Beta Test: Sound Profile

[hgo58]

@WiiM Team Some comments to the Sound Profile beta test firmware.



1) The update installed a default profile for each input with the volume set to a fixed value. It looks like the input volume used at the time of the update. This must be the "current volume" initially.
This do however conflict with the per input volume. The setting must then have 3 options: Fixed, Current (not depending on input) and Per input.

2) The profile can only be edited from the Browse tab, not from device input settings. Why?

3) Why can the screen only be turned on/off. Why not allow selection of any playback screen as requested many times?

4) I don't find a way to reuse the same profile for different inputs. Even setting the same name for the profiles results in different profiles for each input.

5) I don't find a way to disable a profile.
It is however "Not Set" for the inputs that was disabled when the firmware was updated.

6) What is the purpose of the Sound Profile if each input have its own and it's mandatory? Then the settings could just be on the same page as the other input settings.

7) Why can you control the Sub Output on/off per input? I would expect that to be related to outputs.

 

[Wiimer]

Since @hgo58 has kindly created this thread, I'll report the issue for which a ticket has already been submitted.

Ticket :545467
In the 'Input A' profile, (left at default settings) the device is set to Ultra only. In the 'Input B' profile, three devices were selected.

Switching from Input A to Input B creates a group of three devices. However, switching back to Input A does'nt cancel the group; it remains active.

Note that selecting two devices in Input A functions correctly. (Switching from Input B to Input A changes the group configuration.)
.....

I've performed a rough functional check and found no other particular issues. I grouped three devices via HDMI input and configured wireless Dolby 5.1. It's good that switching the input to HDMI automatically set up the Dolby configuration. However, as mentioned earlier, switching the input to Wi-Fi prevents stereo playback using only the Ultra.



-First impressions-
The settings screen feels somewhat complex, and the overlap with presets makes it rather confusing.

Volume, Sub out, and Screen overlap with presets, so I became confused when setting both input profiles and presets. I lost track of what I was doing. But I understand these values are overridden by presets.

It might be fine once I get used to it, though. For now, it's not a feature that suits my purposes, so I haven't given it much thought.

As @hgo58 has already mentioned, since profiles cannot be disabled, a reset button might be useful. And I think it would be good if could select the play screen.

Frankly, I'm not entirely sure how this feature will develop going forward.
As I primarily use Wi-Fi and HDMI for input, the 'Per-Source Volume Control' is perfectly sufficient.
However, it may be convenient for users who utilise many inputs.

 

[hgo58]

Since @hgo58 has kindly created this thread, I'll report the issue for which a ticket has already been submitted.

Ticket :545467
In the 'Input A' profile, (left at default settings) the device is set to Ultra only. In the 'Input B' profile, three devices were selected.

Switching from Input A to Input B creates a group of three devices. However, switching back to Input A does'nt cancel the group; it remains active.

Note that selecting two devices in Input A functions correctly. (Switching from Input B to Input A changes the group configuration.)
.....

I've performed a rough functional check and found no other particular issues. I grouped three devices via HDMI input and configured wireless Dolby 5.1. It's good that switching the input to HDMI automatically set up the Dolby configuration. However, as mentioned earlier, switching the input to Wi-Fi prevents stereo playback using only the Ultra.



-First impressions-
The settings screen feels somewhat complex, and the overlap with presets makes it rather confusing.

Volume, Sub out, and Screen overlap with presets, so I became confused when setting both input profiles and presets. I lost track of what I was doing. But I understand these values are overridden by presets.

It might be fine once I get used to it, though. For now, it's not a feature that suits my purposes, so I haven't given it much thought.

As @hgo58 has already mentioned, since profiles cannot be disabled, a reset button might be useful. And I think it would be good if could select the play screen.

Frankly, I'm not entirely sure how this feature will develop going forward.
As I primarily use Wi-Fi and HDMI for input, the 'Per-Source Volume Control' is perfectly sufficient.
However, it may be convenient for users who utilise many inputs.

Any thoughts about why a separate named profile is needed?

Why not just add the new settings to the default input settings page?

I cannot find an argument to make a new page. It is mandatory and the settings cannot be disabled.

The name has no functionality as far as I can see. You can give it any name, even the same for all inputs. Each input will still have the its own version of the profile. And only that one version.

 

[hgo58]

The solution description for the Sound Profile includes the per input EQ in the profile. This is however not what is implemented, as the EQ is in the input settings page.

How to Use Sound Profile for a Convenient and Personalized Listening Experience

TABLE OF CONTENTS Benefits of Sound Profile Configure a Sound Profile Automatically Apply a Sound Profile WiiM supports the Sound Profile feature, which allows you to customize playback settings (e.g., multi-room, volume, EQ, and subwoofer...

faq.wiimhome.com

 

[hgo58]

Since @hgo58 has kindly created this thread, I'll report the issue for which a ticket has already been submitted.

