So let’s talk about streamers! Oh wait, not gaming streamers but music hardware streamers, because this my friends, is the WiiM Mini which costs only about RM499 / USD99, and apparently this is becoming a favorite compared to this Bluesound NODE that costs RM2899 / USD599.
Well, let’s find out if the WiiM Mini is BIGGER than we think it is?
Unboxing
WiiM Mini
So in the box for the WiiM Mini, there is the Optical Cable, a 3.5mm to 3.5mm AUX cable and a 3.5mm to 2 RCA cable. So yes, there is no power brick inside of the box, because it powers through the USB-C port which only needs about 5 Volts of power.
[easy-image-collage id=9178]
Bluesound NODE
Then as for the Bluesound NODE, inside of the box, you’ll find the two-pin power cord, an Ethernet cable, a stereo RCA to RCA cable, and an Optical to 3.5mm jack mini adapter.
[easy-image-collage id=9181]
Design & Build
WiiM Mini
So, both streamers have a wholly different design language and form factors. The WiiM Mini takes a hockey puck form factor, much like the Google Chromecast Audio. It is small, it fits in your hand and also in your pocket as well.
It has a plastic build but very solid, and it weighs at 40 grams and it measures at just 69mm × 69mm × 24mm.
On top is where you’ll find the controls for the play/pause, volume control as well, then there’s also the three-color LED status light.
Then at the side, there are the analog input and output ports, or AUX with full support of 192 kHz and 24-bit audio, a USB-C port for charging, and a TOSLINK or an optical cable port for 16-bit / 48kHz audio for connecting it to a DAC.
So yes, that’s it! It’s very simple and quite nice!
Bluesound NODE
Now, on the other hand, the Bluesound NODE is completely a different animal. It has a sleek, rectangular shape, almost looking like a TV decoder-like, and of course has a way larger form factor than the WiiM Mini.
It comes in either Black or White with a satin matte finish on top, and it measures at 220mm x 46mm x 146mm, weighing at 2.28kg.
Now when compared, it has a premium build and finish, and of course on top is where I really love, the glass touch panel, which was pretty neat, where the panel is built-in with a proximity sensor, so if you go close to the Bluesound NODE, it will light up the status light LED. Then there are five programmable soft touch buttons as well, like the play/pause, volume slider and the skip track buttons.
Then on the front panel, it is kept very clean, with just a 3.5mm headphones jack and also the IR receiver.
But on the back though, is where you’ll find a crazy amount of ports for this Bluesound NODE. From left to the right, you’ll find:
- the Analog RCA audio OUT, and this is for the left and right channels
- the Subwoofer OUT
- the Coaxial OUT
- Optical OUT
- Optical IN / Analog IN
- a Trigger OUT
- an IR IN
- an Ethernet port
- a USB-A port
- a HDMI eARC port
- and of course, the power socket as well
So from these ports alone, you can tell that the Bluesound NODE is quite the different beast, and it can be much more than just a streamer which allows you to connect to your TV, your soundbar or even your Home AV setup.
And with the existence of the HDMI eARC, it means that you can pass through high bitrate audio and video including technology like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, and you’ll be able to share a single remote for your TV and also your NODE as well.
Speaking of remote control, neither of these streamers come with a physical remote inside of the box, where it is truly app-driven.
So, who wins here? In terms of the design and build quality, well it all depends on what exactly that you need in a streamer. If you want something truly simple and plug-and-play and of course being compact, the WiiM Mini wins it any day because of the smaller and compact form factor, which doesn’t scream like “Hey, I’m a music streamer!”
But if you’re looking for more extensive features like connecting it to a TV and home entertainment setup, then the NODE would claim the throne because of its solid and a heavy build quality.
Hardware & Features
Okay, so as for the comparison and the hardware features, here’s where things get quite interesting. Both pack everything that you need to enjoy Hi-Res audio streaming but the Bluesound NODE is offering a bit more extra.
WiiM Mini
First, let’s start with the WiiM Mini. It offers dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 that supports SBC and AAC codecs and these are the only two ways to be connected to your network since there is no Ethernet port.
It’s baked in with services like Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and AirPlay2 with gapless playback and it also works with virtual assistants like Siri and Amazon Alexa.
It supports many of the top music streaming services out of the box, like Spotify, TuneIn, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and more.
The cool thing is you can basically play music from any source offline if you have made a purchase of any of course, which supports FLAC and also MP3 files. And by the way, the WiiM Mini will happily play most of the audio codecs including MP3, AAC, ALAC, APE, FLAC, WAV, WMA, and OGG.
Inside this little thing is a powerful integrated TI stereo DAC that supports up to 192 kHz / 24-bit audio so it is already capable of excellent audio quality out of the box. However, you can still connect it to an External DAC if you want to upgrade the audio performance just like the audiophile YouTuber Darko Audio, where he has paired the WiiM Mini together with the Chord Mojo DAC, which produced better sound quality than the Bluesound NODE.
Bluesound NODE
Next, on the Bluesound NODE. There is a reason why this is the world’s most popular music streamer. It has quite an incredible package with outstanding features and superb audio quality.
For connectivity, the NODE supports dual-band Wi-Fi 5 and 2-way Bluetooth aptX HD that ensures playbacks without any interruption. Unlike the WiiM Mini, it has the added advantage of built-in Gigabit Ethernet port, which gives you a more stable and of course a better connectivity option.
