WiiM Mini Wi-Fi Music Streamer, AirPlay 2 & Hi-Res Audio for Your Stereo

Review of WiiM Mini, Pro, and Vibelink Amp WiiM is a new addition to the list of companies offering hardware streaming components. Up until recently, the pricing made using a dedicate streamer not cost-effective for me. WiiM changed all of that with their offerings of high quality streamers at decent prices which are far below their competitors. After reading reviews about their offerings, I purchased a WiiM mini to try out in our living room. Found it very easy to set up using their free app for IOS and Android (Note, a HUGE plus that their Android app does NOT require google play services as I am running a de-googled phone and tablet). Liked that it had optical out so I could take advantage of my Topping DAC (which was superior to the one in the Mini, though that one is fine for most people). Loved being able to stream low res (Pandora), high res (Amazon) and ultra high res (Qobuz) from one device using their well thought out and very useful app. WiiM Mini: Pros: price, decent DAC, Optical output, seamless connection to main streaming services. Cons: no support for Squeezelite (for connection to local ripped music using LMS (Lyrion Music Server)). The lack of Squeezelite support on the Mini was not a deal breaker in the location where I had it installed (living room) as the streaming options more than took care of our music requirements there. But my office / family room was another matter. I have hundreds of ripped CDs (to FLAC) on my LMS server and up until then, had been using a Raspberry Pi 4 running moOde audio player as the Squeezelite end point to connect to LMS.This has worked well but I was hoping to find a single solution for streaming and using my local audio on LMS. The WiiM Pro, the Mini's big brother, looked to be the solution I was looking for. Since I would be using a Topping DAC, I didn't feel the need to spring for the Pro Plus (which has a better DAC). I purchased the WiiM Pro and as with the Mini, set up was a breeze. I enabled Squeezelite from the setting and it immediately found and connected to my LMS server. I then had access to streaming and my LMS music collection form within the WiiM app. Very sweet! And even better, I love the material skin that was created for the old/outdated LMS interface and can control the playing of my local music from there (which I prefer) or use the WiiM app. Both work flawlessly. WiiM Pro: Pros: price, decent DAC, optical and RCA analog inputs, optical, coax, RCA analog outputs. Gigabit Ethernet as well as WiFi. Cons: None Time went by and then I saw that WiiM released an amp called the Vibelink. Read a number of reviews including those on Audio Science Review, and all praised the build, specs and capabilities of this $300 amp. I thought my current receivers/amps (Yamaha) were decent but the Vibelink sure was enticing. It checked all the boxes of what I needed: Inputs: Optical, Coax, RCA. Superior DAC, Analog pass-thru w/o ADC processing. Banana plug speaker connectors. Not a lot of extras in the box that impacted the sound quality. I bit the bullet and placed an order. Installation was easy and the WiiM app detected it and downloaded/installed the firmware update. Connected my turntable (RCA input), CD player (optical digital in) and WiiM Pro (digital coax in). Turned it on and WOW. I thought my Yamaha receiver was decent so didn't expect to hear much or any difference. Was I wrong. Sound was much fuller and clearer. It had more "presence and clarity" is how I think I would describe it. Connected to Qobuz and streamed some jazz and rock @ 24/96 and it sounded incredible. Streamed some typical HD rock from Amazon 16/44.1 and it too sounded excellent. Played a CD and it was clearer than I had ever heard before. Spun up a jazz LP, and wow, could not believe how clean and clear an old Vinyl album could sound. Even low res Pandora streaming sounded good (though no where near HD or UHD streaming from Qobuz). I knew right away this was money well spent. WiiM Vibelink Amp Pros: Amazing sound, banana speaker connectors, digital and analog inputs, 12v trigger for auto-on when WiiM Pro streamer starts streaming music. 60 min standby / off when music stops. Cons: No remote so to adjust your volume you use the streaming app and/or manually adjust on the Amp. Not a big deal to me but this may be an issue for some if their amp is in a cabinet or not easily accessible. ditto for the power button on the back (though that does make the front much cleaner and elegant looking). I hope this review is helpful. I'm really impressed with the WiiM products I've used so far.

