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.

 

[mkp1969]

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.

I would say you have a problem with your Ultra. I have successfully used the optical input on mine with a Rega Planet CD Player, an SMSL PL100 CD player, a 1990s Sony minidisc deck and an Audiolab CDT 6000 transport. All work as expected. Given that they are of a variety of generations I would suspect a fault over an incompatibility.

Have you tried the Discman and its cable with a different optical input device?

 

[Ivan]

@mkp1969 yes the Rega Planet 2000 was with both, optical and coaxial digital output. And, just courious, did you hear much difference using the Rega converter or using the Ultra one?

 

[mkp1969]

@mkp1969 yes the Rega Planet 2000 was with both, optical and coaxial digital output. And, just courious, did you hear much difference using the Rega converter or using the Ultra one?

The DAC in the Rega is slightly "warmer" but overall there's very little between them. The DAC in the Ultra is very capable. There's no "coaxial in" on the Ultra and I don't have a cable to take the Rega's coax into the Ultra's optical but I doubt there would be any audible difference.
The SMSL PL100 sounds especially crisp and detailed both through its analogue outputs and via optical into the Ultra.

 

[Ivan]

Thank you @mkp1969 for the info. Me just courious because i have a first serie Planet, (only coax out) so i can't make the test using the DAC from Ultra. But I already imagined that it wasn't worth it.

 

[mkp1969]

Thank you @mkp1969 for the info. Me just courious because i have a first serie Planet, (only coax out) so i can't make the test using the DAC from Ultra. But I already imagined that it wasn't worth it.

The series 1 Planet is a wonderful modern classic

 

[Ivan]

Yes i love mine, still perfectly functioning.