Ultra Set Up for Sonos

[mailman]

Seriously interested in taking control from SONOS. My Sonos set up is 2 rooms: FR: Sonos ARC, 2 Play 1s (surrounds) Sonos Sub (Original large model) DEN: Denon AVR 970H, Sonos Connect, 2 Wharfdale Speakers (originals rom the 1960s), Klipsch wireless sub, Dual TT. System works great and I am happy with the sound. Streaming Apple Music, which definitely sounds better than Amazon and Spotify and even better than Deezer, at least to me. Playlists are all mixed with ripped CDs and streamed tracks. Family room ARC is connected to Samsung smart TV (2021 QLED) with HDMI.

How do I get an Ultra into this set up? Would like it in the family room. ARC is limited to HDMI. Do I need an adapter for optical to the ARC or is there a way to use the HDMI? Would simplest be HDMI ARC from TV to Ultra, SPDIF out to adapter at ARC? Would this work and would I get benefit of Ultra DAC or would it be bypassed? I'll also need to solve the Apple Music issue, but that is secondary right now. I can switch to Amazon if the Ultra works or if I get desperate I guess I could go with Eversolo, but not there yet. Any suggestions appreciated. As you can tell, I am not very well schooled in this stuff, but the music is great.

I also have a lower end Yamaha stereo receiver, which is now idle. If I cannot get something to separate from Sonos I will sell the whole thing and rebuild. These guys have been difficult for quite a while and are now seriously worse. Very tired of dealing with constant upgrades, out of the blue, that do not work without a lot of effort. Just want to set something up and listen to it.

 

[Skull]

I have an ultra connected to my pair of 5s and sub via line in it works well
I started with a WiiM mini connected the same way which does have AirPlay but I don’t use Apple Music and don’t see the sense in buying a hires streaming device to use AirPlay but that’s just me
I use Qobuz and Amazon hd in the WiiM app and I also have a hard drive plugged into the ultra via usb
The quality of the music seems better than when I used the Sonos app but I could be wrong
I use a widget app called Sono+ for grouping and volume I rarely use the Sonos app even though I have not upgraded
I regularly group with my pair of Sonos moves with no problems but my plan is to get a class a/b amp and speakers as my main system and split the 5s and plug WiiM minis into them
Hope this gives you some ideas

 

[mailman]

Yes. Thanks. I was aware of the line in approach, but my speakers are all without line in connections. The connect has it but it's in a far way room with the receiver and phono with the WD speakers. I'll take a look at the app. Right now I am using SonoPhone, which works fine also.

I am interested in the Ultra because of the great sound quality reviews and the potential to turn Sonos speakers over to control of something more reliable, hoping the sound quality clicks and improves on the alternative streaming quality. Really appreciate your information. How do I get to a line in with what I have?

 

[Skull]

Other than using the connect you would need to buy a Sonos speaker/product with a line in sorry to be the bearer of bad news
Or scrap the lot and build a system from WiiM and separate stereo units
You might be able to get a 5 cheaper on eBay

 

[dtc]

You could also buy a Wiim Mini and group that with the Ultra and use its optical out to go into the connect. Then all you need the Sonos app for is to group the Sonos speakers as needed. It is a little messy but it works. I have found the optical cable connection of the Mini to be somewhat unreliabe (too loose) so a Pro is also an option using coax. The Pro will also allow for more future upgrades.

If Wiim ever gets the DLNA casting working, you should be able to use that to connect directly to your Sonos system. The Beta has not been updated lately and the last I knew it was just casting lossy MP3.

 

[mailman]

Other than using the connect you would need to buy a Sonos speaker/product with a line in sorry to be the bearer of bad news
Or scrap the lot and build a system from WiiM and separate stereo units
You might be able to get a 5 cheaper on eBay

I was thinking that, but wasn't sure. By using the connect, do you mean adding something like a mini to it as dtc suggests below? I did just get a line on a Five on Craigs list for a pretty decent price. Seems some people around here are getting rid of Sonos.

 

[mailman]

You could also buy a Wiim Mini and group that with the Ultra and use its optical out to go into the connect. Then all you need the Sonos app for is to group the Sonos speakers as needed. It is a little messy but it works. I have found the optical cable connection of the Mini to be somewhat unreliabe (too loose) so a Pro is also an option using coax. The Pro will also allow for more future upgrades.

