FiiO continues to expand its product lineup at an impressive pace. A quick visit to their website often reveals new additions, ranging from high-end amplifiers and audiophile cables to retro-style players and headphones. While some of their more unconventional releases — such as cassette or CD players — make sense within their portfolio, today’s review units stand out in a different way. Released under a new sub-brand, the SNOWSKY ECHO MINI music player and Wind earphones seem designed to evoke nostalgia. Let’s take a closer look at how they bring back the feel of early 2000s portable audio.
- Colors: Black/Cyan/Pink
- Weight: 55g
- Dimensions: 80×54.5×14.5mm
- Display: 1.99-inch 170×320 IPS full-view color display
- DAC: CS43131×2
- Internal storage: 8GB
- External storage: microSD card, supports up to 256GB
- Bluetooth codec: SBC (Note: Apple Bluetooth headphones are not supported)
- Playback 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
- Outputs: 3.5mm single-ended/4.4mm balanced
- Output power 1: L+R > 100mW+100mW (320 single-ended, THD+N<1%)
- Output power 2: L+R> 250mW+250mW (322 balanced, THD+N<1%)
SNR: >131dB (32Q A-weighted)
THD+N: 0.0004% - Noise floor: 0.8uV
Design
FiiO products tend to have a distinct visual identity, often incorporating bold colors reminiscent of classic portable devices. While many of their players feature metal casings, the ECHO MINI takes a different approach. This is a budget-oriented device, constructed entirely from plastic. It retails for $62.37, though current discounts bring the price down to around $51.
The design is unmistakably retro, resembling an MP3 player from 2006 — or even earlier. For those who once carried an iRiver with a handful of albums loaded, this player may trigger immediate nostalgia. Visually and functionally, it would be easy to mistake it for a relic of the past rather than a 2025 release.
The device itself is compact and lightweight, with an aquamarine-colored plastic shell that feels more like a toy than a piece of high-end audio gear. The top houses buttons for power, playback, menu navigation, and track selection. On the right side, there are two headphone jacks, including FiiO’s signature 4.4mm balanced output. The back panel features a USB-C port and a microSD card slot. In an amusing touch, there’s also a fake battery compartment, reinforcing the old-school aesthetic.
The 1.99-inch IPS display (170×320 resolution) is another throwback. The official product description touts it as a “high-definition screen,” though by any modern standard, this is a stretch — even a decade ago, this wouldn’t have qualified as HD. That said, for a simple music player, an ultra-high-resolution display isn’t necessary. For reference, older devices like the Safa SS100 I used to love featured a 1.5-inch OLED screen with 128×128 resolution — smaller and lower quality, yet still capable of video playback. The ECHO MINI, on the other hand, is purely audio-focused, supporting formats like DSD, WAV, FLAC, APE, MP3, M4A, and OGG. The lack of additional features like note-taking or calendars is unlikely to be a dealbreaker for its target audience.
Overall, the design is well-executed. It’s a compact, colorful device that fully embraces its retro inspiration.
Read also: FiiO DM13 review: CD Renaissance Is In Full Swing, And I Am Here For It
As expected for a device of this type, the ECHO MINI runs a proprietary operating system with no support for third-party apps. Even basic features like FM radio are absent, which feels like an oversight given the nostalgia-driven design. Navigation is entirely button-based, reminiscent of my old iRiver T30 — another player from the early MP3 era that lacked a joystick for easier control.
The navigation experience is, in a word, clunky. While users may eventually adapt to the button layout, managing a large music library with this interface requires patience. One particularly unintuitive design choice is the volume control: the left button increases volume, while the right button decreases it — an arrangement that feels counterintuitive and difficult to get used to.
A key limitation of the ECHO MINI is its lack of Wi-Fi. There’s no internet support, meaning no streaming capabilities — everything has to be manually transferred. Younger users accustomed to cloud-based libraries might find this inconvenient, but for those who remember the pre-streaming era, the process is straightforward: plug one end of a USB-C cable into the player and the other into a computer.
On a macOS system, the player is recognized without issues, and file transfers are quick and easy. However, acquiring music files is an entirely separate challenge in an era dominated by streaming services. Those with existing MP3 libraries or the ability to rip CDs will find it easier to build a collection.
Firmware updates follow a similarly old-school approach: download the update file from the official website, place it in the root folder, and restart the player.
Read also: FiiO BTR13 review: Affordable portable DAC
Sound Quality and the Wind headphones
While FiiO has clearly cut costs in terms of materials and features, the company’s reputation for sound quality remains intact. The ECHO MINI delivers audio that, while not on par with high-end audiophile players, holds up surprisingly well — even for more discerning listeners. It won’t compete with $500+ flagship models, but it easily surpasses all MP3 players from the 2000s.
I tested the player with two sets of headphones. First, the Wind earphones, released alongside the ECHO MINI. While the player feels like a callback to the 2000s, these earphones take inspiration from even earlier — the 1980s. Their ultra-lightweight, open design feels almost toy-like at first glance, offering no isolation or substantial low-end response.
Expecting sound quality akin to disposable travel headphones, I was pleasantly surprised. While they lack bass depth and any meaningful noise isolation, the sound is clear, with good separation and natural vocal presentation. The included black ear cushions supposedly enhance bass response compared to the default orange ones.
For a second test, I paired the player with my preferred FiiO FT1 headphones — large over-ear models featuring black American walnut ear cups. The contrast between these full-size headphones and the tiny ECHO MINI was amusing, but the player had no trouble driving them. The output remained clean and sufficiently loud, leaving little room for complaints given the price point.
The player also supports Bluetooth, though only via the SBC codec. As expected, wireless audio quality suffers, making a wired connection the preferred option.
The 1100mAh battery provides around 15 hours of playback per charge, which is reasonable for a device of this type.
Verdict
I respect FiiO’s willingness to take risks with unconventional products. The company is best known for its premium audiophile gear, yet here we have its complete opposite — a tiny, single-purpose music player. The ECHO MINI is compact, lightweight, and charmingly retro, delivering solid audio performance for its price.
However, its appeal is limited. The clunky controls and outdated interface make it difficult to recommend as a primary music device. The microSD capacity limit of 256GB (plus 8GB internal storage) also feels unnecessarily restrictive. While nostalgic users and collectors may appreciate its simplicity, modern listeners accustomed to streaming and intuitive navigation might find it frustrating to use.