HiFiMAN Megamini

I've had the Megamini for a while, and thought I would summarize the pros and cons of this device.

Form Factor:

Plus. The form factor of the Megamini is an obvious draw, and it is both light and easy to carry. It's multiples smaller than a cell phone.

Battery Life:

The battery life is good - what you can expect for this size - but I do wish HifiMan would have advertised more realistic numbers. I have never gotten 15 hours on this thing, maybe closer to 2/3 of that on a good day. It's a bit more difficult to estimate as I don't let it drain to zero.

UI:

The UI is slow, and its age apparent with how quickly DAP's have developed. It's not terrible by any stretch, but definitely slower than a phone or other, more recent DAP's.

Sound:

I always have some trouble with describing sound - especially for DAP's - but the Megamini's sound is controlled. It delivers enough power to drive most cans that are not power-hungry, but it's like comfort food - safe sound, but not wild or dangerous. It is not muddy either to be sure - it sounds clean, given the headphones you are using are the same.

Conclusion:

The Megamini was a nice DAP for its time, and I still use it. But given the influx of more recent offerings, it's hard to recommend. Still, if you do get your hands on one, its a nice player that goes well with most cans.

HifiMan MegaMini - Super-Mini-Power

HIFIMAN started a quest in creating one of the best priced DAPs that focuses on the sound above everything. Megamini is one of the most minimalistic DAPs out there, but it comes with one of the biggest sounds you can find in its price range.






Introduction

HiFiMAN MegaMini is one of the best-known audiophile companies from China having brought to us and having produced some of the most interesting products out there, starting with their IEMs, like HiFiMAN RE2000, HiFiMAN RE800, and even large, Over-The-Ear Headphones like the HE-1000. HiFiMAN has huge experience with DAPs as well, having created a few of the best-known and most-loved DAPs in the world, being some of the first to implement the "interchangeable AMP card concept", a true pioneer and revolutionaries in the DAP industry.

It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with HIFIMAN, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. This review is not sponsored nor has been paid for by HIFIMAN or anyone else. I'd like to thank Mark from HIFIMAN for providing the sample for the review. The sample was provided along with HIFIMAN's request for an honest and unbiased review. This review will be as objective as it is humanly possible, and it reflects my personal experience with Megamini. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in Megamini find their next music companion. This review is part of a larger tour HIFIMAN organized with the world-wide release of their Megamini DAP.


About me

https://audiophile-heaven.blogspot.ro/p/about.html



First Impression

I can't even remember that well what was my first impression with this amazing DAP, since this was before I had my little health issue, but I do remember the evening when I finally got to listen to it for a longer period of time, finding it among other amazing DAPs I had on my desk. I was surprised that I forgot about for a little while, as I had a lot to work on for that period.



After fiddling a bit with it, I thought to myself that it won't do much on its own, especially given its rather tiny appearance.

I plugged in my Sennheiser ie800, which do take a fair amount of power to be driven well, and started a random song, something with an upbeat feeling, The Glitch Mob - Becoming Harmonious.

I was almost instantly amazed by the power Megamini puts in ie800, and how well it is able to control it and give it a very dynamic and powerful sound. Megamini also gets extremely loud with ie800, which is a feat since most average smartphones are unable to make ie800 go loud enough for a satisfying listening experience, so it has quite the power packed behind that tiny enclosure.

!!!Extra side note: Its name (Megamini) also reminds of her, making this review just a bit more explosve!!!



!!!Extra side note: Its name (Megamini) also reminds of her, making this review just a bit more explosve!!!



Packaging

First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:











Megamini comes packed in a packaged fit for its rather diminutive size, a purely white box, which although quite small and pretty simple, feels elegant and pretty pricey. HIFIMAN's logo is written on the outer shell, and there is no other information embedded on the box. Once you open it, you're met with Megamini, which is seated in a snazzy foam cutout, sleeping cozy there, almost like waiting for you to unravel its mysteries.

Besides Megamini, HIFIMAN includes a few manuals and the warranty papers, and a very useful and sturdy-looking cable.

