Beta Test: Subwoofer calibration

WiiM Team

WiiM Team
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Hi WiiM Community,

We’re looking for beta testers to try our latest Subwoofer Calibration feature. This beta is currently available for WiiM Ultra only.

What’s included in this beta
  • Automatically aligns the volume level between the subwoofer and main speakers at the listening position.
Note: Currently supports third-party subwoofers only. Sub Pro support will be available in a future update.


How to join the beta
  1. Go to Device Settings > Device Info > Join Beta Testing.
  2. Select Version 5.2.815233.
  3. Update to the latest WiiM Home app.
  4. Go to Device Settings > Sub Out > Subwoofer Calibration.
 
New user. I just got a Sub Pro today for my Ultra and ran both RoomFits but the sub ended up far too quiet compared to the mains. This will eventually RoomFit them “together” I guess. I had to use test tones descending from 100Hz and it fell off a cliff until I cranked up the sub to +12dB.
 
I've been all over this topic since my new 2.1 + 2.0-channel stereos project began a couple months ago. Update pending:cool:.
 
New user. I just got a Sub Pro today for my Ultra and ran both RoomFits but the sub ended up far too quiet compared to the mains. This will eventually RoomFit them “together” I guess. I had to use test tones descending from 100Hz and it fell off a cliff until I cranked up the sub to +12dB.
I'm not sure if this "Note: Currently supports third-party subwoofers only. Sub Pro support will be available in a future update." means that you can't use it with your WiiM Sub Pro UNLESS you plug it in to the Ultra via LFE/RCA?
 
So-far-so good... My previous use of the [device] Settings > Sub Out > Sub-Speaker-Sync was pretty consistently putting an 11ms delay on my subwoofer. I ran the new "Subwoofer Calibration" twice in a row and got these somewhat different results:

1777515209126.jpeg 1777515261200.png

I tend to agree with the first run regarding my sub's level setting - I've been running RoomFit and looking at the resulting filters and [geeking out and] tweaking gain, and my SVS sb1000pro adjusted gain feels about right. Nonetheless, I'll leave the 65ms subwoofer delay and -3 level adjustments from the 2nd run and see what happens with a fresh RoomFit run.

One thing I've noticed since first using the "Sub-Speaker-Sync" function in prior firmware, is that when I run it without shutting down my persistent Speaker Group "Apartment" that also includes a WiiM Pro in the loft, the main speaker sound is sent to the loft via the Pro as well. This also happens with the new 'calibration' function - is this intentional or incidental?? I dissolved the Group and ran SubCalibration again with similar results.

RoomFit: Looks pretty good. I'm not sure if RoomFit's "Subwoofer Calibration" switch-on function has changed in this BETA build? In any case, the following RoomFit Profile evaluation graphs show new RoomFit results looking OK to me:

1777519205693.jpeg 1777519225484.png.

Also, things are sounding fine - as they were previously :-).
 
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A bit more analysis of this subwoofer calibration compared to the previous 'SubSpeakerSync' function after looking at RoomFit result details.

I shared the post-subwoofer calibration RoomFit results (graphs and filter tables) with Gemini's 'Thinking' LLM mode, as i've been doing from time to time. The chatbot was able to refer back to the most recent pre- Sub Calibration BETA RoomFit results and compare the new. Gemini's [always suspect but mostly accurate] feedback folllows unedited:

The Subwoofer Calibration beta firmware targets Acoustic Timing Alignment and Phase Optimization between the main speakers and the subwoofer. The following analysis and literal transcriptions are based on the provided screenshots.

Beta Firmware Assessment

  • Phase Integration: The Actual (cyan) curve shows improved linearity through the 50–120 Hz transition. The beta routine likely adjusted the delay to account for the internal DSP latency of the SVS SB-1000 Pro, reducing phase-related nulls at the crossover.
  • Aggregate Gain Management: While in Non-boost mode, the firmware allows small positive gains (e.g., 2.2 dB at 21 Hz) because the total cumulative gain across the filter set remains at or below 0 dB.
  • High-Frequency Target: Both channels successfully address the KEF Q1 Meta forwardness in the 800–900 Hz region, bringing the response closer to the B&K Target Curve.

