What if you want high-quality sound, but there is no room for a traditional stereo system? This used to be a real headache. But now there are solutions that prioritize compactness without sacrificing power or functionality.
The Premiera Mini Amp is a shining example of this new approach. It is a streaming amplifier that fits literally in the palm of your hand. But don't let its size fool you. This little box hides serious hardware for listening to music from a wide variety of sources.
We decided to check how well it manages to combine minimal dimensions with maximum capabilities. Can it become the heart of a modern but modest-sized audio system? Let's find out together.
The smaller, the better
After all, not everyone needs iron boxes that serve as a starting point for reformatting their apartment into an audiophile anti-resonance refuge. Therefore, deliberately skipping the intermediate stages, let's move straight to the other extreme: a small, even tiny box that doesn't even have to be visible. Nevertheless, the requirements for it are no different from those previously put forward for large components: it must be able to produce sound, it must be simple, like slippers, to operate, and it must be able to do so much that you don't have to buy anything else.
This niche began to be actively filled with the arrival of Class D amplifiers in our lives, because it is almost impossible to implement something that fits this description in another amplification class, with rare exceptions and a whole list of compromises. But we already make compromises when choosing a device of this format for our home, so we don't want it to be lacking in anything else.
It follows that the basis of such a component simply must work in class D, otherwise what's the point? But history unfolded in such a way that in the early stages of compact hi-fi development, many manufacturers made mistakes, ruining their reputation with unfinished, “as is” devices, which to this day remain someone's home reference in the dark corners of hi-fi.
Time passed, and the compact segment matured and grew, but not physically (it is not supposed to do so by design), but purely spiritually: having grown as a personality, it presented itself to the community on an altar, on the sides of which lay switching power supplies and unscrewed Wi-Fi antennas. And Class D, along with it, flowed from nightmares into the realm of something pleasantly utilitarian.
Mini Amp
It is impossible to trace the design concept based on the appearance of the Premiera Mini Amp. This is because its front panel is glossy, and all you can see in it is the reflection of the viewer's understanding. The component was clearly not created for admiration and enthusiasm. Nevertheless, there are some nuances here — in case it does happen to be on display.
The text printed on the textolite is intended to inform us about the model and the company that produced it; next, we have the headphone output designation — and not just a simple one, but one with a purpose; the third type of font in the center of the front panel reminds us that we are dealing with a Hi-Fi streaming amplifier, and nothing else. The same font is used for the encoder knob, which also functions as a button to access the menu. And to make everything clear, there is a color LCD display in the center, slightly smaller than that of vintage mobile phones, about two inches.
On the rear panel, we find all the advantages of large hot components: two line inputs on RCA connectors, which are backed up by a 3.5 mm AUX input; further on, there is a line output and even a subwoofer output. The mandatory requirement is met: there is HDMI ARC and an optical input, while the manufacturer has abandoned the coaxial input.
and rightly so.
.
The USB A connector can accept flash drives and hard drives up to 500 GB, the Ethernet connector provides network access, but Wi-Fi can also be used, as there is support for the 5 GHz band and all high-speed connections will reach the Mini Amp at the appointed time. The speaker terminals can accept any speakers with an impedance of 4 to 8 ohms, the power connector can accept a complete 32 V/5 A power supply, and the WPS button is responsible for resetting the device to factory settings.
You take it in one hand, examine it from all sides — well, its form factor is really appealing, actually. Of course, at first it's hard to believe that this little box is all you need for quick access to audiophile revelations. But there's also the technical side of the issue, which contains data with figures that seem to belong to a full-size device, further heightening the intrigue.
Big numbers for a small amplifier
After seeing these large numbers, your gaze wanders around the rack for a while, looking for their owner. You just have to get used to it, it happens, and the dissonance passes quickly enough. But it's still worth mentioning the numbers.
As already mentioned, the Premiera Mini Amp uses Class D amplification, and the power rating for this mini amplifier is 100 watts per channel at 4 ohms. The figure for 8 ohms has not been announced to the general public, but even if we take the familiar route and halve the watts, is that not enough?
The built-in DAC is based on Burr Brown's PCM 5121 chip and ensures that this small amplifier is compatible with most existing high-resolution devices, provided their specifications do not exceed 32-bit/384 kHz. However, via the USB A port, track parameters are limited to 24/192, and DSD support is not specified at all.