Caution! The WiiM Mini is a gateway to owning additional WiiM products. WiiM Mini (the internal DAC provides very decent audio. The WiiM Mini is great for music streaming, i.e. Spotify Connect. The WiiM Bluetooth (BT) remote control can be purchased separately and also as a bundle with the WiiM Mini.) [Update 7/3/24: Some of the WiiM music streaming products, i.e. The WiiM Amplifier, WiiM Pro Plus and the soon to be released WiiM Ultra Preamplifier now support WiiM's room correction. Note: The WiiM Mini does not support WiiM room correction at this time. I do not know if the WiiM Pro (non-Plus) music streaming device supports the WiiM room correction. I only own WiiM Amplifier(s), WiiM Pro Plus and WiiM Mini music streaming devices that I purchased on Amazon. The WiiM room correction works with the WiiM Home app and the microphone in your iOS iPhone (not sure about Android phones.) In less than a minute the WiiM Home app and supported WiiM streaming device will analyze the in-room frequency response of your speakers. The WiiM room correction creates a custom 10 band parametric equalizer response curve that you can name and save or just use the default name "Auto". I also used the WiiM room correction with a subwoofer in a 2 channel system with the WiiM Amplifier with bass management and achieved good results. The results of using the WiiM room correction with my system(s) have been impressive. Room correction resulted in cleaner bass, better bass and drum definition, and improved midrange. LPT: You can temporarily connect a WiiM Pro Plus to any 2 channel or 2.1 channel audio system where you normally have a WiiM Mini. Then perform the WiiM room correction and save the room EQ settings. You can later write down or screenshot the WiiM room correction EQ values and manually apply the room correction EQ settings to the WiiM Mini at a later time. Unless you rearrange your room, change the speakers or your preferred listening position you should not need to re-run the room correction.] The WiiM Mini has led me to purchase the WiiM Pro Plus (features a better DAC than the WiiM Mini, a BT remote control and support for Chromecast (I don't use this feature) and the WiiM Amp. I could have saved a bunch of $ if I had started with the WiiM Amp, skipped purchasing separate integrated amplifiers and the WiiM Mini and WiiM Pro Plus. Although this is my review of the excellent WiiM Mini, do yourself a favor and consider getting the WiiM Amp instead. *) The WiiM Home phone app to Spotify Connect integration is very good, easy to use. The sound quality when using the WiiM Mini (and other WiiM music devices) when streaming Spotify Connect is very good. (The WiiM Mini's sound quality when streaming Spotify is currently Ogg Vorbis format compressed audio (320kbps, 16 bits, 44.1kHz) **. The sound is so close to uncompressed CD quality (at least to my ears) that I no longer bother playing my CDs. I have disconnected my CD player and have hauled my remaining CDs to the basement because it is just too easy to call up playlists, artists, albums and songs at will using the WiiM Home app. * Note: As an integrated Class D amplifier/music streaming device the WiiM Amp has some limitations. The WiiM Amp does not have a built-in phono stage or a built in headphone jack (you can however pair BT earbuds or headphones with the WiiM Amp). The WiiM Amp only has a single RCA stereo line input connection (in addition to one optical digital input.) The WiiM Amp supports USB playback. The WiiM Amp provides connections for one pair of wired passive stereo speakers (4 Ohm or greater.) There is also an RCA subwoofer output with bass management via the WiiM Home app.) ** Note: The WiiM Mini and other WiiM music streamers are capable of streaming higher quality (uncompressed, lossless) audio including Amazon HD Music, Tidal and Deezer. (I do not currently use these music services.) [Update 6/3/24] I purchased another WiiM Mini to solve an issue I was having with the WiiM Amplifier. The WiiM Amp is a brilliant product in almost every respect. One notable exception is Wi-Fi connectivity. In my home the WiiM Amp only has acceptable Wi-Fi connectivity when the WiiM Amp is placed close, i.e. within the same room as my wireless router. To solve this issue, I use the WiiM Mini as a Wi-Fi music streamer. I connect the WiiM Mini to the WiiM Amp via the optical cable and this gets around my WiiM Amp Wi-Fi performance issues. (The optical connection is 24 bit, 192 kbps.) I stream Spotify Premium exclusively, I can't hear any difference when using the WiiM Amp with Wi-FI (placed close to the W-Fi router) or when using the WiiM Mini and the optical output from the WiiM Mini to the optical input of the WiiM Amp. Now I can locate WiiM Amps in different rooms in my home and not have Wi-Fi connectivity issues. This works for me. Maybe this solution will work for you if you are having WiiM Amp Wi-Fi issues.