Observations

  • Symmetry: Both channels identified the primary room mode at ~28–29 Hz, applying significant cuts (-6.04 dB L / -6.14 dB R).
  • Subsonic Boost: The ~2.2 dB boost at 21 Hz is consistent on both channels. Speculation: This is the beta's attempt to normalize the low-frequency extension of the sub before the room-correction pass.
  • Mid-Bass Correction: Filters in the 165–330 Hz range address the specific acoustic reflections found in the apartment/shop boundary.
The following tables incorporate the literal data from IMG_1726.PNG (Left) and IMG_1728.PNG (Right), along with technical justifications and recommended actions based on your 2.1 system configuration in the apartment.

Left Channel PEQ (Source: IMG_1726.PNG)


#FreqGainQJustificationAction
121 Hz2.2 dB9.98Attempting to fill an infrasonic dip.Edit (Zero) if hearing woofer stress.
225 Hz-2.03 dB8.79Taming a narrow room mode peak.Keep
329 Hz-6.04 dB2.55Managing the primary room resonance.Keep
438 Hz1.7 dB9.64Narrow boost to address a boundary null.Keep
546 Hz0.72 dB3.19Minor low-end smoothing.Keep
6165 Hz-2.39 dB10.00Targeted surgical cut for local resonance.Keep
7243 Hz-1.60 dB10.00Upper-bass resonance control.Keep
8279 Hz0.73 dB7.59Fine-tuning the mid-bass transition.Keep
9367 Hz-1.41 dB2.31Reducing lower-midrange muddiness.Keep
10833 Hz-4.43 dB1.87Addressing the KEF Q1 Meta forwardness.Keep


Right Channel PEQ (Source: IMG_1728.PNG)


#FreqGainQJustificationAction
121 Hz2.15 dB9.99Attempting to fill an infrasonic dip.Edit (Zero) if hearing woofer stress.
225 Hz-2.01 dB9.84Symmetrical room mode management.Keep
328 Hz-6.14 dB2.62Managing primary room resonance.Keep
438 Hz1.61 dB9.98Narrow boost to address a boundary null.Keep
5168 Hz-3.00 dB7.39Upper-bass resonance smoothing.Keep
6196 Hz0.46 dB4.97Minor adjustment for upper-bass linearity.Keep
7289 Hz1.11 dB10.00Addressing floor/wall bounce artifacts.Keep
8330 Hz-2.90 dB5.26Lower-midrange resonance control.Keep
9526 Hz-1.03 dB4.78Smoothing the midrange response.Keep
10854 Hz-3.91 dB2.06Addressing the KEF Q1 Meta forwardness.Keep


Key Takeaways for the Beta Firmware

  • Subwoofer Phase Alignment: The beta firmware's successful Acoustic Timing Alignment is evident in the Actual (cyan) curve in IMG_1724 2.jpg, which shows significantly better integration through the crossover region compared to previous attempts.
  • Headroom Management: Because you are running a 192 kHz / 32-bit fixed output, the small positive gains (Filters 1, 4, 5, 8 on Left; 1, 4, 6, 7 on Right) will not cause digital clipping, as the WiiM's internal math has sufficient headroom to pad these values.
  • Symmetry: The consistency between the 28/29 Hz cuts across both channels indicates that the new RoomFit algorithm is identifying global room modes more reliably.
 