A world of much larger numbers opens up when you download the Audio System app: millions of tracks become available to you, just enter your login and password from one of the dozen streaming services that are present here. Internet radio, file servers, multiroom, DLNA, and Airplay are also available, as this is a well-known platform based on a module from Linkplay, which works stably and is well controlled. And if the situation requires radically quick solutions, you can always use Bluetooth on the 5.0 module.
The menu icons are called up on the screen either from the remote control or by pressing the encoder. Here you can select the active input, adjust the brightness of the backlight, and configure the display behavior in different situations. From here, you also have access to the tone block and the sleep timer — in case you don't have the remote control handy. In fact, this small display has been given an unusual amount of attention: it has become a kind of window into a mini-universe where you can find more than you expect.
The Premiera Mini Amp is a small streaming amplifier that surprises with its sound. Despite its compact size and simple appearance, it delivers high-quality sound, reveals details well, and easily integrates into your home audio system. It connects quickly, works stably, and is easy to control via the app. For its price, it offers more than you would expect — true maximalism in a minimalist body.
Formatting pleasures
To test the musical capabilities of the Premiera Mini Amp, we used the incomparably larger KEF Q150 speakers. The fact is that any speakers seem too large when compared to the Mini Amp.
The quest to find an amplifier
But this is precisely the idea behind it, allowing this amplifier to be used not only in the usual format of a stand-alone component, but also as a desktop solution for near-field monitors, which the KEF Q150s have reliably agreed to act as when no one is looking. Therefore, in some particularly interesting moments, the impressions will alternate.
Let's start with the track “Sanctuary” by Jean Du Voyage. The slightly frightening electronic beginning gives way to delicate brass instruments, as if they were recorded naturally. The speakers are deliberately placed wide apart, with a slight turn towards the listener, creating a spacious and cohesive soundstage. At its center sits a tight, irregular bass, with samples effectively distributed across the channels.
The wind instruments sound melodic and soft, but after the first minute, during a lyrical interlude, the articulation in the mid frequencies was surprising. Here, the weight and density, texture, and volume of the sound are discernible. Overall, the beginning turned out to be quite decent, better than expected.
Let's complicate the task with the track “I Don't Want To Do This Anymore” by One True Pairing. The load is easier technically, but more difficult emotionally: it's a track by an audiophile over 50 who never got around to building his dream system. The surge of emotion was enough not only to come up with this pun, but also to distinguish in the recording that the guitar is below the vocals — therefore, this man is playing and singing for us at the same time.
Note the background cello — it fits nicely at the edges of the stage, creating a wide stereo base. This is enough to “dissolve” the speakers, which is already a very decent result. At this point, we narrow the stereo base to about a meter and move forward: surprisingly, the image of the vocalist remains the same size and fills the entire space between the speakers. Here you can turn down the volume and make sure that neither detail nor articulation is lost.
So let's complicate it again: Caroline Shaw's track “Lady With An Ermine” sounds like a variation on a classical piece by a chamber ensemble. The scene is well recorded — and you can tell; the percussion is separated from the overall sound and flies off somewhere beyond the stage — plus points for realism.
The only thing that was slightly puzzling here was the rather modest size of the instruments in the near field. But it turned out that even in the far field, they did not appear large, so we blame the sound engineer, not the amplifier. The resolution and separation were sufficient.
The Premiera Mini Amp is one of those rare cases where “mini” in the name doesn't mean compromises. This amp shows that a compact device can be a full-fledged and main sound source in your system. Its strength lies in uncompromising streaming and high-quality amplification, packed into a case that doesn't take up much space.
Of course, this solution is not for everyone. Its price and focus on digital sources may be decisive factors. But if you are looking for a way to listen to music from streaming services or your home NAS with maximum simplicity and quality, the Mini Amp is a brilliant option. It eliminates the need for separate components, offering a complete and modern sound solution.
The result is a very cohesive product. It is ideal for a study, bedroom, or small living room, delivering the same “big” and engaging sound you would normally expect from larger components. The Premiera Mini Amp doesn't just minimize the size of the enclosure — it maximizes the listening experience, leaving all the unnecessary complexity behind.