Under the hood, it has a powerful 32-bit/384kHz DAC and powered by the quad-core 1.8GHz ARM processor. It’s so powerful that you can actually use this as a pre-amp in your AV setup.
Like the WiiM Mini, it also has AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect as well as being Roon Ready. It also has support for Amazon Alexa, Siri, and also Google Assistant.
And of course when it comes to the streaming services, it has an ever-expanding list which includes Spotify, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM (for US/Canada only), Amazon Music, Deezer, KKBOX, and more!
Like the WiiM Mini, it also plays almost any audio format that you throw at it including the added MQA a.k.a Master Quality Authenticated, which should make many audiophiles happy!
While it does not come with an IR remote inside of the box, it does however have IR capabilities built in, where you can also buy the Bluesound RC1 Remote Controller separately for USD60.
So for the winner of this one is the Bluesound NODE for the higher res audio and of course the better connectivity.
Performance
So, both streamers are app-driven as mentioned earlier.
WiiM Mini
On the WiiM Mini, you’ll need to download the WiiM Home app, which is available both for iOS and Android devices. The setup process is pretty simple and straightforward. Your new WiiM Mini will pop up automatically in the app. All you have to do is just to follow the in-app guide and you’ll be up and running in just 2 minutes! So easy and quite Apple-like!
Now via the app, you can manage and control your entire audio experience. From building a multiroom system with several AirPlay 2 speakers and also other WiiM Minis. And you can also automate your life with your favorite virtual assistants like Siri or even Alexa.
You can of course change EQ settings in the app too for a more personalized listening. Now, speaking of which, the app also has the adaptive EQ that intelligently adjusts the frequencies in real-time to deliver a better listening experience depending on the type of music that you’re listening to.
Audio synchronization is perfect and seamless and the WiiM Mini offers precise gapless playback, a feature that is crucial for continuous music playback, especially when you’re playing a live concert recording or some classical music to have a seamless transition between the songs.
Now, I must say that the audio performance was surprisingly good, and having tested with the Kanto TUK speakers that I have during this review period, which is my current favorite speaker this year, which I have done a video on that, so do check it out over here if you haven’t done so.
Now, I also found the app was quite intuitive and problem-free. And connectivity-wise, no noticeable latency issues during playback. And I like how the WiiM Mini is quite straightforward, you just plug in a cable, fire up the app and you are all set!
Bluesound NODE
Now, moving on to the Bluesound NODE, it is powered by the BluOS, which is the only platform in the world that supports up to 64 players, and all streaming 24-bit audio! Now, if only I could afford 64 players…
Then the BluOS app is available for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and of course the setup of the NODE itself is pretty straightforward and fast as well. The app is quite intuitive and also fully featured, and it allows you to connect and manage your music library whether with popular music services or even stored in your computer or your external hard drive.
And what I really love about the NODE is of course the Ethernet port, because that is something that a lot of people, including audiophiles would really appreciate, as this ensures reliable tethered connectivity instead of just only relying on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which could be a little unstable. The touch panel controls work well and the proximity sensor is very responsive.
When it comes to the audio performance, the NODE is quite perfect and also truly gapless, and I’m quite surprised that the streamed music can sound this good on the Bluesound NODE!
And I found that music playback was neutral sounding, precise and clear with excellent details all over. And I think that this would be a perfect companion to your TV or your soundbar, if you’re looking beyond having a multi-room high-res music system.
So overall, it is quite a close battle when it comes to the user experience, which sounds very funny because of the huge price difference, because guys, ultimately, being more power-packed in terms of the hardware of the two, the Bluesound NODE comes on top when it comes to the overall quality and of course, the audio performance.
Verdict
Ah… the verdict.
So, having tested the WiiM Mini and also the NODE for several weeks, I’ve come to like it for different reasons. The WiiM Mini is fuss-free, compact, amazingly simple, yet packs a punch when it comes to delivering the audio performance that matters. And it is also super affordable and I highly recommend this for most people.
Then with the Bluesound NODE, yes it costs so much more than the WiiM Mini. But if you think about it, they shouldn’t even be in the same category. Then you might think, why in the world are you comparing these two then? Well, if you read between the lines, the NODE offers more, it offers higher bit rate audio, more connectivity options, and with the widest support for players. But on the flipside, it will take up more space on your shelf or your TV cabinet, but if you’re serious about audio, have more space then.
So in conclusion, it really does boil down to what is your budget and of course what are your requirements. Both deliver what you expect and even more!
And the reason of me presenting this video is to help you make a choice on what exactly that you need and speaking of getting the devices, both the Bluesound NODE and also the WiiM Mini is available on TechX’s store, as TechX is the exclusive distributor for WiiM in Malaysia and the authorized dealer for Bluesound.
And just for you who are watching, you can enjoy a 15% discount for the WiiM Mini and also a 10% discount for the Bluesound NODE by using the promo code down below, so do check it out over there.
So, with everything that I have compared and shown to you, I would like to know what you think? And also, what’s your choice between these two?
TechX Website:
https://www.techx.com.my/Get the music streamers at the link below:-
WiiM Mini – https://www.techx.com.my/products/wiim-mini-budget-hires-network-streamer
Bluesound NODE – https://www.techx.com.my/products/bluesound-node-wireless-multi-room-hi-res-music-streamerWiiM Mini (15% OFF) – WiiMAdam
Bluesound NODE (10% OFF) – NodeAdam