This being said, this is the package one gets with Megamini, which, at the end of the day, is enough to fully enjoy this little machine, where everything was invested in sound.



What to look in when purchasing a high-end DAP

https://audiophile-heaven.blogspot.ro/p/what-to-lookl.html



Technical Specifications




















Build Quality/Aesthetics/UI/Firmware

Starting with the build quality and the aesthetics, Megamini is very sturdy and looks like it can take a serious beating, without giving in to anything. It is mostly made out of high-quality plastic, with a high-quality material that resembles glass on its display.























It has a power button on the right side, two volume buttons on the left side, and all its ports at the bottom, those including a microUSB port, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone output. There are 4 buttons for navigation at the front of the device, a back button, left, right, and an enter button. The button amount is rich enough to offer a clear navigation.

The back of the device is decorated with a few bits of information about Megamini.

The device has corners, which isn't fully ideal, but which isn't exactly a problem either, given its size relative to other devices. The 3.5mm port is extremely sturdy, and it is totally worth its money, while the microUSB port is quite sturdy as well.

The buttons aren't fully clicky, but they feel satisfying enough to make navigation possible and reliable for a minimalistic DAP.

When it comes to its software, Megamini is one of the most minimalistic DAPs out there, and it does music, and that is it. I only used the folder browsing on it, and while it isn't the quickest DAP out there, I don't think it has too much lag, and I was able to live with it for the most part. At 100$, I haven't noticed a DAP with better overall speed yet, so the firmware is in line with other options. Gapless playback doesn't seem to work, but my music usually has silence between songs. Hifiman might add gapless support in a following update, but at least from my tests, it doesn't seem to work so far.

The display is slightly on the colder side color-wise, but close to neutral. Megamini offers a fairly clear image, that is easy to read, with enough brightness for Megamini to be used outdoors.

All in all, the whole device feels solid in hand, and it is hard to compel the size unless you see one in person, Megamini being really really tiny.

There's no Line Out, and many other functions are missing, but at the end of the day all Megamini owners will be happy that HIFIMAN invested all their money in the sound with Megamini.



Sound Quality

As a few reviewers mentioned this before, describing the Sonic Signature of a DAP (Digital Audio Player) can be fairly complicated, as the ideal source should sound transparent and it should leave the coloring for the IEMs and Headphones. This being said, every single DAP out there will change the sound in some way with every headphone and IEM, some people naming this "Headphone - DAP Synergy".



Even so, we'd like to mention that Megamini is one of the most interesting ultraportable devices, because despite its size, it really really sounds big, strong and dynamic. Its general signature is fairly neutral, with what would be, maybe some extra warmth, but it would be mildly warm, not very warm or thick, having an excellent dynamic and punch to its sound, along with excellent ADSR.

Song impressions have been taken with HIFIMAN RE2000, which was also reviewed by Audiophile Heaven:

https://audiophile-heaven.blogspot.com/2017/11/hifiman-re2000-amazing-ample-absolute.html

Bass
The Bass of HIFIMAN Megamini is quite strong, with a very good impact and dynamic, Megamini being able to make even a power-hungry headphone get a lot of space and impact, driving Ultrasone Signature Studio without a sweat. It is also able to drive almost every single one of my IEMs, giving them a satisfying bass that has good weight, good impact, and good power, despite Megamini's small size. The bass goes as low as the headphones allow it to go, and once again, a bit of warmth maybe slips in there, but it doesn't color the sound too much, and Megamini remains quite neutral and linear for the most part.

Midrange
The midrange is once again quite excellent. Megamini manages to give an excellent dynamic to all music that is played through it, making things sound lively and vivid, giving music an edge in feeling alive. It brings out the emotion in voices and instruments like acoustic guitars, violins, right to the listener, without feeling close, actually having a pretty large soundstage. Despite feeling vivid, the midrange also feels rather open sounding with most headphones and IEMs, Megamini sounding exactly the other way you'd expect it to, if you'd only know how it looks, open, large and powerful. It has an smidgen of aggressiveness, extracting the detail from music quite nicely, thing which is quite welcome with most headphones and IEMs.

