Steve Woodhouse
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2023
- Messages
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6/15 in the latest roadmap just posted. Considering delays on this one already, I would expect a little later maybe.
The 6th of Noctvember?
6/15 in the latest roadmap just posted. Considering delays on this one already, I would expect a little later maybe.
I have also noticed this - the volume has to be set very high on the WiiM Amp when listening to audio coming over the HDMI connection. If I used the same volume when playing music off the USB drive, I'd rupture my eardrums!I have noted the exact same thing. My previous setup had more similar volumes. So I think the sensitivity for HDMI is just too low. The amp would never get close to full power as it is currently setup.
It has been proven by Stereophile measurements that the WiiM Amp shows plain perfect behaviour regarding the gain structure. It will put out its maximum power only if the digital input delivers 0 dBFS. If the source (TV) never puts out a digital level of 0 dBFS even for the loudest sounds, it's the fault of the source, not the amplifier. Personally I would still like to see a per-source compensation for such cases.I have also noticed this - the volume has to be set very high on the WiiM Amp when listening to audio coming over the HDMI connection. If I used the same volume when playing music off the USB drive, I'd rupture my eardrums!
I think that this is a pretty fine explanation and many have observed similar behaviour.I'm puzzled by something else: when the TV/HDMI is streaming some movies, then the dialogue is hard to make out. I'm guessing, but it's as if the mix down to two channels is not working well for some movie audio formats? But I'm out of my depth. E.g. in the recent Netflix Godzilla movie I had to crank the Amp volume up very high in order to hear the dialogue properly, whereas other Netflix titles' dialogue (e.g. Resident Alien) is at a good loudness. Not sure I'm explaining that very well!
Some TV’s (and my Fire TV stick) have settings to boost dialogue that might helpUnfortunately, there's nothing the WiiM Amp can do about it. It just handles the 2 channel signal that has been dowmixed before. You can add some EQ to boost dialogue, but that's more or less it. As long as you just have to adjust the volume from one movie to another, everything is pretty fine. If you find yourself adjusting the volume constantly, because dialogue is too low and the next action scene is too high in level, that's the real problem. Some dynamic compression would be useful here, but that should - again - have ideally been applied before the signal enters the WiiM.
Isn't this a fundamental "risk" when using HDMI ARC as the source for a stereo amplifier, regardless of what amp that may be?Unfortunately, there's nothing the WiiM Amp can do about it. It just handles the 2 channel signal that has been dowmixed before. You can add some EQ to boost dialogue, but that's more or less it. As long as you just have to adjust the volume from one movie to another, everything is pretty fine. If you find yourself adjusting the volume constantly, because dialogue is too low and the next action scene is too high in level, that's the real problem. Some dynamic compression would be useful here, but that should - again - have ideally been applied before the signal enters the WiiM.
Here are some insights into the downmix topic for those who can read German:Isn't this a fundamental "risk" when using HDMI ARC as the source for a stereo amplifier, regardless of what amp that may be?
My perception is content sources differ in how they choose to "mix" a stereo output from a native 5.1 (or higher) original audio tracks. So you may get more or less center in your L/R stereo signal, and center is where dialog is often predominantly placed.
I've noticed this myself using an NAD D3045 connected via ARC from my LG TV. The other day I was watching a WNBA game on the Ion network, and the dialog from the announcers was very low, while the background noises from the court & stadium were unusually loud. I speculated that Ion was simply feeding L and R from a 5.1 native source to the L and R for a stereo downmix, rather than mixing center into both L and R for the downmix. When I reverted to my AVR and used true L/C/R signals, the dialog was fine.
I'd like to get rid of my AVR, but situations like this make me think twice.
Many TVs can also pass the sound through. However, the receiver must then be able to handle the sound format.
I think it's safe to say that.Isn't this a fundamental "risk" when using HDMI ARC as the source for a stereo amplifier, regardless of what amp that may be?
"Sources" in this context would usually refer to the HDMI ARC source, usually the TV. Unless e.g. the 5.1 programme material has already been converted to 2.0 on a different level, maybe by a Blu-ray player or even a streaming service. However, in both cases it's not too unlikely that the downmix to 2.0 is not done in real-time. The Blu-ray disc may contain a downmix done "properly" in the studio and the streaming service may have access to that same source.My perception is content sources differ in how they choose to "mix" a stereo output from a native 5.1 (or higher) original audio tracks. So you may get more or less center in your L/R stereo signal, and center is where dialog is often predominantly placed.
Sounds indicative to me. As long as we stay in-universe (Dolby universe in this case) things are relatively simple.I've noticed this myself using an NAD D3045 connected via ARC from my LG TV. The other day I was watching a WNBA game on the Ion network, and the dialog from the announcers was very low, while the background noises from the court & stadium were unusually loud. I speculated that Ion was simply feeding L and R from a 5.1 native source to the L and R for a stereo downmix, rather than mixing center into both L and R for the downmix. When I reverted to my AVR and used true L/C/R signals, the dialog was fine.
