WiiM Amp - Optical In - Muted Alerts/Brief Audio

[chamomile9819]

Hello,

I've tried to search for posts matching my issue, but I don't think any existing ones that I've found match the problem exactly.

I use TOSlink to transmit audio from my Mac mini to a WiiM Amp. Music playback generally works great, but the playback of very brief audio/notifications/alerts is muted most of the time. This is particularly problematic because I cannot hear notification sounds for the system and for applications such as Slack (critical to my job) - or the sounds are at least distorted if the soundbite is a little longer than typical.

A strange thing is that music from Spotify, audio from YouTube, etc. plays back instantaneously and does not experience any issue being cut off at the beginning. Even stranger: I can be playing music, and the music will not skip or distort, yet the overlaying notification sounds are still muted or distorted.

I'm hoping others can corroborate the issue, because it could certainly be an issue with my computer alone (however unlikely seeming).

I am on the latest stable release of the firmware. I've disabled auto-sensing of input, EQ, room correction, fade-in/out, etc.

I'm not sure what the cause might be, but I don't think it is my computer. Any insight is appreciated!

 

[Wiimer]

Hello,

I've tried to search for posts matching my issue, but I don't think any existing ones that I've found match the problem exactly.

I use TOSlink to transmit audio from my Mac mini to a WiiM Amp. Music playback generally works great, but the playback of very brief audio/notifications/alerts is muted most of the time. This is particularly problematic because I cannot hear notification sounds for the system and for applications such as Slack (critical to my job) - or the sounds are at least distorted if the soundbite is a little longer than typical.

A strange thing is that music from Spotify, audio from YouTube, etc. plays back instantaneously and does not experience any issue being cut off at the beginning. Even stranger: I can be playing music, and the music will not skip or distort, yet the overlaying notification sounds are still muted or distorted.

I'm hoping others can corroborate the issue, because it could certainly be an issue with my computer alone (however unlikely seeming).

I am on the latest stable release of the firmware. I've disabled auto-sensing of input, EQ, room correction, fade-in/out, etc.

I'm not sure what the cause might be, but I don't think it is my computer. Any insight is appreciated!

Hi,
Would this thread be helpful to you?

Post in thread 'WiiM Amp turns off the sound after 15 seconds HDMI, Optical'

Apr 6, 2024

If anyone needs it, I managed to create a 15-second audio file, for the first 3 seconds I generated a 20,000hz sine sound (almost inaudible even at maximum volume), the remaining 12 seconds were silent. This file is launched in a separate player (minimized in the background) when the system starts, it is looped so it triggers an audio signal every 15 seconds and does not allow it to be turned off.

I think it's a good compromise.
It can also be mosquito repellent.

• Wiimer

• 

 

[chamomile9819]

Hi,
Would this thread be helpful to you?

Post in thread 'WiiM Amp turns off the sound after 15 seconds HDMI, Optical'

Apr 6, 2024

If anyone needs it, I managed to create a 15-second audio file, for the first 3 seconds I generated a 20,000hz sine sound (almost inaudible even at maximum volume), the remaining 12 seconds were silent. This file is launched in a separate player (minimized in the background) when the system starts, it is looped so it triggers an audio signal every 15 seconds and does not allow it to be turned off.

I think it's a good compromise.
It can also be mosquito repellent.

• Wiimer

• 

Hello - thank you. I looked into that thread, but don't think I'm experiencing quite the same issue, as I will encounter the cutoff before a moment of standby (the muting will continue to happen in succession or within a short period of time).

I did also submit logs for this issue, in feedback ticket 532050

 

[harkpabst]

This might be totally unrelated, but just to rule out the über-obvious: Do you have Fade-In & Face-Out Effects disabled in Audio Settings?

 

[Krabin]

I'm having a very similar (if not the same) issue, and this thread and the one Wiimer linked seem to be the only ones discussing this. I sent the following in a feedback ticket a few days ago but haven't gotten a response:
"Hi! I have the "fade-in & fade-out effects" setting turned off, but audio still fades in when played, and the effect isn't subtle. The effect is most prominent when navigating the menu of my Apple TV, as the quick menu sounds often get almost completely muted, particularly when they take place after more than 1-4 seconds of no sound playing. It happens with all playback: movies and youtube videos via hdmi arc, tidal connect and chromecast via wifi, etc. Is this a feature that can't be disabled because of pops and clicks that would otherwise happen? I've never had this issue before with any other device. Most importantly: how does it know when to mute stuff? Does it detect when audio (at any level) is being transmitted to it, or is it level-based? Will it cut off quiet parts during movies and some very dynamic music with silent parts? I've checked the forums and seen some people describing what sounds like my exact issue, but I haven't seen any possible solutions other than obviously turning off the setting. Thanks!"

 

[chamomile9819]

This might be totally unrelated, but just to rule out the über-obvious: Do you have Fade-In & Face-Out Effects disabled in Audio Settings?

Sorry for the delay. Alas - I do.

I'm having a very similar (if not the same) issue, and this thread and the one Wiimer linked seem to be the only ones discussing this. I sent the following in a feedback ticket a few days ago but haven't gotten a response:
"Hi! I have the "fade-in & fade-out effects" setting turned off, but audio still fades in when played, and the effect isn't subtle. The effect is most prominent when navigating the menu of my Apple TV, as the quick menu sounds often get almost completely muted, particularly when they take place after more than 1-4 seconds of no sound playing. It happens with all playback: movies and youtube videos via hdmi arc, tidal connect and chromecast via wifi, etc. Is this a feature that can't be disabled because of pops and clicks that would otherwise happen? I've never had this issue before with any other device. Most importantly: how does it know when to mute stuff? Does it detect when audio (at any level) is being transmitted to it, or is it level-based? Will it cut off quiet parts during movies and some very dynamic music with silent parts? I've checked the forums and seen some people describing what sounds like my exact issue, but I haven't seen any possible solutions other than obviously turning off the setting. Thanks!"

