Audio through ethernet

[Burnside]

USB to Ethernet wouldn’t work as that’s just a straight network device, what’s need is something that delivers the audio from your Mac to a recognised audio player/renderer over that network connection. That’s either an airplay device, or a target client device from a MacOS UPnP media server like minimserver etc.

This cheap little device might offer you a digital optical switch, but it doesn’t say anything about the digital resolution supported.

3 Port TosLink (Optical) Digital Audio Switch - from LINDY UK

3 Port TosLink (Optical) Digital Audio Switch Audio & Video 3 @ LINDY. The UKs leading HDMI Cable, USB Cable and FireWire Cable supplier. Also supplies connectors, switches and adapters, VGA Cables, DVI Cables, AV Cables and Network Cables.

www.lindy.co.uk

 

[jfbuk]

are you using the HDMI input on the Ultra as well ?
a USB to HDMI adaptor could work from the Mac

 

[Burnside]

are you using the HDMI input on the Ultra as well ?
a USB to HDMI adaptor could work from the Mac

Not unless that supports ARC…

 

[Burnside]

USB to Ethernet wouldn’t work as that’s just a straight network device, what’s need is something that delivers the audio from your Mac to a recognised audio player/renderer over that network connection. That’s either an airplay device, or a target client device from a MacOS UPnP media server like minimserver etc.

This cheap little device might offer you a digital optical switch, but it doesn’t say anything about the digital resolution supported.

3 Port TosLink (Optical) Digital Audio Switch - from LINDY UK

3 Port TosLink (Optical) Digital Audio Switch Audio & Video 3 @ LINDY. The UKs leading HDMI Cable, USB Cable and FireWire Cable supplier. Also supplies connectors, switches and adapters, VGA Cables, DVI Cables, AV Cables and Network Cables.

www.lindy.co.uk

Here’s another even cheaper toslink switch https://www.amazon.co.uk/Duronic-TosLink-Digital-Optical-Switcher-Black/dp/B01GCQ8ND6/

 

[jfbuk]

Not unless that supports ARC…

Hmm….. yes it looks like a usb in to hdmi arc out adaptor in one box is not something that is available

 

[d6jg]

https://www.futureshop.co.uk/blustream-audio-over-cat?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsJO4BhDoARIsADDv4vAHXCTktmxiSJB9Y9pRhbKGi5qtNdKWwFnd8Cl-qKTATQ-dBRGvmWYaAremEALw_wcB

This should do what is needed

 

[David Sydney]

Not sure why you are going down the hardware path on this issue. For many years the DLNA protocol has existed to transmit music pictures movie over a network wired or wireless does not matter. The wiim produces products are dnla compatible end points and so are 100s of amps and other gear. The only thing you don't have is the software that can act as adlna server. I use JRiver for this ($22 for mac, win, linux) and ditched itunes 10+ years ago. There are many others that can act as dlna server, itunes won't because they would not be able to make money on it. Airplay is their answer but that resamples every down to aac lossy audio. Dnla will transmit the native file and as long as both ends support the file format it works. That is why 50% of my library is now open source flac format.

Since 10+ years I have pulled hires audio audio through my network to my yamaha av receiver that has 2 zones incl my back deck. Also to dlna compatible powered wifi speakers outside in yard, garage or wherever (yamaha wx10) and now to my wiim ultra. Music can either be pushed from source or pulled from client and the wiim software is so easy to use with a great search function i can find any of my 50K+ FLAC, MP3 ALAC tracks very quickly and pull them from server. My yamaha has wired network, the wiim uses wireless currently. No additional hardware needed!

 

[adias]

USB to Ethernet wouldn’t work as that’s just a straight network device, what’s need is something that delivers the audio from your Mac to a recognised audio player/renderer over that network connection. That’s either an airplay device, or a target client device from a MacOS UPnP media server like minimserver etc.

This cheap little device might offer you a digital optical switch, but it doesn’t say anything about the digital resolution supported.

3 Port TosLink (Optical) Digital Audio Switch - from LINDY UK

3 Port TosLink (Optical) Digital Audio Switch Audio & Video 3 @ LINDY. The UKs leading HDMI Cable, USB Cable and FireWire Cable supplier. Also supplies connectors, switches and adapters, VGA Cables, DVI Cables, AV Cables and Network Cables.

www.lindy.co.uk

Audirvana - standalone not subscription. DLNA to WiiM Pro or Pro Plus. I have it; it works fine.

Edit: just saw the post above re JRiver. That should work too.

 

[slartibartfast]

Audirvana - standalone not subscription. DLNA to WiiM Pro or Pro Plus. I have it; it works fine.

Edit: just saw the post above re JRiver. That should work too.

He doesn't want to use a media server though.
Post in thread 'Audio through ethernet' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/audio-through-ethernet.5036/post-83265

 

[adias]

He doesn't want to use a media server though.
Post in thread 'Audio through ethernet' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/audio-through-ethernet.5036/post-83265

Well then.. and JRiver or Audirvana are friendly media integrator/organizer apps, not servers with their inherent complexities. So to each his own.

 

[Aquarius]

Dammit. No single simple option. My problem though. And I just noticed that it won't even work with a usb C to toslink/coax dongle, because in my case the optical input of the Ultra would be already used (for the extracted audio from an HDMI switch ; and the rca input would be used too for another device)!
As there is no coax input available in the Wiim, it's dead.
Maybe a minidsp Flex would be a better solution for me, but much more expensive, alas ; I could always add a Wiim Mini / Pro / Plus later if needed.
Anyway, thank you all for your suggestions ! I wished the usb to ethernet would work.

If I have read Your comments correctly, you dont going to use the streamer-part on the WiiM? You want to control all playback from the Mac?

Then it seems for me that a pure DAC with volume-control and all the digital inputs you need - connected to your poweramp - would be a more direct way to adress this?

 

[ubiq]

Hi to all
Indeed, it seems I’m just looking for a DAC with volume control and PEQ feature, sub out is a plus.
The fact is, there is not a lot of options for this around 350-400€ :-/
The Ultra could be a winner if I wasn’t (voluntarily) stuck with iTunes and iPhone sync …

 

[David Sydney]

Not sure about Mac but on JRiver for Windows or Linux that I use, the server function can load on start up as service and you don't even have to open the main program on the server side or interact with it. The computer the music library is on just needs to be up and on and then you can run everything from client ie. Ultra / wiim home app. Your family would not have to touch the mac.