Output to Alexa Speaker Group

[grriii]

Hi, I just purchased a Wiim Ultra device in the hopes that I would be able to stream from a Plex media server to an Echo Speaker group, not just one speaker. I have set up a multi-room speaker group in Alexa with the Wiim device as a part of that group. It doesn't work, however, and I can't figure out what is wrong.

My whole goal in purchasing the Wiim device is to have a way to stream my personal music library to an echo speaker group as opposed to a single speaker. Is this possible with Wiim?

 

[Burnside]

No, not possible unless you use an Echo Link device as a gateway to the Alexa multi room music (MRM) group. While WiiM devices can be part of an Alexa MRM group, they can’t redistribute their audio input to echos - only the Echo Link supports what Amazon term “line in redistribution”.

Edit: see this post where a WiiM device connected to an Echo Link is used to feed output from Roon to an otherwise incompatible Alexa MRM group https://forum.wiimhome.com/posts/30459/

It should also be noted that Amazon don’t provide an API for third parties like WiiM to use the line in redistribution protocol in their products.

 

[Burnside]

As for Plex playing to an Alexa MRM group, see this Reddit post by a user not unknown in these parts

https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonecho/comments/qnn3b7/comment/hjjo0f9

 

[grriii]

No, not possible unless you use an Echo Link device as a gateway to the Alexa multi room music (MRM) group. While WiiM devices can be part of an Alexa MRM group, they can’t redistribute their audio input to echos - only the Echo Link supports what Amazon term “line in redistribution”.

Edit: see this post where a WiiM device connected to an Echo Link is used to feed output from Roon to an otherwise incompatible Alexa MRM group https://forum.wiimhome.com/posts/30459/

It should also be noted that Amazon don’t provide an API for third parties like WiiM to use the line in redistribution protocol in their products.

Thank you. I did see this thread earlier. I have an Echo Link. Would the WiiM plug into the Link? Would the Link then send the audio to the Echo speaker groups? I know the Link was originally designed to facilitate the use of traditional speakers with Alexa, so not sure if it would work in the opposite direction.

 

[Burnside]

Thank you. I did see this thread earlier. I have an Echo Link. Would the WiiM plug into the Link? Would the Link then send the audio to the Echo speaker groups? I know the Link was originally designed to facilitate the use of traditional speakers with Alexa, so not sure if it would work in the opposite direction.

Yeah, the WiiM wouldn’t behave as an echo in the MRM group, just as an input to the Echo Link which in turn would send the audio to the echos, using the aforementioned line in redistribution feature.

Setting the Link to do this in the Alexa app is explained in this post which is referred to in an earlier comment in my earlier linked post:
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/steaming-turntable-to-echo-speaker-group.1875/post-28714

 

[grriii]

Hey thanks for your input greatly appreciated. So I found my Echo Link and set it up with Optical out from Wiim to the Link. The Link is setup to play to a speaker group. It will play for about one second and then stop - seems like the Wiim might be losing connection to the Plex server - any thoughts?

 

[Burnside]

Hey thanks for your input greatly appreciated. So I found my Echo Link and set it up with Optical out from Wiim to the Link. The Link is setup to play to a speaker group. It will play for about one second and then stop - seems like the Wiim might be losing connection to the Plex server - any thoughts?

Does it work ok if you just get the WiiM to play, say, a radio station from TuneIn or vtuner? If you enable the DLNA server on Plex then access the Plex server thru the WiiM home app Home Music Share, does it also fail?

I’m not a Plex user so if it only seems to do it with that, someone else will need to pitch in…

 

[deadwing]

Hey thanks for your input greatly appreciated. So I found my Echo Link and set it up with Optical out from Wiim to the Link. The Link is setup to play to a speaker group. It will play for about one second and then stop - seems like the Wiim might be losing connection to the Plex server - any thoughts?

I have a similar configuration and it works well. Using an Echo Link I can play turntable/CD/Plex/LMS from the Wiim Ultra connected by optical cable to the Echo Link and listen on Alexa speaker groups.
When I initially set it up I had the Wiim Ultra in the Alexa speaker groups and as you've said it stops playing.
Removing the Wiim Ultra from Alexa speakers groups leaving only the Echo Link and required speakers in the group and everything works as it should.
I also connect the optical out from the Echo Link to the optical in of my active speakers so music can be played simultaneously through them.
Hope this is of some help.

 

[Burnside]

I have a similar configuration and it works well. Using an Echo Link I can play turntable/CD/Plex/LMS from the Wiim Ultra connected by optical cable to the Echo Link and listen on Alexa speaker groups.
When I initially set it up I had the Wiim Ultra in the Alexa speaker groups and as you've said it stops playing.
Removing the Wiim Ultra from Alexa speakers groups leaving only the Echo Link and required speakers in the group and everything works as it should.
I also connect the optical out from the Echo Link to the optical in of my active speakers so music can be played simultaneously through them.
Hope this is of some help.

Thanks - good point