HDMI ARC hijacking inputs

[hgo58]

I bought this TV to use the WiiM TV app. This is my setup.

TV
- Speaker output: ARC
- CEC: all on

WiiM
- Auto-sensing HDMI : on
- AOTO : off

When I play music on WiiM, turn on the TV and open the WiiM TV app, it works fine.

If I want to watch Youtube, stop the music on the WiiM and then press the YouTube button on the TV remote to play the video. The WiiM input will then switch to HDMI via auto-sensing.

If I get bored of YouTube, simply open the WiiM TV app and resume music on WiiM.

I don't use the TV's built-in speakers, so everything works fine.

Ok, so not the use cases that doesn't work.

 

[harkpabst]

I don't think it's so complicated.

I think it very complicated. Really. No joke.

I do interpret the "Automatically output audio to WiiM when TV is on" as the main use case switch.

So when "on" the WiiM shall always change to CEC ARC (external speakers) on the TV (if not already on) and select HDMI input on the WiiM. If the HDMI input is deselected the WiiM should just leave the TV as it is (auto-sensing can come into play here).

Absolutely and certainly not what I want (and luckily don't get).

The most important use case is having the WiiM putting out the TV sound, of course. But please understand that second most important use case is having the TV displaying whatever stuff but playing music from some other source through the WiiM. I absolutely do not want the WiiM switching back to HDMI just because the TV is on. Think about the WiiM Home app for Apple TV/FireTV/GoogleTV.

Even less do I want the TV to switch back to it's internal speakers automatically when it's on but the WiiM is playing some different source. That would be utter madness. With CEC off I would accept this to be the case when the WiiM device is in standby. With CEC on I would want the TV to wake up the WiiM .of course.

 

[hgo58]

I think it very complicated. Really. No joke.


Absolutely and certainly not what I want (and luckily don't get).

The most important use case is having the WiiM putting out the TV sound, of course. But please understand that second most important use case is having the TV displaying whatever stuff but playing music from some other source through the WiiM. I absolutely do not want the WiiM switching back to HDMI just because the TV is on. Think about the WiiM Home app for Apple TV/FireTV/GoogleTV.

Even less do I want the TV to switch back to it's internal speakers automatically when it's on but the WiiM is playing some different source. That would be utter madness. With CEC off I would accept this to be the case when the WiiM device is in standby. With CEC on I would want the TV to wake up the WiiM .of course.

That is not what I wrote.

It just shows how hard it is to explain, because we have different views of how it shall work in our use cases. I actually think my description would fit your case. I don't see where it would not.

 

[WiiM Team]

Recently I connected HDMI ARC output from my Sony TV to Wiim Ultra. Reason for that is that I have two more Wiim devices (Wiim Pro and Wiim Amp Pro) so I want to have surround from time to time (movie evenings with friends). But, whatever I do, whil TV is on, Wiim Ultra has HDMI input on. There is no way I can change to another input. When I change, after a while it returns to HDMI. Is there any way to make HDMI input and ordinary input - so actions what I do on TV do not affect Wiim, so I can turn the unit off or have permantently another input? Auto sense is off, any setting I could find on TV and on Wiim regarding HDMI is off. Am I doing something wrong?

Hi @ilorenci ,

Sorry for the inconvenience!
Could you please assist us by sending feedback through the WiiM Home app? To do so, go to the More tab and tap Feedback. Our engineers will review it promptly upon receipt.

Additionally, kindly disable the Auto-sensing feature for HDMI ARC in Audio Input settings via the WiiM Home app. This will prevent the WiiM device from automatically switching to HDMI input mode while the device is playing. The WiiM should not switch to HDMI ARC input when another input source is active.

To assist us in debugging this issue, could you please answer the following questions:

1. When the WiiM switches to HDMI input mode, is the TV playing at that time?
2. When the WiiM switches to HDMI input mode, is the WiiM playing from another input mode?

 

[hgo58]

Just got an answer to this issue from WiiM, after a long wait.

