One of the very first reviews for this blog was the Andover wireless streamer, so I’m excited to update the website with this Arylic S10 review. I thought it would be fun to have a little competition with the Arylic S10 vs the WiiM Mini.
Let’s compare the features of each streamer and then the sound, to help decide which one is right for you.
This article contains affiliate links to purchase items. All affiliate earnings are reinvested back into this blog to purchase gear for future review.
What is the Price of the Arylic S10 vs the WiiM Mini?
The Arylic S10 is listed at $69.99 on the Arylic Official Website while the WiiM Mini is listed at $100.
If you are on a budget and looking for the more affordable streamer, the Arylic S10 might be the best choice, however, these streamers go on sale often so keep an eye out to make sure the Arylic is, in fact, the lower priced unit.
Which unit comes with a remote control at list price?
The Arylic S10 comes with a remote control at list price but the WiiM Mini does not come with a remote and requires you to spend more money to add one. So, if a remote is important to you, then consider the Arylic.
The remote for the Arylic doesn’t come with the two triple A batteries so have a pair on hand when the unit arrives.
Does the Arylic S10 or WiiM Mini have a wired connection?
Even though these are wireless streamers, one still has the ability for a wired LAN connection for anyone who would prefer a direct connection over wireless. If you are interested in having a LAN connection, you will want to buy the Arylic S10 as it will allow for having a wired connection while the Wiim Mini does not.
Arylic S10 vs WiiM Mini: Which can be connected to an external DAC?
The Arylic S10 only has an analog output which means you cannot connect an external DAC while the WiiM Mini provides a SPDIF digital output which will allow you to connect an external DAC.
Even though the WiiM Mini’s internal Burr Brown DAC sounds great, it can still be fun to pair different external DACs with the streamer and try to hear any differences in sound.
Unfortunately the Arylic’s only option is to use the internal DAC provided, which I couldn’t find specifics for online.
Which has the higher audio output resolution, the Arylic S10 or the WiiM Mini?
The Arylic’s audio output is CD quality at 16 bits/44 kHz while the WiiM Mini is HIGH RES up to 24 bits/192 kHz.
While the Arylic’s output is an impressive CD quality for the low price, the WiiM Mini is able to provide higher res playback for anyone streaming Tidal/Qobuz/etc files.
Can I use a USB stick for music playback with either the WiiM Mini or the Arylic S10?
If you are someone who has songs stored on a USB stick and would like to connect it to one of these streamers, you will be interested in purchasing the Arylic S10 as it will allow you to connect a USB drive with a storage limit of up to 1,000 songs, while the WiiM Mini will not.
Arylic S10 vs WiiM Mini: Which Wireless Streamer Sounds Better?
In order to test the sound of each streamer, I connected each streamer to its own dedicated amplifier, then connected the amps to my One Little Bear audio switcher which is connected to my pair of Klipsch Heresy speakers.
It then occurred to me that I should really only use one amp, so instead I hooked each streamer to my Schiit Saga+ preamp into the Fosi Audio T20 amplifier. I then measured decibels to make sure they were as even as possible. With the Saga+, I can easily switch back and forth between the inputs using the remote control to hear how each streamer sounds. I used Tidal for my streaming source and listened to an “audiophile” rock playlist put together by CNET.
First things first, the Arylic S10 is always around 4-5 decibels softer than the WiiM Mini which I found to be a little bit annoying.
I listened to the song You Got Yr Cherry Bomb by Spoon which has a great mix of horns and high frequency percussion along with a mix of vocals recorded in different methods. The Arylic handled the track fine and I enjoyed listening, but then I played the track on the WiiM Mini and things opened up with a better mix for the horn section, the percussion elements were more present in the higher frequencies and the vocals were more forward, in a pleasant way.
Next was He Lays in the Reins by Calexico which has a great pedal steel playing throughout the song. Again, the Arylic played the song back fine but the extra details, like the rhythmic chopping of the guitar strings during the pedal steel solo were more forward and more detailed with the WiiM.
One more song – Gigantic by the Pixies – the vocals are all over the place during this song but when listening with the WiiM Mini, I swore I heard different background vocal parts than I’m used to hearing in this song and I’ve heard this song A LOT over the years. This wasn’t the case with the Arylic.
In short, the WiiM Mini is a more musical streamer to my ears and it might be that Burr Brown DAC within. Keep in mind, this comparison was using each streamer’s internal DAC with the preference leaning to the WiiM Mini.
Arylic S10 vs WiiM Mini: Which Wireless Streamer Should You Buy?
I think you should decide based on all of the features mentioned above.
For instance, if you want wired LAN and USB connections, buy the Arylic S10.
If you want a remote control, buy the Arylic S10.
However, if you want the ability to connect these streamers to an external DAC, buy the WiiM Mini.
If you prefer streaming hi-res audio files from Tidal, Quobuz and the like, you will most likely want the WiiM Mini to allow for higher resolution than the Arylic.
If you would like more information on each streamer, you can watch my YouTube video comparing each below:
If you are interested in more gear reviews, please check out the following below:
Sony STR-DH190 Receiver Review
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