Subwoofer goes silent

[RoyDestroy]

My signal chain:
Wiim Pro Plus -> stereo Line out to Pioneer VSX-D512 reciever -> Subwoofer pre out to Eltax Atomic A-15.2R

My subwoofer goes silent on many occasions, usually when there is a lot of sub information being played, and usually at higher volumes. It does NOT turn off, it does NOT go into standby mode, just stops making sound.

I thought the sub might be the culprit, but the problem is magically resolved when disconnecting the Wiim Pro Plus and using my old Cambridge DACmagic instead. No Wiim - no problem. It appears something happens inside the Wiim that makes my Subwoofer go silent.

Wiim troubleshooting: I have tried with and without EQ enabled in Wiim app. I have tried bypassing the internal DAC on the Wiim Pro Plus by sending digital out to my old DAC before going to my reciever. I have tried different sample rates and bit rates in Wiim app. I have tried Optical input, bluetooth input, WiFi casting and vinyl line input. Changed optical cables, changed rca cables. Problem persists in all cases. Sub goes silent.

Subwoofer troubleshooting: Have tried 0 and 180 phase. Have tried different power supplies and line cables. Have tried different gain and cutoff settings. Problem persists. If i kick it, like physically kick my foot on the side of the wubwoofer, sometimes it will start to play for a little while(???)

Reciever troubleshooting: Tried different inputs but thats about it. Didnt spend any more time after bypassing the Wiim solved the issue.

And just to clarify, I have now disconnected my Wiim Pro Plus and it solves the problem. Subwoofer plays consistently. It is only when the Wiim is connected that I am having this problem.

Any tips for further troubleshooting? Vrms? Pre gains? I really want to use the features on the Wiim.

 

[Wiimer]

My signal chain:
Wiim Pro Plus -> stereo Line out to Pioneer VSX-D512 reciever -> Subwoofer pre out to Eltax Atomic A-15.2R

My subwoofer goes silent on many occasions, usually when there is a lot of sub information being played, and usually at higher volumes. It does NOT turn off, it does NOT go into standby mode, just stops making sound.

I thought the sub might be the culprit, but the problem is magically resolved when disconnecting the Wiim Pro Plus and using my old Cambridge DACmagic instead. No Wiim - no problem. It appears something happens inside the Wiim that makes my Subwoofer go silent.

Wiim troubleshooting: I have tried with and without EQ enabled in Wiim app. I have tried bypassing the internal DAC on the Wiim Pro Plus by sending digital out to my old DAC before going to my reciever. I have tried different sample rates and bit rates in Wiim app. I have tried Optical input, bluetooth input, WiFi casting and vinyl line input. Changed optical cables, changed rca cables. Problem persists in all cases. Sub goes silent.

Subwoofer troubleshooting: Have tried 0 and 180 phase. Have tried different power supplies and line cables. Have tried different gain and cutoff settings. Problem persists. If i kick it, like physically kick my foot on the side of the wubwoofer, sometimes it will start to play for a little while(???)

Reciever troubleshooting: Tried different inputs but thats about it. Didnt spend any more time after bypassing the Wiim solved the issue.

And just to clarify, I have now disconnected my Wiim Pro Plus and it solves the problem. Subwoofer plays consistently. It is only when the Wiim is connected that I am having this problem.

Any tips for further troubleshooting? Vrms? Pre gains? I really want to use the features on the Wiim.

Hi,
This manual says the line input sensitivity of the VSX-D512 is 200mV, please try setting the line out level to 200mV in the audio settings of the WiiM app and see if that solves the problem.

https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/pioneer/vsx-d512.shtml

 

[RoyDestroy]

This seems to have solved the problem. So far so good! Thank you

 

[RoyDestroy]

Update:

200mVrms has solved the problem, matching the 200mV input sensitivity on the reciever, sub no longer goes quiet.

New problem: 200mV is a very quiet output volume. I have almost maxed out my reciever, and it is still not very loud. Also there is more noise/hiss coming from the speakers. Right now it sits at -16dB, and when i turn it up to -15dB the hiss/noise gets noticabely louder.

