I don’t often do reviews on Bluetooth speakers, but if I do, I try to find something unusual. It so happened that this time I got a great mini-model from the British company Minirigs, predictably enough named Minirig Mini.
Company that produces Minidigi is a perfect example of how to love your product and everything associated with it, it is noticeable in everything: starting with the website and ending with radios, which they posted on SoundCloud. Do a column exist in three types: basic, mini and a subwoofer for bass lovers. With this you can collect different combinations of stereo pairs of loudspeakers, column speakers and a subwoofer, or even 2.1 “system” for those wishing to achieve the maximum. But today we will focus on the youngest version with the main usage scenario “alone.”
Of course, against the total domination of the Chinese models with prices tending to zero, Minirig Mini with a price of £ 100 seems pretty expensive option, especially if you look also on the size. But this is the case when the price is justified, and not only sound.
Specifications
- Speaker: 52 mm
- Frequency range: 70 Hz – 16 kHz
- Work time from a single charge: 3 hours at maximum volume, 10 hours on average, up to 30 hours with low volume
- Charging time: 2 – 3 hours
- Bluetooth 4.2 with AAC and aptX codecs
- Bluetooth range: 10 – 30 meters in line of sight
- Dimensions: 84 mm × 55 mm
- Weight: 314 gr.
Packing and delivery
The company’s designers came up with a very spectacular packaging: cardboard cylinder with plastic covers, not much larger than the column itself. Such a tube and looks impressive and protects the contents from adversity. Except Mini, inside you will find a short manual, a small wire-interconnect with 3.5 mm connectors and USB wire for charging, it is unusual, so it is better not to lose.
The kit just put a sticker that you can use for personalization column, it is glued to the bottom side, then you have to do is sign your copy.
Design and management
Appearance, in my opinion, failed. The case is very compact, made in the form of a metal cylinder with plastic inserts on top and bottom. For lovers of the beautiful lots of bright colors, they all look very impressive.
Despite its compact size, weighs a “mini” a little more than 300 grams, so on the table is quite secure, this just help and rubber inserts on the bottom side.
All connectors are placed on the sides of the cylinder, opposite each other. On one side is the charging Jack, with the other two jacks line inputs/outputs, they differ in the gain when using as input. They are used to connect speakers in pairs or 2.1 system, although it can be done wirelessly. The developers have tried to squeeze out of the Mini max, so it can work even in the mode of the receiver, just plug headphones into one of the two sockets, and listen to music. The sound of the speaker itself thus it can be turned off in the app, but about it below.
On the upper side is equipped with a grille covering the speaker and one single button control, it is also combined with multi-colored led indicator. As controls a bit, I advise you to read the user manual, column knows many tricks, and the indicator displays information about the charging and operation modes, so without reading the “manual” then it would be impossible to do if the developers have not provided this app.
The program for the control column, perhaps the most comprehensive from what I’ve seen. Here you can see the battery, switch gain, to set up a simple equalizer, enable pair work and even to change the device name. Also lots of settings, ranging from low-power mode, and ending with option “lamp blink to the beat of the music.” It is evident that the developers spent active brainstorming, coming up with all sorts of settings, and implemented them all. However, the programming part inside me believes that options does not happen much, and if someone some of them don’t need, you just can’t touch.
Time — the numbers are really close to the claimed, and about 7-10 hours column fulfills. Only, perhaps, what is missing in Mini — some rings for the rifle, so it can be attach to a backpack, since it is envisaged mobile application.
Itself wireless connection is highly reliable, the device can support up to 8 sources, while the sound at each moment of time may only output one of them. Mini really provides about 10 meters, “range”, and not even the thick wall in the way is usually not a problem.
Sound
Surprise. It is the word that describes the reaction of most listeners after meeting with the Minirig Mini. To paraphrase a moderately well-fed man in the Prime of life: “how such a big sound fit in such a small box?”.
The column used is a very good speaker in combination with a good amplifier and, most likely, some additional proprietary tricks from the developer, because there are enough powerful for this size WOOFER, even able to make vibrate your Desk and very clean mid and lower treble. Listening to “Mini”, do not even have to make much greater correction for its size — it sounds no worse than many much larger counterparts.
Bass then powerful, but balanced, this is not bumbalka, able only to shake the surface on which it stands. The solution, of course, not extraordinary, but definitely enough to share tools and to convey texture. Depth is also limited, the developers honestly stated on the website 70 Hz as the lower limit, but for live instruments that’s enough, but for those who want more “low bass” there is a subwoofer. In this case, we see an example of a reasonable compromise that allows it to deliver clean and natural.
The midrange is certainly good as well, the resolution is normal, the emotion and the macro-dynamics — be able Minirig surprisingly well. Of course, to compare one small column with a pair of high-quality stationary acoustics is not necessary, but in General, for “casual listening” this kid is quite good. Even complex things like heavy metal (not the most brutal of the subspecies) or classical music is quite able to please the ear, although, of course, and deserve something more serious. For example, a pair of Minirig 🙂
The upper frequencies just a little cropped top, I think the reason here is the same as the bass of one speaker are just not enough to play the entire audible range, so the developers have concentrated “the efforts of the emitter” in the part autospectra, where the basic information. In General, HF is also good, they quantitatively eased a bit, but not possess in any resolution and even work out attacks that wireless speakers do well.
In General, the sound of this column as well very managed, to wait on her exploits stationary acoustic system is not necessary, but as a portable, even within the same apartment, the decision — she will obviously please the owner.
Insights
I can’t say that I’ve heard so many portable wireless speakers, quite the contrary, my experience with them is quite modest. But Minirig Mini — by far the best of them, both in design and functionality, and sound. Of course, its quite noticeable, but it is at my hearing the case when it is fully justified.
Buy MiniRig Mini
Review portable Blueooth speakers MiniRig Mini — comedian
Pavel Dmitriev