Question about Airplay support for WiiM Ultra by WiiM mini

[makli]

Of course it's possible to connect an WiiM Mini or another Airplay 2 device (AirPort Express, Belkin Sound connect, ...) to the WiiM Ultra. But this needs a physical connection and the Optical-In is blocked.

My question is, if it is possible to place the WiiM Mini anywhere in the local network and create something like a group including the WiiM Ultra and Mini.

Perhaps the WiiM Ultra can receive signals from other group members? In this case the signals from the WiiM Mini, received by Airplay 2. If this would be possible, the the missing Airplay support of the WiiM Ultra would be no problem.

 

[Burnside]

Yes, grouping would do the trick

 

[makli]

How can such a group be created? Which input should be selected on the WiiM Ultra to output the signals from another WiiM device?

 

[Burnside]

On the WiiM App Devices page, first select the Mini, then the link/chain icon on its tablet. Then on the list of other Wiim devices that will appear, tick the Ultra or any other devices you wish to be in the group.

There's no need to select an input on the Ultra or other grouped devices as they will all be fed by whatever the main device in the group is being fed - in your case, Airplay on the Mini

Edit: note this is using the WiiM's Linkplay group feature, not Airplay grouping or suchlike. See this rather old faq entry for WiiM Minis - this works for any WiiM (or indeed Linkplay compatible) device

Group or ungroup with other WiiM Minis

Build a wireless multiroom system with multiple WiiM Mini devices WiiM Mini MULTI-ROOM/STEREO PAIRING Add two or more devices into one group. Open the WiiM Home App. Select the device tab and tap the "Link" icon in the upper right co...

faq.wiimhome.com

 

[makli]

Thank you very much, that sounds great!

I think, the most WiiM Ultra owners or interested parties, grumbling about the missing Airplay feature, do not know that the grouping with another WiiM device with Airplay support could be the solution for the supposed problem.

 

[Burnside]

Thank you very much, that sounds great!

I think, the most WiiM Ultra owners or interested parties, grumbling about the missing Airplay feature, do not know that the grouping with another WiiM device with Airplay support could be the solution for the supposed problem.

To be fair, it was mooted in the forum some time ago

 

[QuarryHunslet]

On the WiiM App Devices page, first select the Mini, then the link/chain icon on its tablet. Then on the list of other Wiim devices that will appear, tick the Ultra or any other devices you wish to be in the group.

There's no need to select an input on the Ultra or other grouped devices as they will all be fed by whatever the main device in the group is being fed - in your case, Airplay on the Mini

Edit: note this is using the WiiM's Linkplay group feature, not Airplay grouping or suchlike. See this rather old faq entry for WiiM Minis - this works for any WiiM (or indeed Linkplay compatible) device

Group or ungroup with other WiiM Minis

Build a wireless multiroom system with multiple WiiM Mini devices WiiM Mini MULTI-ROOM/STEREO PAIRING Add two or more devices into one group. Open the WiiM Home App. Select the device tab and tap the "Link" icon in the upper right co...

faq.wiimhome.com

I have just tried this, and linked my Ultra to a Mini, and then used AirPlay to the Mini, which resulted in music coming from my Ultra as expected.
What I didn't expect was for the Ultra display to only show the time and date, is this how it is supposed work?

 

[hgo58]

I have just tried this, and linked my Ultra to a Mini, and then used AirPlay to the Mini, which resulted in music coming from my Ultra as expected.
What I didn't expect was for the Ultra display to only show the time and date, is this how it is supposed work?

No. Your Ultra should show "Follow xxx" (xxx is the name of your Mini) and show what is playing as if it was playing locally.

This do however not always work but a relinking usually resolve it.

I don't have a Mini but a Pro+ I use for adding additional in/out to the Ultra in this way, so can't say if there is issues with the Mini in this regard.

 

[Burnside]

I have just tried this, and linked my Ultra to a Mini, and then used AirPlay to the Mini, which resulted in music coming from my Ultra as expected.
What I didn't expect was for the Ultra display to only show the time and date, is this how it is supposed work?

I think I've seen similar lack of info on secondary devices in a group when using Amazon Music, but @Wiimer will have a better memory than me around this

 

[QuarryHunslet]

No. Your Ultra should show "Follow xxx" (xxx is the name of your Mini) and show what is playing as if it was playing locally.

