WiiM Pro No Audio on Marantz NR1609 (Optical/RCA Silent Despite Red Light & App Playing) - Test Tone Fails in Setup Loop - Ethernet Setup - Help from

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bonkers

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Hey WiiM community,
Frustrated after a Black Friday buy gone wrong—hoping someone with a Marantz/Denon AVR (specifically NR1609) has seen this and can point me to a fix. Replacement arrives Saturday, but want to avoid round 2 of troubleshooting hell. App shows tracks playing (test tone, radio, Amazon Music HD/Ultra HD), volume at 100% fixed, but zero sound through my Klipsch RP-600M speakers. HEOS built-in works perfectly on the same Marantz chain, so AVR/DAC/speakers/cables are good.
Quick Setup:
WiiM Pro connected via Ethernet (Cat 6 direct to TP-Link Deco AX2000 node)—no Wi-Fi used, rock-solid stability.
  • Optical out (Monster TOSLINK, red light pulses visibly when unplugged) to NR1609's single OPT input (assigned/renamed to "STREAMER" source—see attached photo of input menu; no eARC TV conflict).
  • Fallback: RCA analog out to NR1609's CD input—same silence.
  • App: Latest WiiM Home (v4.8.x), checked for updates post-reset.
  • Goal: Bit-perfect Amazon HD/Ultra HD (up to 192kHz/24bit) via Marantz DAC.
Issue Details:
  • App queues test tone/radio/Amazon tracks ("playing" indicator), but Marantz front display stays blank—no "PCM" or sample rate signal.
  • During initial setup, test tone "plays" in app but no audible output or AVR detection—had to hit "Yes" to skip the verification loop ( "No" bounces back to bitrate menu endlessly).
  • Post-setup: App > Device > Test Audio (bypass Amazon)—still silent, no display change.
Steps Tried (All No Dice):
  1. App Tweaks: Audio Output > Optical selected > PCM format > Exclusive Mode ON > SPDIF Resolution at 48kHz/16bit (low-res handshake) > Volume Fixed at 100% (toggled off/on). Tried Auto/192kHz max too.
  2. Marantz Side: "STREAMER" input selected > Sound Mode: Pure Direct, Direct, or Stereo > Volume 40–50 > Mute off > Audyssey MultEQ XT disabled (Menu > Speakers > Audyssey > Off) > Power cycled AVR (unplug 2 mins to reset optical decoder).
  3. Analog Test: Switched to Line Out (2.0V max) > RCA to CD input > Same silence on test tone/Amazon tracks.
  4. Resets: Factory reset 2x (hold Play/Pause 10 sec on hardware—heard "Restore to factory settings" voice prompt, LED red+white flash) > Full re-setup each time > Same silent tone loop.
  5. Other Checks: Cable ends swapped/ports blown out (dust-free); no multi-room grouping; input re-assigned/renamed from "TV Audio" to avoid eARC eirdness.
WiiM support replied quickly but generically (asked about reset prompt—which I confirmed—and suggested Bluetooth/Wi-Fi tests, ignoring the wired Ethernet/optical focus). , but no beta firmware yet.

Anyone with NR1609 (or similar Marantz slimline) run WiiM Pro successfully? Is this the known AVR optical handshake bug (PCM not decoding stereo from WiiM)? Any firmware tweaks, app hacks, or Marantz menu buried setting I missed? Open to anything—tried everything short of RMA.

Thanks in advance—dying to ditch HEOS app suck for that full Amazon library bliss.

Attached: NR1609 Input Assign screenshot (OPT confirmed for STREAMER). Also tested to see if RCA works still same issue, silence change CD to analog 1 as my input.