"Thank you for reaching out. We have discussed your request internally, but it may not be implemented quickly, as most users are satisfied with the current behavior."

I really don't think WiiM understand the issue?

Do all agree to that when the HDMI settings are all disabled, then the WiiM device should still enable CEC discovery.

This causes the TV to change to external speakers even though the WiiM remain in standby mode.

In the case all HDMI settings are disabled (off) I don't think the CEC should be on. Only when the TV input is manually selected, the CEC should be activated.

In the case HDMI settings are enabled (on) there were a request from some users that the CEC should be always on. That is maybe ok? But then only in that case, not with HDMI settings off.

As it is now I need to physical disconnect the HDMI cable when I don't want to use the WiiM for TV sound. This was not the case when I got the WiiM a year ago.

What is your opinion?

 

[Carabassa]

I have the same problem. TV switching from speakers to HD although the Wiim ultra is in standby mode with all settings configured not to do so. Months ago there was a firmware where this issued was solved. I could turn on TV and the sound didn't change to HDMI, I had to manually select audio output in the TV and then it played through to he Wiim.
But for some reasons this feature was rolled back and all new settings don't stop my TV changing to HDMI.

 

[Frey]

I have the same problem. TV switching from speakers to HD although the Wiim ultra is in standby mode with all settings configured not to do so. Months ago there was a firmware where this issued was solved. I could turn on TV and the sound didn't change to HDMI, I had to manually select audio output in the TV and then it played through to he Wiim.
But for some reasons this feature was rolled back and all new settings don't stop my TV changing to HDMI.

I have the same. I had two tickets open for this issue. The first time, they released a version that solved the problem, but it was withdrawn because apparently users complained.

I don’t know whether the Wiim team doesn’t understand the problem or if they lack the technical capability to handle our case. It seems to me that an additional switch in the options to completely disable HDMI CEC would be enough.
Alternatively, they could activate CEC only after manually selecting the HDMI input.

I’m glad I’m not alone with this problem, so I’m not such a weirdo At the moment, I don’t use HDMI on the Wiim Ultra at all and I’m looking for another streamer that will properly support the HDMI ARC input.

 

[hgo58]

I have the same. I had two tickets open for this issue. The first time, they released a version that solved the problem, but it was withdrawn because apparently users complained.

I don’t know whether the Wiim team doesn’t understand the problem or if they lack the technical capability to handle our case. It seems to me that an additional switch in the options to completely disable HDMI CEC would be enough.
Alternatively, they could activate CEC only after manually selecting the HDMI input.

I’m glad I’m not alone with this problem, so I’m not such a weirdo At the moment, I don’t use HDMI on the Wiim Ultra at all and I’m looking for another streamer that will properly support the HDMI ARC input.

I got the answer from @WiiM Support some time ago, that because some users have complained about the fix that actually did work, it was rolled back. And they had decided to not implement it again.

Unfortunately I think @WiiM Team has misunderstood the user complain and the issue in general. I have told them so and suggested a compromise but that has been ignored with silence.

 

[audiobliss]

HDMI ARC has always been a PITA, not just with Wiim. Just pull the cable out and use the optical from the TV.

 

[hgo58]

HDMI ARC has always been a PITA, not just with Wiim. Just pull the cable out and use the optical from the TV.

Why, when it's so easy for WiiM to fix, if they want to?

My optical input is in use already (CD). The HDMI cable is however disconnected to allow me to get any sound on the TV.

 

[guy48065]

I have a problem with my Ultra waking on its own and sending a really nasty POP to my speakers. Even if my TV was off my FireTV streamer (connected to the TV HDMI ARC input) would cause the Ultra to act up.
My FireTV was responsible for waking up the Wiim several times per day. Occasionally this would happen 2X in quick succession and THIS would output a huge spike from my still-charged up amp.

I made 2 changes:
I changed the TV's HDMI output format to PCM. A Wiim support suggestion.
I put my FireTV cube on the same remote relay as the amp, so it's off when the Wiim is off.

