Ongoing Beta Beta Testing: Wireless Dolby 5.1 for WiiM Ultra

[Wiimer]

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.

Yes, the same thing happened with Spotify connect. Various issues occur when switching sources and inputs.

 

[Burnside]

This feature is working reasonably well for me, although my setup is a bit of a mess just now with me not having my usual amp.

While I’ve been testing with my WiiM Amp Pro at the front and my WiiM Amp for the rear/surround with an old pair of Denon speakers off my Ceol Piccolo system, once I get my amp back I’m considering using that with my Ultra driving my usual Linn M109 speakers at the front, and possibly using my Pro Plus and a pair of gen 2 Echo Plus speakers for the rear. The Echo Plus is quite a discreet unit compared to the glossy white Denon box speakers, and has an aux in and so can be used an active speaker. I already had one and have just picked up another refurbished unit off eBay, along with a pair of 3m rca to mono 3.5mm cables. The echo plus has a reasonable sound so I hope this’ll work well for surround effects while watching movies.

Who knows, I might even press my echo studio into use in a similar manner as a standalone centre speaker hanging off my WiiM Pro once that’s an option, although having three different kinds of speakers in a 5.1 setup will no doubt shock the purists

 

[kwolter]

This feature is working reasonably well for me, although my setup is a bit of a mess just now with me not having my usual amp.

While I’ve been testing with my WiiM Amp Pro at the front and my WiiM Amp for the rear/surround with an old pair of Denon speakers off my Ceol Piccolo system, once I get my amp back I’m considering using that with my Ultra driving my usual Linn M109 speakers at the front, and possibly using my Pro Plus and a pair of gen 2 Echo Plus speakers for the rear. The Echo Plus is quite a discreet unit compared to the glossy white Denon box speakers, and has an aux in and so can be used an active speaker. I already had one and have just picked up another refurbished unit off eBay, along with a pair of 3m rca to mono 3.5mm cables. The echo plus has a reasonable sound so I hope this’ll work well for surround effects while watching movies.

Who knows, I might even press my echo studio into use in a similar manner as a standalone centre speaker hanging off my WiiM Pro once that’s an option, although having three different kinds of speakers in a 5.1 setup will no doubt shock the purists

I’m also waiting for the center channel option.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

I'm hoping it becomes possible to use the WiiM Mini for rears.

Can anyone see why it might not be possible? I presume the 'grunt' of separating out the 5.1 channels happens in the Ultra/Amp Pro, then just the stereo rears transmitted to the second unit.

Also, might the vanilla Amp be able to handle LR and Sub duties?

 

[Burnside]

I’m hoping the Mini might be able to be pressed into use for a centre channel out to my echo studio

The setup with a WiiM amp and two echo plus devices is working not too badly, once I can get the rear channels balanced ok - if they’re too loud, the overall audio has lots of echo/reverb and feels as if you’re in a cave…

 

[ripeco]

Please enable Dolby Digital Plus in order to listen to Atmos in Tidal

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

I'm still interested to see which WiiMs will be able to handle which duties.

In an ideal world...

Under my TV I have an old Denon UD-M31, which we call 'the shoebox'.

It'd be nice to replace this with a WiiM Amp (Amp Pro if the vanilla won't do the job), then add a Mini (I've just had one freed up thanks to Smart Presets) for the rears.

The very best in sound quality isn't the target here, I have a Boston Audio 5.1 sub-sat system, for which I'm currently only using the front two. Better than my TV's speakers. But in the room we have it, speaker cable running from the front to the back of the room isn't possible.

Sticking a Mini, a small amp, and a pair of satellites at the back of the room is very doable, especially as the Mini and amp can be put completely out of sight.

So this is great, I buy a WiiM Amp, and I'm up and running.

But if the Amp won't cut it at the front, nor the Mini at the back, and I have to buy an Ultra or Amp Pro for the front, and similar for the rears, it becomes a bit much.

 

[Burnside]

I'm still interested to see which WiiMs will be able to handle which duties.

In an ideal world...

Under my TV I have an old Denon UD-M31, which we call 'the shoebox'.

It'd be nice to replace this with a WiiM Amp (Amp Pro if the vanilla won't do the job), then add a Mini (I've just had one freed up thanks to Smart Presets) for the rears.

The very best in sound quality isn't the target here, I have a Boston Audio 5.1 sub-sat system, for which I'm currently only using the front two. Better than my TV's speakers. But in the room we have it, speaker cable running from the front to the back of the room isn't possible.

Sticking a Mini, a small amp, and a pair of satellites at the back of the room is very doable, especially as the Mini and amp can be put completely out of sight.

So this is great, I buy a WiiM Amp, and I'm up and running.

But if the Amp won't cut it at the front, nor the Mini at the back, and I have to buy an Ultra or Amp Pro for the front, and similar for the rears, it becomes a bit much.

I'm using a WiiM Pro happily as rears feeding two Echo Plus "active speakers".

Only the Amp Pro and Ultra support DD5.1, the others don't so I don't see a change there, and maybe it's the usual case that the Mini doesn't have the capacity for much more - although we said that for Room Correction, I think that sneaked in as most initial processing seems to be done in the app or backend servers. Having said that, it would be nice to use my almost redundant Mini to feed a centre channel

 

[kwolter]

I’ve been enjoying the Dolby beta so far between an Ultra and Pro, but occasionally I hear a bit of what I’d call a “crackling” sound out of the surrounds. It seems to vary by content and volume. Just curious is anyone else has experienced this. I’m using the HDMI Arc out of my LG tv.

