Grouped/synced Wiims plus recevier — volume settings

[Raphaz]

I have a WIim Pro+ and two Minis in my system.
All sources (CD, tape and TT) go to a simple switch and then into the Pro+, which also serves as a streamer for music services like Spotify and Tidal.
I have the Wiim Pro+ hooked up to a receiver, via the Pro+'s Line Out, to the Aux In on the receiver.
The receiver powers a set of wired speakers and a wired, powered sub, the latter connected to the receiver's Pre Out.
The Minis are connected to a pair of powered remote speakers each and receive sound from the Pro+ via WiFi.
The Wiims are grouped and synced. The volume on each pair of remotes is a bit different – the remotes function a bit like rears and just add the necessary detail when I'm further away from the mains.
I love the crisp, clear, present, detailed sound of my receiver and basically try to extend that sound signature to the far corners of the space.

I attached a simple schematic for context.

My question is:
How would you go about Volume settings/control? Maybe someone has a similar setup?
I asked a similar question a while ago but the setup is a bit different now.
Should I Limit the volume on the Pro+ and the Minis? Should I work with Fixed Volume?
On the receiver, should I have the volume up high, then leave it alone and control the volume from the Wiim app? That is certainly convenient, but I wonder about sound quality.
The goal is that I have the volume on all speakers set so that I have a good volume balance, while the mains and the sub are the main sources and a bit louder than the other speakers, and the remotes just add that necessary ambiance sound so that I can have crystal clear sound and hear all the details wherever I am in the (large, wide open) space (with high ceiling).


I appreciate any advice and I'm curious to hear how other folks set their volume and such.
Thank you!

 

[Hazenhart]

With the AVR you have a whole pre-amp and volume control section that can't really be bypassed. I assume the powered speakers also have the same. Optimally for the AVR you'd want to run your Pro+ with FIXED volume output and control the volume from the AVR exclusively.

If you want everything playing together at a consistently balanced volume across all speakers, you'll want to set and leave the volumes of the AVR and the powered speakers and control everything from the WiiM app. If the AVR and powered speakers are all digital volume controls then theoretically having them set to max would be best, and probably safest in any regard. From there you'd want to match the volumes between the Pro+ and Minis by ear. Probably start by adjusting the output voltage in the Pro+ with a goal of having the volume sliders the same across all the WiiM devices. After that adjust by volume limits.

Good luck.

 

[Raphaz]

With the AVR you have a whole pre-amp and volume control section that can't really be bypassed. I assume the powered speakers also have the same. Optimally for the AVR you'd want to run your Pro+ with FIXED volume output and control the volume from the AVR exclusively.

If you want everything playing together at a consistently balanced volume across all speakers, you'll want to set and leave the volumes of the AVR and the powered speakers and control everything from the WiiM app. If the AVR and powered speakers are all digital volume controls then theoretically having them set to max would be best, and probably safest in any regard. From there you'd want to match the volumes between the Pro+ and Minis by ear. Probably start by adjusting the output voltage in the Pro+ with a goal of having the volume sliders the same across all the WiiM devices. After that adjust by volume limits.

Good luck.

I’m a bit confused about what you’re saying.
It’s not an AVR, it’s a vintage receiver, a Yamaha R-2000, not digital, it has a pre-out and main in that can be coupled or separated. As mentioned I have the sub connected to the pre out. The main speakers are not powered, they are analog KEF Q500 and wired to the speaker terminals of the receiver.
The powered remote speakers have their own amps built in, so does the sub.
The powered remote speakers are not fed/controlled by the receiver but via WiFI from the Pro+ directly to the Minis, the latter connected to the remote speakers.

Setting the receiver’s volume to the max (at 150 WPC) sounds like a scary thing to do. I’ve never done that actually.

 

[Raphaz]

I’m a bit confused about what you’re saying.
It’s not an AVR, it’s a vintage receiver, a Yamaha R-2000, not digital, it has a pre-out and main in that can be coupled or separated. As mentioned I have the sub connected to the pre out. The main speakers are not powered, they are analog KEF Q500 and wired to the speaker terminals of the receiver.
The powered remote speakers have their own amps built in, so does the sub.
The powered remote speakers are not fed/controlled by the receiver but via WiFI from the Pro+ directly to the Minis, the latter connected to the remote speakers.

Setting the receiver’s volume to the max (at 150 WPC) sounds like a scary thing to do. I’ve never done that actually.

Maybe by max volume for the receiver you meant for me to set it at the highest volume I’d ever listen to, not the receiver’s max volume. Correct?

I guess the fact that you assumed an AVR instead of an old school receiver may be what confused me - that may also change your equation a bit. Not sure.