Cheers,
 

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bonkers said:
Hey WiiM community,
Frustrated after a Black Friday buy gone wrong—hoping someone with a Marantz/Denon AVR (specifically NR1609) has seen this and can point me to a fix. Replacement arrives Saturday, but want to avoid round 2 of troubleshooting hell. App shows tracks playing (test tone, radio, Amazon Music HD/Ultra HD), volume at 100% fixed, but zero sound through my Klipsch RP-600M speakers. HEOS built-in works perfectly on the same Marantz chain, so AVR/DAC/speakers/cables are good.
Quick Setup:
WiiM Pro connected via Ethernet (Cat 6 direct to TP-Link Deco AX2000 node)—no Wi-Fi used, rock-solid stability.
  • Optical out (Monster TOSLINK, red light pulses visibly when unplugged) to NR1609's single OPT input (assigned/renamed to "STREAMER" source—see attached photo of input menu; no eARC TV conflict).
  • Fallback: RCA analog out to NR1609's CD input—same silence.
  • App: Latest WiiM Home (v4.8.x), checked for updates post-reset.
  • Goal: Bit-perfect Amazon HD/Ultra HD (up to 192kHz/24bit) via Marantz DAC.
Issue Details:
  • App queues test tone/radio/Amazon tracks ("playing" indicator), but Marantz front display stays blank—no "PCM" or sample rate signal.
  • During initial setup, test tone "plays" in app but no audible output or AVR detection—had to hit "Yes" to skip the verification loop ( "No" bounces back to bitrate menu endlessly).
  • Post-setup: App > Device > Test Audio (bypass Amazon)—still silent, no display change.
Steps Tried (All No Dice):
  1. App Tweaks: Audio Output > Optical selected > PCM format > Exclusive Mode ON > SPDIF Resolution at 48kHz/16bit (low-res handshake) > Volume Fixed at 100% (toggled off/on). Tried Auto/192kHz max too.
  2. Marantz Side: "STREAMER" input selected > Sound Mode: Pure Direct, Direct, or Stereo > Volume 40–50 > Mute off > Audyssey MultEQ XT disabled (Menu > Speakers > Audyssey > Off) > Power cycled AVR (unplug 2 mins to reset optical decoder).
  3. Analog Test: Switched to Line Out (2.0V max) > RCA to CD input > Same silence on test tone/Amazon tracks.
  4. Resets: Factory reset 2x (hold Play/Pause 10 sec on hardware—heard "Restore to factory settings" voice prompt, LED red+white flash) > Full re-setup each time > Same silent tone loop.
  5. Other Checks: Cable ends swapped/ports blown out (dust-free); no multi-room grouping; input re-assigned/renamed from "TV Audio" to avoid eARC eirdness.
WiiM support replied quickly but generically (asked about reset prompt—which I confirmed—and suggested Bluetooth/Wi-Fi tests, ignoring the wired Ethernet/optical focus). , but no beta firmware yet.

Anyone with NR1609 (or similar Marantz slimline) run WiiM Pro successfully? Is this the known AVR optical handshake bug (PCM not decoding stereo from WiiM)? Any firmware tweaks, app hacks, or Marantz menu buried setting I missed? Open to anything—tried everything short of RMA.

Thanks in advance—dying to ditch HEOS app suck for that full Amazon library bliss.

Attached: NR1609 Input Assign screenshot (OPT confirmed for STREAMER). Also tested to see if RCA works still same issue, silence change CD to analog 1 as my input.

Cheers,
Click to expand...
Hi
It might be worth factory resetting the AVR and trying it with the default settings.

@Mr Ee, any thoughts?
 
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@Wiimer - why are you picking on me?
Did that Marantz menu screenshot remind you of mine from my NR1510?
:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

Welcome @bonkers. Apt name, I imagine this is driving you there.
It would seem unlikely that neither the analog nor optical out of the pro work, but I guess it could be faulty.
Hoping you'll humour us while we ask what might seem silly questions / question your technical capabilities...

Can you provide a picture of the back of the pro and avr?
i.e. are the connections actually in the right sockets?
Sounds like the optical one is in the pro's output as it's glowing red, and there's only one optical input on the avr, so that one is strange..
For analog, is it possible you've used the pro's line ins instead of outs?

