Optical issue with the Wiim Ultra ?

[Gene_Ultra]

I am reporting my experience with a problem connecting to the Wiim Ultra via optical.

I connected a Sony Walkman D-EJ1000 portable CD player via its mini-TOSLINK (S/PDIF optical output) to the standard TOSLINK optical input on the Wiim Ultra. I’m using a proper mini-TOSLINK to full-size TOSLINK cable.

The Wiim Ultra successfully detects the incoming signal — the Optical Input screen displays an active audio graph while a CD is playing. However, no audio is heard through the Line Out to my powered speakers, despite that output working correctly with other inputs (e.g., Line-In and streaming sources).

Here’s what I’ve verified:

The CDs are standard Red Book audio CDs from the 1990s (not DTS or compressed formats).

The Sony CD player plays perfectly through the Wiim Ultra’s analog Line-In using a 3.5mm to RCA cable.

The Sony CD player also plays perfectly the I insert an external DAC between the Sony's optical output and the Wiim Ultra’s RCA Line-In, confirming that the Sony is outputting valid PCM.

I’ve reseated the optical cable, tried different CDs, and confirmed the Wiim’s output settings are correct.

From my research, it appears that the Sony D-EJ1000 outputs S/PDIF-formatted PCM audio over optical (as expected). However, I suspect the Wiim Ultra’s Optical Input may not tolerate certain S/PDIF signal variations — perhaps related to sample rate jitter, signal level, or timing quirks specific to older CD players.

Could this be a firmware or compatibility limitation in the Wiim Ultra's optical input decoder? Is there a known tolerance issue with legacy CD players or their mini-TOSLINK optical output?

I opened a support ticket. In the meanwhile, I would be interested to hear of any similar experiences. Please let me know if there is a fix, firmware update, or known compatibility workaround.

 

[adias]

I am reporting my experience with a problem connecting to the Wiim Ultra via optical.

I connected a Sony Walkman D-EJ1000 portable CD player via its mini-TOSLINK (S/PDIF optical output) to the standard TOSLINK optical input on the Wiim Ultra. I’m using a proper mini-TOSLINK to full-size TOSLINK cable.

The Wiim Ultra successfully detects the incoming signal — the Optical Input screen displays an active audio graph while a CD is playing. However, no audio is heard through the Line Out to my powered speakers, despite that output working correctly with other inputs (e.g., Line-In and streaming sources).

Here’s what I’ve verified:

The CDs are standard Red Book audio CDs from the 1990s (not DTS or compressed formats).

The Sony CD player plays perfectly through the Wiim Ultra’s analog Line-In using a 3.5mm to RCA cable.

The Sony CD player also plays perfectly the I insert an external DAC between the Sony's optical output and the Wiim Ultra’s RCA Line-In, confirming that the Sony is outputting valid PCM.

I’ve reseated the optical cable, tried different CDs, and confirmed the Wiim’s output settings are correct.

From my research, it appears that the Sony D-EJ1000 outputs S/PDIF-formatted PCM audio over optical (as expected). However, I suspect the Wiim Ultra’s Optical Input may not tolerate certain S/PDIF signal variations — perhaps related to sample rate jitter, signal level, or timing quirks specific to older CD players.

Could this be a firmware or compatibility limitation in the Wiim Ultra's optical input decoder? Is there a known tolerance issue with legacy CD players or their mini-TOSLINK optical output?

I opened a support ticket. In the meanwhile, I would be interested to hear of any similar experiences. Please let me know if there is a fix, firmware update, or known compatibility workaround.

Analysis by the book. Ticket submitted to WiiM via WHA. Well done!

Please let us know what you hear back.

 

[Mr Ee]

Welcome.

Do you have anything else to try, such as optical out from a tv?

 

[Doublej]

Do you have another optical cable you can try?

 

[Gene_Ultra]

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, this behavior was confirmed with a different optical device (optical output from a desktop computer with an ASUS motherboard). Different optical cables also tried without any change. (The cables show an appropriate visual red frequency output.)

I am interested to hear if others have the same experience with optical inputs.