Upcoming streaming products of this kind of budget are straight up for the WiiM crown
There’s always a sense of familiarity at the annual Bristol Hi-Fi Show, with brands and industry faces we’ve seen for years, sometimes decades, in a place where – even when new products and technologies come in – some things don’t change.
It’s no secret that the popularity of the hi-fi hi-fi – while still thriving in our circles – has declined in recent times. New players (Sonos, Apple and others) have come into the field to challenge what a modern music system should look like. Especially for those looking at the affordable end of the market.
Many hi-fi brands have noticed the meteoric rise of the WiiM and its game-changing offerings, some have even proposed that their new products – for example the budget Dali Kupid bookshelf speakers, – be used with the WiiM’s integrated products.
Until now. Unsurprisingly, it’s another small, budget-oriented brand that has decided to take direct aim at the WiiM and its product line. Most have been around for a short time, and they have also built a reputation for undercutting their competitors by a large amount with their listings. be-affordable products.
At the Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2026, a few floors down from the WiiM demo room, Most teased a new range of hi-fi streaming products due out later this year, including the Link Mini, Link Pro and Link Amp Pro. It will include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth LE Audio, AirPlay 2, Spotify Lossless and Tidal Connect.
It’s not hard to make direct comparisons to the WiiM range. The Link Mini is similar to the WiiM Mini (£89), designed to bring networking power to any older system; the Link Pro broadcaster is likely to go toe-to-toe with the WiiM Pro Plus (£219); the Link Pro Amp is a broadcast amplifier similar to the WiiM Amp Pro (£399).
Admittedly, these are early development examples, and full specifications and details have not been finalized, but we do know that Majority’s Link Pro and Link Pro Amp will include HDMI ARC inputs and a display screen, and that the broadcast amp claims to have 300W of amplification power.
Of note already, however, are the prices set for the trio. They look a good £30 to £150 less than the WiiMs: the Link Mini is £49.95; the Link Pro is £199.95; The Link Pro Amp is £249.95. That’s really hard. The WiiM has made a name for itself by undercutting its competitors; Most even. Whether Majority Link’s final streaming products – in terms of design, specifications, application interface and functionality – can compete with the WiiM’s smooth scope remains to be seen.
We often hear the phrase “where is all the affordable hi-fi?” – and it’s true that truly affordable kit feels few and far between these days when costs are constantly rising. But this market place may be heating up, with many emerging competitors taking on the likes of the WiiM.
It is interesting, however, that in a show full of hi-fi products – from brand new launches, full of technology, exciting sequels and engineering that push the boundaries, from brands with excellent performance records – the products that take the WiiM first come from yet another budget type that starts at the top.
How will it turn out? We can’t wait to find out.
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