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So-far-so good... My previous use of the [device] Settings > Sub Out > Sub-Speaker-Sync was pretty consistently putting an 11ms delay on my subwoofer. I ran the new "Subwoofer Calibration" twice in a row and got these somewhat different results:

View attachment 37352 View attachment 37353

I tend to agree with the first run regarding my sub's level setting - I've been running RoomFit and looking at the resulting filters and [geeking out and] tweaking gain, and my SVS sb1000pro adjusted gain feels about right. Nonetheless, I'll leave the 65ms subwoofer delay and -3 level adjustments from the 2nd run and see what happens with a fresh RoomFit run.

One thing I've noticed since first using the "Sub-Speaker-Sync" function in prior firmware, is that when I run it without shutting down my persistent Speaker Group "Apartment" that also includes a WiiM Pro in the loft, the main speaker sound is sent to the loft via the Pro as well. This also happens with the new 'calibration' function - is this intentional or incidental?? I dissolved the Group and ran SubCalibration again with similar results.

RoomFit: Looks pretty good. I'm not sure if RoomFit's "Subwoofer Calibration" switch-on function has changed in this BETA build? In any case, the following RoomFit Profile evaluation graphs show new RoomFit results looking OK to me:

View attachment 37356 View attachment 37357.

Also, things are sounding fine - as they were previously :-).
Was the setting of 11ms delay from the original faulty sub/speaker sync method using the microphone built in to the device?
If you have REW you can make a better comparison of the frequency response with both delays. If the delay is mainly due to the DSP processing of the Sub I wouldn't expect the big difference you saw.
 
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It seems reasonable to anticipate an overall gain of around -1,2/-1.8dB/-2/-3% (WiIM style)...
(or even more if we consider a larger margin to protect against potential ISP saturation).
 
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Because it will be very concerned about these gain management issues and our Wiim... and as for the bass...too

what happened to the dynamic "loudness" filter project... ??

quite interesting in use and particularly useful for low-level listening...
In audio topics, it's about being able to take advantage of simultaneous analog and digital outputs(?)... one of the cool project...

even if we keep coming back to managing gain, saturation, and DRC.


But in any case, this beta version seems to be progressing well and has a super interesting feature...for anyone with a Wiim with a subwoofer output. ;-)
 
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Was the setting of 11ms delay from the original faulty sub/speaker sync method using the microphone built in to the device?
If you have REW you can make a better comparison of the frequency response with both delays. If the delay is mainly due to the DSP processing of the Sub I wouldn't expect the big difference you saw.
Thanks. No, I've been using a BETA firmware for the Ultra, or the April Release, with the my iPhone 14 Pro mic since I bought the Ultra in February - the SubSpeakerSync previously used the Phone's speaker to calculate 11ms. I recently bought a DaytonAudio iMM-6C mic and added its calibration file to RoomFit, and the SubSpeakerSync function still measured 11ms.

FWIW, with this new BETA including the sub calibration, the Ultra > Settings > Sync Audio function that uses the Ultra's internal mic resulted in a much higher 'audio system latency' value - from like 20ms to ~45ms.

I also tried toggling the sub phase from 0 to 180 and rerunning the sub calibration, and I end up in the same ballpark of 65-70ms sub delay with the new process. I confess I haven't fully gotten my head around subwoofer phase alignment and how to spot/calulate circumstances that would result in being out-of-phase... In my unusually-symmetrical main speaker & sealed-sub placement at the front edge of a heavy-duty 40+cm-deep shelf, I've assumed that timing and phase alignment would be rather automatic:
1777564119925.jpeg
Doing the phase-toggle while listening to Neil Young's Out On the Weekend (a super-familar bass track to me from my childhood while playing the Harvest LP on the family's new bass-monster Magnavox cabinet stereo with dual 12" woofers :-))... I had a hard time just now deciding which was better, but I marginally preferred the 180 phase setting. Now I wish I understood why:unsure:.

Anyway, as we're talking milliseconds (albeit 50+), it's hard to perceive much difference. I do note that the subsequent new RoomFit results tracked the B&K curve somewhat better than before and I can't fault what I'm hearing with the new calibration settings.

