Flac library on NAS - using it with Wiim - options?

[Steev_jo]

Trying to understand best Wiim approach to play my FLAC music library from Synology NAS to my hifi which has USB and Optical inputs.

I have previously tried LMS on a dedicated RaspberryPi with a pi pico feeding USB into the hifi - it works but not 100% (pico crashes from time to time) and I'd like to find a more reliable and supported solution - so I can listen to music rather than mess around with linux etc.

I have set up the Plex server on the Synology NAS and using the Plex web app on my Mac all is well.

I understand that everything wiim speaks DNLA and that the Plex Server can support DLNA so any wiim product, even the Mini could work for me. But seems that DLNA only offers a folder browse - no album artwork, no different views of the library - is that correct? If so it's not going to be suitable.

Wiim mini road map includes Plex but document is a few months out of date now - has there been any progress? Seems Plex is supported on:

• WiiM Amp
• WiiM Amp Pro
• WiiM Ultra

but they are all overkill for my application.

Do I have things right? Any ideas for using Wiim in my application? Many thanks

 

[Vignus]

I have my digital music on a Synology NAS, where I have installed Asset (The NAS version, not through Docker). The Wiim app sees it as a server and connects to it very quicly.
I like Asset interface because it offers way more options compared to the Synology media server, which I find very basic.
With Asset you get options like most played albums, songs, artists, and also less played albums, artists and songs. And many other "nice to have" features. It offers a very fast browsing experience.
I tag my music using Mp3tag, which works very well with FLAC and WAV files, my favourite formats.
Soundwise, I don't hear any difference with any of the music servers, but I have only used Asset, Synology Media server and Minim server.
I gave Plex a try a couple of times but gave up: too complicated and never really managed to make it work properly.

 

[inchmix]

Same @Vignus
I use Asset UPnP
I use mp3tag for all my tagging needs. (I'm very OCD with my tags )
And I use dbpoweramp to rip CDs to Flac.

 

[simbun]

SMB, no DLNA/UPNP...

If you're using Symfonium to cast to the WiiM then you're using UPnP, and a UPnP renderer (WiiM) won't pull from a SMB share.

Samba (SMB v2/v3) - media provider configuration

Symfonium can connect to your Samba (SMB v2/v3) servers and play, cast and offline cache your music from it. (Requires at least Version 6.0) This provider is currently in experimental state until more users have confirmed that it works with all the many different Samba servers. Tags are parsed...

support.symfonium.app

Chromecast and UPnP do not support SMB so Symfonium will proxy the media when casting, using more battery and network.

 

[Zap Rekowski]

If you're using Symfonium to cast to the WiiM then you're using UPnP, and a UPnP renderer (WiiM) won't pull from a SMB share.

Samba (SMB v2/v3) - media provider configuration

Symfonium can connect to your Samba (SMB v2/v3) servers and play, cast and offline cache your music from it. (Requires at least Version 6.0) This provider is currently in experimental state until more users have confirmed that it works with all the many different Samba servers. Tags are parsed...

support.symfonium.app

I hope I don't have a comprehension problem . The fact is, when I press the play button in the app, stream from NAS via SMB to the Ultra/Mini/Pro and then interrupt the tablet's WiFi connection or shut down the tablet, the Ultra still continues to play.

 

[harkpabst]

I understand that everything wiim speaks DNLA ...

Absolutely correct.

But seems that DLNA only offers a folder browse - no album artwork, no different views of the library - is that correct?

You explicitly asked for this but I didn't see any explicit answer: This is not correct. It more or less only depends on the abilities of the DLNA server if e.g artwork is available and at what resolution and how many different views and navigation options are available.

You surely don't strictly need any of the 3rd party products mentioned, unless you actually want them for a specific reason.

Because ...

Surely Synology have their own inbuilt media server app?
Not suggesting it'll be better than any / all the other options, but it'd be a start.

...yes, they surely do. I just didn't want to be the first one again, stating that the Synology media server is just "good enough".for my needs.

 

[simbun]

I hope I don't have a comprehension problem . The fact is, when I press the play button in the app, stream from NAS via SMB to the Ultra/Mini/Pro and then interrupt the tablet's WiFi connection or shut down the tablet, the Ultra still continues to play.

WiiM devices cache the current and next track quite early on, so depending on how quickly you terminated the connection they may be able to complete the next two songs.

The easiest way to check (without monitoring network traffic or setting up firewall rules) is to use the Android app UPnP Tool.