It shouldn't be an issue if the downmix is done correctly.The biggest issue with HDMI in from ARC (and it’s not just WiiM) is that, by definition, the WiiM only gets the audio after it’s been ‘processed’ by your TV.
The WiiM Amp can only handle two channel stereo PCM. This is what you need form your TV.Many TVs can also pass the sound through. However, the receiver must then be able to handle the sound format.
Don't underestimate ARC. I can't handle uncompressed hir-res multichannel audio. But that's not really a restriction with what the WiiM Amp can handle.Vanilla ARC won’t pass higher bitrates.
I think it's safe to say that.
"Sources" in this context would usually refer to the HDMI ARC source, usually the TV. Unless e.g. the 5.1 programme material has already been converted to 2.0 on a different level, maybe by a Blu-ray player or even a streaming service. However, in both cases it's not too unlikely that the downmix to 2.0 is not done in real-time. The Blu-ray disc may contain a downmix done "properly" in the studio and the streaming service may have access to that same source.
Sounds indicative to me. As long as we stay in-universe (Dolby universe in this case) things are relatively simple.
View attachment 9138
(https://professionalsupport.dolby.c...d-Stereo-downmix-settings-work?language=en_US)
As long as Dolby licensed gear is used throughout you can be sure that these rules are obeyed. This is not necessarily the case for what TVs might put out as PCM. It can definitely hit or miss.
Please note that the .1 channel (I'm avoiding the term LFE or subwoofer here) is explicitly not part of the stereo downmix. Yep, that's actually true. A real LFE (there I said it) just contains additional, non-essential effects, not all the bass content below 120Hz. The main channels should contain all meaningful bass. More on this can be found here:
The Misunderstood 0.1 LFE Channel in 5.1 Digital Surround Sound - HomeTheaterHifi.com
In 5.1 digital surround sound, the 0.1 channel is called the LFE or Low Frequency Effects channel. While in the commercial system it is referred to as the subwoofer channel, this is not necessarily true for home theater setups.hometheaterhifi.com
It shouldn't be an issue if the downmix is done correctly.
The WiiM Amp can only handle two channel stereo PCM. This is what you need form your TV.
Don't underestimate ARC. I can't handle uncompressed hir-res multichannel audio. But that's not really a restriction with what the WiiM Amp can handle.
I didn't say otherwise.I think it's safe to say that.
"Sources" in this context would usually refer to the HDMI ARC source, usually the TV. Unless e.g. the 5.1 programme material has already been converted to 2.0 on a different level, maybe by a Blu-ray player or even a streaming service. However, in both cases it's not too unlikely that the downmix to 2.0 is not done in real-time. The Blu-ray disc may contain a downmix done "properly" in the studio and the streaming service may have access to that same source.
Sounds indicative to me. As long as we stay in-universe (Dolby universe in this case) things are relatively simple.
View attachment 9138
(https://professionalsupport.dolby.c...d-Stereo-downmix-settings-work?language=en_US)
As long as Dolby licensed gear is used throughout you can be sure that these rules are obeyed. This is not necessarily the case for what TVs might put out as PCM. It can definitely hit or miss.
Please note that the .1 channel (I'm avoiding the term LFE or subwoofer here) is explicitly not part of the stereo downmix. Yep, that's actually true. A real LFE (there I said it) just contains additional, non-essential effects, not all the bass content below 120Hz. The main channels should contain all meaningful bass. More on this can be found here:
The Misunderstood 0.1 LFE Channel in 5.1 Digital Surround Sound - HomeTheaterHifi.com
In 5.1 digital surround sound, the 0.1 channel is called the LFE or Low Frequency Effects channel. While in the commercial system it is referred to as the subwoofer channel, this is not necessarily true for home theater setups.hometheaterhifi.com
It shouldn't be an issue if the downmix is done correctly.
The WiiM Amp can only handle two channel stereo PCM. This is what you need form your TV.
Don't underestimate ARC. I can't handle uncompressed hir-res multichannel audio. But that's not really a restriction with what the WiiM Amp can handle.
I didn't say you'd said otherwise. @Inertiaman had quoted my post so I thought I'd might be entitled to give my own view.I didn't say otherwise.
No, usb on the Amp doesn’t support usb audio in.Havn't read all replys
Questions
Can usb be used to get sound from a pc ?
I have a cheap SMSL DAC/Converter 'PO100 AK' that does it very well and I get audio from my mac (USB-C) to Optical for the Wiim Amp. Of course you can't control volume from your mac keyboard, but the sound no delay and perfect sound. I bought 'open box' SMSL for 48 euros.No, usb on the Amp doesn’t support usb audio in.
I’ve heard some say you could use the optical out from your pc, or if it doesn’t have one, use a usb to optical convertor and use its output into the Amp