Setup Pro Plus as Input for Smart Speaker // Volume too low

[5omeone]

Hello everyone,

I’m using two B&O Beosound Balance speakers as a stereo pair and would like to connect a WiiM Pro Plus in front of them to use the Wiim-EQ to compensate for a few room modes (unfortunately, this isn’t possible with the Beosound Balance). I thought I’d use the Pro Plus as the primary device for AirPlay and Spotify Connect and then pass the audio signal on to the Beosound Balance. I’ve set this up for now using an optical Toslink connection.

The biggest problem at the moment is the volume:

• The signal from the WiiM Pro Plus to the Beosound Balance is very low.
• Adjusting the volume via the WiiM Pro Plus has hardly any effect.
• I can’t get the speakers to a reasonable volume without adjusting the Beosound Balance directly.

My aim is to control the volume centrally via the WiiM Pro Plus (similar to how I’m used to with other active speakers, e.g. my Sonos Era100), and I have the following questions:

• Is there a recommended output configuration (fixed vs. variable volume, line-out vs. digital)?
• Do I need to adjust any specific settings on the Beosound Balance input (sensitivity, gain, etc.)?
• Is the optical connection a good option here, or would analogue (line-out) or something else be the better choice?

Thanks and best regards!

 

[Wiimer]

I can’t get the speakers to a reasonable volume without adjusting the Beosound Balance directly.

Hi
What is the current volume level on the Beosound?

Turn up the volume on the Beosound and keep it at that level, then adjust the volume using the Pro Plus.

 

[Burnside]

Hi
What is the current volume level on the Beosound?

Turn up the volume on the Beosound and keep it at that level, then adjust the volume using the Pro Plus.

Yeah, I'd take the approach I often quote when feeding the vibelink from a WiiM streamer: I'd set the WiiM volume to 100% then slowly turn the Beosound to as high a volume as you'd ever want to play it, then dial back the WiiM to your normal listening volume and don't touch the Beosound volume after that.

 

[5omeone]

Thanks for your feedback.

Yeah, I'd take the approach I often quote when feeding the vibelink from a WiiM streamer: I'd set the WiiM volume to 100% then slowly turn the Beosound to as high a volume as you'd ever want to play it, then dial back the WiiM to your normal listening volume and don't touch the Beosound volume after that.

Yes, that would be a way to go, but if I use e.g. Spotify Connect, it sets the Volume to Maximum when connecting to the Wiim. Is there any chance to affect this with a certain setting?

 

[Mr Ee]

but if I use e.g. Spotify Connect, it sets the Volume to Maximum when connecting to the Wiim

Can't say I've ever had that in years of using spotify to various Wiims.

 

[Burnside]

Thanks for your feedback.

Yes, that would be a way to go, but if I use e.g. Spotify Connect, it sets the Volume to Maximum when connecting to the Wiim. Is there any chance to affect this with a certain setting?

That's not my experience when using Spotify Connect from my iPad to my Mini, nor using it from my android phone to my WiiM Sound - they maintain the volume they were set at before I used Spotify Connect.
Do you have per-source volume control set on your Mini where full volume is the default for wifi sources?

 

[Burnside]

Thanks for your feedback.

Yes, that would be a way to go, but if I use e.g. Spotify Connect, it sets the Volume to Maximum when connecting to the Wiim. Is there any chance to affect this with a certain setting?

I've just seen your other post about airplay not working on one of your Pro Plus devices - do both exhibit this volume behaviour with Spotify Connect, or is it the one that has Airplay or doesn't have that does this? Are you sure airplay isn't being used opposed to Connect as in the former case the volume would be that of your phone the app is on

 

[Wiimer]

Thanks for your feedback.

Yes, that would be a way to go, but if I use e.g. Spotify Connect, it sets the Volume to Maximum when connecting to the Wiim. Is there any chance to affect this with a certain setting?

Is your Spotify not connecting to Beosound? If you connect it to WiiM, I don’t think that will happen.

Could you please describe the situation in a bit more detail? What percentage are the volume levels set to on WiiM and Beosound, respectively? What is the volume limit on WiiM?

 

[5omeone]

There seems to be a technical issue with the device. I can’t establish an AirPlay connection, which works perfectly well with another Pro Plus at my home.

When I managed to connect to the Pro Plus via Spotify Connect, I noticed that the volume in Spotify changed slightly when I used the volume buttons on my iPhone (this doesn’t actually work when I use Spotify Connect directly with my Sonos or B&O devices, as Apple blocks this feature for its own benefit). Weird.

I need to try a few things out, but first I need to check whether the device in question might be faulty. My only wish was really to use the Pro Plus as an AirPlay receiver with the EQ function and otherwise experience the same behaviour as when streaming directly to the B&O Balance. I want to control the volume of the devices exclusively via the iPhone – specifically via the AirPlay menu. I really just want to use the Wiim to compensate for a few room modes, which the B&Os unfortunately can’t do by themselves. And unfortunately, after a certain amount of time, the speakers reset their volume to a preset (and apparently too quiet) level for this function. Tricky...

 

[Wiimer]

after a certain amount of time, the speakers reset their volume to a preset (and apparently too quiet) level for this function.

Sorry, to be honest, I have no idea what’s going on...

Does that mean it returns to the volume level you preset on the Beosound?

Or does the volume on the Pro Plus change after a certain amount of time?

 

[5omeone]

Hello everyone,

The issue with the AirPlay connection not working has been resolved; the device was indeed faulty and has been replaced. The new Pro+ is working fine.

The "problem" with the input volume via the optical connection being too low remains. I apparently really do need to turn the volume up significantly on the speaker side.

Yeah, I'd take the approach I often quote when feeding the vibelink from a WiiM streamer: I'd set the WiiM volume to 100% then slowly turn the Beosound to as high a volume as you'd ever want to play it, then dial back the WiiM to your normal listening volume and don't touch the Beosound volume after that.

Yes, I’ll follow that approach. I might also use the classic line-in, as I can adjust the output or input voltage there.

Best regards

 

[s3igell]

The "problem" with the input volume via the optical connection being too low remains. I apparently really do need to turn the volume up significantly on the speaker side.

Have you considered increasing the Pre-Gain for the "WiFi Input"??

 

[5omeone]

Have you considered increasing the Pre-Gain for the "WiFi Input"??

Yes, the B&O Balance provides a kind of pre-gain (volume boost or cut) for each source individually. The settings do have an effect, though not a very significant one. I’ll have to adjust them in combination with the overall system volume.

There’s also a practical reason why I’m being cautious here: The speaker remains visible as an AirPlay device. If I turn up the main volume too much, I risk giving my family quite a scare if the speaker is accidentally selected instead of the Pro+. I could only “hide” the B&O Balance system using network tricks - and then things just get more and more complicated.

 

[s3igell]

Yes, the B&O Balance provides a kind of pre-gain

No - the Pre-Gain Setting on the WiiM Pro Plus. Same function as one on B&O, except will have a stronger impact as it is at the beginning of the equipment chain. And only effects the Internet Streaming input to the WiiM...