Treble
The treble of Megamini sounds exactly as it should, natural. It extends for the perfect amount of time, it is not smoothed out, and it isn't brought forward either, it is a very natural, neutral and uncolored treble, Megamini having just the right amount of sparkle in the treble to stay dynamic, interesting and engaging without going over the edge.



Soundstage

Megamini amazes all listeners once again, providing an excellent soundstage, with good width and fair depth, being quite wide and open in its overall sound. Some listeners might prefer their music with more depth, but at 100$, Megamini does an amazing job at being very wide and natural in its soundstage. Stereo imaging is top notch, and there's nothing I can complain about, especially at this price point.



ADSR/PRaT

This is one of the aspects which amazed me with Megamini, as it is able to provide one of the quicker / lighter ADSR / PRaT ratios out there, giving music and effortless and natural feeling, thing which is usually found in large and strong DAPs, Megamini once again defying the laws of reality with its diminutive size, yes extreme power and ability.



Portable Usage

Here is where things get interesting. Since I'm less prone to hearing Hiss, I will avoid mentioning it for each pairing, but it is worthy to mention it here.



Megamini is extremely portable, being so small that you could actually strap it to your hand while running, thing which is not really possible with most smartphones or DAPs, besides maybe Shanling M2s, everything else being much larger than what I'd feel comfortable jogging with. Megamini has a really light weight of around 70 grams, being probably the lightest DAP I've held in my hands to date.

At the other end of things, there is the hiss, and Megamini has some hiss with IEMs which are prone to hiss. I don't really hear it that well, but some of the people who tried it did hear it, DK-3001 for example, exhibiting a bit of hiss. For me, the hiss is always below my listening levels, as I tend to listen quite loud, so it doesn't bother me, but it is good to keep it in mind when ordering Megamini.



Select Pairings

Please note that for any pairing, the IEM has more impact on the final result than the DAP, the best DAP being one that is as transparent as possible. Since X7mkii is one of the most transparent devices out there, it provides a window, looking at the true signature of every IEM and Headphone.













Megamini + Dunu DK-3001 - A lively and very natural-sounding pairing, with an excellent deep bass, a vivid and detailed midrange, and a natural treble, with enough sparkle and energy to sound satisfying.

Megamini + FiiO F9 Pro - Quite an excellent pairing, with a very open sound, Megamini making F9Pro really shine in the width of their sound, also enhancing their rather dynamic sound.

Megamini + HIFIMAN RE2000 - RE2000 is presented with its typical excellent resolving abilities and midl V-shaped sound, with a strong and well-resolving bass, a clear and open-sounding midrange, and with its bright and energetic treble.

Megamini + HIFIMAN RE800 - Megamini powers RE800 to its true nature, an acoustic Genius, two HIFIMAN products working their magic together, and Megamini providing an excellent vivid sound for RE800, making them sing nicely with all types of music this time, but making them truly shine with acoustic.

Megamini + Ultrasone Signature Studio - Ultrasone Signature Studio is presented with an excellent soundstage size and depth, expanding really nicely in the sonic scape, with a fair amount of detail and energy to their sound. The bass is tight and precise, the midrange is expressed slightly aggressive in tonality, and with a smoother treble.

Megamini + Meze 99 Classics - Megamini makes a favorite source for driving the good ol' Meze 99 Classics, giving them an excellent vivid edge, and reducing the need to EQ their sound to a brighter one. They sound really deep and slightly thick, with a nice and well-rounded bass, a more direct midrange, and with a smooth and relaxing treble.

Megamini + iBasso IT01 - IT01 has a very interesting pairing with Megamini, being quite lightweight this time, with a deep and powerful bass, and a balanced midrange (this might also be a side effect of our unit being properly burned-in as iBasso suggested), with a sparkly and open-sounding treble.

Megamini + MO MZero - MO MZero has a very open and dynamic sound by itself, Megamini making it sound even slightly aggressive in a very positive way, giving them a bit more detail and a very wide presentation.