Have you tried using coax out into the avr? Any old rca cable should do, even one half of the rca that came with the pro.

Can you provide a screenshot of the wiim app's "now playing" screen?
Just to confirm something is playing, what output is selected and volume.

How else do you use the avr (non hdmi)? Do you have any other source (e.g. cd player) to check that works?

Do you have anything else you can plug the pro into to test it?
e.g. a bluetooth speaker with a 3.5mm aux in? (Do you have an rca to 3.5mm cable?)

It's been a while since I hooked a wiim up to my nr1510.
Your menu screenshot looks ok, although you could assign analog 1 to Streamer too so that merely changing the pro's output auto switches the avr's input.

And just for kicks, try the wiim supplied optical cable.
 
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Thank you all for your responses and help! Decide to package it up and send it back yesterday, should not have to spends hours trying to set it up maybe Black Friday bad bunch, getting a new one on Saturday and hopefully this one will work, thanks again everyone!
 
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OK got new WIIM pro and discovered the issue even with the new Wiim Pro, so I had the TV on. To fix it I had to turn the TV off and then turn the Marantz AVR off. Turn back on the AVR and select optical. Then play music via the Wiim pro on the app. Works perfectly. Thought it was my settings or something else. Seems if I have the TV on it there will be no sound when I play any music via the app on my tablet, so there must be some conflict when I have the TV turned on while playing music via the Wiim app. Had the TV on thinking I would see some album art like HEOS but seems not the case. ***THE FIX KEEP TV OFF, ONLY TURN ON AVR SELECT TV/AUDIO (WHICH IS MY OPTICAL) AND JUST PLAY MUSIC, NEVER TURN ON THE TV WHILE USING WIIM PRO.** THANKS ALL FOR YOUR HELP!!!
 
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Wiimer said:
Hi
It might be worth factory resetting the AVR and trying it with the default settings.

@Mr Ee, any thoughts?
Click to expand...
OK got new WIIM pro and discovered the issue even with the new Wiim Pro, so I had the TV on. To fix it I had to turn the TV off and then turn the Marantz AVR off. Turn back on the AVR and select optical. Then play music via the Wiim pro on the app. Works perfectly. Thought it was my settings or something else. Seems if I have the TV on it there will be no sound when I play any music via the app on my tablet, so there must be some conflict when I have the TV turned on while playing music via the Wiim app. Had the TV on thinking I would see some album art like HEOS but seems not the case. ***THE FIX KEEP TV OFF, ONLY TURN ON AVR SELECT TV/AUDIO (WHICH IS MY OPTICAL) AND JUST PLAY MUSIC, NEVER TURN ON THE TV WHILE USING WIIM PRO.** THANKS ALL FOR YOUR HELP!!!
 
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Mr Ee said:
I just realised I overlooked this first time.
Heard where / how?
Shows something must be working.
Click to expand...
OK got new WIIM pro and discovered the issue even with the new Wiim Pro, so I had the TV on. To fix it I had to turn the TV off and then turn the Marantz AVR off. Turn back on the AVR and select optical. Then play music via the Wiim pro on the app. Works perfectly. Thought it was my settings or something else. Seems if I have the TV on it there will be no sound when I play any music via the app on my tablet, so there must be some conflict when I have the TV turned on while playing music via the Wiim app. Had the TV on thinking I would see some album art like HEOS but seems not the case. ***THE FIX KEEP TV OFF, ONLY TURN ON AVR SELECT TV/AUDIO (WHICH IS MY OPTICAL) AND JUST PLAY MUSIC, NEVER TURN ON THE TV WHILE USING WIIM PRO.** THANKS ALL FOR YOUR HELP!!!
 