If Wiim ever gets the DLNA casting working, you should be able to use that to connect directly to your Sonos system. The Beta has not been updated lately and the last I knew it was just casting lossy MP3.

Thanks very much. As you can tell, I don't understand as well as I should how all this stuff works, so messy is something I work with all the time. I enjoy putting the components together and somehow have struggled through so far. I like the flexibility of that idea. Also looking at a play five which will let me bring another room into the mix. Beginning to get the idea.

 

[Skull]

I was thinking that, but wasn't sure. By using the connect, do you mean adding something like a mini to it as dtc suggests below? I did just get a line on a Five on Craigs list for a pretty decent price. Seems some people around here are getting rid of Sonos.

Yes a mini would get you started and wouldn’t cost the earth its what I did to experiment before taking the plunge with the ultra
I will end up with a 5 in my kitchen with a mini so I can group my moves for garden listening and make the most out of my Sonos before they stop working
I won’t have all my speakers the same make anymore learned my lesson

 

[mailman]

That "stop working" comment is noteworthy. Gets ones attention. Would you go with powered speakers or passive in a future setup?

 

[Skull]

That "stop working" comment is noteworthy. Gets ones attention. Would you go with powered speakers or passive in a future setup?

A mix I think, replaced my 2 roams with 2 echo dots and battery bases last prime day for bathroom duty and impressed with them so far
My main listening room will be a quad Artera Solus with a pair of Wharfedale Linton speakers
I will probably replace my arc surround system with a Samsung one at some point
But any powered speakers i get will probably be Amazon Echos as they are cheap so easily replaced and they don’t mess about with software too much

 

[Burnside]

A mix I think, replaced my 2 roams with 2 echo dots and battery bases last prime day for bathroom duty and impressed with them so far
My main listening room will be a quad Artera Solus with a pair of Wharfedale Linton speakers
I will probably replace my arc surround system with a Samsung one at some point
But any powered speakers i get will probably be Amazon Echos as they are cheap so easily replaced and they don’t mess about with software too much

You might want to think about the use of an echo link (especially if they get reduced in price on Black Friday etc) connected to a WiiM mini to distribute WiiM audio across echos as well as per this and related links

Advice from Amazon UK users

Hi everyone, I've read all the posts on here and Reddit regarding the Echo link. Has any UK people actually got the link to cast multi-room music from a line-in? I have a wiim amp powering house ceiling speakers and an pro plus hooked into my living set up. It all is working great and I love...

forum.wiimhome.com

 

[mailman]

Thanks to every one who pitched in on this. I really appreciate it. I was able to set up the ultra using an HDMI/optical adapter from the ARC to the optical out of the ultra and HDMI from TV to Ultra. Used HDMI settings on TV with auto and PCM. Sonos speakers worked well with Amazon Music, but could not get TV sound. Finally found an "External Device Manager" on the Samsung and everything clicked.

Wiim app is great, but still a bit awkward switching between modes and sound quality was thin. Could not get test sound signals for bit rate adjustments for the life of me, nor for room adjustments. If any one has anything on this, I am curious. Decided to return the unit for several reasons. 1. No Apple Music support (and I don't know if you have experienced this, but Amazon will drop songs on playlists as "no longer available". Didn't bother to run it down, just dropping Amazon for Apple which is clean and trouble free so far.) 2. No Atmos support on Wiim.
3) Could not group Sonos speakers with this setup, since there was no line out connection, so lost a bit of control. 4) Sonos working fine and good sound for me, just want to get out from under the updates.

With all the input from here I have gotten interested, first in a Five, for a line out, and evolved to the Era 300 for the Atmos. Thinking at least one, probably two as stereo. Also, we are now downsizing so I'm thinking that might be more condo friendly and I can probably drop the ARC and Ones, and of course the Sub.That sticks me with Sonos, unless I just decide to forego the Eras, dump everything else and set up with a receiver and speakers in the new place a year from now.

This tech is moving fast though, and my guess is Wiim has really gotten some attention with the ultra and it should not be long before competition delivers even more flexibility. We will see. Still planning to get away from Sonos system b/c constant annoyance. No problem with their speakers, which to me are cost effective, but being tied in to their control system is something to be overcome in my opinion.

Thanks again everyone for all of your help. Love working with this stuff and music quality is great for me. Just wish I understood the systems all a little better.