Megamini + Astrotec AM850 - AM850 is presented with an open-sounding midrange, a deep yet well-placed bass, and a brighter top end that is enthusiastic enough to provide a vivid presentation to music. The soundstage size and instrument separation are both very good, although Megamini does add a bit of hiss with AM850.

Megamini + Final E3000 - Final IEMs are a wonder by themselves, being some of the best sounding budget IEMs there are, Megamini giving them a very open and natural presentation, with a strong, thick and deep bass, a very vivid and clear midrange, and an unobtrusive treble that shines in detail and clarity. The soundstage is also quite wide, and the instrument separation is quite excellent.



Comparisons

Most comparisons have been taken with RE2000, Signature Studio, RE800, ie800, and DK-3001. Hiss is usually very hard to notice and I tend to not notice it at all, but I tried my best to compare how DAPs perform relative to each other in this aspect, as well as other aspects that might come off as relevant.











Megamini vs Shanling M2s - Both DAPs offer quite an excellent price / performance ratio, but where Megamini is invested in the sound alone, M2s offers a very wide array of usage scenarios, from being a standalone DAP, to a BT receiver, to a BT DAC, to powering Bluetooth Headphones and IEMs. M2s has less hiss, but a smoother, more relaxed sound, Megamini being more resolving and more dynamic.

Megamini vs Opus #1s - Both DAPs are an amazing creation of companies who focused on sound and on offering the best listening experience to their customers. We should keep in mind that Opus #1s is considerably more expensive than Megamini, its sound being more dynamic, with better power and driving abilities and less hiss. Megamini is slightly more aggressive and more linear, and it is much smaller in physical size.

Megamini vs Opus #3 - Megamini has a signature that is somewhat reminding me of Opus #3, with a very open and vivid sound, but Megamini is more like a miniature, ultra-portable version of #3, those who love Opus #3 having a chance to find Megamini an excellent jogging and ultra-portable device with a similar character.



Value and Conclusion

At the end of the day, one has to ask, what is Megamini and why. Megamini is a 100$ DAP, which is focused strictly on offering the best sonic quality a DAP at that price and size constraints is able to offer, and to the extent of what we tested here, it really delivers this to its customers and fans. Megamini doesn't come in an extensive package, and we're actually quite glad that Megamini focused all their funds on sound and sound alone, because Megamini really surprised us with its sound, and given that one can probably excuse some lag in the operation, and some limitation given by its minimalistic design, Megamini is one of the best sounding DAPs you can find for about 100$.







We're talking about a DAP which can safely drive Ultrasone Signature Studio, and have spare power, so Megamini is not to be played with, and despite its rather diminutive size, it is a force to be reckoned with, a true proof of what today's technology is able to package in a small device.

If you have 100$, and if you're budget conscious, we really recommend looking into Megamini, because albeit its very minimalistic design and software, it will surely blow your mind when it comes to its sonic abilities, portability and even battery life, being a truly dazzling experience for those looking for an ultra-portable, ultra-powerful DAP to make their IEMs sing and their music shine.



I hope my review is helpful to you!



Stay safe and remember to always have fun while listening to music!




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Link to the review on Audiophile-Heaven: https://audiophile-heaven.blogspot.ro/2018/02/hifiman-megamini-super-mini-power.html

Link to the official Thread on Head-Fi: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/hifiman-megamini-1st-impression.821959/

Writer’s head-fi page: https://www.head-fi.org/members/dobrescu-george.170938/

Greetings Head-fi!

Today we're going to be checking out the MegaMini from HiFiMan.

In addition to their outstanding headphones and earphones, HiFiMan is no stranger to the media player world with quite a selection of high quality players in their portfolio, many of which have been heavy hitters in their respective categories for quite a while now. The entry level MegaMini is a media player with few frills, and one that places a heavy focus on simply providing a quality listening experience.

I've been using the MegaMini for about a month now and have been thoroughly enjoying it's clean sound, powerful output, and straightforward operation. There are a few features I've been missing when compared to my prior daily driver, the Shanling M1, but is their absence enough to sway me from recommending this compact powerhouse? Let's find out.