Possible solutions?
Turning up the "pre gain" in Wiim app seems to distort the sound.
Switching to 500mVrms, 1Vrms, fixes the volume problem, but then the sub starts going quiet again. Also it makes me afraid of damaging my gear since it is indeed clipping.
Turning up the reciever more makes me afraid of clipping/distortion and damage to my speakers.

Another thing I am still wondering about is; why does the sub go quiet even when I am not using the internal Wiim DAC->line out? Optical out to external DAC fixes the volume issue, but no way of altering the output value/Vrms. The Cambridge DAC has no way of changing output values/Vrms either. Sub goes quiet.

TV -> Wiim 2Vrms -> Reciever = Sub goes quiet
TV -> Wiim 200mVrms -> Reciever = Low volume
TV -> Wiim digital out -> Cambridge DAC -> Reciever = Sub goes quiet
TV -> Cambridge DAC -> Reciever = No problems, high volume. But room sounds like shit, want the Wiim EQ settings

Even at -35dB on the reciever without the Wiim my is LOUD. Can turn it up even further and sub is good. With 200mV output from Wiim app doesnt even get close. With 2Vrms output cant even play quiet audio without sub going quiet.

I realise I could buy a new reciever, but why is it so sensitive to the Wiim? Why does it have no problems with loud audio if I skip the Wiim?

 

[Wiimer]

Update:

200mVrms has solved the problem, matching the 200mV input sensitivity on the reciever, sub no longer goes quiet.

New problem: 200mV is a very quiet output volume. I have almost maxed out my reciever, and it is still not very loud. Also there is more noise/hiss coming from the speakers. Right now it sits at -16dB, and when i turn it up to -15dB the hiss/noise gets noticabely louder.

Possible solutions?
Turning up the "pre gain" in Wiim app seems to distort the sound.
Switching to 500mVrms, 1Vrms, fixes the volume problem, but then the sub starts going quiet again. Also it makes me afraid of damaging my gear since it is indeed clipping.
Turning up the reciever more makes me afraid of clipping/distortion and damage to my speakers.

Another thing I am still wondering about is; why does the sub go quiet even when I am not using the internal Wiim DAC->line out? Optical out to external DAC fixes the volume issue, but no way of altering the output value/Vrms. The Cambridge DAC has no way of changing output values/Vrms either. Sub goes quiet.

TV -> Wiim 2Vrms -> Reciever = Sub goes quiet
TV -> Wiim 200mVrms -> Reciever = Low volume
TV -> Wiim digital out -> Cambridge DAC -> Reciever = Sub goes quiet
TV -> Cambridge DAC -> Reciever = No problems, high volume. But room sounds like shit, want the Wiim EQ settings

Even at -35dB on the reciever without the Wiim my is LOUD. Can turn it up even further and sub is good. With 200mV output from Wiim app doesnt even get close. With 2Vrms output cant even play quiet audio without sub going quiet.

I realise I could buy a new reciever, but why is it so sensitive to the Wiim? Why does it have no problems with loud audio if I skip the Wiim?

Sorry I'm not sure, but what position is the sub volume at?

Also, would connecting the WiiM digital output directly to the Receiver solve the problem? (Be careful with the volume.)

 

[RoyDestroy]

Sorry I'm not sure, but what position is the sub volume at?

Also, would connecting the WiiM digital output directly to the Receiver solve the problem? (Be careful with the volume.)

Have tried all sub volumes, has no effect on outcome.

Skipping the Cambridge DAC and going digital out directly to the Reciever did in fact solve the new problem. Strange... Thank you very much, will update.

 

[Wiimer]

Have tried all sub volumes, has no effect on outcome.

Skipping the Cambridge DAC and going digital out directly to the Reciever did in fact solve the new problem. Strange... Thank you very much, will update.

If you want to use a WiiM (or Cambridge) DAC, you may want to try a factory reset of the receiver. e.g., if the issue is caused by a change in the receiver's system settings, a reset may solve the problem.