I recently bought a Denon CEOL all in one receiver with HEOS built in. So I needed to decide which streaming service (WIIM vs HEOS) I was going to use. Denon had had problematic software control, which was significantly upgraded in January 2024. It seems to work fairly well, now. WIIM seems to receive almost (not quite, but close) universal praise for its control software. Why I went with WIIM: * Greater chance of fewer problems with software. * More flexible in that I could use inexpensive speakers, and my existing legacy gear with it. * As one who uses hearing aids, I am unlikely to get to the point where HEOS's promised higher fidelity (and higher subsequent costs) will make a significant difference to me. * WIIM supports one of my favorite 2nd tier streaming services, Calm Radio), and HEOS does not. WHAT I LIKE ABOUT the WIIM mini: * VERY tiny! it sits on top of my elderly Technics SA GX190 with the vent holes on top in the area with no vent holes with room to spare in the spot with NO vent holes. * It came with all the cables I needed to connect my device to my Technics, and even included stuff I couldn't use. * It connected to the aux in RCA ports of my Technics reliever quite well. And the legacy Technics can control bass, treble, & volume quite readily. * Setup was EASY an straight forward. I believe literally ANYONE can do it. * Sound is VERY good, With or without my Hearing aids. My wife who doesn't uses HAs also thinks the streaming sound is very good. Maybe not as good as the new Denon HEOS streaming, but that could be the quality of speakers on the Denon as opposed to the Technics. * The WIIM software is easy to use after set up. I like using my Android device as a remote control for the mini. WHAT I DON'T Like about the WIIM Mini: * Only one thing really. The cord that connected the miniplug out of the mini to the RCA connectors, was all black (both RCA pins), so I couldn't tell which cord was 'left' and which was "Right'. I must have guessed correctly because it worked OK. I upgraded to a third party cable. IN CONCLUSION: I am pleased with my purchase. It seems well made, and the performance is better than I expected. The sound is quite good, particularly for a casual listener, even those who aren't hearing impaired. Could you do better? Yes, but I doubt you could do better for less than $100 US. Connectivity is good, Set up is easy, and the software is easy to use. I will likely expand my whole house audio system with WIIM products, even one for my Denon CEOL receiver.

I really liked the idea of the Chromecast Audio but was always frustrated with its lack of support for Hi-Res Amazon Music playback and what I felt was relatively poor sound quality via the Toslink output. Looking to replace it, I struggled to find something suitable. I wanted a device with digital audio output(s) for use with my external DAC, Amazon Music HD/UHD compatibility at full resolution, and the ability to play local files stored on my NAS. Amazon's Echo Link came close but lacked high-res audio support over its Toslink output making it a no-go. The Bluesound node had everything I wanted but came with a price tag that made me pause to scour for any other possible alternatives. I then remembered a device that I had seen advertised by a value oriented Hi-Fi Youtuber: The Wiim Mini. After taking a look at the Wiim, I found out that it checked most of my boxes and though it definitely worth a listen given the affordable cost. I also noticed that it ran on 5V DC power, thus allowing me to power it with an extra iFi iPower 2 power supply I had laying around. I also had a spare Pangea Premier SE Toslink cable to connect it to my DAC (a Denafrips Ares II). I was immediately struck by the audio quality of the combination on my system. I find the Wiim Home app reasonably easy to use, the settings fairly intuitive, and the pace of updates makes quite clear that Wiim is listening to and addressing its customers' issues. I've encountered a couple of bugs with pausing tracks, but those have largely been addressed. I really like that after the app updates, I'm greeted with a brief description of changes / fixes applied. That along with the pace of updates inspires a pretty high degree of confidence in Wiim's support. I also love the ability to manually connect to an online stream and save it as a preset. I use this feature to listen to the BBC World Service's higher bitrate AAC stream. Playback of high-res files from my NAS is also a snap. All in all, I really love the Wiim Mini's awesome functionality, great sound quality, via Toslink, and the idea that even with the upgraded power supply and Toslink cable, it still came in under half the price of the Bluesound Node. I rarely take the time to write a review, but this thing is absolutely worth it to do so along with its great price. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a great sounding & inexpensive streamer. Pros: * Sounds wonderful via the Toslink output and an external DAC * Full-size Toslink fully supports 24 bit / 192 kHz output. * Most affordable streamer to support Amazon Music HD/UHD. * Utilizes 5V DC power making it compatible with iFi iPower & linear power supplies for a great upgrade * Supports a wealth of playback & streaming service options * Looks to be adding support for casting Amazon HD/UHD audio from the Amazon Music app (yea!) Cons: * A few minor bugs in the Wiim Home app (pause/play mainly). * Have found myself looking for and not finding a simple stop playback (square) option.

