MINIRIG 4 vs. 3 compared: best audiophile bluetooth speaker on the planet
The new MINIRIG 4 fixes all the downsides of the MINIRIG 3: easy stereo pairing, USB-C PD charging, volume buttons, 50w of power and more! I compare this head-to-head against the MINIRIG 3 and Marshall Stockwell II with detailed sound comparisons so you can decide if this is the best audiophile bluetooth speaker on the planet.
Amazon links below are affiliate links that support the channel.
Buy from MINIRIG:
https://minirigs.co.uk/speakers/bluetooth-minirig-4
Buy on Amazon US
https://amzn.to/3WErL4G
MINIRIG 3 subwoofer:
https://amzn.to/3A1l6Jf
Volume knob for sub:
https://amzn.to/3A1lgQR
Premium Swivel/Tilt MINIRIG stands
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1491089723/minirig-360-stand-for-minirig-3-4-only
Minimal MINIRIG stands
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1166771652/minirig-speaker-stand-for-2-3-4
The frequency graph shows its upper based heavy like a lot of these Bluetooth speakers. I wouldn’t call that neutral at all. You really need a tweeter like in the sound core or tribbit. I just don’t understand what they’re doing here at all.
I want to know which is better, a pair of minirig4 speakers or a minirig4+sub3 speaker? Mainly for outdoor camping, looking forward to your reply! Thanks
@2:50 “it doesn’t always work” – why not
jesus, they sound terrible.
Poor review no mention of the compatibility of the minirig bass speaker
Are you sure you got the original Stockwell 2? I am surprised how bad it sounds. I am asking because I’ve owned it and I liked it a lot, but there are many fake copies that are hard to distinguish looks wise. Where did you get that Marshall from? Awesome video. Thanks so much!
PROPRIETARY USB C CABLE.
I wish they could make it automatically turn on both minirig 4 and a subwoofer when connected if you tturn on the minirig 4 . And also hope they change the freq response to 20hz to 20khz .
Nice overview video, God bless.
They’ve out priced themselves. Too many other alternatives for much cheaper
Cool speakers but all those cables , i have 2x minirig 2 amd 2x subs and its just so messy . Wireless everything option would be nice and maybe app settings for sub
I highly recommend a 3d printed portable stand /case if you have a 2.1 set up….got mine off eBay here in U.K…just get some shorter leads for connecting them and just tidy everything at the back….just got the old minirig 2 & 3 at the minute but will probably update to 4 too and when new sub comes out.
Stockwell is louder. I didn’t get much of a difference between the minirigs
Can you use/add any other speaker with aux like you did the second one? thanks
Hi I have to upgrade, because of damage, but all of my friends have minirig 3 , is BT connection between gens possible?
I think the 3 sounds better
Really helpful video – especially the sound comparisons. I ended up with a single Minirig 4 (for now!)
Where did you get the minirig stands in the video?
Compare to Brane X?
Can you plug in a guitar to the Minirig 4 to play outside?
Running my two JBL Charge 5’s as a stereo pair is surprisingly competent.
But when I can swing it, I have built an "audiophile boombox" out of a ChiFi mini amp, Some Dayton 4" 2 way speakers (guaranteed to be the best $75 you will spend on book shelf speakers) and a Milwaukee battery bank. It’s connected by decent plywood, forming a handle and a case for the amp/battery. This serves as a jobsite speaker for me and sounds way better than any BT speaker. YES, it weight 14 lbs and is the size of, well, a boom box. But man is it nice. I have basic tone controls, a 90hz HPF and a sub out for party time!
Separately: If you wanted full EQ control over any BT speaker, providing it has an RCA input, check out the Quedelix 5k micro DAC/headphone amp. It is extremely good an only $100.
Often difficult to tell a difference in sound comparison on YouTube however, the Marshall sounded more muffled. If the two Minirigs, the 4 sounded slightly more detailed, greater separation of instruments and voice though this could be subjective.
However, as an audiophile and having spent more than i care to mention on hifi over the years, i have just bought the 4 so wait to see how it handles things in the area i have set aside for it.
I currently have the Emberton 2 in this space and while not unhappy, the Marshall is a great unit for travelling with.
some parts of the sample audio the minirig4 sounded really sibilant. is that true in person? im sensitive to those sharp sounds.
people really buy 2 of these?? thats +400usd
Cool in theory but im not spending 360€ on speakers and then 120€ for stands. Im in search for semi portable speakers at home for my bed but can’t find something I can be happy with.