Disclaimer:

I would like to thank Mark with HiFiMan for sending over the MegaMini, along with a few other goodies, for the purposes of review. I'm not entirely clear yet on whether this gear needs to go back to HiFiMan after the reviews are up. The thoughts within this review are mine and mine alone, and do not represent HiFiMan or any other entity. There is no financial incentive for writing this review.

At the time of this writing, the MegaMini retailed for 249 USD: http://store.hifiman.com/index.php/hifiman-megamini-high-res-music-player.html

My Gear and I:

I'm a 30 year old professional working for what is currently the largest luxury hotel chain on the planet. I have a background in Psychology which probably explains my somewhat dry writing style. My entry into the world of portable audio was due primarily to a lack of space for a full-sized stereo system during my university years, and truly began with the venerable JVC HA-FXT90. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread, reviews from other established writers, and thus being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own.

Fast forward a couple years and I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to write about products for wonderful companies like HiFiMan, RHA, Accutone, ADVANCED, NarMoo, Mixcder, Brainwavz, Meze, and many more. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because this is my hobby and I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to a product that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done and payment enough.

Some gear used during testing was; HiFiMan RE800, HiFiMan RE2000, Kinera H3, KZ ZS5, ClarityOne EB110, FLC 8S, thinksound On2, Polk Audio Buckle, and the AKG K553 Pro. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock.

Specifications:


Packaging and Accessories:

I've really been enjoying HiFiMan's packaging and the MegaMini is no exception. It arrives in a clean white box with the only markings being HiFiMan and their logo tastefully printed in orange-gold lettering on the lid. Removing the lid reveals the MegaMini on display in a foam sheet, protected by a thin sheet of clear plastic. Removing the foam sheet and cardboard divider underneath reveals the only two accessories; a warranty card and microUSB cable used for charging.

It's a very clean and simple unboxing. For the price some additional accessories would have been welcome, like a screen protector or basic silicone case.


Physical Design:

To my eyes HiFiMan has absolutely nailed the design with this player, creating something that's modern and professional yet beautiful in it's minimalism.

The more time I spend with it, the more I come to appreciate the fine creases down the sides and how they conform perfectly to your fingers when held. I have fairly average sized hands, so while some may find the compact size and light weight less than ideal, for me it is downright perfect with every button falling into place without a thought. It feels very stable to hold. The way the slim row of buttons separates the top and bottom portions of the player is quite appealing too, especially when you take into consideration the contrasting coloring of these constituent parts and how your eyes are unconsciously drawn to the different sections.

I could go on for a while and further dissect what I love about the design, but I'm sure that would get boring. I'll instead say that HiFiMan should give the employee or employees that designed this player a hefty raise because they did an amazing job. It both looks and feels right.


Interfacing with the MegaMini:

While the physical design of the MegaMini is godly, interfacing with it isn't quite as seamless. First off, while the buttons have a nice tactile response it's led into with a touch of sponginess. It certainly doesn't ruin the MegaMini, but given the impressive fit and finish and refinement of the physical design it takes away from the experience just a touch.

Also less than ideal is the sluggish graphic interface and odd menu layouts. Turning on the player you are treated to an attractive graphic which after loading sits static for a few seconds before tossing you into the menus or 'Now Playing' screen. All-in-all is takes about 10 seconds to load. Turning off the player treats you to another graphic, with a shutdown time of around 5 seconds. These times aren't particularly slow, but they're not lightning fast either.

Where the GUI's sluggishness comes into it's own is while using the player. If the screen is in sleep mode, pressing any button will bring it back to life though the time this takes will vary. If a track is playing, it can take anywhere from a second to two. While it's not consistent, playing higher quality files seem to increase the delay. Skipping tracks takes around a second and a half. Even when moving through menus there is a slight delay after every press of a button. When you want to get somewhere you're always spending time waiting for the player to react to your inputs. This may seem like nitpicking and for the first couple days these mild delays were easy to overlook, but after using the MegaMini for weeks now these pauses and delays really started to aggravate. Thankfully the MegaMini recalls your previous listening session, so randomizing my entire playlist via the "all Songs" menu ensured I wouldn't have to run through menus, unless I really wanted to listen to a specific song.