[EDIT] - Instead of toggling 0-180 in the WiiM sub settings, I used the SVS app to set the SB1000Pro's phase to 90º for the first time - this does sound more precise! I guess I'll go try another round of sub calibration and RoomFit given a 90º phase adjustment ;-).
 
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Thanks. No, I've been using a BETA firmware for the Ultra, or the April Release, with the my iPhone 14 Pro mic since I bought the Ultra in February - the SubSpeakerSync previously used the Phone's speaker to calculate 11ms. I recently bought a DaytonAudio iMM-6C mic and added its calibration file to RoomFit, and the SubSpeakerSync function still measured 11ms.

FWIW, with this new BETA including the sub calibration, the Ultra > Settings > Sync Audio function that uses the Ultra's internal mic resulted in a much higher 'audio system latency' value - from like 20ms to ~45ms.

I also tried toggling the sub phase from 0 to 180 and rerunning the sub calibration, and I end up in the same ballpark of 65-70ms sub delay with the new process. I confess I haven't fully gotten my head around subwoofer phase alignment and how to spot/calulate circumstances that would result in being out-of-phase... In my unusually-symmetrical main speaker & sealed-sub placement at the front edge of a heavy-duty 40+cm-deep shelf, I've assumed that timing and phase alignment would be rather automatic:
View attachment 37389
Doing the phase-toggle while listening to Neil Young's Out On the Weekend (a super-familar bass track to me from my childhood while playing the Harvest LP on the family's new bass-monster Magnavox cabinet stereo with dual 12" woofers :-))... I had a hard time just now deciding which was better, but I marginally preferred the 180 phase setting. Now I wish I understood why:unsure:.

Anyway, as we're talking milliseconds (albeit 50+), it's hard to perceive much difference. I do note that the subsequent new RoomFit results tracked the B&K curve somewhat better than before and I can't fault what I'm hearing with the new calibration settings.
When I finally get the new "sync at listening position" on my WiiM Amp I'll compare it to my current settings which I am fairly confident are correct and arrived at using REW. Of course that won't include the automatic sub volume level.
I am still surprised that your delay increased so much with the beta firmware. Something doesn't seem right. Let's see what others report.
 
Hi WiiM Community,

We’re looking for beta testers to try our latest Subwoofer Calibration feature. This beta is currently available for WiiM Ultra only.

What’s included in this beta
  • Automatically aligns the volume level between the subwoofer and main speakers at the listening position.
Note: Currently supports third-party subwoofers only. Sub Pro support will be available in a future update.


How to join the beta
  1. Go to Device Settings > Device Info > Join Beta Testing.
  2. Select Version 5.2.815233.
  3. Update to the latest WiiM Home app.
  4. Go to Device Settings > Sub Out > Subwoofer Calibration.
All right...installing it now... so what kind of beta testing do you need, shall we just provide feedback using this forum thread or some kind of testing cases template to fill in?
 
When I finally get the new "sync at listening position" on my WiiM Amp I'll compare it to my current settings which I am fairly confident are correct and arrived at using REW. Of course that won't include the automatic sub volume level.
I am still surprised that your delay increased so much with the beta firmware. Something doesn't seem right. Let's see what others report.
I don't have an Ultra, otherwise I would have helped... the function is really interesting... (But again, there will always be the big issue of level management etc.)

A cool feature using the remote's microphone... many competitors'll be jealous if it works out! ;-)
 
I don't have an Ultra, otherwise I would have helped... the function is really interesting... (But again, there will always be the big issue of level management etc.)

A cool feature using the remote's microphone... many competitors'll be jealous if it works out! ;-)
There is a new beta that includes subwoofer level management. I suppose it tries to choose a level that doesn't require any boosting.
 
@WiiM Team I can't see level calibration. Where is it? I can normal subwoofer sync , got 5ms delay, I used to have 3ms, that's all different I see.1000140442.jpg
1000140441.jpg
 
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It only offers in beta a 0/180 phase alignment setting...?
No more precise settings?( At least at 30 degrees (or even 15)?)
 