 

[Burnside]

I’ve been enjoying the Dolby beta so far between an Ultra and Pro, but occasionally I hear a bit of what I’d call a “crackling” sound out of the surrounds. It seems to vary by content and volume. Just curious is anyone else has experienced this. I’m using the HDMI Arc out of my LG tv.

Mine is turning out to be unstable, and I’m having serious lip sync issues. Even playing back from one tv app to another can be problematic- for example, I could be watching something from BBC iPlayer Ok, then when I switch to Prime or Netflix, I get a lot of breakup/noise, and when I don’t , it’s very hard to get lip sync resolved. I’ll need to submit tickets when I next have the issues, but just now, it’s a bit hit and miss.

Also, I use my WiiM Pro for the surround speakers, feeding into two Amazon Echo Plus speakers. I’ve noticed at night when I turn off the Pro, I get a quite noticeable hum from both echos - if I turn the Pro on, they’re silent. I didn’t notice this when I first set it up and wonder what is causing the ground loop noise (if it is that) and how to resolve it (other than leaving the Pro always on).

 

[kwolter]

Mine is turning out to be unstable, and I’m having serious lip sync issues. Even playing back from one tv app to another can be problematic- for example, I could be watching something from BBC iPlayer Ok, then when I switch to Prime or Netflix, I get a lot of breakup/noise, and when I don’t , it’s very hard to get lip sync resolved. I’ll need to submit tickets when I next have the issues, but just now, it’s a bit hit and miss.

Also, I use my WiiM Pro for the surround speakers, feeding into two Amazon Echo Plus speakers. I’ve noticed at night when I turn off the Pro, I get a quite noticeable hum from both echos - if I turn the Pro on, they’re silent. I didn’t notice this when I first set it up and wonder what is casing the ground loop noise (if it is that) and how to resolve it.

Interesting. I also experience the lip sync issues, but have had decent luck adjusting the sync settings. That does seem based on content and needs to be readjusted occasionally. Hopefully this will be worked out. Having this in place in my main listening room is a nice add. Not full blown home theater, but if it would stabilize a bit, it does afford a more immersive tv watching experience. Fingers crossed.

 

[RyanWithWiiM]

I’ve been enjoying the Dolby beta so far between an Ultra and Pro, but occasionally I hear a bit of what I’d call a “crackling” sound out of the surrounds. It seems to vary by content and volume. Just curious is anyone else has experienced this. I’m using the HDMI Arc out of my LG tv.

The team has identified an issue that is causing this and is working on a fix!

 

[kwolter]

The team has identified an issue that is causing this and is working on a fix!

Perfect. Thanks.

 

[joentell]

I'm unable to update my WiiM Amp Pro because it the firmware it has (non-beta) is higher than the beta. It just gives me a message saying it's already up to date.

My current version is: Firmware Version 5.2.707244 Build Date 20250210

The beta is Version 5.2.705556
2025-01-24

I am actually able to see the 5.1 surround option, but if I turn it on, it automatically turns itself off after backing out of that screen.

It works fine on the WiiM Ultra which I was able to install the beta on.

 

[Wiimer]

I'm unable to update my WiiM Amp Pro because it the firmware it has (non-beta) is higher than the beta. It just gives me a message saying it's already up to date.

My current version is: Firmware Version 5.2.707244 Build Date 20250210

The beta is Version 5.2.705556
2025-01-24

I am actually able to see the 5.1 surround option, but if I turn it on, it automatically turns itself off after backing out of that screen.

It works fine on the WiiM Ultra which I was able to install the beta on.

Do you want to install the beta version?

I think you can install the beta firmware (your second image) by tapping the ">" on the right side of the firmware.

 

[joentell]

Do you want to install the beta version?

I think you can install the beta firmware (your second image) by tapping the ">" on the right side of the firmware.

Thank you, but that's what I've done and the issue persists. I have 5 different WiiM products and I'm using beta versions on all of them except for this one.

 

[Wiimer]

Thank you, but that's what I've done and the issue persists. I have 5 different WiiM products and I'm using beta versions on all of them except for this one.

Yes, you were right.
I will check later to see if Dolby works with the latest firmware.

 

[gnator]

Any hints on how center channel would be supported? Would the center and LR be split between different outputs or 3 channel out of one of the digital outputs or you need a second device?

 

[Wiimer]

Thank you, but that's what I've done and the issue persists. I have 5 different WiiM products and I'm using beta versions on all of them except for this one.

The official firmware for Amp pro still seems to be non-Dolby compatible. I think we need to wait for a beta update.


@WiiM Support, @WiiM Team, @RyanWithWiiM,

It appears that if official firmware newer than the beta version is installed on a device, the older beta version cannot be installed. Is this normal behavior?

Edit: This seems to be a issue only with the Dolby beta of Amp Pro; Ultra installs fine.

Thank you.

 

[apo]

I'm temporarily testing 5.1 with two Wiim Ultras. The main (front) is connected to the TV with HDMI arc. When I change the sound volume with my TV remote, only the main Wiim changes. It would be nice if both changed together, the front/main and the slave/surround.