Speaking of the 'All Songs' menu why is it on the second page of the home menu above settings? It should be one of the first options, just like it is on nearly every music playing device. Instead, after the 'Now Playing' option you get 'File Explorer', something thats usually at the bottom of the menu with the 'Settings'. The same sort of obscure layout continues into the 'Settings' menu which seems to contain various items in a somewhat nonsensical, unorganized layout. For example, the first page in the 'Settings' menu contains; System Version - Repeat - Shuffle - Backlight - Auto Power Off. Why is 'System Version' the first thing you see? The value of that information is low and something you would check every once in a blue moon just to ensure you have the most up-to-date firmware.

In the GUI's favor, it is easy to follow with very clear, easy to read font. I never found myself struggling to read anything, or noticed text extending beyond the confines of the screen as happens on the Shanling M1.

While the interface on the MegaMini could definitely use some work, it is quite usable in it's current state, you just need to have some patience in dealing with delayed reactions to your inputs.

Sound and Pairing:

The MegaMini comes across to me as a fairly neutral player with a warm tilt and slight mid-bass bump. Detail and clarity is good without the overpowering presentation of something like the Walnut V2s. Concurrent listening with the same earphone (KZ ZS5, of which I have two) and songs, I found the MegaMini quite similar to the Shanling M1 in it's tuning, but with a less spacious stage and slightly smoother presentation. Oddly enough, despite it's similarities with the M1 I found they paired best with opposing signatures; M1 with darker gear, MegaMini with brighter gear.

The MegaMini seemed at home with most of my headphones and earphones, only showing itself to be less than ideal with darker, less detailed products like the Polk Audio Buckle or Brainwavz M100. With products like those, the MegaMini would sound somewhat stuffy and muddy. Normally I would counteract this with some mild eqing, maybe upping lower treble and dropping mid-bass a touch to compensate, but the MegaMini shockingly doesn't have any EQ functions, not even a couple built in presets.

Overall I found it a very clean sounding player that was suitable for all the music I listened to. It does hiss with particularly sensitive earphones like the ClarityOne EB110 and I would avoid pairing it with products that feature a darker tune as this quality becomes exacerbated through the MegaMini. Adding an EQ or some built in presents would be a nice addition in a future firmware patch as it would improve the MegaMini's compatibility with a wider variety of sound signatures.

Battery Life:

While the MegaMini's 500 mAh battery is rated for up to 15 hours of use, I can't say that I've ever managed to exceed more than 10. That's with my listening volume generally sitting between 12-30% of the maximum (4-10 out of 32). At least it's charge time seems quite standard, around 2 hours through the USB output on my computer.

Final Thoughts:

Despite the sluggish software, odd menus, and limited feature set, the MegaMini is a pretty capable player. It's small, light, durable, has good enough battery life, sounds fantastic, outputs with plenty of power, and is stunning to sit back and admire. It's not a jack-of-all-trades, packed to the gills with features like some other players. Instead, it focuses on delivering a quality listening experience and to my ears it does that very well.

That said, I wish it was more feature rich as this would add value and functionality, making it more competitive with similarly priced players. Given it's current feature set and GUI sluggishness I feel it's priced too high, especially when compared to something like the Shanling M1. The M1 goes toe-to-toe with it on sound quality but is much snappier and more reactive in use while adding in a ton of extras like Bluetooth, DAC/AMP functionality, gapless playback, and a ton more, all for about 50 USD less. Now, the Shanling doesn't look anywhere near as premium and I still haven't gotten used to the annoying scroll wheel setup, but those are small qualms to deal with when it can do so much while handling it all quite well.

That said, if all you want is an easy to use player that looks amazing, sounds fantastic, and you are willing to pay a slight premium to get it, the MegaMini might be just the ticket. It's a pleasant product to have on hand during your daily activities.

Thanks for reading!

- B9Scrambler