No sound coming from Wiim Mini using SPDIF

[ssen]

Wanted to use the Wiim mini to output audio to my Sonos playbar (not connected to TV) so that I can Airplay content from my iPhone/iPad to the soundbar. The playbar is just used as speakers and is not connected to a TV or anything else. Connected the Wiim mini to the Sonos playbar using SPDIF as the original Playbar only accepts SPDIF as input (no AUX).

Unfortunately, I am not getting any sound to the Playbar. I have tried different audio resolutions and none of them output any sound (even during the test/settings). I know the Playbar works because I am able to stream content from the Sonos app directly to the playbar and everything works perfectly from the Sonos app.

I have tested the cable that came with the Wiim mini as well as a different one (that I know works). I do see the red light from both optical cables.

The Wiim app shows that my network strength is "Very Good". I am able to toggle the status light on/off on the Wiim mini from the app so I know that the app connects to the Wiim mini.

When I play a song from my iPad to the Wiim (via the Wiim app), it says that the song is playing but of course, there is no sound coming from the speakers.

Is there something I am missing?

 

[Wiimer]

Wanted to use the Wiim mini to output audio to my Sonos playbar (not connected to TV) so that I can Airplay content from my iPhone/iPad to the soundbar. The playbar is just used as speakers and is not connected to a TV or anything else. Connected the Wiim mini to the Sonos playbar using SPDIF as the original Playbar only accepts SPDIF as input (no AUX).

Unfortunately, I am not getting any sound to the Playbar. I have tried different audio resolutions and none of them output any sound (even during the test/settings). I know the Playbar works because I am able to stream content from the Sonos app directly to the playbar and everything works perfectly from the Sonos app.

I have tested the cable that came with the Wiim mini as well as a different one (that I know works). I do see the red light from both optical cables.

The Wiim app shows that my network strength is "Very Good". I am able to toggle the status light on/off on the Wiim mini from the app so I know that the app connects to the Wiim mini.

When I play a song from my iPad to the Wiim (via the Wiim app), it says that the song is playing but of course, there is no sound coming from the speakers.

Is there something I am missing?

Is there sound when you change "Spdif output resolution" to 16bit/44.1kHz in the device settings of the WiiM app?

The output resolution must be set to a value that allows the Sonos Playbar to accept input.

 

[ssen]

Yea, I tried that and some other combos - no sound! Not sure what the Sonos playbar requires but the playbar plays the same songs from the Sonos app directly.

 

[ssen]

Thanks @Achim1811

I read the article but I think the issue is with the device’s optical port. My Sonos playbar doesn’t have Airplay so I was hoping to use the WiiM mini to get around that limitation. As per the article, it should work the way I had it set up i.e. WiiM to Sonos Playbar via optical, unless I misunderstood something

 

[ssen]

@Achim1811, great question. I have an Arc in the living room as well. In fact, it replaced the Playbar. As a result, I have a spare soundbar that I was planning to use as a speaker in the bedroom.

I can stream music to the Playbar from the Sonos app so that’s not a problem.

What I was hoping to do was to Airplay the sound from my YouTube app on the iPad to the Playbar so that I can watch videos on the iPad while the sound from the YouTube video comes from the Playbar. If the Playbar supported Airplay like the Arc, my problem would be solved but because it doesn’t, I was hoping to use WiiM as an Airplay receiver (connected to the Playbar). That way I could Airplay the audio to the Playbar from the YouTube app on the IPad

 

[ssen]

You may be right in that it is restricted from Sonos. I ordered another WiiM, just to eliminate the possibility that the optical port is faulty. If it also doesn’t work then very likely the culprit is the Playbar and I may have to look at alternatives

Thanks for checking though. Really appreciate it

 

[Wiimer]

You may want to contact Sonos support to see if the optical input works with devices other than TV.

 

[ssen]

That’s a good suggestion. Thanks @Wiimer

 

[Mr Ee]

You may be right in that it is restricted from Sonos. I ordered another WiiM, just to eliminate the possibility that the optical port is faulty. If it also doesn’t work then very likely the culprit is the Playbar and I may have to look at alternatives

Thanks for checking though. Really appreciate it

Do you have any other device with optical in that you can test with?
Is the volume on the wiim turned up? I know that mine was on zero when I first got it, so I got no sound at all, even on the test tone.

If you airplay to the wiim then optical out to the Sonos you might find that there's a lip sync issue. Then again, you might not, but be prepared for it, just in case!
And... I can't see how the Sonos bar would know the difference between a tv and any other source! If you do connect the tv to the sonos, does it work?

 

[ssen]

@Mr Ee I did try fiddling with the volume on the Wiim when it wasn't playing any sound. My Playbar was connected to the TV previously using optical so I know that both the Playbar and the optical cable work.

@Achim1811 I contacted Sonos support. Their suggestion was to try and do the TV Setup option in the Sonos app after everything is hooked up. He did say that it may or may not work as the Playbar is ideally meant for TV setups.

Unfortunately, in the interim, I decided to return my Wiim so I don't have it with me anymore. I'll leave the comment here for posterity in case someone wants to try and troubleshoot this issue.

Thanks for the helpful suggestions and feedback everyone!