Ongoing Beta Beta Testing: Wireless Dolby 5.1 for WiiM Ultra

[Paffi]

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

Thank you, it worked!

First things:

- I would need an option to adjust the delay / distance for the rears, preferably for SL and SR separately
- I have an issue with volume: using the tv remote, only the ultra changes It's volume (front speaker), the surround level is always the same (the group volume doesn't change, which probably should be the case instead)

 

[Burnside]

Thank you, it worked!

First things:

- I would need an option to adjust the delay / distance for the rears, preferably for SL and SR separately
- I have an issue with volume: using the tv remote, only the ultra changes It's volume (front speaker), the surround level is always the same (the group volume doesn't change, which probably should be the case instead)

Best submitting these points in a ticket to WiiM via the more/feedback section in the app, perhaps with the subject line starting with “Beta Dolby digital: …” or similar so they can easily identify issues with that particular beta

 

[Wiimer]

Thank you, it worked!

First things:

- I would need an option to adjust the delay / distance for the rears, preferably for SL and SR separately
- I have an issue with volume: using the tv remote, only the ultra changes It's volume (front speaker), the surround level is always the same (the group volume doesn't change, which probably should be the case instead)

Is there any sound interruption when "Enabled surround 5.1 audio" is turned on?

 

[kwolter]

I was able to download the beta version for this. Where are the controls located in the app for this? I must be blind.

 

[Burnside]

I was able to download the beta version for this. Where are the controls located in the app for this? I must be blind.

See https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support...ing-up-a-wiim-dolby-5-1-surround-sound-system

Firstly, you need to be feeding your Ultra a Dolby Digital signal. Secondly, you need to group it with another compatible WiiM device. Then go to the Now Playing screen and you should then see the Dolby digital icon shown in the faq - select that to proceed

 

[Wiimer]

I was able to download the beta version for this. Where are the controls located in the app for this? I must be blind.

Please follow the steps described here .

[Beta] Setting Up a WiiM Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound System

The WiiM Amp Pro and WiiM Ultra support Dolby Digital Audio, making them perfect for building a 5.1 surround sound system. A 5.1 system creates an immersive audio experience by delivering sound from multiple directions. This setup is ideal f...

faq.wiimhome.com

When you play a 5.1 video on your TV, the "5.1" icon will appear on the Now playing screen of the WiiM app.

 

[Wiimer]

See https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support...ing-up-a-wiim-dolby-5-1-surround-sound-system

Firstly, you need to be feeding your Ultra a Dolby Digital signal. Secondly, you need to group it with another compatible WiiM device. Then go to the Now Playing screen and you should then see the Dolby digital icon shown in the faq - select that to proceed

Once again, I was late!
And you win for explaining it in more detail than I did .

 

[Paffi]

Is there any sound interruption when "Enabled surround 5.1 audio" is turned on?

View attachment 16657

I have no interruption.

Another thing:

- when using TV / Youtube stereo, the group automatically plays stereo on the fronts and rears turning into way to high volume at the rears (has to be turned down manually).

Yes, I will submit the feedback via app

 

[Wiimer]

I have no interruption.

Another thing:

- when using TV / Youtube stereo, the group automatically plays stereo on the fronts and rears turning into way to high volume at the rears (has to be turned down manually).

Yes, I will submit the feedback via app

I have tried again and as before there is very little sound .
I am playing Netflix 4k HDR 5.1 on the TV's built in app.
May I ask you a few questions.

1) Have you changed the settings on your TV?
2) What is the source?
3) Which WiiM is the slave device?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Paffi]

I have tried again and as before there is very little sound .
I am playing Netflix 4k HDR 5.1 on the TV's built in app.
May I ask you a few questions.

1) Have you changed the settings on your TV?
2) What is the source?
3) Which WiiM is the slave device?

Thank you in advance.

1) Output of the HDMI eARC Output is set to DolbyDigitalPlus and "compressed sound untouched" meaning the tv doesn't decode to pcm
2) Sony TV
3) WIIM Pro


Another thing: the trigger out seems to be not working with the beta firmware.

 

[kwolter]

See https://faq.wiimhome.com/en/support...ing-up-a-wiim-dolby-5-1-surround-sound-system

Firstly, you need to be feeding your Ultra a Dolby Digital signal. Secondly, you need to group it with another compatible WiiM device. Then go to the Now Playing screen and you should then see the Dolby digital icon shown in the faq - select that to proceed

Awesome. I got this working between an Ultra and a Pro. I know the center channel functionality is not implemented yet, but how are we thinking this is going to function? Would another device be sent the center channel info from the Ultra like its doing for the surrounds?

 

[Wiimer]

1) Output of the HDMI eARC Output is set to DolbyDigitalPlus and "compressed sound untouched" meaning the tv doesn't decode to pcm
2) Sony TV
3) WIIM Pro


Another thing: the trigger out seems to be not working with the beta firmware.

Thanks.
I will try it tomorrow with Pro.

 

[kwolter]

I got this working just with the Ultra so far and the front speakers. One thing to note that when decoding a Dolby signal, the volume is less than when decoding a non-Dolby signal. Is this normal?

Tomorrow I'll have time to add the Pro and a pair of surrounds to play more.