 

[hgo58]

I have a problem with my Ultra waking on its own and sending a really nasty POP to my speakers. Even if my TV was off my FireTV streamer (connected to the TV HDMI ARC input) would cause the Ultra to act up.
My FireTV was responsible for waking up the Wiim several times per day. Occasionally this would happen 2X in quick succession and THIS would output a huge spike from my still-charged up amp.

I made 2 changes:
I changed the TV's HDMI output format to PCM. A Wiim support suggestion.
I put my FireTV cube on the same remote relay as the amp, so it's off when the Wiim is off.

Did you turn off the HDMI CEC settings in the WiiM Home App?

PS: I don't really see how your issue is related to the subject in this thread?

 

[AlanB]

Why, when it's so easy for WiiM to fix, if they want to?

My optical input is in use already (CD). The HDMI cable is however disconnected to allow me to get any sound on the TV.

Can't you use an optical spliiter switch?

 

[hgo58]

Can't you use an optical spliiter switch?

Why should I when to there is a HDMI ARC interface? The only problem is that it's working too good The WiiM aways trying to change the TV to ARC, even when the WiiM is in standby. So when I don't want to use the WiiM for the TV sound, I can't. Only option is then to disconnect the HDMI cable.

I don't like having the TV sound on the big speakers when e.g. watching the news. Only when seeing a movie.

Not a major problem, just annoying. Especially because this was working correctly in the first place, when I got the WiiM.

 

[AlanB]

Why should I when to there is a HDMI ARC interface? The only problem is that it's working too good The WiiM aways trying to change the TV to ARC, even when the WiiM is in standby. So when I don't want to use the WiiM for the TV sound, I can't. Only option is then to disconnect the HDMI cable.

I don't like having the TV sound on the big speakers when e.g. watching the news. Only when seeing a movie.

Not a major problem, just annoying. Especially because this was working correctly in the first place, when I got the WiiM.

Because for a modest outlay of around £15 it would solve your problem. Up to you though!

 

[jfbuk]

Hi hgo58,

A thought on a workaround that negates physically disconnecting the cable.
I know very little about HDMI but what if you connected the TV to an HDMI switch that supported ARC ?
TV => switch input
switch output 1 => Wiim
switch output 2 => nothing

if set to output 2 would the TV default to internal speakers ?

 

[hgo58]

Because for a modest outlay of around £15 it would solve your problem. Up to you though!

Hi hgo58,

A thought on a workaround that negates physically disconnecting the cable.
I know very little about HDMI but what if you connected the TV to an HDMI switch that supported ARC ?
TV => switch input
switch output 1 => Wiim
switch output 2 => nothing

if set to output 2 would the TV default to internal speakers ?

Thanks for your suggestions.

I am actually just trying to get WiiM to understand the situation and implemt the fix. As said, it worked when I got the WiiM Ultra. For now I just don't use the HDMI input. Too bad but looks like other users that want the HDMI always on (even when disabled in the app) have priority.

 

[harkpabst]

The last time WiiM implement a fix it was not as simple as us stupid folks who always want the HDMI input to work automatically were too stupid to enable CEC.

It simply didn't work as intended.

The primary use case of an HDMI ARC input is to use it, not to not use it. If for whatever reason one single switch does not work to support both cases, then I'm still all for ARC on, if in doubt.

Disabling CEC does not mean that the TV should output sound through the ARC lines.

 

[guy48065]

Did you turn off the HDMI CEC settings in the WiiM Home App?

PS: I don't really see how your issue is related to the subject in this thread?

Your TV is making the Ultra act up.
My FireTV is making my Ultra act up. It's my understanding that anything connected to an HDMI port can see signals from other connected devices.

 

[hgo58]

Your TV is making the Ultra act up.
My FireTV is making my Ultra act up. It's my understanding that anything connected to an HDMI port can see signals from other connected devices.

It's the other way around. The WiiM make my TV behave wrongly.

But yes, the CEC signal wire is a common "bus" that can be seen and manipulated by all connected devices.