Disclaimer: Please note that I am not an audiophile, and this review does not delve into the technical aspects of the IEMs. My impressions are based on my personal preferences, and others may have different experiences with this product. I also have a very limited experience with audio products so please take this review with a grain of salt.
The Snowsky Echo Mini and Snowsky Wind were sent to me by Fiio, but opinions remain my own. My review was not checked by them prior to publishing.
Pros
- Lightweight and very pocketable
- Multiple output options: 3.5mm, 4.4mm, Bluetooth 5.3 (including the 4.4mm is amazing!)
- Frequent firmware updates since release (latest as of writing is 1.4, which added more features!)
- Surprisingly wide soundstage and excellent imaging and clarity for a small DAP
- Warm-balanced inoffensive tuning that’s not fatiguing
Cons
- All-plastic build
- Package is pretty barebones - not even a strap (nitpick)
- 8GB internal storage, expandable storage only up to 256GB might be too little for some
- No USB-C out - this would have been the perfect budget DAP if this was available
- Controls might have a learning curve for some people.
- SBC only Bluetooth Codec and also specifically mentions that Apple BT headphones are not supported
Before I review the Snowsky Echo Mini, I need to explain what DAPs are. Digital Audio Players (DAPs) are portable devices designed to play high-quality music. Unlike the old-school MP3 players of yesteryear, DAPs focus on delivering superior audio quality. They achieve this by supporting a wide range of audio file formats (such as FLAC, WAV, DSD, and MQA) and incorporating high-end components like Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs) and amplifiers.
Most DAPs look and feel like phones. Most even run a custom OS with an Android core, but make no mistake, this is NOT a phone, and therefore needs to be treated as such. Don’t expect to surf the internet with DAPs as most don’t have SIM cards. Again, DAPs are NOT phones.
Part 1: General Product Details
You can purchase the SNOWSKY Echo Mini via these links:
Package Inclusions
- The Echo Mini DAP (in Black, other colors available are Cyan and Pink)
- USB C to A cable
- Documentation (Warranty card and manual)
- Input: USB-C
- Output: 3.5mm Single-Ended,4.4mm Balanced, Bluetooth 5.3
- OS: RTOS
- DAC Chip(s): CS43131 x 2
- Storage: 8 GB internal, expandable up to 256 GB
- Battery: 1100 mAh
- Screen: 1.99” 170x320 IPS screen
- Weight: ~55g
Audio Parameters
- 3.5mm rated power output: L+R≥100mW+100mW (32Ω, THD+N<1%, USB IN)
- 4.4mm rated power output: L+R≥250mW+250mW (32Ω, THD+N<1%, USB IN)
- Bluetooth codec: SBC
- SNR: ≥131dB (32Ω A-weighted)
- THD+N: <0.0004% (-4dB, 32Ω)
- Noise floor: 0.8uV
- Formats supported: DSD, WAV, FLAC, APE, MP3, M4A, OGG
- Sampling rates supported: DSD: 64/128/256; WAV: 24bit/192K; FLAC: 24bit/192K; APE: 24bit/96K
- The body and buttons are all made of plastic.
- There’s a molded portion at the back that makes it look like there’s a battery compartment. This is just a design and not functional. There are also 4 visible screws which seem to be the only thing stopping you from opening the Echo Mini. Yay for repairability?
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At the top are the buttons:
- Power - turns the Echo Mini on/off, also toggles the screen on/off
- Volume Up/Down - also used for navigating up/down or left/right when in menus. When playing music, double press to go to previous/next song. Press and hold to fast forward/rewind music
- Play/Pause - also used for confirming menu choices
- Menu
- Back - mainly used for navigation
- The front has an IPS ~2” screen. You can brighten or dim it through the menus
- One side has the SD Card and USB-C charging port
- The other side has the reset hole, 3.5mm jack, and 4.4mm jack
- In the bottom left corner is a strap for lanyards.
