Tidal cast to Wiim groups

[frbona]

Hi all,

I am currently casting music from Tidal application to Wiim Ultra units group.

I just want to know if this a native and correct use of Wiim groups or should i use groups only with Wiim application.

I know that Tidal application have issues while casting to devices groups with most of devices brands. I would like to avoid having issues in some months with the cast feature of Tidal application on Wiim groups.

Thanks in advance for your reply.

François-Régis

 

[Burnside]

How are you currently casting from the Tidal app to,multiple WiiM devices? I can see you perhaps have the option of casting to a Chromecast group, or casting to a Linkplay group. In the latter case, playback will be limited to 24/48 which probably isn’t an issue for multi room playback, and with the former you may have issues with Chromecast on Ultra devices as it can be unstable in its current form.

 

[harkpabst]

Casting to WiiM groups should work flawlessly, either through the Tida app using Tidal Connect or using Tidal integrated into the WiiM Home app.

If using Tidal from a PC. Just make sure to not connect using Google Chromecast, but Tidal Connect.

 

[frbona]

How are you currently casting from the Tidal app to,multiple WiiM devices? I can see you perhaps have the option of casting to a Chromecast group, or casting to a Linkplay group. In the latter case, playback will be limited to 24/48 which probably isn’t an issue for multi room playback, and with the former you may have issues with Chromecast on Ultra devices as it can be unstable in its current form.

I just created Wiim group using Wiim application. I cannot see this group in Tidal application but when casting to the first unit marked with Tidal connect mention (second unit is marked with Chromecast mention), music is correctly played on the Wiim group. But i am not sure it is stable. I know Tidal is making changes with mobile applications often. I was going to buy a new amplifier to connect to Wiim ultra but if Tidal application do not work anymore as i want it to work in the next few months, this purchase is not useful.

 

[Burnside]

I just created Wiim group using Wiim application. I cannot see this group in Tidal application but when casting to the first unit marked with Tidal connect mention (second unit is marked with Chromecast mention), music is correctly played on the Wiim group.

That’s what I would expect to be seen and to happen.

But i am not sure it is stable.

Are you presuming this might be the case, or are you speaking from experience? Tidal is unaware of the Linkplay group and thinks it’s just playing to one device, and the Linkplay group will take care of distributing the audio the others. If there’s instability, I guess it would be the Tidal app to blame as Linkplay groups are pretty stable.

I know Tidal is making changes with mobile applications often. I was going to buy a new amplifier to connect to Wiim ultra but if Tidal application do not work anymore as i want it to work in the next few months, this purchase is not useful.

As I say, it’s more of a Tidal issue than WiiM/ Linkplay groups.

Have you tried creating a Chromecast group in the google home app and casting to that to see if that helps?

 

[frbona]

That’s what I would expect to be seen and to happen.


Are you presuming this might be the case, or are you speaking from experience? Tidal is unaware of the Linkplay group and thinks it’s just playing to one device, and the Linkplay group will take care of distributing the audio the others. If there’s instability, I guess it would be the Tidal app to blame as Linkplay groups are pretty stable.



As I say, it’s more of a Tidal issue than WiiM/ Linkplay groups.

Have you tried creating a Chromecast group in the google home app and casting to that to see if that helps?

Yes google cast groups work fine. But i think there is a playback limit. But what you said is that there is also a limit with Linkplay groups. What is the best quality between Linkplay groups and Chromecast groups ?

 

[frbona]

Actually, when playing Tidal on Linkplay groups, the 'Max' mention is displayed under the current song. But when playing on Chromecast, only the 'High' mention is displayed. I don't know what it means exactly... maybe you have the answer.

 

[frbona]

My main matter is that i own 2 others streamers from Cambridge. But i can use only Chromecast groups with them. That is the reason why i bought 2 Wiim Ultra units to have better playback quality using Linkplay groups. I don't know if i have to keep only Cambridge streamers and sell Wiim Ultra units...

 

[Burnside]

Actually, when playing Tidal on Linkplay groups, the 'Max' mention is displayed under the current song. But when playing on Chromecast, only the 'High' mention is displayed. I don't know what it means exactly... maybe you have the answer.

When playing from Tidal, the WiiM device can pick up the quality of the track being played, but is unable to do that when Chromecast is in use as it can’t accurately extract the resolution info from a Chromecast stream, so rather than displaying potentially erroneous info, it displays nothing.

 

[frbona]

When playing from Tidal, the WiiM device can pick up the quality of the track being played, but is unable to do that when Chromecast is in use as it can’t accurately extract the resolution info from a Chromecast stream, so rather than displaying potentially erroneous info, it displays nothing.

So it mean that playback quality is the same between Linkplay groups and Chromecast groups ?

 

[Burnside]

So it mean that playback quality is the same between Linkplay groups and Chromecast groups ?

Linkplay groups only support up to 24/48, even though a higher level stream may be being sent to the lead device. That may change in the future though.

I’ve just sent a 24/192 track to a Chromecast group comprising my WiiM Pro and WiiM Pro Plus, and while I can receive 24/192 on the Pro as shown by my amp when it’s standalone, when it’s grouped all I get is 24/48.

So it looks like Google Chromecast also limits multi room groups to 24/48.

Funnily enough, if I put the Pro and Pro Plus together as a stereo pair, but not a group, in the google home app I can get 24/192 chromecasting to them.

