay to use 44.1 rather than 48k. I will update when I see that update come through.
Spotify
I was pleasantly surprised to see the free version of Spotify supported. Unlike Tidal Connect, you don't need a premium account to use Spotify Connect, either. This will send their compressed file from the web directly to the WiiM without routing through the Apple Device of choice first (unlike Airplay). Some will find this more useful if they want to use their iPhone for phone calls or don't want to risk running down the battery while listening to music. Personally, I rarely run into those issues, but everyone has a different use case. It would be great if Spotify got on the Hi Res/Lossless bandwagon like the rest of their competitors, but we will see what happens down the road.
Bluetooth and other stuff
The app has the option of using Bluetooth, Wifi, and Aux. I tried the aux and it worked fine. Bluetooth works great, too.
Other Apps
The WiiM app has other services, servers and features. One that I like is Plex access to my local music library. It uses DLNA, like Audirvana, so it will also work with Hi Res files. I tested a 24/96 file and it played at its native resolution. You can also have access to other services I did not mention above, though I didn't test all of them.
The Wrap Up
The WiiM Mini is a device that does many things well at this price point. Airplay2, Alexa, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, UPNP, etc. They are selling devices that only do Airplay 2 for the same money, so this is as a major bargain. The fact that it can also handle bit rate switching on the fly seems almost too good to be true. It seems that Apple hasn't figured out a way to do that with their multi-thousand dollar Macs yet (LOL). Personally, I love theWiiM Mini and I expect it to show up on my Top Ten Tech List at the end of the year. I know the year is young, but I can't see 9 other products coming out that will top it.
Upsides
Airplay 2
Alexa
Spotify Connect
Tidal Connect
Bluetooth
UPNP
Hi Res Output with certain applications (mentioned in article)
Digital out
Aux out
Aux in
Bit Rate Switching on the fly
Downsides
WiiM only supports Qobuz service for Hi Res natively as of today
Would love a USB audio output
Upsides
Airplay 2
Alexa
Spotify Connect
Tidal Connect
Bluetooth
UPNP
Hi Res Output with certain applications (mentioned in article)
Digital out
Aux out
Aux in
Bit Rate Switching on the fly
Downsides
WiiM only supports Qobuz service for Hi Res natively as of today
Would love a USB audio output
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