Android -> Wiim Ultra -> Sonos: Options?

[Jls]

I currently have a Port with a cheap preamp for phono. I’m planning to replace the preamp with an Ultra.

Aside from sound quality, I hope to connect the TV and phono to the Ultra, and the Ultra to the Port line in.

Advantages: automatic switching for inputs, non-phone volume control for TV sound, DSP.

I may also try using the Port as an input to the ULTRA.

 

[dtc]

Yes, you need the Sonos line in adapter, but it is cheap. And a stereo headphone cable to connect it to the Wiim.

You only need to adjust the timing on the Wiim if you are using the output of both Wiims to drive speakers. Otherwise, the short delay from the Sonos input is irrelevant. And, yes, it is easy to change the Wiim timing if necessary. Sync Audio is one of the Device/Sound options. I set the Sonos delay to 2 seconds and then set the Wiim timing to -2 seconds and the Sonos and non-Sonos speakers were in sync.

I would assume you can set up a stereo pair of identical Sonos speakers even using the analog input, but I would check to be sure.

By the way, another option is to just get another Era speaker and put it near the turntable/Wiim Ultra, even if you keep the sound turned off. Then you could go directly from the Ultra to the Era and avoid the second Wiim. That simplifies the setup by removing the second Wiim. If you ever what to add non-Sonos speakers you could then add the second Wiim down the road. That might be the way to go, especially if you can get an Era 100 on sale.

 

[Theejott]

That's a great idea . I already have another Era in the next room that could be connected directly to the Ultra using an albeit long stereo headphone cable (at least easier than the stereo pair in the room with the Ultra). I will check out this setup when the Ultra is available in Germany (likely end of July).

 

[kennedy513]

The Ultra is an AirPlay receiver, not transmitter.

Is that mentioned anywhere? The pro plus can act as a transmitter, I’d be surprised if the more expensive model removes that capability

 

[Brantome]

Is that mentioned anywhere? The pro plus can act as a transmitter, I’d be surprised if the more expensive model removes that capability

I’m afraid that feature has had to be removed from all WiiM models

 

[kennedy513]

I’m afraid that feature has had to be removed from all WiiM models

Do you know why? It wasn’t called out in the release notes. I just checked my app and the feature is indeed gone. This was a big selling point for me

 

[Brantome]

Please use the feedback section in the WiiM Home app to contact WiiM directly to discuss this further. Thanks

 

[Fernandodelae]

Many thanks for all the helpful comments!

To summarize (if I understand it correctly), there are the following options worth considering to use all my Sonos speakers in sync from the sources listed in #1

1. Turntable connected to Wiim Ultra/Pro/Pro Plus. Wiim Mini connected to one Era 100
   Open questions: I need the Sonos line-in adapter in addition, correct? Is it difficult to adjust the timing on the Wiim? Is it possible to use two of the Era 100 as a stereo pair with this setup?
2. Turntable connected to Sonos Port and streaming to Sonos speakers. Of course, I am aware of the current issues with Sonos. That's one of the main reasons why I am looking for an independent alternative.
3. Turntable connected to a Brennan VB1. Streaming via my android smartphone using the Sonos App (incl. Amazon Music). Waiting für some upcoming features or even new devices to include my music from hard drive or NAS etc.

To be honest, I use the NAS only for backup and I have no idea of serving music from my NAS so far. However, this is a feature I want to use in near future.

Option # 4 - ditch the Sonos Era 100s and replace them with a nice pair of Active Bookshelf speakers connected to a Wiim pro, where you can also connect your turntable through the phono input.

Option # 5 - also ditch the Sonos (keep the Roam, its good for outdoors and small spaces) and get yourself a WiiM Amp with a pair of of passive speakers, the options are endless out there. The Amp integrates DAC+analog inputs+excellent streamer and offers very good power and sound.

There can also be other options but try to consider those that don`t requiere extra dongles or that may limit your options for future upgrades.

 

[Theejott]

Option # 4 - ditch the Sonos Era 100s and replace them with a nice pair of Active Bookshelf speakers connected to a Wiim pro, where you can also connect your turntable through the phono input.

Option # 5 - also ditch the Sonos (keep the Roam, its good for outdoors and small spaces) and get yourself a WiiM Amp with a pair of of passive speakers, the options are endless out there. The Amp integrates DAC+analog inputs+excellent streamer and offers very good power and sound.

There can also be other options but try to consider those that don`t requiere extra dongles or that may limit your options for future upgrades.

