Sound dropping with Wiim Ultra/Amp

[justjosh42]

I have a Hisense U6 Mini LED TV plugged into a Wiim Ultra via the HDMI Arc from the TV. I have eArc disabled on my TV. The Ultra is in Preamp only mode and connected to a Wiim Amp via the line in/out ports on the respective devices. Sometimes the sounds just stops. In addition to this, occasionally in the morning when I turn on my tv the devices will "wake up" but there will be no sound. It is not consistent, and sometimes it will work for a day or two just fine.

These are the things I've done to fix it, but none of these consistently work:
Unplug and replug the HDMI from the TV
Switch between different Input and/or output sources on the two devices

What works every time:
Rebooting both Wiim devices

I have applied all updates and still have the problem.

 

[BK308]

An Ultra into a WiiM amp? Kinda redundant, no?

 

[justjosh42]

An Ultra into a WiiM amp? Kinda redundant, no?

There needs to be an amp between the Ultra and the speakers, and for the price why not get one that seamlessly works with its fellow components? It's also smaller and looks better than the old receiver that it replaces. Is there redundant functionality? Sure. So what. It's a cheap amp and serves my purposes perfectly, and if ever I want to repurpose it to another room and throw some powered speakers on the ultra i can.

Any chance you can contribute to the thread constructively?

 

[BK308]

I have the Wiim amp. I guess my question is why do you need an ultra when you have a device that has similar capabilities?

 

[BK308]

I was only wondering if having both devices connected was causing the issue of hdmi arc not working properly. I’ve never heard anyone using those two devices in tandem.

 

[henninggodske]

I was only wondering if having both devices connected was causing the issue of hdmi arc not working properly. I’ve never heard anyone using those two devices in tandem.

And why not just link them instead of going digital, analog and then back to digital before amplifying the final analog signal.

Do you need to reboot both WiiM devices or only the Ultra to get it to work again?

PS: In other threads similar issues has been fixed by using a good up to date HDMI cable as the one coming with the Ultra. Not sure if this could be the case here?

 

[Fernandodelae]

Try connecting the HDMI to the Amp directly, instead of the Ultra. Its an easy fix, I have a Samsung Tv connected to my WiiM Amp and it works flawlessly.

 

[slartibartfast]

There needs to be an amp between the Ultra and the speakers, and for the price why not get one that seamlessly works with its fellow components? It's also smaller and looks better than the old receiver that it replaces. Is there redundant functionality? Sure. So what. It's a cheap amp and serves my purposes perfectly, and if ever I want to repurpose it to another room and throw some powered speakers on the ultra i can.

Any chance you can contribute to the thread constructively?

I suppose the question is why use the Ultra at all. Using the Line Out of the Ultra into the Line In of the Amp both DACs are in the signal path.

 

[BK308]

And why not just link them instead of going digital, analog and then back to digital before amplifying the final analog signal.

Do you need to reboot both WiiM devices or only the Ultra to get it to work again?

I didn’t even think of all of that analog to digital conversion.

 

[justjosh42]

Also going into the Ultra are a CD transport and a Turntable. Everything goes to it. It passes everything to the AMP. The HDMI cable is brand new and the latest standard.

And why not just link them instead of going digital, analog and then back to digital before amplifying the final analog signal.

Do you need to reboot both WiiM devices or only the Ultra to get it to work again?

PS: In other threads similar issues has been fixed by using a good up to date HDMI cable as the one coming with the Ultra. Not sure if this could be the case here?

What do you mean "link them". Is there a better way to connect than the Line Out/In? I've only had the devices for about a week and still learning them.

 

[henninggodske]

Also going into the Ultra are a CD transport and a Turntable. Everything goes to it. It passes everything to the AMP. The HDMI cable is brand new and the latest standard.

What do you mean "link them". Is there a better way to connect than the Line Out/In? I've only had the devices for about a week and still learning them.

You can link the WiiM devices so whatever play on one also play on the other. This is normally used for multi room music but can also be used to just link multiple WiiMs together in same room.

Check the device tab in the WiiM app. In the upper right corner of each device card there is a link option. Or in the now-playing page you can link your devices by pressing the device name at the bottom.

 

[harkpabst]

The Ultra is in Preamp only mode ...

What do you mean by "preamp only mode"?

Sometimes the sounds just stops.

This is a bit unusual ...

In addition to this, occasionally in the morning when I turn on my tv the devices will "wake up" but there will be no sound. It is not consistent, and sometimes it will work for a day or two just fine.

... this - unfortunately - not so much. HDMI ARC is a rather poorly specified standard, the experts say. Compatibility issues occur on a regular basis, depending on your devices you might be lucky or just not.

Also going into the Ultra are a CD transport and a Turntable.

Understood. Just for the sake of trouble shooting you could still take out the Ultra and connect your TV to the WiiM Amp directly. Do the problems continue or not?

The HDMI cable is brand new and the latest standard.

