TL;DR
Miss your old, high-quality stereo but hate the lack of streaming? Meet the Atonemo Streamplayer, a tiny gadget that breathes new life into your existing audio gear. It's like a Chromecast Audio reborn, but better. Easily connect your smartphone to your classic speakers via WiFi for lossless, high-res audio streaming that blows Bluetooth out of the water. Perfect for audiophiles who've invested in great sound but crave modern convenience. Discover how this affordable device bridges the gap between analog excellence and digital ease – dive into our full review to see why we're so impressed!
Occasionally, a product emerges that, despite its novelty, addresses an unarticulated need. This experience resonated with us during a recent visit to a temporary pop-up in Stockholm, hosted by Atonemo. Leo, one of the company’s founders, provided a comprehensive demonstration, and the product’s potential quickly became evident. Atonemo Streamplayer, the company’s inaugural product, aims to revitalize existing high-quality audio systems that lack modern streaming capabilities.
Introducing the Atonemo Streamplayer
For audiophiles familiar with the discontinued Chromecast Audio, the Atonemo Streamplayer can be readily understood as a contemporary and enhanced successor. For those less acquainted with specialized audio devices from the past decade, however, a brief explanation is warranted.
Essentially, the Atonemo Streamplayer integrates modern streaming functionality into your legacy audio system. Users can connect it to any hi-fi setup to stream music directly from a smartphone or tablet over their home network. While it may appear to serve a niche market, for individuals who have invested significantly in or inherited high-fidelity audio systems without modern connectivity, this device offers an ideal bridge between traditional analog excellence and digital convenience.
Initial Impressions
Upon retrieving our review unit from Atonemo’s headquarters in Stockholm, we noted the surprisingly compact packaging. Unboxing revealed the Streamplayer itself to be even smaller than anticipated, measuring only slightly larger than a standard matchbox.
The package includes a USB-C cable for power and a 3.5 mm AUX cable. While the omission of a 3.5mm to optical or RCA cable might be noted, it is arguably justifiable given the product’s accessible price point. The device itself features a matte plastic construction with selective glossy accents. Its minimalist design, comprising only two connectors, contributes to a clean and unobtrusive aesthetic, allowing it to be easily concealed behind an amplifier.
Usability and Setup
Installation proved straightforward. We powered the device, connected it to our speakers, and downloaded the Atonemo app. The application is notably intuitive and stable: users simply select their WiFi network, assign a name to the player, and commence operation. Our initial test involved connecting it to our living room system, which features a pair of active speakers. Upon launching Spotify and selecting the Streamplayer as the audio output, music playback initiated instantaneously, without any discernible stuttering or delay.
Audio Performance: A Critical Assessment
Audio quality, inherently subjective, is significantly influenced by the connected audio components. To maintain objectivity, we conducted an A/B test using consistent audio tracks and speakers, comparing standard Bluetooth playback with the Streamplayer’s WiFi connection.
During Spotify playback, the sonic distinctions were not immediately pronounced, though the WiFi connection offered superior stability, enabling uninterrupted listening throughout the premises. However, upon transitioning to a high-resolution audio source, the disparity became unequivocally apparent, delivering an immediate and impactful improvement. The Streamplayer’s support for 24-bit/192 kHz lossless audio enables a level of detail reproduction that Bluetooth technology cannot match. We observed previously unheard intricacies in familiar tracks. This vividly demonstrates the significant audio compression inherent in standard Bluetooth transmissions compared to the Streamplayer’s capacity for high-resolution data over WiFi 6.
Additional Features
The Atonemo Streamplayer incorporates several additional functionalities. Beyond its standard AUX connection, an optical output via Mini Toslink is provided, facilitating fully digital integration with a DAC or amplifier. Moreover, the system supports multiroom audio by connecting multiple Streamplayers to various speakers throughout a residence, thereby creating a seamless integrated audio environment. While our single review unit precluded a comprehensive test of this feature, its potential for expanding home audio capabilities is considerable.
Competitive Landscape
Contemporary competitors primarily include the WiiM Mini and Pro models. However, the Atonemo Streamplayer distinguishes itself from the WiiM Mini through enhanced availability and broader compatibility, including support for both AirPlay 2 and Chromecast. Furthermore, Atonemo utilizes the more advanced WiFi 6 standard. While the WiiM Pro offers a greater number of inputs, it is also characterized by a larger form factor and a higher price point.
Verdict
For individuals not yet persuaded, this product may not align with their specific requirements. However, for enthusiasts who cherish their existing audio systems and seek modern streaming capabilities without sacrificing sound fidelity, the Atonemo Streamplayer presents an exceptional solution. It offers superior performance and broader compatibility compared to its direct competitors, all at a highly competitive price point. The editorial team unequivocally recommends this product.
Atonemo supplied the review unit for this evaluation. The provider of the material exercised no editorial influence over our testing process or conclusions.