These get the job done, far better than a Bluetooth receiver puck. What makes them super nice is the ability to sync multiple units throughout your house. They get the stream from your wifi rather from you phone's bluetooth. The sound is great, but the quality setting seems to be maxed out at 44.1 khz, whereas my Wiim Ultra can do 192khz. Not a big deal. But what you really have to watch is the Wiim app equalizer settings on these Wiim mini's. If I get too aggressive with the EQ settings on the Mini's, they start clipping or distorting. So just add enough EQ to get the sound right. Don't overdue it. Very happy with the Wiim Mini for the price. Far better than Bluetooth sound. Be careful with the EQ. And if you want even better, you got to step up the something like the Wiim Ultra. Haven't had any clipping/distortion with that, no matter what the EQ setting was at. At this price point, I am totally happy with the Wiim Mini. For instance, if you want more bass, try turning up you subwoofer level first, if you have a sub. Then you can add less EQ adjustment to the Wiim Mini in the Wiim app. I have mine dialed now, and they sound great. I have three of them, and one Wiim Ultra. And all can play in sync throughout the house.

I got this WiiM Mini AirPlay 2 wireless streamer because I wanted to add multi-room music to my setup. I already have the Pro, which I absolutely love, and with my disco party coming up, I wanted to have music playing in several different rooms. That’s where this little Mini comes in. I added it to another room and connected it to a set of powered speakers. I was actually surprised at how good the setup sounded, it gave me that nice, powerful stereo sound without needing another big stereo system in the room. The biggest reason I went with this was my experience with the Pro. I had been streaming music with it without any dropouts, and I wanted that same reliability in another room. So far, that’s exactly what I’ve gotten with the Mini. No music stopping and starting, which is especially important when you’re having a party. One thing I did notice with my setup is that when the rooms are close enough that you can hear both systems at the same time, I could hear a slight delay between them. For me, it works better when the systems are in well-separated rooms or there’s a door between them, where you aren’t hearing both at once. It’s important to understand that this isn’t a speaker. It’s a small streamer that you connect to your audio equipment or powered speakers. It easily fits in the palm of my hand and can be tucked away without taking up much space. The Pro offers more connection options and features, but if you don’t need all of those extras, I’ve found the Mini does a great job for what I wanted it to do. I especially like using it together with my Pro to expand music into additional rooms. I also really like the app. During our disco party, we were able to stop and start songs and have people guess which songs were playing, all from the app. That made it even more fun. Overall, I’m extremely happy with this little streamer. It’s small, easy to incorporate into an existing audio setup, and most importantly for me, the streaming has been reliable without the annoying music dropouts I’ve experienced with some other wireless setups. If you already have audio equipment you love and want to add streaming or expand into additional rooms, this is a really good product. Highly recommended!