Latest standard is a little vague. Is it a certified cable? Certified cables come with a code or QR code, which allows the end user to verify its certification status with hdmi.org. See e.g. here:

A Look at the Official HDMI® Cable Certification Programs

HDMI.org is the licensing agent to administer licensing of HDMI Specification, promote HDMI technology and provide education on the benefits of HDMI interface.

www.hdmi.org

A certified cable is no guarantee for all combinations of TVs and (pre-)amps to work well together. But it will rule out one possible cause of error.

Rebooting both Wiim devices

As @henninggodske has asked before, is it really necessary to reboot both devices? Frankly, that wouldn't make any sense. The way you are using the WiiM Amp so far it cannot cause any issues with the Ultra's HDMI input, only.

If you feel like you have exhausted all means of troubleshooting your best bet is to send feedback to WiiM directly from the WiiM Home app, right after the problem has occurred.

Make sure that the Ultra is selected on the Device tab. Go to Settings => Send us feedback and describe your issue. Your device logs will be sent along with your description so WiiM engineers have a chance to hunt down the error directly. It's not too unlikely they can come up with a fix.

 

[justjosh42]

What do you mean by "preamp only mode"?


This is a bit unusual ...

... this - unfortunately - not so much. HDMI ARC is a rather poorly specified standard, the experts say. Compatibility issues occur on a regular basis, depending on your devices you might be lucky or just not.


Understood. Just for the sake of trouble shooting you could still take out the Ultra and connect your TV to the WiiM Amp directly. Do the problems continue or not?


Latest standard is a little vague. Is it a certified cable? Certified cables come with a code or QR code, which allows the end user to verify its certification status with hdmi.org. See e.g. here:

A Look at the Official HDMI® Cable Certification Programs

HDMI.org is the licensing agent to administer licensing of HDMI Specification, promote HDMI technology and provide education on the benefits of HDMI interface.

www.hdmi.org

A certified cable is no guarantee for all combinations of TVs and (pre-)amps to work well together. But it will rule out one possible cause of error.


As @henninggodske has asked before, is it really necessary to reboot both devices? Frankly, that wouldn't make any sense. The way you are using the WiiM Amp so far it cannot cause any issues with the Ultra's HDMI input, only.

If you feel like you have exhausted all means of troubleshooting your best bet is to send feedback to WiiM directly from the WiiM Home app, right after the problem has occurred.

Make sure that the Ultra is selected on the Device tab. Go to Settings => Send us feedback and describe your issue. Your device logs will be sent along with your description so WiiM engineers have a chance to hunt down the error directly. It's not too unlikely they can come up with a fix.

1. "Fixed volume output". My brain translates that to it just acting as a preamp/integrated receiver with the other device being the "power amp"
2. Yes the HDMI cord is certified and has a QR code.
3. The first time it happened I rebooted both. Then one time just unplugging and replugging the HDMI fixed it. I also disabled fixed mode and tried using it like a standard arc device and control the volume with my TV remote (the problem got well worse). I put it back in fixed mode and it happens but much less. Once rebooting the Amp fixed it. Once rebooting the ultra fixed it. A few times inbetween I tried just changing input and output sources in the app and it occasionalyl fixed it. The only thing that has fixed it consistently is rebooting.

And so I'm clear. Sometimes the sound just drops while I'm watching TV. The above steps have been tried. Sometimes I wake in the morning and turn on my TV and the devices will wake. I see them turn on and the graphic visualizer is moving indicating that it is receiving sound, yet no sound plays till I reboot.

I now have them linked as recommended above and am no longer using the RCA's. As I type this the sound just dropped out.

 

[harkpabst]

1. "Fixed volume output". My brain translates that to it just acting as a preamp/integrated receiver with the other device being the "power amp"
2. Yes the HDMI cord is certified and has a QR code.
3. The first time it happened I rebooted both. Then one time just unplugging and replugging the HDMI fixed it. I also disabled fixed mode and tried using it like a standard arc device and control the volume with my TV remote (the problem got well worse). I put it back in fixed mode and it happens but much less. Once rebooting the Amp fixed it. Once rebooting the ultra fixed it. A few times inbetween I tried just changing input and output sources in the app and it occasionalyl fixed it. The only thing that has fixed it consistently is rebooting.

And so I'm clear. Sometimes the sound just drops while I'm watching TV. The above steps have been tried. Sometimes I wake in the morning and turn on my TV and the devices will wake. I see them turn on and the graphic visualizer is moving indicating that it is receiving sound, yet no sound plays till I reboot.

I now have them linked as recommended above and am no longer using the RCA's. As I type this the sound just dropped out.

WiiM Amp only?

Feedback?

You didn't reply to these questions unless I overlooked something.

 

[justjosh42]

WiiM Amp only?

Feedback?

You didn't reply to these questions unless I overlooked something.

Ok after this last time, I rebooted just the amp. Didn't fix it. Rebooted the Ultra and the sound came back. I will be opening a ticket and sending logs to support next time it happens.

 

[harkpabst]

Ok after this last time, I rebooted just the amp. Didn't fix it. Rebooted the Ultra and the sound came back. I will be opening a ticket and sending logs to support next time it happens.

That makes sense.

WiiM are really fast incorporating fixes for certain HDMI devices. This is really your best bet. You didn't do anything wrong on your end.