 

[Raphaz]

One other thing I’m not sure I understand was “adjusting the output voltage in the Pro+”.
Output volume?
Or Line out Vrms? If the latter, what does that do?*

*(Google tells me it’s some sort of volume/power control - limiting max Voltage power output?
Still not clear what that means in my setting.


Thank you!

 

[Wiimer]

I have a WIim Pro+ and two Minis in my system.
All sources (CD, tape and TT) go to a simple switch and then into the Pro+, which also serves as a streamer for music services like Spotify and Tidal.
I have the Wiim Pro+ hooked up to a receiver, via the Pro+'s Line Out, to the Aux In on the receiver.
The receiver powers a set of wired speakers and a wired, powered sub, the latter connected to the receiver's Pre Out.
The Minis are connected to a pair of powered remote speakers each and receive sound from the Pro+ via WiFi.
The Wiims are grouped and synced. The volume on each pair of remotes is a bit different – the remotes function a bit like rears and just add the necessary detail when I'm further away from the mains.
I love the crisp, clear, present, detailed sound of my receiver and basically try to extend that sound signature to the far corners of the space.

I attached a simple schematic for context.

My question is:
How would you go about Volume settings/control? Maybe someone has a similar setup?
I asked a similar question a while ago but the setup is a bit different now.
Should I Limit the volume on the Pro+ and the Minis? Should I work with Fixed Volume?
On the receiver, should I have the volume up high, then leave it alone and control the volume from the Wiim app? That is certainly convenient, but I wonder about sound quality.
The goal is that I have the volume on all speakers set so that I have a good volume balance, while the mains and the sub are the main sources and a bit louder than the other speakers, and the remotes just add that necessary ambiance sound so that I can have crystal clear sound and hear all the details wherever I am in the (large, wide open) space (with high ceiling).


I appreciate any advice and I'm curious to hear how other folks set their volume and such.
Thank you!

It depends on which device you want to control the volume on. The most convenient way would be to use the WiiM home app and WiiM remote to control the volume of the group all together.

In this case, here is an example configuration.

1. Fix the volume of the receiver at a desired value. (It should be close to the maximum volume, but the maximum volume you normally listen to is fine.)
2. In the WiiM app, gradually increase the Pro+ volume from 0 to 100 to your maximum volume.
3. If the Pro+ volume gauge is too low, limit the volume in the WiiM app.
4. When the Pro+ volume gauge is at 90%, lower the volume limit to your maximum volume. (For example, the volume limit is 80%, the volume gauge is 90%, and the receiver volume is at 12:00.)
5. Next, create a group with a Pro+ and two Minis.
6. Similarly, use the volume limits on the active speaker and the Mini to adjust the Mini's volume gauge to be the same volume as the Pro+ at 90%.

(If necessary, you may need to adjust the line-out level of each WiiM device first, but basically the default 2Vrms should be fine.)


The device card for the WiiM app looks like this The volume of all devices is the same, so control is easy.



Note that using the Pro+ remote to adjust the volume up or down allows you to adjust the volume of the entire group, but may sometimes upset the balance.

 

[Raphaz]

Thank you all for your suggestions.
I think I understand my options a bit better now.
I’ll have to experiment with all the settings for a bit to get to where I want to be. But this is helpful, thank you!

 

[Hazenhart]

Maybe by max volume for the receiver you meant for me to set it at the highest volume I’d ever listen to, not the receiver’s max volume. Correct?

I guess the fact that you assumed an AVR instead of an old school receiver may be what confused me - that may also change your equation a bit. Not sure.

Yeah sorry for adding to the confusion. I misread/assumed it was an AVR.
With analog volume control max is probably not your cleanest setting. 60-80% is probably a good bet. The risk is that once you get everything set as Wiimer describes, somebody unknowingly turns the volume nob on the receiver and you're overdriving the amp and speakers.
Also like Wiimer describes, the line out Vrms adjusts the voltage output (basically the volume), which can be very useful for balancing the volume relative to other devices and obtaining optimal audio quality.

 

[Wiimer]

The risk is that once you get everything set as Wiimer describes, somebody unknowingly turns the volume nob on the receiver and you're overdriving the amp and speakers.

Yes, you are correct.
In my case, I use a rubber band on the volume knob of the amp to hold it in place.

Post in thread 'Volume settings when used as pre and DAC'

Jun 24, 2024

I have the similar setup as @Mr Ee.

First, I turn down the volume on the amp then turn the WiiM to full volume. Next, I turn up the volume on the amp to the max volume I listen to music at. Finally, I turn the volume of the WiiM down a bit and then back up to normal volume I listen to music at.

Normally, the volume is controlled by WiiM, but since the WiiM volume is always near maximum, there is no risk of ear or speaker damage in the unlikely event that the WiiM volume setting is reset by an update or other means.

And because I am very anxious, I use a silicone ring to hold the...

• Wiimer

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[Raphaz]

Thank you all!