The WiiM Mini AirPlay2 Wireless Audio Streamer has been rock solid for whole-home audio. I currently have five of these set up around the house, each connected to something different — a high-end stereo, a headphone DAC/amp setup, a smart speaker, an AV receiver, and a pair of powered speakers. They’re used daily and have been completely reliable, with no connection drops or quirks. One of the best features is how easy it is to stream music synced throughout the house from Spotify. It works seamlessly across Android, iPhone, and PC, which makes it very flexible no matter what device I’m using. Grouping rooms is simple, and playback stays in sync. Sound quality has been excellent, especially when using the optical/SPDIF output. That option really helps maximize sound quality when feeding better DACs or receivers, and it makes the WiiM Mini feel at home even in more serious audio setups. For the size and price, it’s hard to beat. Small, dependable, and extremely versatile. I’m happy enough with them that I’ll likely add one or two more. If you’re looking to add reliable streaming to multiple systems, this is an easy recommendation.

This is an almost perfect product for me. I want music distributed throughout my house, in several different rooms, all controlled by my phone, with independent volume control for each room. And I want to do this through the multiple high-quality speakers I already have. And this does that great. These things are small, inexpensive, and deliver very high quality sound. My only complaint is wifi connection stability and reliability. I have excellent wifi through my house, and the WiiM Home app says all of the Minis have "Very Good" signal. My phone and laptop show full wifi signal with high speed and low latency next to all of my WiiM Minis. But these WiiM Minis lose connection about once an hour. I'll have music playing in multiple rooms for an hour, I'll be sitting motionless on my couch, and all of a sudden the music will cut out in all rooms simultaneously. This is a regular occurrence. When I open up my music source and tell it to reconnect, it reconnects in just a few seconds, but it's weird to have to do that so often.

Very easy to install and versatile usable

Ich bin ehrlich gesagt ziemlich begeistert von dem kleinen Wiim Mini. Das Ding wirkt erstmal unscheinbar – eher wie ein Eishockey-Puck als wie ein ernstzunehmender Streamer – aber was er dann liefert, ist beeindruckend. Die Einrichtung geht schnell, und im WLAN hängt er stabil. Besonders gefällt mir, dass ich die Musik sauber per TOSLINK an meinen Verstärker weitergeben kann – komplett ohne hörbare Verluste oder Störungen. Genau so soll das sein: unkompliziert, digital sauber und einfach im Alltag integrierbar. Klanglich macht er genau das, was er soll: transparent durchreichen, ohne sich einzumischen. In der Preisklasse ist das schon sehr stark. Einziger echter Kritikpunkt: Die App könnte etwas stabiler und konsistenter laufen. Sie funktioniert grundsätzlich, aber gelegentliche Hänger oder kleine Unsauberkeiten merkt man schon. Unterm Strich ist der Wiim Mini aber ein extrem gutes Preis-Leistungs-Gerät, das genau das liefert, was man erwartet – und das auf sehr hohem Niveau.

As a KEF LS50W owner, the WiiM Mini has been a great purchase. It’s made connecting and streaming music so much easier, and I’m using my system a lot more because of it. Simple setup, reliable connection, great sound, and excellent value for money. Highly recommend!!

El sonido es excelente. Lo tengo conectado a un Marantz 6007 mediante la toma digital óptica. Yo lo uso de la siguiente forma: 1. Conectado a Tidal connect. El excelente sonido de Tidal con su genial aplicación que controlo desde el móvil pero que se ejecuta en Wiim mini. Sin pérdida ninguna. Sonido espectacular. No hace falta configurar nada, Tidal lo detecta a la primera. 2. Conectado a Amazon music unlimited, aquí la configuración es más tediosa, ya que hay que instalar Alexa y conseguir que lo detecte (tras varios intentos), y una vez que Alexa lo ha detectado ya se puede usar con Amazon music unlimited. 3. Conectado a un SSD en red. El disco SSD con toda mi librería de música lo tengo conectado al módem de fibra óptica, y la aplicación del Wiim mini lo reconoce de inmediato. Genial! Así que todo son cosas buenas con este Wiim mini que me ha costado unos 80 euros en una oferta de Amazon.

Topproduct! Werkt soepel, heel eenvoudig te installeren en goedkoop. Zou geen moment twijfelen om deze aan te schaffen.