Ongoing Beta Beta Testing: Wireless Dolby 5.1 for WiiM Ultra

[Wosi]

Yeah, there are so many outstanding questions the FAQ article about surround sound doesn't address:

1. Is there a real center speaker? If yes, how to connect it?
2. Is one WiiM stereo (pre-)amp enough for the two rear speakers? The FAQ talks about one WiiM Pro for each rear speaker, which feels like a huge waste of resources.
3. Is Dolby Digital 5.1 over optical input supported? The FAQ only talks about HDMI ARC.
4. Is a subwoofer really required or does it also work with a 4.0 setup?

 

[Burnside]

Guess we’ll need to wait and see but as already said, the faq probably just shows one example of how it might be set up.
Re 1, if it is a physical speaker, it’ll be wirelessly connected in the group as there are no physical connections for such.
Re 2, the faq shows three surround settings - surround, surround left and surround right. The first looks like it would be accomplished by one WiiM device, but you have the choice of two.
Re. 3, I’d say probably as it already supports 5.2 for downmixing
Re 4, from my recollection, the .1 in 5.1 refers to a centre speaker, not sub.

But like the rest of the thread, a lot of this is speculation. Let’s wait and see what’s delivered.

 

[Smartplug]

You need all 3 speakers wireless for center and rear like a10 mkii?

 

[Burnside]

You need all 3 speakers wireless for center and rear like a10 mkii?

Maybe…

 

[hgo58]

In response to an issue with defining the "Master" of a new device Group, I have suggested the following to @WiiM Team

When creating a Group each device can be defined with 3 options:

Master (only one)
Follow
--
Front
Rear
--
Mono
Stereo
Left
Right
Center
Sub (if not included with Front device)

That would be a flexible and generic UI for both group creation and surround setup.

Illegal combinations shall of course give a warning.

Multiple groups can be created for different usages of the same devices

 

[Paffi]

I´m excited to test - have an WIIM Pro already waiting for the rears.

 

[Burnside]

In response to an issue with defining the "Master" of a new device Group, I have suggested the following to @WiiM Team

When creating a Group each device can be defined with 3 options:

Master (only one)
Follow
--
Front
Rear
--
Mono
Stereo
Left
Right
Center
Sub (if not included with Front device)

That would be a flexible and generic UI for both group creation and surround setup.

Illegal combinations shall of course give a warning.

Multiple groups can be created for different usages of the same devices

Maybe more pertinent to the persistent group thread?

Also, I don’t see a place for sub as surely that’s a physical connection and not a WiiM device as such? Also, won’t you need a “front surround” setting as well as “stereo” when say a device is providing a central channel as well as left and right? The WiiM faq already shows surround, surround left and surround right.

 

[hgo58]

Maybe more pertinent to the persistent group thread?

This is a suggestion that covers both.

Also, I don’t see a place for sub as surely that’s a physical connection and not a WiiM device as such?

This is for the (future) case where you can add a WiiM device as a Sub to the WiiMs that doesn't have Sub out. Maybe even a WiiM enabled Sub device . Just suggesting this for having a generic design.

Also, won’t you need a “front surround” setting as well as “stereo” when say a device is providing a central channel as well as left and right?

Maybe? In the case that there can be a special virtual center "speaker".

The WiiM faq already shows surround, surround left and surround right.

Yes. I am just suggesting to merge this with general group functionality for greater flexibility.

 

[Wiimer]

Hi @WiiM Team, @WiiM Support, @RyanWithWiim,

I have received WHA 3.1.2 and would like to participate in the beta test, but I have a few questions.

1) Is the beta firmware only available for Ultra? It says it is also available for Amp Pro, but that seems ambiguous to me.

2) How many WiiM devices are required to configure a non-virtual 5.1 channel?

I will be hoping to test with the following configuration, but at this time I am unsure if this is possible.

WiiM Amp Pro : front speakers
AudioPro WE : center speaker
WiiM Amp : rear speakers (L/R)
+ Subwoofer

(If only the virtual center is available, the AudioPro speaker would not be needed. If so, is it possible to test with this two WiiMs?)

...
Likewise, a member who participated in the beta test with two WiiM devices would only be disappointed if later informed that three are required.

I hope the team can clarify this in advance.
Thank you .

 

[Wiimer]

I noticed that Amp Pro has not received a beta version.

Will try with Ultra.

 

[WiiM Support]

Hi @WiiM Team, @WiiM Support, @RyanWithWiim,

I have received WHA 3.1.2 and would like to participate in the beta test, but I have a few questions.

1) Is the beta firmware only available for Ultra? It says it is also available for Amp Pro, but that seems ambiguous to me.

2) How many WiiM devices are required to configure a non-virtual 5.1 channel?

I will be hoping to test with the following configuration, but at this time I am unsure if this is possible.