Ticket :545467
In the 'Input A' profile, (left at default settings) the device is set to Ultra only. In the 'Input B' profile, three devices were selected.

Switching from Input A to Input B creates a group of three devices. However, switching back to Input A does'nt cancel the group; it remains active.

Note that selecting two devices in Input A functions correctly. (Switching from Input B to Input A changes the group configuration.)
.....

I've performed a rough functional check and found no other particular issues. I grouped three devices via HDMI input and configured wireless Dolby 5.1. It's good that switching the input to HDMI automatically set up the Dolby configuration. However, as mentioned earlier, switching the input to Wi-Fi prevents stereo playback using only the Ultra.



-First impressions-
The settings screen feels somewhat complex, and the overlap with presets makes it rather confusing.

Volume, Sub out, and Screen overlap with presets, so I became confused when setting both input profiles and presets. I lost track of what I was doing. But I understand these values are overridden by presets.

It might be fine once I get used to it, though. For now, it's not a feature that suits my purposes, so I haven't given it much thought.

As @hgo58 has already mentioned, since profiles cannot be disabled, a reset button might be useful. And I think it would be good if could select the play screen.

Frankly, I'm not entirely sure how this feature will develop going forward.
As I primarily use Wi-Fi and HDMI for input, the 'Per-Source Volume Control' is perfectly sufficient.
However, it may be convenient for users who utilise many inputs.

I can see the benefits of automatically setting up the 5.1 for the HDMI input.

But why not just allow setting of a Persistent Group, instead of having to define the same again?

What if you don't want any changes when switching? How is that configured?

 

[Wiimer]

Any thoughts about why a separate named profile is needed?

It appears they've simply utilised the preset editing screen to streamline the workflow using existing resources. Or, it may be intended to allow saving multiple profiles in future, though I can't think of any specific use case for differentiating between them at present..

Why not just add the new settings to the default input settings page?

I thought so too, but there might be some reason for it. I recall opinions were divided within the team regarding this feature. Perhaps they implemented it provisionally while the direction hadn't yet been finalised? (I want to believe that it is not.)

I cannot find an argument to make a new page. It is mandatory and the settings cannot be disabled.

Yes, At present, it appears that setting the volume is at least essential. It's unclear whether the default being set to custom volume is a bug or intentional.
I neglected to check the initial volume level, but was the default setting originally determined by the Per-Source Volume Control?

 

[Wiimer]

The solution description for the Sound Profile includes the per input EQ in the profile. This is however not what is implemented, as the EQ is in the input settings page.

How to Use Sound Profile for a Convenient and Personalized Listening Experience

TABLE OF CONTENTS Benefits of Sound Profile Configure a Sound Profile Automatically Apply a Sound Profile WiiM supports the Sound Profile feature, which allows you to customize playback settings (e.g., multi-room, volume, EQ, and subwoofer...

faq.wiimhome.com

I'm afraid I'm not quite sure which point you are referring to.
The screenshot within the FAQ is of the input settings screen and matches the actual one.

 

[hgo58]

I'm afraid I'm not quite sure which point you are referring to.
The screenshot within the FAQ is of the input settings screen and matches the actual one.
View attachment 28570

See the text:

"WiiM supports the Sound Profile feature, which allows you to customize playback settings (e.g., multi-room, volume, EQ, and subwoofer) for each input source."

This indicates to me that the current implementation is not what was originally planned for.

So either move all to a set of named profiles that can be shared and easily referenced from the input settings page (and Presets) or just add the new settings directly in the input settings page.

 

[Wiimer]

I can see the benefits of automatically setting up the 5.1 for the HDMI input.

But why not just allow setting of a Persistent Group, instead of having to define the same again?

What if you don't want any changes when switching? How is that configured?

The current MRM and persistent groups lack a one-tap group removal function. This feature would enable automatic group creation, configuration changes, and dissolution for each input. (It is not currently functional.)

Furthermore, development of persistent groups appears to have halted at an intermediate stage. The concept of eliminating the distinction between leader and follower devices seems to have been abandoned.

 

[Wiimer]

See the text:

"WiiM supports the Sound Profile feature, which allows you to customize playback settings (e.g., multi-room, volume, EQ, and subwoofer) for each input source."

This indicates to me that the current implementation is not what was originally planned for.

The screenshot and text don't match, so it might just be a typo.

 

[Wiimer]

What if you don't want any changes when switching? How is that configured?

By selecting the same device for all input profiles, you can maintain the same group configuration even after switching inputs.

 

[hgo58]

By selecting the same device for all input profiles, you can maintain the same group configuration even after switching inputs.

But I want it to stay on the current configuration, whatever that is.

 

[hgo58]

My conclusion is that if the@WiiM Team releases the Sound Profile as described and partly implemented in the beta test, it will cause a lot of issues and very little benefit.

I have some ideas to how this could be done in a better and more generic way but I guess WiiM is not interested (they have not been before).

Let us wait for the WiiM response, if any.