Tidal Connect - Problem with MAX Albums

[d3vil0]

Hi,
From some time, I have problem with playing Tidal MAX Albums (those with FLAC 4350 kbps 24-bit/192 kHz.
At Random times, music stop playing for 1-2 sec - like 20-40 times per song.

Wiim soft is up to date.
This is not a internet issue problem - tested and rebooted everything. Connecting only through IPv4 with google DNS's on 5GHz Wifi and 300Mbit fiber. On other devices TIDAL works just fine.
# Tested different SPDIF cables (using stock Wiim cable, cleaned up - not twisted),
# Lowering SPDIF output resolution in Wiim to test.
# Tested Diffrent DAC SPDIF inputs

Nothing is working.

Problem occurs on Tidal album: The Alan Parsons Project - I Robot.
Looks like software/hardware problem to me.

We will be grateful for your help.

 

[Planar50]

aaaand stutters are back again. didnt bother anymore, just listening in High quality. dont care about quality, i just can see better which track is playing in tidal app, coz in max quality its yellow

 

[Ale_H]

I have the same problem. Max albums play for up to two minutes and then stop. It's a real nuisance, I hope they fix it soon.

 

[Shacky]

Having same issue with interesting twist. I have a Rasberry running LMS on WiFi router. If I access LMS via same WiiM and stream Tidal max album I have no problems. But using WiiM app bypassing LMS I get stutters and even loud pops! Thought my tube amp was going

It’s definitely a WiiM problem not Tidal. And I do have latest firmware.

 

[Shacky]

I was very impressed with WiiM’s follow up until I did the update and still have same problem

I have whitelisted your device, and the WiiM Pro Plus will upgrade automatically, or you can initiate the upgrade through the WiiM Home App. The current version number is 4.8.719054.We kindly request that you try using your device again after upgrading to see if this can solve the problem you are experiencing.

 

[Shacky]

WiiM responses have been great! But we haven’t been able to solve my issue and it is complicated.

I have my router in a back bedroom with Raspberry Pi attached running LMS. My WiiM is in front living room.

I have no problem playing Tidal Max files via iPeng managing LMS streaming via WiFi to the WiiM. Then optical out to separate DAC.

But when I try to play them via WiiM app, direct streaming Tidal from router I get stuffers and pops.

My WiFi connection via WiiM does show “weak.”

So why would the LMS scenario playing via same WiiM unit works and direct WiiM/Tidal does not?

Does the local LMS buffer? I’m not an expert by any means.

Now that I’ve resolved the jumping volume issue using iPeng I no longer need to use the WiiM direct but this seems curious.

 

[marped]

Hi there, I thought the problem was solved but it wasn't. And I thought its due to Tidal instability but now I don't think so. I am experiencing the issue right now. When playing a 24 bit track from Tidal directly on my Android phone everything is fine. But when playing it from Wiim mini it is a mess. This is fu.... annoying. Doesn't matter if I use Tidal Connect or if I start the track from Wiim app. The same sh... This proves that the problem is with Wiim. The phone and the Wiim mini are connected to the same high speed wifi. And the Wiim mini is much closer to the router. So it is not due to wifi. It is not Tidal too. It is Wiim!

 

[Shacky]

To WiiM’s credit they responded several times with possible fixes and firmware update. But mine continues to balk at max Tidal files.

Using WiiM as my Squeezebox player they play fine.

 

[d3vil0]

Problem is back now. Same problems again and again - Wiim come on!
@WiiM Support Why can't we just listen to music on your device ? When You will finally fix Tidal problems?

 

[harkpabst]

Problem is back now.

Not for me. Maybe it's Tidal's issue?

 

[Sietsevdw]

Hi there, recently bought a Mini and having the exact same issues with 24-bit 192 kHz tracks. Interestingly my father has an Ultra and he has no issues.. We thought maybe something to do with the (lower) processing capacity of the Mini?

 

[Burnside]

Hi there, recently bought a Mini and having the exact same issues with 24-bit 192 kHz tracks. Interestingly my father has an Ultra and he has no issues.. We thought maybe something to do with the (lower) processing capacity of the Mini?

I guess there are too many variables between your setup and your father's to definitively lay the fault at the door of the Mini's less capable hardware. However I would suggest that you perhaps consider a Raspberry Pi or Apple power supply/charger rather than what you're currently using, and also check that your Mini has a rock-solid wifi connection. I'd also try separately toggling the Preferred DNS, Wifi Roaming and IPV6 network settings in the Wiim Home app to see if any of those help.

 

[Shrike]

Hi, this is Wiim mini - no ethernet
Tried 2,4 GHz wifi - same thing.