You should also note that the WiiM Ultra currently only supports 24/48 due to the newer version of google chromecast that it uses.

 

[frbona]

Linkplay groups only support up to 24/48, even though a higher level stream may be being sent to the lead device. That may change in the future though.

I’ve just sent a 24/192 track to a Chromecast group comprising my WiiM Pro and WiiM Pro Plus, and while I can receive 24/192 on the Pro as shown by my amp when it’s standalone, when it’s grouped all I get is 24/48.

So it looks like Google Chromecast also limits multi room groups to 24/48.

Funnily enough, if I put the Pro and Pro Plus together as a stereo pair, but not a group, in the google home app I can get 24/192 chromecasting to them.

You should also note that the WiiM Ultra currently only supports 24/48 due to the newer version of google chromecast that it uses.

Thanks a lot for all the informations.
Per information, i own also 2 cambridges streamers that i can group using Google groups. I think after discussing with you that both Cambridge and Wiim Ultra streamers can stream at the same level either with Linkplay groups or Google Cast groups. So i think i can use only Cambridge streamers and find a buyer for the Wiims Ultra units. I know it is not an easy question... but i ask

 

[frbona]

Thanks for you help

 

[frbona]

I just noticed that playing cursor stay to zero when using Chromecast groups from Tidal application. Is there a way to resolve the issue ?

 

[Burnside]

I just noticed that playing cursor stay to zero when using Chromecast groups from Tidal application. Is there a way to resolve the issue ?

Sorry, don’t have a Tidal subscription so can’t help on that - maybe a Tidal user like @Mr Ee can advise?

 

[Mr Ee]

Sorry, don’t have a Tidal subscription so can’t help on that - maybe a Tidal user like @Mr Ee can advise?

I would, but unfortunately the festive fun is over and I'm back in the office
Later maybe, unless someone else does before then.

@frbona - personally, I think you are over-equating high sample rates with audio quality. A 'mere' 16/44.1 stream can sound fantastic and a 192 stream doesn't implicitly mean it will sound better.
If you bought the ultras in the hope of having high sample rate groups (which I doubt wiim will support for quite reasonable technical reasons but would be happy to be proved wrong) and prefer using your Cambridge gear then sure, sell the wiims and keep the Cambridges.

But note that using chromecast to the Cambridges won't be gapless, whereas tidal connect to a wiim group will be.

 

[frbona]

I would, but unfortunately the festive fun is over and I'm back in the office
Later maybe, unless someone else does before then.

@frbona - personally, I think you are over-equating high sample rates with audio quality. A 'mere' 16/44.1 stream can sound fantastic and a 192 stream doesn't implicitly mean it will sound better.
If you bought the ultras in the hope of having high sample rate groups (which I doubt wiim will support for quite reasonable technical reasons but would be happy to be proved wrong) and prefer using your Cambridge gear then sure, sell the wiims and keep the Cambridges.

Biut note that using chromecast to the Cambridges won't be gapless, whereas tidal connect to a wiim group will be.

Thanks for your advices. Per information, Tidal application do not see Chromecast groups. It is an issue for which i sent a request to Tidal support team but it is still not resolved for now.

I don't know if will sell the wiims at the moment but i am still facing issues with the playin cursor which stay to zero while casting Tidal to Wiims using Chromecast groups. Can you help ?

 

[harkpabst]

I don't know if will sell the wiims at the moment but i am still facing issues with the playin cursor which stay to zero while casting Tidal to Wiims using Chromecast groups. Can you help ?

While you have the WiiM Ultras, why would you worry about casting through Chromecast to them? As @Mr Ee mentioned streaming won't be gapless and the but depth and sampling frequency have the same "limitations".

The only difference is that you can cast to a selected Chromecast group directly, while with WiiM groups you have to remember which parent device to stream to.

Tidal "High" btw. means that you are getting CD quality 16 bit 44.1 kHz. 16 bit 48 kHz might be shown as High also.

 

[frbona]

I would, but unfortunately the festive fun is over and I'm back in the office
Later maybe, unless someone else does before then.

@frbona - personally, I think you are over-equating high sample rates with audio quality. A 'mere' 16/44.1 stream can sound fantastic and a 192 stream doesn't implicitly mean it will sound better.
If you bought the ultras in the hope of having high sample rate groups (which I doubt wiim will support for quite reasonable technical reasons but would be happy to be proved wrong) and prefer using your Cambridge gear then sure, sell the wiims and keep the Cambridges.

Biut note that using chromecast to the Cambridges won't be gapless, whereas tidal connect to a wiim group will be.

Thanks for your advices.
I don't know if will sell the wiims at the moment but i am still facing issues with the playin cursor which star to zero while casting Tidal to Wiims using Chromecast groups. Can you help

While you have the WiiM Ultras, why would you worry about casting through Chromecast to them? As @Mr Ee mentioned streaming won't be gapless and the but depth and sampling frequency have the same "limitations".

The only difference is that you can cast to a selected Chromecast group directly, while with WiiM groups you have to remember which parent device to stream to.

Tidal "High" btw. means that you are getting CD quality 16 bit 44.1 kHz. 16 bit 48 kHz might be shown as High also.

I tried to cast to Chromecast groups but playing cursor stay to zero. I need help to resolve this issue and i will be able to use Chromecast groups.

 

[frbona]

Per information, Tidal application do not display Chromecast groups. It is an issue with Tidal application for which i sent a request to tidal support team.