Wiim Amp Pro : how to connect a PC (Windows 11) with an HDMI cable

[Parthos]

Hello,
My problem is this: my Windows 11 PC doesn't recognize the Wiim Amp Pro when I plug it into the HDMI port of my graphics card (a Geforce RTX 4060), or into the HDMI port of my motherboard (Asrock B650 Steel Legend wifi). The Bluetooth connection works, but there's a slight lag, so I'd prefer a direct connection.
On my old PC running Windows 10, my Geforce GTX 1060 recognized my home theater amp (a Yamaha RX-V467) without a hitch, so I don't understand why it's not working here...

 

[slartibartfast]

Hello,
My problem is this: my Windows 11 PC doesn't recognize the Wiim Amp Pro when I plug it into the HDMI port of my graphics card (a Geforce RTX 4060), or into the HDMI port of my motherboard (Asrock B650 Steel Legend wifi). The Bluetooth connection works, but there's a slight lag, so I'd prefer a direct connection.
On my old PC running Windows 10, my Geforce GTX 1060 recognized my home theater amp (a Yamaha RX-V467) without a hitch, so I don't understand why it's not working here...

It isn't working because the HDMI input on the Amp Pro is only HDMI ARC for a TV.

 

[Parthos]

Thank you for your reply. If it can't work, it's a real disappointment that there's no single HDMI port on this amp...
Are there any adapters that can overcome this limitation (I've read about the Feintech VAX04201)?

 

[hgo58]

Thank you for your reply. If it can't work, it's a real disappointment that there's no single HDMI port on this amp...
Are there any adapters that can overcome this limitation (I've read about the Feintech VAX04201)?

What are you trying to connect?

There is no HDMI output on the WiiM Ultra. Only the special ARC audio input.

 

[Burnside]

Get a usb to optical converter for the pc and feed optical into the amp pro e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cubilux-TOSLINK-Converter-Compatible-Computer/dp/B0B2DBGKL3/

 

[Parthos]

Get a usb to optical converter for the pc and feed optical into the amp pro e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cubilux-TOSLINK-Converter-Compatible-Computer/dp/B0B2DBGKL3/

Thank you very much, I will try that!

 

[Parthos]

I just noticed that I have an optical SPDIF output on my motherboard. I used the cable supplied by Wiim, unfortunately my PC doesn't detect the amp, I hope I'll have better luck with the adapter...
If I understand this page correctly, I should be on the "solid orange" color to make this work, right?

 

[Burnside]

I just noticed that I have an optical SPDIF output on my motherboard. I used the cable supplied by Wiim, unfortunately my PC doesn't detect the amp, I hope I'll have better luck with the adapter...
If I understand this page correctly, I should be on the "solid orange" color to make this work, right?

I don’t know if I’d expect the PC to “detect” the amp over optical, just to output audio over that port which it should be aware of. Any other cable or other piece of equipment you can try attaching to the pc optical output to see if that plays?

 

[Burnside]

If I understand this page correctly, I should be on the "solid orange" color to make this work, right?

I’d set the audio input manually in the WiiM app to be sure.

 

[cvdlinden]

Here's two cents.
No matter how you've connected your Amp up to your computer, you should make sure in Windows 11 that you've selected the correct audio output as well.
When using SPDIF/TOSLINK select the 'Digital Output' or how it may be called on your machine.
When using HDMI select the correct 'monitor' with '(NVIDIA High Definition audio)'.

Then in the WiiM App make sure you select the correct audio input. There's an auto-detect function as well. Just make sure the correct input is being selected (TV/HDMI or Optical).

Then there's always the line-out on your pc and RCA jacks at the back of the WiiM Amp. But who uses analog these days.

 

[hgo58]

Here's two cents.
No matter how you've connected your Amp up to your computer, you should make sure in Windows 11 that you've selected the correct audio output as well.
When using SPDIF/TOSLINK select the 'Digital Output' or how it may be called on your machine.
When using HDMI select the correct 'monitor' with '(NVIDIA High Definition audio)'.

Then in the WiiM App make sure you select the correct audio input. There's an auto-detect function as well. Just make sure the correct input is being selected (TV/HDMI or Optical).

Then there's always the line-out on your pc and RCA jacks at the back of the WiiM Amp. But who uses analog these days.

Unless the PC support HDMI ARC the HDMI will not work with WiiM.

 

[harkpabst]

Unless the PC support HDMI ARC the HDMI will not work with WiiM.

But totally correct otherwise except the misleading TV/HDMI part, which will not work with a PC, of course.

 

[cvdlinden]

I stand corrected. Audio over HDMI only works if there is a monitor connected, with audio capabilities, or a TV.
The WiiM Amp does not report itself as a monitor, hence no audio.
SPDIF/TOSLINK it is.

 

[Parthos]

Thanks to all for the messages. Finally, I managed to get it to work with the SPDIF (by choosing the “Realtek Digital Output” source). The problem was quite simple: the volume in the app was set too low, and it seems that the app's volume is decorrelated from that of the computer.
However, the ALC4082 audio chip on my motherboard, and Realtek's codecs, are fairly criticized (for example here), so I'll probably get a PCIe sound card with SPDIF connection to be sure of avoiding any problems that might arise...