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The broad tonality is a little on the cool side – but this is more of a trait than a shortcoming. And the frequency range is integrated cleanly, with no recesses or areas of over-emphasis – the unity of the WiiM’s presentation is impressive, and its powers of integration are always apparent. The manufacturer behind the Wiim Mini is called Wiim Audio, and then there is an organization called Linkplay that appears as the manufacturer of the ecosystem that the Wiim Mini is a part of. I have not been able to find out whether Linkplay has any ownership relationship with Wiim Audio, but they are at least a developer of an App concept that is more or less common to a number of manufacturers, but which is still not completely identical. I have previously made acquaintance with two other apps where the same products appear as available objects when the App is fired up. This applies to Audio Pro and Triangle AIO. These apps are almost identical and compatible, but at the same time they are not completely identical, and bugs can easily occur if you try to mix. But that doesn't stop me from successfully setting up a multi-room setup with the Wiim Mini paired with the Audio Pro C10 MkII, Wiim Audio's frequent software updates give associations to the company where I acquired my first streamer around 15 years ago, the high-end model Linn Akurate DS. Linn was probably the first company to launch streamers in the HighEnd segment, and the sample I tested and then bought what was perhaps one of the first copies of Akurate DS in Norway, there has been an incredible development with perhaps a three-digit number of software updates of both streamers and apps. But the hardware is still the same as it was 15 years ago, and at the time it had a new price of around NOK 42,000. And after a couple of requests, I have also included this HighEnd model as one of several comparisons on sound reproduction. In my custom server and streamer construction, I have found LMS, aka Squeeze Server and Squeezelite streamer software, to be the most consistent operationally and sonically. The community has been updating the system regularly over the years. There is also an active group developing extensions for the system. We can play from multiple streaming sources alongside our local music library. There is even an interface for album and artist info along with lyrics. The WiiM can stream in full 24-bit 192kHz audio quality, ensuring that your home is filled with studio-grade sound. It's one of the few receivers capable of this quality and offers affordability.
Topping E50: Enormously good Expression of details and small nuances. Very present vocals from Armstrong Nigel Kennedy. Vivaldi: The New Four Seasons: Summer: 8 Fear – Vivldi: The New Four Seasons. 16/44.1 You can also control your Pro Plus using the selection of capacitive touch-points on the front panel for play/pause, volume up/down, set-up, Bluetooth pairing and assigning a preset (of which there are a dozen). Topping E50: Very distinct and detailed reproduction where the precision in the sound image is very good Next, I streamed the Bonnie Raitt album to the Mini from Roon using AirPlay 2. There was now more air in the presentation than when I used the analog input, though the bass was still softened. But, as AirPlay downsamples the original hi-rez audio, I streamed the album from Qobuz at 24/96 audio, using WiiM Home. The bass now had more subjective extension and leading-edge definition. I next selected the Mini's TosLink output and connected it to the Mytek Brooklyn, so I could listen with my reference Audeze LCD-X headphones. That's when I ran into problems.Akurate DS: Quite similar to Wiim/Topping. Good dynamics and with a musical bass. Akurate DS is perceived as slightly more precise. This is almost the end of the WiiM Mini story, and there will be more after I talk about the ModWright Transporter. I am very sure they have the same DAC chip. Until we have them in hand we will not really know it all.
Over the last few years, I have used “squeeze” software on anything that would run it. I have always found it sounds excellent. Until now, I have never owned any of the hardware it initially ran on! This was the opportunity to have “the best” version of the original hardware with some significant enhancements!But you can also choose to use the TIDAL app that is integrated into WIIM Mini's app. Here, too, you get your favorites easily, and you can fortunately choose sorting criteria for your favorite albums. You can choose between: "Date added" (default), "Alphabetical" "By artist" or "Release date". This is absolutely brilliant. Here are two ways to get CD-quality streamed to an old-world audio system in your multi-room setup: As mentioned earlier, a comparison has been made with the Bluesound Node 2i where this was connected via the coax output to the same topping. This gave no significant difference in the experience from the Wiim Mini played via optical output. Akurate DS: Arild Andersen's bass sends chills down the spine, and Paolo Vinaccia appears very clearly in his subtle fables.
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