Enhancing Local Media Playback with Subsonic API Integration

[LetsTalk]

I’ve tried multiple applications for integrating my music collection, from Plex to DLNA and Lyrion Music Server, but all of them come with significant limitations.

Currently, I use Navidrome (running in a Docker instance) to stream music to my mobile phone. It’s a powerful solution, especially for creating smart playlists based on any tag in my music library and for displaying album artwork, artist images, and more. Navidrome is also accessible through the Subsonic API (in my mobile I use an app called substreamer to access it).

While I’m aware there are already many integrations available, based on my personal experience, adding Subsonic API support could greatly enhance the user experience when playing local media (could offer an experience equivalent or even better than streaming platforms).

 

[Burnside]

See this post
Post in thread 'Multiroom Audio from DLNA Server'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/multiroom-audio-from-dlna-server.4877/post-80088

 

[anonyless]

See this post
Post in thread 'Multiroom Audio from DLNA Server'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/multiroom-audio-from-dlna-server.4877/post-80088

not the same - DLNA streaming to WiiM isn't full integration with the WiiM app , like Tidal etc have.

personally I use casting (Chromecast) from Symfonium app (connected to Navidrome server) to WiiM Pro:
it works okay but very limited to CC basic features -I can play/pause, skip to the next track and that's it (track backwards doesn't work), oh and I can see the cover art on the WiiM app.
just to compare, even casting from Tidal using its web app (Chrome based browser on PC) , I can skip track back and forward through the WiiM (app / remote control) . but again - that's it. I can't see the playlist, audio quality etc

 

[simbun]

personally I use casting (Chromecast) from Symfonium app (connected to Navidrome server) to WiiM Pro:

Why Chromecast and not UPnP?

 

[pjorgenunes]

I started using Lyrion Music Server and I’m very happy with it (until now )

 

[anonyless]

Why Chromecast and not UPnP?

because of "android media controls". does UPnP offer better audio quality streaming?

 

[simbun]

because of "android media controls". does UPnP offer better audio quality streaming?

UPnP supports up to 24-bit/192kHz on the WiiM, but more importantly it's gapless.

 

[anonyless]

UPnP supports up to 24-bit/192kHz on the WiiM, but more importantly it's gapless.

okay, besides the gapless advantage -
does casting over UPnP have any audio quality advantage over Chromecast? I searched and can't get a clear answer regarding the WiiM's Pro/Plus audio quality
also noticed, when I cast Tidal web player (over Brave browser) to the WiiM Pro, it sometimes drops the audio quality under "Now Playing"

 

[simbun]

okay, besides the gapless advantage -
does casting over UPnP have any audio quality advantage over Chromecast? I searched and can't get a clear answer regarding the WiiM's Pro/Plus audio quality

If they both support the source resolution then audio quality should be the same.

 

[anonyless]

If they both support the source resolution then audio quality should be the same.

DLNA streaming can be horrible! I just gave it a shot, streaming from Symfonium -
as long as you don't want to STOP the music, it's working fine. the minute i switched inputs on the WiiM, it went "all crazy" and I couldn't stop the music no matter what i did - from the app or the remote, after switching inputs to SPDIF in - the WiiM just kept playing the previous song. even tried turning off the WiiM, the second i turned it back on it kept playing, even though Symfonium paused (or even closed).
I assume this has to do with the gapless playback - but at a functional level it's just not good at all

 

[simbun]

DLNA streaming can be horrible! I just gave it a shot, streaming from Symfonium -
as long as you don't want to STOP the music, it's working fine. the minute i switched inputs on the WiiM, it went "all crazy" and I couldn't stop the music no matter what i did - from the app or the remote, after switching inputs to SPDIF in

I've just verified that seeking, skipping, pausing and stopping work as expected when playing to a Pro.

Did you switch inputs during playback?
What format were you playing?
Have you enabled "UPnP Gapless support" (can't remember if it's the default)?

I've been using BubbleUPnP and Symfonium (more recently) for over 12 months now with my Pro and it's been faultless.

EDIT: Is this with Navidrome? I've primarily been using MinimServer and Lightweight Music Server but that shouldn't make any difference.

 

[anonyless]

I've just verified that seeking, skipping, pausing and stopping work as expected when playing to a Pro.

Did you switch inputs during playback?
What format were you playing?
Have you enabled "UPnP Gapless support" (can't remember if it's the default)?

I've been using BubbleUPnP and Symfonium (more recently) for over 12 months now with my Pro and it's been faultless.

EDIT: Is this with Navidrome? I've primarily been using MinimServer and Lightweight Music Server but that shouldn't make any difference.

yes, Navidrome.
fade in/fade out affects enabled on the WiiM.
i assume you mean "UPnP gapless support" on Symfonium? i've searched and searched and couldn't find' such an option. from what i understand - " Symfonium is gapless by default on the renderer that support it. " (quoting Tolriq on Reddit from 10 months ago).
I do get gapless playback on DLNA streaming , not on CC .
the issue is only when i switch input (playing or not doesn't matter)
format is FLAC 16/44

EDIT - i'm not using BubbleUPnP. i'm familiar with it.
i assume you mean the "gapless playback
Does not work with all renderers. See documentation" tickbox option I see on BubbleUPnP interface (tried it once , before getting the WiiM Pro)

 

[simbun]

i assume you mean "UPnP gapless support" on Symfonium? i've searched and searched and couldn't find' such an option. from what i understand - " Symfonium is gapless by default on the renderer that support it. " (quoting Tolriq on Reddit from 10 months ago).
I do get gapless playback on DLNA streaming , not on CC .