@WiiM Team,

These are the results of a preliminary test of this feature.

■Test Equipment
WiiM Ultra
Main speakers: Focal Chorus 806
Subwoofer: Polk Audio MXT10 (down-firing)
Measurement microphone: Dayton IMM-6C

First, I positioned the microphone 100 cm from the main speaker and 220 cm from the subwoofer, and tested each at crossover frequencies of 60 Hz, 80 Hz, and 120 Hz.

(We have conducted the same test multiple times and confirmed that the results are nearly identical. We found no particular issues in this regard.)


▼Test Result 1-------------------
<Test Environment>
Distance from microphone to main speakers: 100 cm
Distance from microphone to subwoofer: 225 cm
Crossover: 60 Hz
Results
Main speakers: +9.229 ms delay
Subwoofer: +0 dB Level
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5323.jpg

▼Test Result 2-------------------
Crossover: 80 Hz
Results
Main speakers: +8.479 ms delay
Subwoofer: +0 dB Level
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5327.jpg

▼Test Result 3-------------------
Crossover: 120 Hz
Results
Main speakers: +7.833 ms delay
Subwoofer: -4 dB Level
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5315.jpg


Well, I ran into an error here.
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5314.jpg



-------------------

Next, I moved the microphone and tested it in the same way.
Mic -> Main speakers : 200cm
Mic -> Sub: 150cm


▼Test Result 4-------------------
Crossover: 60 Hz
Results
Main speakers: +4.125 ms delay
Subwoofer: +0 dB Level
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5297.jpg

▼Test Result 5-------------------
Crossover 80 Hz
Results
Main speakers: +3.813 ms delay
Subwoofer: -6 dB Level
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5300.jpg

▼Test Result 6-------------------
Crossover: 120 Hz
Results
Main speakers: +3.333 ms delay
Subwoofer: -14 dB Level

7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5302.jpg



I’m not an expert with 40 years of experience in this field, so I can’t say for sure whether these results are accurate. I’ll run a verification test using Gemini later, but at first glance, the delay correction seems to be working fine. However, I still have some doubts about the volume adjustment.

So, I used RoomFit’s evaluation feature to compare the raw responses before and after calibration. Here, we compare the response with that of "Test 6," which had the widest range of sub-volume adjustment.

First, here is the response before calibration.
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5287.jpg


This is the response after calibration.
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5289.jpg


The WiiM calibration function reduces the gain by 14 dB, using the subwoofer’s loudest frequency (70 Hz) as the reference point.

As a result, if you run RoomFit in non-boost mode after calibration, the subwoofer’s frequency can't be corrected.
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5291.jpg
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5290.jpg


As things stand, if such adjustments to the sub-volume are made during auto-calibration, I believe it will be necessary to readjust them manually.


Well, since this alone is clearly too few test cases, I also looked at the response when calibrated with a crossover at 80 Hz. These are the raw responses for "Test 5" before and after calibration.

This is before calibration.
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5274.jpg


This is after calibration.
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5273.jpg

Unlike when the crossover is set to 120 Hz, you can see that the gain is adjusted starting from 30–40 Hz.

-------------------

Finally, I restored the Ultra to its official firmware and tested the current sync functionality. I conducted this test under the same conditions as "Test 6."
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5278.jpg

I’m not entirely sure why, but a delay of +39 ms was added to the subwoofer (rather than the main speaker).

And this is a response based on the evaluation.
7fae8bd5-c224-4a69-88b3-2e9021fe04a1-1_all_5270.jpg

...Following the verification results from Gemini.
 
So, I showed Gemini the test results from earlier and asked it to verify them. 🙂

To improve the accuracy of the verification, I added some audio-related materials to Notebook LM as part of my preliminary preparations. I must apologize to @dominikz, but I also used the URL from your excellent post. Here are the results of my query in the Gemini notebook.

