Configuring one preset for headphones without sacrificing input flexibility

[Fralle]

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to set up a simple solution for easily switching to headphones during late-night listening. My goal is to achieve a level of simplicity similar to a classic receiver—where plugging in headphones effectively “kills” the speakers—without having to create unique presets for every input source.

Currently, I use a preset configured as follows for my headphones (Sennheiser HD650):

Input: Phono (since I have to pick one to start with)

Output: Headphones Out

EQ: Custom EQ (e.g., ASR for the HD650

I assign this preset to button #3 for quick access via the remote.

Here’s my typical listening pattern: I listen to music through my speakers using various sources such as Tidal, my record player, HDMI, or even a cassette deck until a certain time. After that, I switch over to headphones for a quieter experience. I’d like to maintain the same flexibility when using headphones, meaning I want to be able to switch between Phono, Line In, HDMI, and Tidal Connect without needing a separate preset for each input.

My question is: What happens if I switch from Phono to Tidal Connect while using the headphones preset? Will the system automatically revert to Line Out with my Room Correction EQ for my speakers? In my recent test, I noticed in the app that the Phono PEQ was still set to the Sennheiser HD650 profile. This implies that if I switch back to using my speakers, the audio might still be affected by the headphone EQ instead of the intended Room Correction EQ.

How should I configure this correctly to ensure that I can enjoy the same seamless experience whether I’m using speakers or headphones, without having to set up multiple presets? Is it advisable to create separate presets for each headphone scenario and each line input, or is there a better solution to achieve this flexibility?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Mr Ee]

I'd have thought two presets would suffice, although you can't choose follow current input.
Once a preset has been selected, and its output and eq applied, switching input shouldn't change those.
There also doesn't seem to be a way to choose Off for eq, only flat, which is almost the same.

 

[Fralle]

you can't choose follow current input.

There also doesn't seem to be a way to choose Off for eq, only flat, which is almost the same.

Well that is exactly what I was looking for.

Would setting a time limit fix so that the selected input goes back to room EQ if left in idle over the night. As of now it seems to just stay on the headphone EQ selected during the listening session.

 

[Mr Ee]

Well that is exactly what I was looking for.

Would setting a time limit fix so that the selected input goes back to room EQ if left in idle over the night. As of now it seems to just stay on the headphone EQ selected during the listening session.

I thought the time limit was like a 'sleep' option, to stop playback after that amount of time. tbh, I've not used that setting.
I think the only / easiest way to 'return' to a previous eq setting is to click the other preset, but unfortunately that may include a source change.
Hopefully wiim will continue to enhance smart presets to enable them to be used in this manner.
I'm 99% sure I raised the inability to choose eq Off with them a while ago.

 

[Wiimer]

Well that is exactly what I was looking for.

Would setting a time limit fix so that the selected input goes back to room EQ if left in idle over the night. As of now it seems to just stay on the headphone EQ selected during the listening session.

I am not sure what the use of "Duration" is, but so far this seems to be just a timer. I think it can only stop playback after a set time.

Since much of the input switching is performed by auto-sensing, as @Mr Ee said, you could just create 2 presets with different output and EQ.

Furthermore, you can add only presets for sources where auto-sensing does not work.
(In this preset, everything is set to "current" except for the input.)

 

[Wiimer]

Tip.

You may want to set the inputs for the first 2 presets to phono or line input, as switching to HDMI or Wi-Fi is automatic and reliable.