New playback issue using WiiM Pro with Jriver server

[rarewolf]

I use a WiiM Pro to remotely provide PCM via coax to my DAC/amp stack. This is usually accomplished by using Jriver’s Jremote smartphone app to select music from the Jriver media server and choosing the WiiM as the playback zone. The Jremote app offers several playback zones, including the smartphone (or DAP), the Jriver player itself (family room), the WiiM, as well as soundbars and smart Tvs connected to the LAN.

As of a few days ago and after the WiiM updated itself to v.4.8.721260, the above has stopped working. I can still use the JRiver app to choose the WiiM for output but it instead sends the playlist the Jriver computer’s ‘Player’, and I can hear the playback downstairs in the family room. Using the app to view the playlist/playback, it shows up under the ‘Player’ output zone (which is playing) whereas it should be showing up in the zone defined for the WiiM’s output. The Jriver app otherwise behaves normally, for example, for connecting with the server and using it for remote playback on the Android DAP or iPhone USB.

I suspect the WiiM only because of the recent update, whereas I an unaware of any changes to the Jriver computer or the apps. How do I troubleshoot this? What additional info can I provide?

Tia, and cheers from The Avalon…

 

[dtc]

I do the same, but do not currently have access to my Pro to check this behavior.

Some things to check.

Does Media Center have the correct address of the Pro? You can see the device address in Media Center by right clicking on the Wiim entry in Playing Now in the left hand tree.

Can you connect the Wiim to one of the Media Center DNA servers and play that way?

 

[rarewolf]

I do the same, but do not currently have access to my Pro to check this behavior.

Some things to check.

Does Media Center have the correct address of the Pro? You can see the device address in Media Center by right clicking on the Wiim entry in Playing Now in the left hand tree.

Can you connect the Wiim to one of the Media Center DNA servers and play that way?

Hi dtc… thanks for your response…

Yes… Jriver MC shows the correct IP address…

I am able to use WiiM’s app’s own player to find the Jriver server and play back thru the DAC/amp stack. However, browsing available local severs shows two associated with Jriver (1) the “original content” server I had created for this purpose, and (2) another that I hadn’t seen before associated with my email address (?), which invites me to configure “an enhanced music library”. Could the Jremote app instead be choosing this option??

 

[simbun]

Unless you've enabled the DLNA Cast beta and configured it (Device Settings > Audio Output > DLNA Out), it's not possible for the Pro to redirect playback to your Jriver player.

Does the WHA show any activity?

Have you tried rebooting the Jriver server?

 

[dtc]

What happens if you play from Media Center itself on the PC rather than using JRemote?

I see the email servers also in MC - Servers and Plug-ins - Media Network. They have always been there. I am not sure why MC would now use that for playback.

 

[rarewolf]

Unless you've enabled the DLNA Cast beta and configured it (Device Settings > Audio Output > DLNA Out), it's not possible for the Pro to redirect playback to your Jriver player.

Does the WHA show any activity?

Have you tried rebooting the Jriver server?

Re “DLNA cast beta”, I certainly haven’t enabled it that I’m aware of. Which device are you speaking of? I find nothing under Jriver options, or with configuring the server…(?)

Re “WHA”… what is WHA?

The server has been rebooted numerous times, along with the Windows computer itself…

 

[dtc]

Re “DLNA cast beta”, I certainly haven’t enabled it that I’m aware of. Which device are you speaking of? I find nothing under Jriver options, or with configuring the server…(?)

You only need DLNA cast if you want the Wiim app to send its output to a DNA renederer, which is not what you are doing. Also, I think it is only available for the Ultra at this point.

 

[simbun]

Re “DLNA cast beta”, I certainly haven’t enabled it that I’m aware of. Which device are you speaking of?

WiiM allow you to trial features that have yet to make it to stable (Device Settings > Device Info > Join Beta Testing).

Re “WHA”… what is WHA?

The WiiM Home app

 

[simbun]

Also, I think it is only available for the Ultra at this point.

I think it's in the stable firmware of the Ultra but available in beta on the Pro.

 

[rarewolf]

What happens if you play from Media Center itself on the PC rather than using JRemote?

I see the email servers also in MC - Servers and Plug-ins - Media Network. They have always been there. I am not sure why MC would now use that for playback.

Case 1… If I select & play via Media Center, on the computer itself, it plays from the library as it should.

Case 2… If I instead select and then drag an album into WiiM zone and tell it to play, it will instead switch immediately to MC’s player and play the album as if I chosen select & play (case 1), instead of sending the playlist to the remote WiiM.

 

[rarewolf]

WiiM allow you to trial features that have yet to make it to stable (Device Settings > Device Info > Join Beta Testing).

I don’t see this option…

The WiiM Home app

The WiiM zone shows no activity. If the WiiM zone had been selected for output the list of what was selected to play should’ve shown up. Neither does the selection show up in the WiiM app…

 

[simbun]

I don’t see this option…

That's strange, its a big blue button at the bottom of the Device Info screen on my Pro, but as long as Audio Output is set to coax you should be fine.

Neither does the selection show up in the WiiM app…

Ok, so WiiMs not playing or redirecting.

Have you installed the recent (last week) Jriver update? If you have I'd try and roll back.

 

[rarewolf]

That's strange, its a big blue button at the bottom of the Device Info screen on my Pro, but as long as Audio Output is set to coax you should be fine.

Found it, but “beta testing” was never enabled…

Ok, so WiiMs not playing or redirecting.

Have you installed the recent (last week) Jriver update? If you have I'd try and roll back.

I had been using MC33 flawlessly with the WiiM, and while I’ve had a license for MC34 I had been waiting for it to mature, as well as wanting to make major changes until remedying this problem.

I’ve gone ahead and installed the most recent MC34, rebooted both the computer and WiiM, made sure the server was running and configured as before.

The WiiM app works with the same server as before, although I seem to only select a single track at a time (not being used to this player), but it works with the headphone DAC/Amp, and I can see what is playing in the WiiM zone as displayed by Media Center.

That said, Jriver’s app Jremote can choose the WiiM zone for output, as well as select music from the MC server, but the actual PCM output goes to the MC ‘Player’, and no playlist will show up for the WiiM zone (only the ‘Player’ zone. Further, I’ve tried the Jremote app with my iPhone, iPad, and Android DAP, and they all behave the same.

ARGH+*@%&#

 

[dtc]

Case 1… If I select & play via Media Center, on the computer itself, it plays from the library as it should.

Case 2… If I instead select and then drag an album into WiiM zone and tell it to play, it will instead switch immediately to MC’s player and play the album as if I chosen select & play (case 1), instead of sending the playlist to the remote WiiM.

Do you another DLNA device to play to - maybe a TV or receiver?

 

[rarewolf]

Do you another DLNA device to play to - maybe a TV or receiver?

I may have fixed this by deleting some rules associated with players associated with playing audio and video local to the server (i.e., the family room). These players should have been associated with playback on the computer only, but maybe the rule for playing audio only with the “audio” player excluded playing audio via the WiiM(?). That is, I was hoping the rules would exclude video being played by the audio player, and vive versa, but it may have excluded audio from playing anywhere else.

At least the WiiM app, together with the Jremote app, isn’t sending the WiiM output to the MC audio player anymore. In any case, I haven’t tested this rigorously, only at the computer, not at the remote WiiM/DAC/amp listening location. Assume the problem fixed if I don’t come back after tonight…

Thanks all for your input, and cheers from The Avalon…