To cut to the chase, it appears that the latency correction provided by WiiM calibration is quite reasonable and accurate. However, since there is no data such as impulse response, its reliability remains unclear.


-- By Gemini -----------------

Expert Analysis: Verification of WiiM Ultra Subwoofer Calibration Results

Hello. With 70 years of experience in the audio industry, I have reviewed your test data for the WiiM Ultra’s beta firmware (v5.2.815233).

My conclusion is clear: The WiiM Ultra’s calibration feature is working with impressive accuracy and technical soundeness.
Here is a breakdown of why these numbers are correct and what they tell us about your system.


1. The Core Concept: Why we delay the Main Speakers

In a typical setup, the sound from a subwoofer arrives at your ears later than the sound from your main speakers. This happens for two reasons:
Physical Distance: If the sub is further away, the sound simply takes longer to travel.

"Electrical Traffic" (DSP/Filter Latency): Subwoofers like your Polk MXT10 use internal digital processing and filters to manage bass. This creates "electrical lag," usually adding about 5 to 8 milliseconds of delay before the cone even moves.
To fix this, the WiiM Ultra calculates exactly how late the subwoofer is and then delays the main speakers so that all the sound hits your ears at the exact same moment.


2. Data Verification: Group A (Tests 1–3)

Setup: Mains at 100cm / Sub at 225cm (Distance gap: 125cm)
WiiM Result: ~7.8ms to 9.2ms delay on mains.
The Breakdown: A physical distance gap of 125cm equals roughly 3.64ms of travel time. If we subtract this from your result (say, 8.5ms), we are left with about 4.8ms. This 4.8ms represents the internal processing lag of your Polk subwoofer and the WiiM’s own DSP. In the audio world, a 5ms internal lag is perfectly standard and expected. These results are very consistent.


3. Data Verification: Group B (Tests 4–6)

Setup: Mains at 200cm / Sub at 150cm (Sub is 50cm closer)
WiiM Result: ~3.3ms to 4.1ms delay on mains.

The Breakdown: Even though the sub is physically closer, the WiiM still delays the mains. This is because the sub’s internal electrical lag (~5ms) is greater than its physical head start (1.46ms).

Calculation: 5.0ms (Lag) - 1.46ms (Distance Advantage) = ~3.5ms.
The WiiM’s result of 3.3ms–4.1ms is spot on.


4. Why does the delay change with the Crossover frequency?

You noticed that as you increased the crossover from 60Hz to 120Hz, the delay value decreased.
60Hz: 9.229ms
120Hz: 7.833ms

This is scientifically correct. Audio filters (crossovers) inherently create what we call "group delay." Lower frequency filters are "steeper" in the time domain, meaning they cause more delay than higher frequency filters. The fact that the WiiM Ultra tracks this change shows that its AI is measuring the actual phase response, not just guestimating distance.


5. The "Subwoofer -14dB" Mystery (Test 6)

In Test 6, the system turned the sub down by a massive 14dB.
This usually happens when you set a high crossover (120Hz) while the sub is close to a wall or corner. At 120Hz, the sub is playing more "audible" bass. If that frequency hits a "room mode" (a natural resonance in your room), the bass becomes boomy and loud. The WiiM’s microphone detected this peak and lowered the volume to keep the sound balanced with your Focal speakers.


The Final Verdict

The WiiM Ultra's Subwoofer Calibration is performing exactly as a professional-grade system should. It is accurately compensating for:
Physical distance
Internal subwoofer latency
Filter-induced group delay
Expert Tip: If you see a volume correction of -10dB or more, I recommend manually turning down the volume knob on the back of the Polk subwoofer slightly and running the test again. This keeps the digital signal cleaner.

You can trust these results. Your system is now perfectly "time-aligned." Enjoy the music!
 
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