I've had similar issues on my Wiim Mini with Qobuz + AirPlay combo.
Streaming from a Macbook Pro (OSX 13.7), it seems to be more stable when I drop Qobuz quality to 16-bit/44.1 kHz from the player. Same problem on app and webplayer.

Not an issue with network; Mac on ethernet, Wiim on 5Gz wifi right next to the hub.
The Macbook Pro is on AC Power, it's CPU is usually at 70% unused capacity.
I can play music files on Foobar2000 without any issues, which are mostly MP3's (VBR0 quality).

 

[Shrike]

I now think this is an AirPlay issue, which is limited to a maximum of 44.1 kHz for lossless audio, over which it downsamples the stream (to AAC 256 kbps) on the fly and I'm assuming this is causing issues, especially with 3rd party gear/hardware.

 

[Burnside]

Apple Music (and others) and AirPlay 2 downsampling to 256kbps is a very well known occurrence as can be seen in this very often quoted link:

Apple Music Lossless Mess Part 2: AirPlay

Earlier this month I dug into Apple Music's Lossless and Hi-Res offerings, running several bit perfect rests on the audio output of my Macs and iOS devices. The results were less than stellar (link). This week I dug into Apple Music lossless over AirPlay. One would think that the results would be...

audiophilestyle.com

As for causing issues, if the receiving device supports 256kbps AAC which WiiM devices do, then I don’t see why that of itself would cause any issues.

Re Qobuz issues, it does sound like macOS or the Qobuz macOS app don’t recognise that all Airplay supports is up to 44.1hz as most streaming services will only request the max resolution the receiving device can support. If the system wide airplay setting is used as per that link, Qobuz should happily deliver lossless CD quality over Airplay 2.

Using Qobuz Connect rather than AirPlay should resolve that and allow playback up to 24/192 on other WiiM devices, just not the Mini which unfortunately hasn’t got the capacity for Qobuz Connect. There’s an Amazon Prime sale coming up - I’d keep an eye out for at least a WiiM Pro or Pro Plus to replace the Mini…

 

[Shrike]

Re Qobuz issues, it does sound like macOS or the Qobuz macOS app don’t recognise that all Airplay supports is up to 44.1hz as most streaming services will only request the max resolution the receiving device can support. If the system wide airplay setting is used as per that link, Qobuz should happily deliver lossless CD quality over Airplay 2.

Nah, I've skipped using AirPlay altogether as per all the bullshit involved, which resolved related problems.
I've resolved all these issues, just came back to report to the OP what my problem was.

It wasn't just Qobuz tho. Problems were abundant with AirPlay even between Apple's own hardware.
It's mostly to do with how they "manage" legacy and 3rd party hardware, their compatibilities and lack there of, proprietary protocols etc. and how all of these things compound to create unpredictable issues and ridiculous behaviour. I've moved my personal hardware to linux or compatible solutions and will not be touching Apple gear after I get rid of this company issue OSX PC.

There’s an Amazon Prime sale coming up - I’d keep an eye out for at least a WiiM Pro or Pro Plus to replace the Mini…

Nah, I favour local shops, Bezos needs none of my money. And my setup is fine right now anyway, after getting rid the problematic bits.

 

[lukcinrk]

Today I also have problem with Tidal stopping every 4-5s on my WiiM amp ultra For two weeks since I bought it was working great.
Youtube music is working ok.

@Edit -It was my Internet connection issue.

 

[Mr Ee]

Today I also have problem with Tidal stopping every 4-5s on my WiiM amp ultra For two weeks since I bought it was working great.
Youtube music is working ok.

Try toggling the ipv6 and dns server options.

 

[lukcinrk]

I checked it once again and it is weird. Tidal is woking on my phone (on wifi) without problems. But on Wiim it stutters a lot and the same situation is on macOS Tidal app but it works flawless by http on the same MacBook Air. I restarted WiiM, Router, Modem. I don't know what to do

 

[itreachesout]

I checked it once again and it is weird. Tidal is woking on my phone (on wifi) without problems. But on Wiim it stutters a lot and the same situation is on macOS Tidal app but it works flawless by http on the same MacBook Air. I restarted WiiM, Router, Modem. I don't know what to do

Same for me. It started after the most recent update, but I also changed my amp which moved my ultra slightly. You still have "good" signal? Does setting to high instead of max fix it or still happening?

 

[itreachesout]

Has wiim had anyone perform a packet capture to investigate or do logs indicate issue?
I really don't want to analyze pcaps after work, but if this is ongoing, not only me, and wiim doesn't know, I'll do after I get back in town next week.