WiiM Amp Pro : front speakers
AudioPro WE : center speaker
WiiM Amp : rear speakers (L/R)
+ Subwoofer

(If only the virtual center is available, the AudioPro speaker would not be needed. If so, is it possible to test with this two WiiMs?)

...
Likewise, a member who participated in the beta test with two WiiM devices would only be disappointed if later informed that three are required.

I hope the team can clarify this in advance.
Thank you .

Hi Wiimer,

Apologies for the confusion earlier.

The Beta firmware is currently available only for the WiiM Ultra. To experience this feature, you’ll need two WiiM devices (including the Ultra). The setup works as follows:

• WiiM Ultra: Acts as the front speakers, including FL, C, and FR. Note that a separate center speaker is not yet supported in this version but will be added soon.
• WiiM Amp/Pro/Pro Plus/Ultra: Functions as surround speakers (SL, SR). Support for one or two WiiM Edition Audio Pro speakers as surround speakers will also be added soon.

Thank you for your understanding, and we appreciate your patience as we continue improving this feature!

 

[Burnside]

Hi Wiimer,

Apologies for the confusion earlier.

The Beta firmware is currently available only for the WiiM Ultra. To experience this feature, you’ll need two WiiM devices (including the Ultra). The setup works as follows:

• WiiM Ultra: Acts as the front speakers, including FL, C, and FR. Note that a separate center speaker is not yet supported in this version but will be added soon.
• WiiM Amp/Pro/Pro Plus/Ultra: Functions as surround speakers (SL, SR). Support for one or two WiiM Edition Audio Pro speakers as surround speakers will also be added soon.

Thank you for your understanding, and we appreciate your patience as we continue improving this feature!

Should the WiiM amp pro be in that list too?

And can a single device from that second list provide both surround L&R?

 

[Wiimer]

Hi Wiimer,

Apologies for the confusion earlier.

The Beta firmware is currently available only for the WiiM Ultra. To experience this feature, you’ll need two WiiM devices (including the Ultra). The setup works as follows:

• WiiM Ultra: Acts as the front speakers, including FL, C, and FR. Note that a separate center speaker is not yet supported in this version but will be added soon.
• WiiM Amp/Pro/Pro Plus/Ultra: Functions as surround speakers (SL, SR). Support for one or two WiiM Edition Audio Pro speakers as surround speakers will also be added soon.

Thank you for your understanding, and we appreciate your patience as we continue improving this feature!

Ticket #523966

Hi,

Thanks for the clarification.
I just started testing with the Ultra and Amp Pro groups.



The setup is a little confusing, but it worked. However, when I turn on Dolby in WHA, the sound is almost completely silent. After leaving it for a while, noise started to be heard from the front speakers.


View attachment 1000002175.mp4

The TV's audio output is bitstreame, and normal playback in the WiiM group outputs audio with no problems. The same result is obtained when the delay amount is changed.

I may need to play around with the TV settings, but will send a ticket later.

...
Has anyone else been able to play it back successfully?

 

[Flatron7]

Will the setup work if USB out is used (for both mains and surround)? In my case I would connect a USB DDC to Wiim, and then AES digital to active speakers.

Hi, what active speakers do you use? I have a similar setup to yours. I have Dynaudio focus 60xd speakers and I connect a ddc singxer su-6 to the wiim ultra via usb

 

[Wiimer]

Should the WiiM amp pro be in that list too?

And can a single device from that second list provide both surround L&R?

I think it probably will be, since I can't select Surround Speaker L/R (Selection screen does not appear) when using Amp Pro on the rear.

 

[Burnside]

Hi, just tried it with my Ultra (whose output is being fed into my amp pro as my usual Linn amp is in for a repair) and a WiiM Pro - and an audio pro a10 Mkii. Like @Wiimer, no sound for me apart from a few brief snatches every few seconds.

The interface is pretty good but it seems inconsistent as to when you can or can’t choose surround and/or surround l/r - maybe the options will appear when you add more devices and perhaps when the other devices’ firmware is updated to be compatible.

So the UI is pretty good, shame there’s no audio

 

[andyy]

So I cant use WiiM Minis at all in this setup, to connect surround speakers for example?

 

[Burnside]

So I cant use WiiM Minis at all in this setup, to connect surround speakers for example?

Doesn’t look like it at the moment

 

[Paffi]

Hi, just tried it with my Ultra (whose output is being fed into my amp pro as my usual Linn amp is in for a repair) and a WiiM Pro - and an audio pro a10 Mkii. Like @Wiimer, no sound for me apart from a few brief snatches every few seconds.

The interface is pretty good but it seems inconsistent as to when you can or can’t choose surround and/or surround l/r - maybe the options will appear when you add more devices and perhaps when the other devices’ firmware is updated to be compatible.

So the UI is pretty good, shame there’s no audio

How did you get the beta? I registered but haven't received any notification.

 

[Burnside]

How did you get the beta? I registered but haven't received any notification.

In v3.1.2 of the app, choose Device Info under your Ultra’s settings, then Join Beta Testing