Make Wiim groups available to Airplay devices

[Paul F.]

I have defined a group inside the Wiim app out of two wiims. But streaming over Airplay, I can't really do anything with it. Airplay devices don't see the group, just the individual wiims.

Feature request: Make the groups show up to airplay devices as a streaming target.

 

[Burnside]

Typically that’s not how you’d use Airplay 2, you’d select multiple target devices from your iOS device. Also, doesn’t airplaying to the main device in the WiiM group also play in the other device in the group? I guess what you’re asking for is in effect an alias for the main group speaker so that it receives and then redistributes the audio. I’m not sure if the airplay protocol would support that though.

You’d be best submitting this as a feature request ticket direct to WiiM via the more/feedback section in the app and get their opinion.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

Also, doesn’t airplaying to the main device in the WiiM group also play in the other device in the group?

I tried that earlier, and only the main device plays.

 

[Burnside]

I tried that earlier, and only the main device plays.

Is that not the usual workaround for the Ultra not having airplay by grouping it with a mini?

Edit: works with my Mini and Amp Ultra. And Wiim Pro and Amp Ultra,

 

[QuarryHunslet]

Is that not the usual workaround for the Ultra not having airplay by grouping it with a mini?

Edit: works with my Mini and Amp Ultra. And Wiim Pro and Amp Ultra,

I created a group with the C10 and the Amp Ultra, and AirPlay from my iPhone doesn't see the group, but it does see the C10, and that's all that plays.

I have just tried creating a second group with a WiiM Pro and Amp Ultra, and like before the iPhone can not see any WiiM groups using AirPlay, and in this case can only AirPlay to the WiiM Pro, and that is all that plays.

A third WiiM group with Pro and C10, (both AirPlay receivers) and still not seen as a group in AirPlay, so as before only the selected device plays.

 

[Burnside]

Very strange - here’s me playing using airplay from Qobuz to my A10 which has been grouped with my Amp Ultra and both are playing by dint of me airplaying to the A10 alone.

Edit: I wouldn’t expect my iPad to recognise WiiM groups irrespective of whether the devices were airplay capable or not. Googling gives contradictory accounts of whether you can group speakers in the Apple Home app but the option of “grouping” under an accessory doesn’t appear for any of my airplay capable speakers (Linn and WiiM devices), while other search results suggest as I did that you can’t create persistent speaker groups there and just select multiple speakers from the airplay menu itself for adhoc grouping.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

Is that not the usual workaround for the Ultra not having airplay by grouping it with a mini?

Edit: works with my Mini and Amp Ultra. And Wiim Pro and Amp Ultra,

I have got it working, but not using a WiiM group as the OP wanted.

I have used AirPlay to select, and play music on a single WiiM device with AirPlay receiver. Then via the appropriate WiiM device tile in the WiiM Home app, select the chain (Link) icon, and select the other WiiM device or devices to link to, and then the music will play on the other device/s as well.

So a different way of doing it, but not using a WiiM group as the OP wanted.

 

[Burnside]

I have got it working, but not using a WiiM group as the OP wanted.

I have used AirPlay to select, and play music on a single WiiM device with AirPlay receiver. Then via the appropriate WiiM device tile in the WiiM Home app, select the chain (Link) icon, and select the other WiiM device or devices to link to, and then the music will play on the other device/s as well.

So a different way of doing it, but not using a WiiM group as the OP wanted.

As I say, I don’t think it’s feasible for WiiM groups to appear as an entity to an airplay client - doesn’t look like even Apple allow you to do that, just select multiple targets.

I group/link them first in the WiiM app then airplay to the main speaker alone and both play.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

I group/link them first in the WiiM app then airplay to the main speaker alone and both play.

I have just tried this again, and it's working for me now.

 

[Burnside]

My influence is spreading …

 

[Paul F.]

I have used AirPlay to select, and play music on a single WiiM device with AirPlay receiver. Then via the appropriate WiiM device tile in the WiiM Home app, select the chain (Link) icon, and select the other WiiM device or devices to link to, and then the music will play on the other device/s as well.

Yes that's the only way I can get it to work, too.

I don’t think it’s feasible for WiiM groups to appear as an entity to an airplay client - doesn’t look like even Apple allow you to do that, just select multiple targets.

Maybe, I just don't see what the use of having groups is, then? Maybe something to do with other streaming protocols?

 

[Burnside]

Yes that's the only way I can get it to work, too.


Maybe, I just don't see what the use of having groups is, then? Maybe something to do with other streaming protocols?

Linkplay/Wiim groups are used for playback within the WiiM app for the many services it supports on the Browse page, as well as taking external input, say from a turntable or CD player, and sending that to linked WiiM devices.

It’s not uncommon for one implementation of linked or grouped devices to be incompatible with another one. For example, to play Amazon Music on a group of WiiMs and say Echo devices, you’d group them in the Alexa app. To play to a group of Chromecast compatible WiiM devices, you’d need to group them in the Google Home app and then Chromecast from your phone to them. If Apple did actually allow a similar process to create a persistent group within their app (which it appears they don’t) then you’d similarly airplay to that group rather than having to select multiple airplay devices on the fly.

What’s the source you’re wanting to airplay to multiple WiiM devices?

 

[SaltineSurfer]

This is a great idea to have the groups advertised as airplay speakers too. I’m sure it would be technically possible too.

 

[Burnside]

This is a great idea to have the groups advertised as airplay speakers too. I’m sure it would be technically possible too.

As I said above, I don’t think Apple/airplay has a concept of persistent groups. In the case of a WiiM group, airplaying to the main device in the group will cause the audio to be sent to the others in the group anyway.