Indeed, that was my first intention (WiiM Amp + (active/passive) bookshelf speakers). However, the current conditions do not allow the reasonable connection of Turntable + Amp + bookshelf speakers (this would lead to far at this point).
Other parameters like colour and size of the speakers are also relevant...
With the Sonos I am flexible with regard to the place of installation and I have only one system in the multi-room setup.

However, I might reconsider buying a WiiM Amp instead of a Wiim Ultra to have more optoins in the future (e.g. passive speakers).

 

[dtc]

Wiim also has DLNA Cast on their roadmap, although with no date. I use DLNA to access my Sonos speakers from a PC. I play to 1 speaker and Sonos keeps them all in sync. Sonos's DLNA implementation is supposedly not 100% compatible with the spec but it works for me. So, once DLNA Cast is supported it may be a way to access your Sonos speakers wirelessly from a Pro or above streamer.

EDIT: Wiim announced yesterday in the release thread

DLNA Cast: This will enter Beta testing on June 22

 

[Tom Schultz]

May I still chime in here?

I actually don't think that a WiiM streamer is the right approach if you want to stick with the SONOS players. First of all, Era100 and Roam 2 are streamers in their own right. They have their limitations, I know, I still own a handful. Adding a streamer to control a streamer does not only make existing SONOS functionality useless (and you have paid for that), I would also expect the sound quality to be less good if the analogue signal from the WiiM has to travel through the SONOS circuitry. That's after you'd have paid, say, for a WiiM Ultra with presumably excellent sound quality.

Was there a problem with connecting the turntable directly to the Era 100 using the Sonos dongle? I mean in terms of available space? If not, I'd start doing that. No double circuitry, less clutter.

To stream amazon music from your Android phone to the SONOS speakers using the original amazon music app, I'd install one of the several apps from Google Playstore which add AirPlay to Android devices. And, of course, as SONOS is all about streaming, add the amazon music account to SONOS (which you probably have done already anyway). The new SONOS app is not the greatest, but it works.

You have a NAS, why not use it to its full potential? First of all, store your personal music library on the NAS. Link SONOS to the library on the NAS and use it with the SONOS app, OR
Install a free DLNA server like Minimserver on the NAS. Control it with one of the many DLNA apps for Android, e.g. Bubble. Select a SONOS device in the DLNA app and avoid the SONOS app that way. Older SONOS players sometimes don't support this, but Era 100 and Roam 2 do. That's what I do when I'm annoyed by the SONOS app with its limited browsing capabilities.

I'm not trying to get you away from the WiiM, not at all, I love the WiiM streamers, but I think they would be wasted as a streaming bridge, while the sound quality is determined by a SONOS player.

 

[Skull]

Due to the latest update from Sonos which has broken a lot of people’s systems we are looking for alternatives, I bought a WiiM mini and plugged it into my 5s line in as a test run.
I discovered that firstly it worked across all my Sonos speakers and at point of contact ie the 5s plus sub it sounded better to my ears.
Whether this is the case or not I now know that WiiM will be my new music system going forwards, my plan is to buy an analogue amp probably a rega brio and a pair of floor standing speakers and a WiiM ultra in the near future
I haven’t updated my Sonos System so don’t have the problems other’s have had but it does mean my Sonos System is frozen in time.
Also Sonos themselves are deaf to any negative feedback so I am going with a firm that appears to care

 

[Tom Schultz]

Due to the latest update from Sonos which has broken a lot of people’s systems we are looking for alternatives, I bought a WiiM mini and plugged it into my 5s line in as a test run.
I discovered that firstly it worked across all my Sonos speakers and at point of contact ie the 5s plus sub it sounded better to my ears.
Whether this is the case or not I now know that WiiM will be my new music system going forwards, my plan is to buy an analogue amp probably a rega brio and a pair of floor standing speakers and a WiiM ultra in the near future
I haven’t updated my Sonos System so don’t have the problems other’s have had but it does mean my Sonos System is frozen in time.
Also Sonos themselves are deaf to any negative feedback so I am going with a firm that appears to care

Rega amp and floorstanders, excellent choice, exactly what I use in my office/listening room. Will get the Ultra for that setup.

 

[Skull]

Backup plan is quad vena 2 amp if brio unavailable

 

[Skull]

AirPlay missing? As in you cannot AirPlay to your WiiM or AirPlay from your WiiM to something?
As far as i know Apple wouldn’t let you incorporate AirPlay to a non Apple device but I can still AirPlay to my WiiM mini

 

[Brantome]

You can still airplay to your WiiM devices.