• Start playback from Symfonium
• Open UPnP Tool and select the relevant WiiM device
• Scroll down the page and click Actions under the service urn:schemas-upnp-org:service:AVTransport:1
• Click on GetMediaInfo
• Enter 0 in the InstanceID field and click Invoke

The CurrentURI field lists the source of the active track (NextURI is the subsequent track) which should contain the IP address of your phone.

The UPnP protocol requires that media is served over http, so Symfonium starts a basic http server to distribute media to UPnP renderers.

The data flow using a SMB share will look like: SMB share -> router -> Symfonium -> router -> WiiM (ignoring any other network devices in between), whereas with a server on your NAS it would be: NAS -> router -> WiiM.

There are other advantages to running a server, but if you only have a single controlling device then it likely won't make any difference.

 

[Zap Rekowski]

Thanks for the clarification, you never stop learning . I also have Jellyfin servers running on my two WIN11 HTPCs and when using these as a source with Symfonium it behaved in the same way. In this respect, I assumed that SMB from the NAS would behave in the same way. But yes, when I use SMB from the NAS with Symfonium, only one end device is active. I think it's a very good (fast) use without having to install an additionally server on the NAS to be able to use the really good Symfonium app.

 

[Steev_jo]

Thanks for all the info.
I’ve ordered a Wiim pro - should arrive tomorrow.
Seems like I will have plenty of options!
Probably try plex first as that is already up and running on my NAS. I don’t think my needs are particularly sophisticated but if it doesn’t work out will give Asset UPnP a try. We are an apple house so Symfonium wont fit in.

Happy to report back if anyone is interested.
Cheers

 

[Steev_jo]

Thanks for all the info.
I’ve ordered a Wiim pro - should arrive tomorrow.
Seems like I will have plenty of options!
Probably try plex first as that is already up and running on my NAS. I don’t think my needs are particularly sophisticated but if it doesn’t work out will give Asset UPnP a try. We are an apple house so Symfonium wont fit in.

The Pro arrived today - set up went smoothly, the inevitable update didn't take long - connected to amp via optical.
Went to the Plex service in the Wiim app, logged into my (free) Plex account, server(Synology NAS) was found instantly, selected it and hey presto music was ready to play all with album art. Sounded fine once I'd realised wiim Pro volume was set to 50% - set it to 100% and then found the setting that locks it - just using the Pro as a flac decoder/bit streamer to amp.

App is responsive, searching the library is fast, messing with queue is easy - wiim pro off to a brilliant start!

Only thing so far is wish there was a-z scrolling in the app - takes a while to scroll through hundreds of albums or artists - I know I can search but it's not the same. App can show albums in random order which might be helpful when I'm looking for ideas for what to listen to.

 

[Burnside]

Only thing so far is wish there was a-z scrolling in the app - takes a while to scroll through hundreds of albums or artists - I know I can search but it's not the same. App can show albums in random order which might be helpful when I'm looking for ideas for what to listen to.

Submit a feature request ticket via the more/feedback section on the app - that feature has recently been added to other services on WiiM

 

[Steev_jo]

Submit a feature request ticket via the more/feedback section on the app - that feature has recently been added to other services on WiiM

Done!

 

[hoohoohoo]

The Pro arrived today - set up went smoothly, the inevitable update didn't take long - connected to amp via optical.
Went to the Plex service in the Wiim app, logged into my (free) Plex account, server(Synology NAS) was found instantly, selected it and hey presto music was ready to play all with album art. Sounded fine once I'd realised wiim Pro volume was set to 50% - set it to 100% and then found the setting that locks it - just using the Pro as a flac decoder/bit streamer to amp.

App is responsive, searching the library is fast, messing with queue is easy - wiim pro off to a brilliant start!

Only thing so far is wish there was a-z scrolling in the app - takes a while to scroll through hundreds of albums or artists - I know I can search but it's not the same. App can show albums in random order which might be helpful when I'm looking for ideas for what to listen to.

Plex has a sale on their lifetime memberships -- next ones are usually Pi Day (March 14th) and May 4th (may the fouth be with you) and then Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

 

[Steev_jo]

Plex has a sale on their lifetime memberships -- next ones are usually Pi Day (March 14th) and May 4th (may the fouth be with you) and then Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

At the risk of hijacking my own thread…

I only use plex for music, what advantages are there of paying for the plex pass? I’ve studied the plex website and can’t see anything obvious that would benefit me. Actually it would let me use plex amp to listen via Sonos which could be handy as Sonos still not sorted their app after may upgrade disaster. But it doesn’t play to wiim AFAIK so no real benefit - still have to use different apps to listen in different rooms.

Thanks for tip re sales.