This do however not always work but a relinking usually resolve it.

I don't have a Mini but a Pro+ I use for adding additional in/out to the Ultra in this way, so can't say if there is issues with the Mini in this regard.

Thanks, I have just unlinked, and then relinked them, and now it is working as you said it should.

I am now able to use two of the three available playback screen modes, but not the large artwork only screen.

I am tending to use the VU Meter screen most of the time, as I can't read the details on the screen from my seating position, so it isn't really much of an issue for me.

 

[hgo58]

I am now able to use two of the three available playback screen modes, but not the large artwork only screen.

Yes. For some reason the full size album art isn't available when linking.

Maybe because it cannot display any text?

 

[QuarryHunslet]

Yes. For some reason the full size album art isn't available when linking.

Maybe because it cannot display any text?

That's good to know it's not just mine.

 

[Wiimer]

I think I've seen similar lack of info on secondary devices in a group when using Amazon Music, but @Wiimer will have a better memory than me around this

Yes, you are right, it used to .

Now it displays the same data as the WHA playing screen (excludes album titles) even when Ultra is the slave.
(I've never used AirPlay, so I don't know what is displayed on WHA...)

And @hgo58 as said, the follow devices are shown and there is an unlink button. Maybe once persistent groups are added to all devices, we'll be able to switch groups on the Ultra screen .

 

[hgo58]

Yes, you are right, it used to .

Now it displays the same data as the WHA playing screen even when Ultra is the slave.
(I've never used AirPlay, so I don't know what is displayed on WHA...)

And @hgo58 as said, the follow devices are shown and there is an unlink button. Maybe once persistent groups are added to all devices, we'll be able to switch groups on the Ultra screen .

Maybe. Unfortunately unlinking when playing don't work as one may expect.
The linked child device keeps the parent stream displayed, both on screen and in WHA, but it cannot restart it.

This needs to be fixed before changing groups will work correctly.

 

[Wiimer]

Maybe. Unfortunately unlinking when playing don't work as one may expect.
The linked device keeps the parent stream displayed, both on screen and in WHA, but it cannot restart it.

This needs to be fixed before changing groups will work correctly.

Strangely enough, it seems to be working fine for me.

When I press the unlink button during playback, the group is released almost simultaneously on WHA. The music never stops, only the master device continues to play. it worked the same way on Pro and Amp Pro .

 

[hgo58]

Strangely enough, it seems to be working fine for me.

When I press the unlink button during playback, the group is released almost simultaneously on WHA. The music never stops, only the master device continues to play. it worked the same way on Pro and Amp Pro .

What do the child Ultra device and WHA displays show in that case?

 

[Wiimer]

What do the child Ultra device and WHA displays show in that case?

The video may be easier to understand.


View attachment 1c4973d1-9b3c-41f7-9c35-9d95ced6db44-1_all_5686.mp4

When the group is removed, Ultra's device card and screen will show "No Music selected". The master Amp Pro continues to show the track playing.

 

[hgo58]

The video may be easier to understand.


View attachment 15888

When the group is removed, Ultra's device card and screen will show "No Music selected". The master Amp Pro continues to show the track playing.

Ok. That is not what I see.
Playing on my Pro+, then linking the Ultra. And Ultra show and play what is on Pro+.
Unlinking Ultra again and Pro+ keeps playing. The Ultra stop playing but the display (and WHA) still show what was playing before unlinking.

 

[Burnside]

The video may be easier to understand.


View attachment 15888

When the group is removed, Ultra's device card and screen will show "No Music selected". The master Amp Pro continues to show the track playing.

Nice to hear your "woofer" is still operational

 

[Wiimer]

Ok. That is not what I see.
Playing on my Pro+, then linking the Ultra. And Ultra show and play what is on Pro+.
Unlinking Ultra again and Pro+ keeps playing. The Ultra stop playing but the display (and WHA) still show what was playing before unlinking.

I checked again and Sade was still listed on the Ultra's device card; to play the same track on the Ultra, I would have to view the album again and press the play button.



This is somewhat predictable behavior, as nothing is played on the child Ultra during group playback. (Ideally, the device card should also be No Music Selected .)

However, I don't know why your Ultra screen is not changing.