 

[Theejott]

May I still chime in here?

I actually don't think that a WiiM streamer is the right approach if you want to stick with the SONOS players. First of all, Era100 and Roam 2 are streamers in their own right. They have their limitations, I know, I still own a handful. Adding a streamer to control a streamer does not only make existing SONOS functionality useless (and you have paid for that), I would also expect the sound quality to be less good if the analogue signal from the WiiM has to travel through the SONOS circuitry. That's after you'd have paid, say, for a WiiM Ultra with presumably excellent sound quality.

Was there a problem with connecting the turntable directly to the Era 100 using the Sonos dongle? I mean in terms of available space? If not, I'd start doing that. No double circuitry, less clutter.

To stream amazon music from your Android phone to the SONOS speakers using the original amazon music app, I'd install one of the several apps from Google Playstore which add AirPlay to Android devices. And, of course, as SONOS is all about streaming, add the amazon music account to SONOS (which you probably have done already anyway). The new SONOS app is not the greatest, but it works.

You have a NAS, why not use it to its full potential? First of all, store your personal music library on the NAS. Link SONOS to the library on the NAS and use it with the SONOS app, OR
Install a free DLNA server like Minimserver on the NAS. Control it with one of the many DLNA apps for Android, e.g. Bubble. Select a SONOS device in the DLNA app and avoid the SONOS app that way. Older SONOS players sometimes don't support this, but Era 100 and Roam 2 do. That's what I do when I'm annoyed by the SONOS app with its limited browsing capabilities.

I'm not trying to get you away from the WiiM, not at all, I love the WiiM streamers, but I think they would be wasted as a streaming bridge, while the sound quality is determined by a SONOS player.

It might be possible to directly connect the Era 100 with the turntable, but only with a long (10-15 m) cable.

Thanks for your suggestions. I tried to implement some of them:
1) I have installed the old version of the Sonos App (16.1) and it's really better than the new version.
2) Streaming amazon music via my account with the SONOS App works.
3) I will setup my music library on the NAS soon and try to link it with the SONOS App.
4) I have installed the Hi-Fi Cast App to stream the local music from my Android Phone to the Sonos speakers and it works fine. The App also supports UPnP/DLNA.

Do you really think the loss in sound quality would be audible? Is there any experience?
You're right that the Wiim Ultra might be a little "overdimensioned". However, I like the idea to only use one well-designed and well-functioning app to cover all my needs, and wiim (device + App) could be a good solution.

Question: Might it be possible to use 2 Wiim mini instead of the Ultra with one mini directly connected to the Turntable and the other mini directly connected to the Era 100? Then I should be able to stream the music from turntable, android phone, Amazon music and NAS to the SONOS speakers only using the Wiim App. Or did I completely misinterpet something?

 

[Theejott]

Just tried to connect turntable with an available cable directly with one of my Era 100 via the Sonos adapter. Sound is really good and streamed sync to all my other Sonos speakers. Control of speakers (incl. stereo pair) with the old Sonos App (16.1) works easily.

So, if I manage to establish my music library on the NAS and to implement it in the Sonos App (and thus do not need to stream music from my Android Phone), this might be the easiest (and cost-efficient) approach unless the long cable might cause problems. In that case another Era 100 might also be an option.

 

[rccarguy]

Due to the latest update from Sonos which has broken a lot of people’s systems we are looking for alternatives, I bought a WiiM mini and plugged it into my 5s line in as a test run.
I discovered that firstly it worked across all my Sonos speakers and at point of contact ie the 5s plus sub it sounded better to my ears.
Whether this is the case or not I now know that WiiM will be my new music system going forwards, my plan is to buy an analogue amp probably a rega brio and a pair of floor standing speakers and a WiiM ultra in the near future
I haven’t updated my Sonos System so don’t have the problems other’s have had but it does mean my Sonos System is frozen in time.
Also Sonos themselves are deaf to any negative feedback so I am going with a firm that appears to care

Maybe Sonos wanted to commit corporate suicide?

 

[Jls]

Maybe Sonos wanted to commit corporate suicide?

Involuntary suicide. I’m thinking Windows Vista. Does anyone remember that Vista/W7 made millions of printers and scanners unusable?

And a recent iOS update made it impossible to charge my iPad with anything except the official Apple charger.