If it's gapless then it must be enabled by default. The option is behind the cog on the renderer selection screen in Symfonium.

the issue is only when i switch input (playing or not doesn't matter)

I only use Ethernet, but I guess I can try Bluetooth.

EDIT - i'm not using BubbleUPnP. i'm familiar with it.
i assume you mean the "gapless playback
Does not work with all renderers. See documentation" tickbox option I see on BubbleUPnP interface (tried it once , before getting the WiiM Pro)

In BubbleUPnP the optimal settings for WiiM are to enable 'Gapless control' and 'Use Eventing'. I have no idea if Symfonium uses Eventing.

 

[anonyless]

If it's gapless then it must be enabled by default. The option is behind the cog on the renderer selection screen in Symfonium.


I only use Ethernet, but I guess I can try Bluetooth.


In BubbleUPnP the optimal settings for WiiM are to enable 'Gapless control' and 'Use Eventing'. I have no idea if Symfonium uses Eventing.

If it's gapless then it must be enabled by default. The option is behind the cog on the renderer selection screen in Symfonium.

oh! found it. yes, it's enabled (by default i assume)

 

[simbun]

the issue is only when i switch input (playing or not doesn't matter)

If you long hold pause in Symfonium (which acts as a stop) do you still have issues when switching sources? I'm able to recreate the problem with BubbleUPnP and Symfonium but only when I pause playback.

It appears that when WiiM is in a PAUSED_PLAYBACK (GetTransportInfo) state it attempts to resume playback when switching sources, which causes all sorts of problems though I'm able to regain control by starting a new track - even without switching back to Ethernet/WiFi!

 

[anonyless]

If you long hold pause in Symfonium (which acts as a stop) do you still have issues when switching sources? I'm able to recreate the problem with BubbleUPnP and Symfonium but only when I pause playback.

It appears that when WiiM is in a PAUSED_PLAYBACK (GetTransportInfo) state it attempts to resume playback when switching sources, which causes all sorts of problems though I'm able to regain control by starting a new track - even without switching back to Ethernet/WiFi!

i'm trying to recreate the problem as well -
starting streaming from Symfonium to WiiM DLNA, then paused , switched input on the WiiM (to Spdif in) using the remote. opened WiiM app - it showed Optical In but in paused mode. starting playing to Optical In and got sound. went back to Symfonium - it showed as playing..! i guess when I started playing to the WiiM's optical in. it sensed a singal and changed to "Play", it changed Symonium to play as well.
switched sources on the WiiM to wifi - Symfonium skipped to next track and started playing.
While Symfonium playing and Spdif in playing (PC with DDC) , switched sources back to Spdif in - now i get a mix of PC and Symfonium.
if i long press play in Symfonium for stopping, I see it stops completely and WiiM shows Optical In as paused, but I keep hear the music from it still playing. if I click play in WiiM, I hear a mix of them both again. mess. Glad you managed to recreate the issue.

if returning a second to the original topic, i tried something that quite surprised me today -
Tidal web app was playing a playlist and casting through Brave browser to a CC group of WiiM Pro and CC Audio in a different room. everything working fine. paused the music, closed the laptop. clicked play on the remote and the music was back on the WiiM (I expected that to happen) but what i was not expecting is the other CC Audio device in the group to be playing as well..! found that quite amusing and great so I let it keep playing until the next song in the Tidal playlist, which got played to both devices as well.
I believe this is result of "full on" perfect integration between Tidal and WiiM, that I wish to see happening between Subsonic based servers as well...one can hope

 

[simbun]

starting streaming from Symfonium to WiiM DLNA, then paused , switched input on the WiiM (to Spdif in) using the remote. opened WiiM app - it showed Optical In but in paused mode. starting playing to Optical In and got sound. went back to Symfonium - it showed as playing..! i guess when I started playing to the WiiM's optical in. it sensed a singal and changed to "Play", it changed Symonium to play as well.
switched sources on the WiiM to wifi -

You've got a lot going on there.

If you stop (not pause) the source playing (be it Symfonium or your spdif source) before switching sources does everything work as expected?

 

[anonyless]

You've got a lot going on there.

If you stop (not pause) the source playing (be it Symfonium or your spdif source) before switching sources does everything work as expected?

You've got a lot going on there.

If you stop (not pause) the source playing (be it Symfonium or your spdif source) before switching sources does everything work as expected?

if I stop Symfonium (which also clears the queue - not good), and then switch source, everything seems okay

EDIT: i was just listening to music from the PC (Spdif in) and Symfonium was still running on the phone, after the short test I did above (it was casting to WiiM DLNA). the minute I closed the app on the phone - the music went silence, as it changed the WiiM into pause - even though it was not playing, no queue, nothing. this is where I call quits with DLNA casting - all those things don't happen with CC casting