Yeah, I kind of gave up on it and stuffed it in the backburner for now. The reply from WiiM was unfortunately to the effect of "sorry, the auto sense feature is too important for us to focus on this being an issue we look into right now". I still love my devices and the ecosystem, but I would like more concern to be put into the little things.
Oddly, I haven't been noticing the issue as much here lately, so I can't say without certainty that it isn't due to the OS.

I do wish auto standby could be disabled on the amp, but I understand why it isn't an option.

 

[Krabin]

Yeah, I kind of gave up on it and stuffed it in the backburner for now. The reply from WiiM was unfortunately to the effect of "sorry, the auto sense feature is too important for us to focus on this being an issue we look into right now". I still love my devices and the ecosystem, but I would like more concern to be put into the little things.
Oddly, I haven't been noticing the issue as much here lately, so I can't say without certainty that it isn't due to the OS.

I do wish auto standby could be disabled on the amp, but I understand why it isn't an option.

I gotcha. I just wish they would at least let us know what exactly is happening. If it's level-based and acts like a gate, that would be absurd because the quiet parts of movies and songs could be muted. But, if it's only when an audio file begins to play, that's ok because not much important stuff is being muted, just the very beginning of stuff and menu sounds, and I can live with that.

 

[Krabin]

I messaged again to try to get a response, and oh boy I did. A simple "We don't know, we're trying to fix it." would suffice, or "It's an intentional design choice that can't be turned off to prevent users from hearing pops and clicks" would be unfortunate but understandable. However, they...went a different route: (screeshots. hopefully they send in order). I'm biting my tongue and giving them a chance to respond. The company has seemed like a breath of fresh air so far so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

 

[slartibartfast]

I messaged again to try to get a response, and oh boy I did. A simple "We don't know, we're trying to fix it." would suffice, or "It's an intentional design choice that can't be turned off to prevent users from hearing pops and clicks" would be unfortunate but understandable. However, they...went a different route: (screeshots. hopefully they send in order). I'm biting my tongue and giving them a chance to respond. The company has seemed like a breath of fresh air so far so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

How long does this "fade in" take?

 

[Krabin]

How long does this "fade in" take?

roughly 0.2-0.5 seconds I think, enough to almost completely mute the first menu sound played after about 3 seconds of no other sound played

 

[slartibartfast]

roughly 0.2-0.5 seconds I think, enough to almost completely mute the first menu sound played after about 3 seconds of no other sound played

If I pause then unpause local music played through Squeezelite I hear a slight fade in as well.

 

[Burnside]

If I pause then unpause local music played through Squeezelite I hear a slight fade in as well.

Might that be an LMS setting?

 

[Burnside]

Hello,

I've tried to search for posts matching my issue, but I don't think any existing ones that I've found match the problem exactly.

I use TOSlink to transmit audio from my Mac mini to a WiiM Amp. Music playback generally works great, but the playback of very brief audio/notifications/alerts is muted most of the time. This is particularly problematic because I cannot hear notification sounds for the system and for applications such as Slack (critical to my job) - or the sounds are at least distorted if the soundbite is a little longer than typical.

A strange thing is that music from Spotify, audio from YouTube, etc. plays back instantaneously and does not experience any issue being cut off at the beginning. Even stranger: I can be playing music, and the music will not skip or distort, yet the overlaying notification sounds are still muted or distorted.

I'm hoping others can corroborate the issue, because it could certainly be an issue with my computer alone (however unlikely seeming).

I am on the latest stable release of the firmware. I've disabled auto-sensing of input, EQ, room correction, fade-in/out, etc.

I'm not sure what the cause might be, but I don't think it is my computer. Any insight is appreciated!

Can you try another input device, say from your phone using a usb to optical converter to see if its notification/system sounds suffer the same issue? Is there any setting in the Mac mini to suppress or hear system sounds when using optical out?

 

[Burnside]

I do wish auto standby could be disabled on the amp, but I understand why it isn't an option.

I think it’s been mentioned that you can set the standby time to never if you use the beta desktop version of the WiiM home app - might be worth checking out

 

[slartibartfast]

Might that be an LMS setting?

There is a setting but that was turned off.

 

[chamomile9819]

I think it’s been mentioned that you can set the standby time to never if you use the beta desktop version of the WiiM home app - might be worth checking out

Interesting! Can you link me to the beta WiiM desktop app? I am using the Mac App Store version (didn't know others existed).

Thank you.

 

[Burnside]

Interesting! Can you link me to the beta WiiM desktop app? I am using the Mac App Store version (didn't know others existed).

Thank you.

Try the macOS link on this page https://wiimhome.com/app

 

[chamomile9819]

Try the macOS link on this page https://wiimhome.com/app

1) thanks for not making me feel like an idiot lol
2) wow, this is new to me! I like it.

 

[Burnside]

Thanks. Once you have that setup, you should be able to see it under Home Music Share on the mobile WiiM Home app too. And I guess from the Mac App Store version, as well as under My Music.