The stands are $60 – $80 Australian for a bunch of plastic… wtf
Saw your screws and bolts organizer in another video. The big ones on the floor. Du you have a name/link? 😊
I have had the minirig 3 with the sub 3 for about 4 years. I have always had significant issues with stereo pairing. When they stay together with no interference they are impressive as can be for the size.(the constant cut outs even with all other devices, BT and apps closed/ off does suck.) Overall, I do love the minirig 3; great battery, sound and powerful! but since you mentioned slight cut outs still on the 4s I don’t know if it’s worth the jump. My HomePods (although not as dynamic sonically) never cut out. Wonderful video!
Вы используете в приложении Minirig функцию Tilt EQ? Она усиливает верхние частоты или их понижает в зависимости от положения колонки. Хотелось бы, чтобы вы об этом рассказали.
Better that it doesn thave 2 gain settings like the 3. I have one 3 & maybe need to pairt with a 3 as the high gain on the 3 is louder then the 4.
Too expensive. They don’t even have specifications and features on their site! Wth is wrong with this company.
What firmware version are you running on these?
Still happy with my 3’s, will buy the 4’s when I need them.
I bought the sub volume controller, same as yours. And there doesn’t seem to be much control on it,unless turned very low ,then its full bass again after a quarter of a turn ,50% just seems like max bass on gain 2.
Tried swappping diifferent gain outputs but mo difference.
Version 4 sounds way better than the 3. The Marshall sounds broken. Thanks for the review, it made my decision easy.
Would it be a crazy idea to use a 4 and a sub inside the car?
Anyone have suggestions for ideal speaker angle? Trying to find a decent stand
Thanks for this very useful video – yes I agree with your comparisons and have just recently bought a second minirig 4 to get a wireless stereo pair – having previously a mix of minirig 3 and minirig 4 with the wired stereo pair..
I hate to say it, but that Marshall sounds horrible – reminiscent of the old “baby boom box” , lol. Great video!
Awesome review!
I been on minirig since 1, so been through every upgrade and version 😅
Have they removed the volume control for the output on the master and 5 band eq in the new app?
Do you think 2 6×9 speakers and a sub is a better option for the back of a van?
I find the 4 way more practical with usbc, and the stereo connection to be way better, and to be fair while they’ve dropped a fair bit of bass, that’s not much of an issue for me, since I mainly used my minirig 3’s in high gain to reduce the bass.
Admittedly i’m yet to own a 4 yet, bought one for my partner, since she wanted a 3 for a while. But it just doesn’t seem like enough of an upgrade for me even though they do sound better, i’ll have to wait for my 3’s to die first ( saying that the power button on one of them has started to flake out after about 5 and a half years).
Sounds brighter for sure the marshall sounds appalling!
Utter overhyped…. Lots of issues huge latency issues and they lack alot of clarity at high volume
They are nice to have at the beach or at a picnic but thats it
How loud do they get in reference to some other speakers? Let’s say….is the 2.1 minirig system louder than JBL party box 110?
With the volume out for the sub. How are you connecting this ,audio in /out to gain 2 on sub. Gain 1 from sub ,to minirig?
Ive troed tbis but volume on bass kicks in fully with less then half a turn?
Wow that Marshall sounds awful! Minirig 4 is amazing, but still prefer the 3’s warmer sound (could be my 4s are still bedding in)
Im lucky enough to live near their workshop.
I bought the 4 with one sub to begin with. My music genres aren’t really going to benefit 2 minirig 4’s to begin with.
But since then , now have to minirig 4’s and 2 subs . 1 sub only plays the bass from one channel. Like you said line2 can be a bit too much ,but a lot depends on what you listen too, I guess.
Great review 👍
I have 2 x3s and a sub. Amd I would agree with everything you said. The connection problems i found very disappointing given my investment. And i had lead issues also (with charging cables ) all 3 Failed me. I really wish to support this excellent, Bristol based company but unless they give me a good trade in price im not folking out £150 squid . Sadly as it does sound brighter and the lead set up is better for sure. I will probably try Sony….oh and the case ripped with no effort on my part, it sort of just came apart within a couple of weeks)
I am an owner of 2.1 Minirig 3 and I find your comparison very helpful however imo even Minirig 4 is still far from being a high end speaker. Long battery life and boominess don’t mean they have a refined sound. Moreover, with all the cables and everything they are far from being practical despite their tiny size. Maybe for hikers and bikers it is nice to have for outdoor purpose but not in my living room. I’d rather buy a Bose home speaker, VIFA or something similar produced by a company with history of HI-FI culture rather than a group of boutique enthusiasts attempting new things with lots of try-errors in the process.
I just can’t believe that these sound better than the Brane X smart speaker!