{"id":96979,"date":"2023-10-12T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/?p=96979"},"modified":"2023-10-12T12:03:40","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T11:03:40","slug":"finally-a-hifi-alternative-to-chromecast-audio-wiim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/finally-a-hifi-alternative-to-chromecast-audio-wiim\/","title":{"rendered":"Finally, a HiFi alternative to Chromecast Audio: WiiM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There’s a solution to streaming music and podcasts to all your speakers and stereos around the house and it’s the HiFi WiiM.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chromecast Audio<\/a> is dead, long live the Chromecast Audio! The little device was a simple solution to connecting your old audio systems to the digital world of streaming. With just an aux out, you could plug into your old stereos and speakers whilst using your devices to connect and play audio from connected platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sadly, in 2019 Google discontinued the devices to prioritise their Google Home speakers<\/a>. The problem was, it wasn’t a direct replacement for the Chromecast Audio. It was a connected speaker that saw you buy into everything else it comes with: using that as your speaker for a start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so, everyone seemingly satisfied with the broad spectrum of home speakers for streaming (Echo, Sonos, HomePod, etc.) the world moved on. But it left behind those who wanted to access audio with the digital platforms whilst hanging on to their old school speaker systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, there’s a new kid on the block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WiiM: The Ultimate Audio Streamer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

WiiM are a range of digital to analogue streamers that act as the perfect spiritual successor to the Chromecast Audio. They work as simply as you’d want, you plug in, connect your device, and stream through an output to whatever speaker system you’re using.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It starts with the WiiM Mini<\/a><\/strong>, their cheapest and simplest option. Don’t let the price tag fool you, it offers Hi-Res audio streaming at 192kHz, 24-bit from any of the music services that offer high quality streaming. It offers both an Aux and an Optical output.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can group WiiM’s together throughout the house for a simple solution to multi-room listening that is perfectly synchronised. You can even connect it to other smart speakers like Echo or HomePod to join up your listening experiences and also to use voice control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It connects to all the apps you’d expect, with Spotify, Amazon, TIDAL, Deezer, and more supported. As well as straightforward app connections, the WiiM Mini also supports Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, TIDAL Connect, and works with Alexa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sadly, it doesn’t support Google Chromecast. But do you know who does? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The WiiM Pro<\/a><\/strong> is the next step up, offering Hi-Res audio again but this time with a range of outputs. The Pro offers Line-Out, Optical, and Coax outputs for solution that best suits your home setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pro also works with Chromecast and AirPlay Cast, so if you’re looking for a slightly more powerful streaming setup you’ll find it here. The other big difference here is that you can connect the Pro to the internet via Ethernet for a more stable connection, perfect if you’re streaming high resolution audio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For true audiophiles only<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The WiiM Pro Plus<\/a> features an updated ADC that achieves up to 192kHz\/32-bit digital output. Then it also has an upgrade premium DAC that offers a wide dynamic range with low distortion for modern high-resolution audio sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The difference between each device being what you’re outputting to, and how much the quality matters to you. If you’re using Spotify, then the Pro Plus isn’t really going to make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The writing on the wall for all these devices is that they’re a simple solution to getting your old speakers connected again and at high quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WiiM also offer a remote that you can pair with your speakers to control playback with. The remote feature a microphone that lets you use Alexa to command the speakers as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discover more to find the right WiiM to connect your audio up on their website<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

WiiM Mini<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n