Tech Tuesday: Unlocking the Power of Dolby 5.1

[Burnside]

I will want to set this up using wiim amp pro as the main speaker - and wiim amp as the surround. The one thing I do not understand is how I wire these devices together. What output on the pro (master) do I connect to what input on the amp (Surround).

It's wireless - you connect the Amp Pro to the front L/R speakers, with the rear/surround L/R speakers connected to the WiiM Amp. There's no physical connection between the Amp Pro and the Amp.

Also, there's no provision yet for a separate front centre channel.

Edit: the Amp Pro is what takes the feed from your TV and then distributes the audio to the Amp

 

[hgo58]

I will want to set this up using wiim amp pro as the main speaker - and wiim amp as the surround. The one thing I do not understand is how I wire these devices together. What output on the pro (master) do I connect to what input on the amp (Surround).

They will be linked via your local network (WiFi or Ethernet).

Setting Up a WiiM Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound System

TABLE OF CONTENTS Learn More about WiiM Dolby 5.1 Surround System 1. Front Left, Front Right, and Subwoofer 2. Center 3. Surround Left and Surround Right Device Requirements and Typical Configurations Before You Begin Steps to Set Up a...

faq.wiimhome.com

 

[SKApretto71]

Can now or Will be possible to use one single WiiM Mini / WiiM Pro / Pro Plus to drive both rear channels?

Those are stereo receives, so technically can get both streams and then drive two active loudspeakers.

 

[Burnside]

Can now or Will be possible to use one single WiiM Mini / WiiM Pro / Pro Plus to drive both rear channels?

Those are stereo receives, so technically can get both streams and then drive two active loudspeakers.

The faq already identifies that a Pro or Pro Plus can be used to drive rear speakers - I think WiiM have already said the forum that the Mini won’t be able to be used in that manner.

Setting Up a WiiM Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound System

TABLE OF CONTENTS Learn More about WiiM Dolby 5.1 Surround System 1. Front Left, Front Right, and Subwoofer 2. Center 3. Surround Left and Surround Right Device Requirements and Typical Configurations Before You Begin Steps to Set Up a...

faq.wiimhome.com

 

[SKApretto71]

The faq already identifies that a Pro or Pro Plus can be used to drive rear speakers - I think WiiM have already said the forum that the Mini won’t be able to be used in that manner.

Setting Up a WiiM Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound System

TABLE OF CONTENTS Learn More about WiiM Dolby 5.1 Surround System 1. Front Left, Front Right, and Subwoofer 2. Center 3. Surround Left and Surround Right Device Requirements and Typical Configurations Before You Begin Steps to Set Up a...

faq.wiimhome.com

Thanks for the answer and shame me not to find the relevant doc before. Good news!

 

[Inertiaman]

Since the last posts here, I've noticed a July 3 update to setting-up-a-wiim-dolby-5-1-surround-sound-system and also a June 11 related post why-lfe-channel-is-missing-during-dolby-5-1-playback-on-a-single-wiim-device .

If I'm interpreting the Wiim functionality correctly, as described in those two articles, the LFE content is discarded in the Wiim downmix if a single Wiim device is utilized in a Dolby "system", but the LFE content is included in the downmix if two or more Wiim devices are utilized.

Some of us really want an option for LFE to be included in a single-Wiim-device two-speaker setup (with or without a sub) as discussed here lfe-downmix-into-2-0-on-ultra . Given Wiim's inexplicable unwillingness to implement that, a practical workaround is desirable.

Based on the data above, one hack to achieve this is to deploy a dummy Wiim device for surround sound. For example, I could have an Amp Pro as the "lead" device, driving two front L/R passive speakers plus an active subwoofer, and have a Wiim Pro powered up and linked as the follower device but not actually connected to an amp or any speakers. In this scenario, I would expect the Amp Pro to include the LFE material in its downmix for the front L/R and sub, correct??

Another consideration is a 3.1 scenario. Assume I use the Amp Pro as the lead device with front L/R and subwoofer, and configure a Pro streamer as the center channel and connect it to a powered speaker. In this case, the LFE content is included in the downmix, correct??