WiiM Amp Pro doesn't turn on subwoofer in auto mode (B&W ASW610)

[Wingos]

Hello,

When I turn my Wiim Amp Pro on and play music with the Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 connected by an RCA cable (thru "Sub out" port) on "auto" it doesn't turn on. If I put the subwoofer on "On" it works fine. I tried running a subwoofer test and this test after a first fail did turn the subwoofer on. So it could be an WiiM issue.
Any idea ? Never tried any other subwoofer.

 

[Wiimer]

Hello,

When I turn my Wiim Amp Pro on and play music with the Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 connected by an RCA cable (thru "Sub out" port) on "auto" it doesn't turn on. If I put the subwoofer on "On" it works fine. I tried running a subwoofer test and this test after a first fail did turn the subwoofer on. So it could be an WiiM issue.
Any idea ? Never tried any other subwoofer.

Hi

What is the position of the volume knob (Line) on the back panel of the Sub?

Please try turning the volume of this knob down to 50% (12 o'clock) or lower. If the Sub volume is too low, you can adjust it with the volume bar in the subwoofer settings in the WiiM app.

Lowering the volume on the Sub side and increasing the volume from the Amp may allow the auto-standby to work properly.

Also, please check the operation by playing a sound source that includes the low frequency range that the Sub is responsible for.

 

[Wiimer]

Also please try these settings.



Edit: Fixed

 

[harkpabst]

@Wiimer, why low pass filter in? I'd probably set it to out but agree to anything else.

 

[Wiimer]

@Wiimer, why low pass filter in? I'd probably set it to out but agree to anything else.

I thought it was an output and input switching toggle, not an on/off toggle.

Sorry I will have to check the instructions..

 

[Wiimer]

@Wingos,

Sorry perhaps I was wrong.
The manual said.

"The LOW-PASS FILTER switch (Item 6 in Figure 1)
Note: This applies only to the LINE input. The filter
is always in circuit with the SPEAKER LEVEL input"

Also, in the Home Theatre Setup it says "Set the LOW-PASS FILTER switch to OUT", which I understood to be a toggle to turn the low-pass on/off at the Line in.

It should therefore be set to "OUT" here.

@harkpabst,
Is this correct?

 

[merifon]

I have the same ASW610 and confirm that its auto power on it's not so sensitive .
Correct to increase the amp sub output while reducing the input knob.
Also, tests don't show particular differences among filter off and maximum freq cut-off, anyway setting it off, involves less circuitry and potential residual phase shift. Beware that the switch, not particularly good, can have some falses contacts over the time.
You could also run a couple of rca plug in both inputs after a Y splitter on amp side, this halve resistivity and inductance of a long cable, they theoretically could matter. If just one cable is available, put the Y splitter on sub side, this anyway helps it's sensitivity and due to output and input impedances, electrically speaking doesn't change anything.

 

[harkpabst]

It should therefore be set to "OUT" here.

@harkpabst,
Is this correct?

Yes, OUT should be the preferred option. Even if it doesn't make too much of a difference according to the personal experience given by @merifon .

Pretty much all subwoofers have an additional, non-switchable low pass filter anyway at a somewhat higher frequency.

 

[mpr]

I have the same sub, the low pass filter should be set to out.

I also set up a 12v trigger cable, through a splitter, into both my Vibelink and sub, and use the ultra to toggle both in and out of standby.

 

[Wingos]

Hi

What is the position of the volume knob (Line) on the back panel of the Sub?

Please try turning the volume of this knob down to 50% (12 o'clock) or lower. If the Sub volume is too low, you can adjust it with the volume bar in the subwoofer settings in the WiiM app.

Lowering the volume on the Sub side and increasing the volume from the Amp may allow the auto-standby to work properly.

Also, please check the operation by playing a sound source that includes the low frequency range that the Sub is responsible for.

Hi Wilmer,

The volume on my sub is below 50%. I didn't try to increase the volume on the WiiM Amp Pro side: the only way I see to do it is by increasing the level by a few dB. Is this what you ment by "increasing the volume from the Amp" ?
No doubt the the sound I play includes low frequency but I'll do some tests with specific music, because I guess that the subsoofer test I did run does include such low frequencies that might have turned the sub on when I tried.

Thanks for your answer

 

[Wiimer]

Hi Wilmer,

The volume on my sub is below 50%. I didn't try to increase the volume on the WiiM Amp Pro side: the only way I see to do it is by increasing the level by a few dB. Is this what you ment by "increasing the volume from the Amp" ?
No doubt the the sound I play includes low frequency but I'll do some tests with specific music, because I guess that the subsoofer test I did run does include such low frequencies that might have turned the sub on when I tried.

Thanks for your answer

As @merifon said, turn up the level on the subwoofer setting in the WiiM app while turning down the volume knob on the sub side. Fix it at a position where the auto-standby works properly

 

[Wingos]

Hi, in fact everything works fine (or almost) if I play a song with a quite high level of bass the subwoofer turns on. If the song doesn't have enough bass, nothing happens until a high bass song is played. I kept the level at default level ( 0dB) because I don't want to increase the subwoofer volume (but I might try soon).

 

[harkpabst]

Just to be clear, the target of increasing the subwoofer level in the WiiM Home app is not to have you stand louder bass.

Turn the volume knob on the sub further down as you increase the level in the WHA. The overall level shall remain the same. But the auto-sense circuit of the sub sits in front of its volume knob, so it will switch on at lower levels then before.

 

[merifon]

Hi, in fact everything works fine (or almost) if I play a song with a quite high level of bass the subwoofer turns on. If the song doesn't have enough bass, nothing happens until a high bass song is played. I kept the level at default level ( 0dB) because I don't want to increase the subwoofer volume (but I might try soon).

I think the line input of 610 was designed keeping in mind a full range signal incoming from pre amplifier. In my previous set-up it was turned on even by just the little "thump" noise from powering on the pre. Now I have a dedicated and filtered subwoofer output and it starts only if overall volume is not too low and differently from WiiM solutions, the sub output it's not adjustable. Definitely I have to listen not at quietest level of nocturnal listening. Another parameter that can change the behavior of auto power on, is the cut-off frequency: lower is and more energy is required. I think you should go without fear with level rising on WiiM's output.

 

[harkpabst]

@Wingos, what about using a trigger cable, as proposed by @mpr before (sorry, I just fully read this reply right now)?

I have the same sub, the low pass filter should be set to out.

I also set up a 12v trigger cable, through a splitter, into both my Vibelink and sub, and use the ultra to toggle both in and out of standby.