Part 2: Subjective review
Gear Used
- Philips SHP9500 via 3.5mm
- Snowsky Wind via 3.5mm
- Letshuoer S08 via 3.5mm and 4.4mm
- Moondrop May via 3.5mm and 4.4mm
- Samsung Galaxy Buds FE via Bluetooth
Songs
- Asticassia - Takahashi Ohmama
- The Witch From Mercury - Takahashi Ohmama
- Otonoke - Creepy Nuts
- Tomorrow and Tomorrow - Masayoshi Soken
- Answers - Masayoshi Soken
- Close in the Distance - Masayoshi Soken
- Wasted Nights - ONE OK ROCK
- Falling (Feat. Taka) - Jin, Taka
- Hatena - Penguin Research
- Something Comforting - Porter Robinson
- Shelter - Porter Robinson, Madeon
General Usage Impressions
- It’s so TINY! Even smaller than my phone’s charging brick! It’s also super light because it’s made of mostly plastic. Being used to large handheld devices, it took me some time to get used to how small it was.
- The screen is surprisingly good, clear and bright enough for glancing in direct sunlight.
- Setting up the Echo Mini was very much straightforward, just grabbed my already prefilled SD Card, insert it, navigate to the SD card, and the Echo Mini updates all the songs on the device.
- Updating firmware was pretty straightforward too. Just go to the website and follow the instructions at the top. I didn’t check the firmware version on first run, but I did make sure to update it to 1.3 when I got it, and then to 1.4 when that was announced.
- I had no problems learning how to use the Echo Mini’s controls, the buttons had a very tactile feel to them as well as audible “clicks”.
Sound Impressions
- The Echo Mini’s wide soundstage and crystal clear details really blew me away.
- The tuning is neutral with a bit of warmth and it is fascinatingly transparent and clean.
- The bass is average to above average, and there’s some subbass rumble which are pretty satisfactory for listening to Rock, JRock, and Dance/Electronica.
- The mids are also above average, when it comes to the clarity of male and female vocals.
- The treble is satisfactory to me, I can’t detect any sibilance and my treble-sensitivity isn’t triggered when using the Echo Mini
Nitpicks
- No USB-C output - this would have been a HUGE game-changer!
- The newly added feature to turn on Cover/Album art is cool! Though I had some FLAC files that already had embedded album covers that were not showing up on the Echo Mini. When I asked support why this was so, it turns out my album cover photos were PNG format and the Echo Mini only supports JPG. Kinda a bummer, I'll have to go through my music and update the covers.
- Non-removable/replaceable battery - a missed opportunity here, they could have done the same to the Echo Mini what they did with the Retro Nano. The Echo Mini’s battery are soldered with 2 wires inside.
Comparison with the Hiby R1
- The Hiby R1 is a more modern DAP with it’s android-based OS and touch screen with an 85USD base price. It’s packed with features like the MSEB and you’re able to use USB-C out.
- The Hiby R1 is a vocal-forward set that I honestly had a hard time adjusting to, while the Echo mini has a warm-balanced tone with satisfying bass rumble, which I preferred more. This is more of a preference opinion though.
- Depending on what you're going for, if you want something that can connect to WiFi and has a USB-C output, the Hiby R1 is for you. Otherwise if your goal is to do a digital detox and go as simple as possible, the Snowsky Echo Mini is perfect for you!
Final Thoughts
Budget DAPs are definitely getting better and better, giving more value at a price point that’s hard to ignore, and the Snowsky Echo Mini is not an exception. Despite its compact form factor, an all-plastic build and modest storage, it delivers clear, engaging sound with versatile output options like the 4.4mm balanced jack. Its design also makes it an appealing choice for those who miss the 90s vibes but value high-fidelity audio on the go.
It's not hard to like the Echo Mini, and I've found myself daily driving it each time I have had to go out and pairing it with wireless headphones for exercise, or my Moondrop May to relax. This is so far my favorite DAP.
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