 

[Wiimer]

[Ticket #524152]

I was able to successfully play Netflix Dolby 5.1 on the Ultra and Pro groups. So far, the following groups do not playback correctly.

Ultra + Amp pro
Ultra + Amp
Ultra + AudioPro A10 WE


[Issues found]

1. Audio may become fragmented when switching between videos.
2. When switching from Dolby to PCM source and then playing Dolby video again, the WHA playback screen remained in PCM.
3. Problem with volume difference on slave devices.

1) Viewing in the "Ultra + Pro" group was fine at first, but for some reason when I played the Squid game it became Audio may become ragmented.

View attachment 1000002192.mp4

I have watched several videos and once the noise occurs, switching sources does not fix it. However, if I turn off/on the "Enable Surround Audio 5.1" toggle, the audio returns to normal.


2) If I switch from Netflix (Dolby) to YouTube (PCM) and then play Netflix again, the WHA playback screen remains in PCM and not in Dolby. This also returned to normal by turning off/on the Enable toggle.
(Fix: I believe you had to turn off/on WiiM TV.)


3) The slave device input is still Wi-Fi, so "per-source volume control" and "pre-gain" cannot work. To eliminate the volume difference between normal MRM and Dolby MRM, I think a Dolby-specific group volume and device-specific volume settings are needed.


Also when the "Ultra + pro" group was switched to the "Ultra + Amp pro" group during Dolby playback, the audio dropped again, the 5.1 icon disappeared on the WHA playback screen, and the group was removed. However, when the pause button on the playback screen is pressed, the 5.1 icon appears again and the group is restored.

View attachment 1000002194.mp4


I think this has something to do with the fact that Amp pro does not play them correctly.



[Options that I think necessary]

• Dolby-specific volume control and memory function.
• Test tone playback (each channel) for volume adjustment.

.....
Since there is no TV in my Ultra's room, I connected it to the TV in the next room. For this reason, a review of the viewing is not possible. Nevertheless, with a 70ms delay, I do not feel any lip-sync issues at all. This is excellent .

Thank you.

 

[Burnside]

I also noticed that when I grouped an audio pro a10 WE with the Ultra and played some Dolby source then ungrouped them, the A10 display shows optical as its source (which of course it doesn’t have) and when looking at its audio input screen, none of the options are ticked. When grouped, I had been feeding the Ultra over optical from my tv.

Also, after playing Dolby, if I switch to play say Qobuz on the Ultra, the Now Playing screen still has the Dolby badge which I can only clear by killing and re-running the WHA.

 

[Wiimer]

I also noticed that when I grouped an audio pro a10 WE with the Ultra and played some Dolby source then ungrouped them, the A10 display shows optical as its source (which of course it doesn’t have) and when looking at its audio input screen, none of the options are ticked. When grouped, I had been feeding the Ultra over optical from my tv.

Also, after playing Dolby, if I switch to play say Qobuz on the Ultra, the Now Playing screen still has the Dolby badge which I can only clear by killing and re-running the WHA.

Did you have any problems with Dolby audio output on your TV's optical connection? I totally forgot to try that .

 

[Burnside]

Did you have any problems with Dolby audio output on your TV's optical connection? I totally forgot to try that .

Yeah, no sound or just the briefest snatches of sound as if it was trying to break through. I didn’t try hdmi as I had that plugged into my amp pro but my Samsung frame tv isn’t playing ball at all with it. I previously had a fire tv 4k max plugged into the tv’s arc for use in an Alexa home theater setup with my echo studio, but it’s not working with the amp pro so I saw no point in trying hdmi with the Ultra

 

[Wiimer]

Yeah, no sound or just the briefest snatches of sound as if it was trying to break through. I didn’t try hdmi as I had that plugged into my amp pro but my Samsung frame tv isn’t playing ball at all with it. I previously had a fire tv 4k max plugged into the tv’s arc for use in an Alexa home theater setup with my echo studio, but it’s not working with the amp pro so I saw no point in trying hdmi with the Ultra

I no longer have any energy left to try the Fire Stick and prematurely disconnected the HDMI cable..

Very disappointing start, but I hope the team can get this resolved ASAP.

Thank you

 

[hgo58]

I also noticed that when I grouped an audio pro a10 WE with the Ultra and played some Dolby source then ungrouped them, the A10 display shows optical as its source (which of course it doesn’t have) and when looking at its audio input screen, none of the options are ticked. When grouped, I had been feeding the Ultra over optical from my tv.

Also, after playing Dolby, if I switch to play say Qobuz on the Ultra, the Now Playing screen still has the Dolby badge which I can only clear by killing and re-running the WHA.

I think the missing update of the status for the unlinked devices is a general issue and not only related to surround.

 

[Burnside]

I think the missing update of the status for the unlinked devices is a general issue and not only related to surround.

View attachment 16703

I’m not too bothered with unlinked devices showing what they were last playing when grouped. My two examples were where an unlinked device showed the audio input selection of the main device in the group after ungroupng for an audio input it physically didn’t have, while the other was about the Dolby badge persisting on the Now Playing page when playing a source where again that feature wasn’t supported. I haven’t checked to see if the former occurs when surround sound isn’t involved,