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??

 

[Scot191]

You don’t, at least not yet. The front L/R mix will contain the centre audio until such times the firmware allows a separate speaker to take that task on.

Edit: and when a separate centre channel becomes available (if ever), you’ll no doubt need an other WiiM device to support it.

I have just set up an Ultra and Vibe Link to a High Sense TV at home and can only get 2.1 output, however I set up an Ultra and Fosi Za3 to my LG Oled TV in my apartment and that TV allows me to select both TV and External speakers using an optical out connection from the TV to the Ultra, which sounds a lot better as the actors voices are focused in the TV speakers, certainly a better experience for movies. If I want listen to stereo for music I just switch to the WiFi input source on the WiiM app.

 

[Endra]

Can anyone share after linking 5.1 how to use room fit to optiomize them?

 

[Wiimer]

Can anyone share after linking 5.1 how to use room fit to optiomize them?

Currently, it is not possible to correct all 5.1 ch at once. If I were to do it, I would first adjust the subwoofer and front speakers and run RoomFit.

Next, adjust the volume of the surround speakers to the same as the front speakers. (Use a 1khz sine wave, for example).

At last, place the microphone on the listening position and perform a RoomFit on the surround speakers.

 

[hgo58]

Can anyone share after linking 5.1 how to use room fit to optiomize them?

There are currently no EQ available for a 5.1 setup.

See the thread 'Unable to EQ When Dolby Activated' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/unable-to-eq-when-dolby-activated.7847/

 

[Machiavelli]

waiting for an 'only bought it for this' or similar

 

[Wiimer]

There are currently no EQ available for a 5.1 setup.

See the thread 'Unable to EQ When Dolby Activated' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/unable-to-eq-when-dolby-activated.7847/

Yes, it was!

 

[nebbyo]

Can the center channel be a dedicated one now, not just virtual? I'd like to set up a 3.1 system for now, so would this work:

• Group Lead: L and R front
• Follower: Dedicated center

Again, no surrounds for now in this setup. Alternatively, could a Wiim C10 MKii be used as the dedicated center, thus negating the need for another Wiim device plus dedicated center? Thanks!

 

[Endra]

Can the center channel be a dedicated one now, not just virtual? I'd like to set up a 3.1 system for now, so would this work:

• Group Lead: L and R front
• Follower: Dedicated center

Again, no surrounds for now in this setup. Alternatively, could a Wiim C10 MKii be used as the dedicated center, thus negating the need for another Wiim device plus dedicated center? Thanks!

YES, I just use 2 C10 for SR & SL.

 

[Wiimer]

Can the center channel be a dedicated one now, not just virtual? I'd like to set up a 3.1 system for now, so would this work:

• Group Lead: L and R front
• Follower: Dedicated center

Again, no surrounds for now in this setup. Alternatively, could a Wiim C10 MKii be used as the dedicated center, thus negating the need for another Wiim device plus dedicated center? Thanks!

If I am not mistaken, to configure a 3.1 channel, you must first create a 5.1 channel group and then remove the surround speakers from the group. In other words, you need surround speakers.
(I'll test it again later, sorry if I'm wrong.)

Edit:
To be precise, you don't need surround speakers, but you do need another WiiM device that can be linked as surround.

 

[DoubleTap]

Is anyone using surround sound with a PC? I'm wondering if PC games that do Dolby (like the Battlefield series) will work?

Most PC surround sound is 8 channel PCM over HDMI so I doubt most games will work - curious if anyone has tried...

 

[Burnside]

Is anyone using surround sound with a PC? I'm wondering if PC games that do Dolby (like the Battlefield series) will work?

Most PC surround sound is 8 channel PCM over HDMI so I doubt most games will work - curious if anyone has tried...

Your first hurdle would probably be that the PC won’t have an HDMI ARC connection, and I’d guess an optical connection to the WiiM may not have the bandwidth for 8 channel Dolby.

 

[DoubleTap]

Your first hurdle would probably be that the PC won’t have an HDMI ARC connection, and I’d guess an optical connection to the WiiM may not have the bandwidth for 8 channel Dolby.

My Samsung G80SD monitor has an eARC connection.

PC Displayport --> Monitor --> eARC to Wiim Amp Ultra

It looks like it currently only supports 2 channels but I wonder if that's based on what the Wiim Amp Ultra offers.

I have a Wiim Pro I could setup (I don't have speakers for it) to see if this makes the Wiim Amp Ultra expose more channels to the PC...

 

[Burnside]

Does that deliver audio to the amp ok?

The Amp Ultra only supports Dolby Digital 5.1 so I still think it’s a no go-er

 

[DoubleTap]

Does that deliver audio to the amp ok?

The Amp Ultra only supports Dolby Digital 5.1 so I still think it’s a no go-er

The eARC works great for stereo - this monitor has smart TV apps built in so by using eARC, I don't have to change inputs if I use the built in apps (my wife and I watch TV in my offices when they kids are playing on the living room TV)

In theory, Battlefield should be able to send Dolby Digital without an encoder but I'm not sure exactly how it works.

8 channel PCM is clearly not possible.

I miss my old surround setup and have been thinking about going to a Marantz Cinema 70s...