Streaming services loudness (volume) normalization

[Deleted member 20976]

Hello Wiim,

Is there a way to implement loudness/volume normalization in the Wiim operating system for Spotify (and other streaming services)? The native Spotify apps running on phones, tablets and computers can do this no problem as Spotify has loudness metadata in their files that the native apps respect.
I have yet to see any streamer that can do this and does not play tracks in playlists with the loudness/volume al over the place.

The reason I use an Macbook Pro running the native apps, connected to a USB DAC is precisely that, it just works, even when using Spotify Connect from a phone or whatever pushing music to it.

By the way: Spotify does not compress audio when normalization is enabled, it's just simple playback gain (up or down)

Thanks, HansD

 

[d00]

Ah, I have the same problem with Tidal. I don’t know why but when I use a native Tidal app with Tidal Connect functionality (normalisation enabled in settings), the normalisation works better than Tidal through WiiM Home App.

It's terrible because I have a playlist of songs from different albums and you have to change the volume every now and then.

 

[hgo58]

Ah, I have the same problem with Tidal. I don’t know why but when I use a native Tidal app with Tidal Connect functionality (normalisation enabled in settings), the normalisation works better than Tidal through WiiM Home App.

It's terrible because I have a playlist of songs from different albums and you have to change the volume every now and then.

Did you turn on the Replay Gain for Tidal in the WiiM Home App?

 

[Wiimer]

Hello Wiim,

Is there a way to implement loudness/volume normalization in the Wiim operating system for Spotify (and other streaming services)? The native Spotify apps running on phones, tablets and computers can do this no problem as Spotify has loudness metadata in their files that the native apps respect.
I have yet to see any streamer that can do this and does not play tracks in playlists with the loudness/volume al over the place.

The reason I use an Macbook Pro running the native apps, connected to a USB DAC is precisely that, it just works, even when using Spotify Connect from a phone or whatever pushing music to it.

By the way: Spotify does not compress audio when normalization is enabled, it's just simple playback gain (up or down)

Thanks, HansD

Normalisation can be switched on by tapping the Spotify icon in the Browse menu of the WiiM app.

 

[Deleted member 20976]

Normalisation can be switched on by tapping the Spotify icon in the Browse menu of the WiiM app.

That's great! I didn't see that switch yet. Thanks very much. Must be fairly new added function, I searched for it loads of times...

 

[Deleted member 20976]

Can anyone confirm that this function is also present in the Wiim Mini?

 

[Wiimer]

Can anyone confirm that this function is also present in the Wiim Mini?

Yes, also available in Mini.

 

[ADS2434]

This is probably a topic/question for the Wiim technical staff.

First, Wiim's ability to enable Loudness Normalization with Spotify Connect is a very neat feature, IMO. I don't know of any other streaming equipment that supports this. I certainly don't see this capability in Denon/Marantz Heos.

My question is regarding the technical basis for how Wiim enables Loudness Normalization with Spotify Connect.

For example, do Wiim devices themselves apply a gain factor from some embedded gain value in the Spotify track stream (something like applying a Replaygain track gain value)?

Or, are the Wiim devices receiving a stream from the Spotify server that already has Loudness Normalization applied at the server level?

Finally, I wonder how Wiim's Loudness Normalization with Spotify Connect compares to the Quiet/Normal/Loud Loudness Normalization settings in the Spotify app?

 

[EddNog]

I don't know how they do it with Spotify, but for Qobuz (which Qobuz's own native application does not have ReplayGain option) they do include ReplayGain track level data with the tracks, so with supported renderers (such as Audirvana or WiiM) it is still able to apply ReplayGain (track level, not album level).

If I had to guess, Spotify may be doing similar.

-Ed