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Only need to post once in the same thread ;)

So, I'm wondering about the X under hdmi in the Streamer row.
Can you change that to a hyphen / minus, like on the CD line?
Maybe it means that hdmi takes precedance if detected, thus stopping your pro's optical from being used when the tv is on?
I'll dive into my nr15010 menu later today to see if I can find similar.

You definitely won't see any album art on the tv.
Well, not unless you have an apple tv, google tv or fire tv with the wiim tv app on it.
 
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Thanks Mr Ee No I can't change the X because that is my my TVAudio its the only optical input on my Maratnz. the CBL/SAT input is my firestick, I downloaded Wiim home to my Firestick, and able to see album art on my TV when playing a song but unable to get any sound for some reason. Is this a bug or issue? Seems only able to hear music if TV is turned off and Marantz is on Streamer input. My TV is plugged in the back of EARC on my Marantz.
 
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bonkers said:
Thanks Mr Ee No I can't change the X because that is my my TVAudio its the only optical input on my Maratnz. the CBL/SAT input is my firestick, I downloaded Wiim home to my Firestick, and able to see album art on my TV when playing a song but unable to get any sound for some reason. Is this a bug or issue? Seems only able to hear music if TV is turned off and Marantz is on Streamer input. My TV is plugged in the back of EARC on my Marantz.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure if this will be helpful to you, but if you enable "Use HDMI Audio Only in HDMI Mode" on the Audio Input screen, the WiiM input will no longer switch to HDMI even when you turn on the TV. (In this case, power synchronization via CEC will no longer work.)
1571.jpg
 
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Thanks all for your help. I am using Optical instead of Coax because I assume it's a better choice regarding connection vs coax, also asked Grok to find out and he mentioned this as a possibility, which is related to the issue when I have the TV on sound is not produced which happened before. So, whenever I turn the tv on when Wim is playing it automatically mutes or does not have any sound. Even if I turn off the TV and switch to Optical its still is muted, I must turn off my AVR. Only way I was able to get Wim to work is turn off tv, turn off AVR, reboot AVR select STREAMER (opt) and bingo. HEOS able to see Album art and quality when streaming via HEOS app. So seems only way to listen to music is not have TV on at all. Grok quoted below, thought I could have album art like HEOS.

"CEC/eARC Conflict: TV on → sends CEC command over eARC HDMI to "switch to TV audio" → Marantz ignores optical (WiiM) and mutes, even if CEC is partially disabled. Optical is "dumb" (audio-only), so it can't override the HDMI handshake.
Single-Input Limit: NR1609 can't blend HDMI video (Firestick for WiiM TV app art) with optical audio simultaneously — it's one or the other. TV on = CEC wins, sound dies.

The WiiM Home TV app on your Firestick provides the album art and streaming info (track, bitrate like 5316 kbps / 24/192, progress bar) on the TV screen via the CBL/SAT HDMI input, but it sends no audio from the Firestick (it's visuals-only, mirroring metadata over Wi-Fi from the WiiM Pro). The sound is supposed to come from the WiiM Pro's optical output to your Marantz NR1609 on the Streamer input — but when the TV is on CBL/SAT, the CEC/eARC handshake mutes the optical stream, so no sound until you reboot the AVR with TV off.

That's the core conflict: You can't have TV visuals (Firestick HDMI) and WiiM audio (optical) at the same time without the mute. The app is working as designed — it's just the AVR-TV bug killing the audio.

HEOS Worked: Internal source, no external optical handshake to disrupt. With HEOS (the built-in Marantz streamer) you get:

TV can stay ON
Album art + sample rate (44.1 / 96 / 192 kHz) shows on the big LG screen automatically
No muting, no rebooting, no input switching

…because HEOS is internal to the Marantz.
It generates the overlay itself and forces it over HDMI — no external optical/coax cable, no CEC conflict, no handshake drama.
With any external streamer on optical or coax (WiiM Pro, Bluesound Node, Cambridge MXN10, etc.) the NR1609 cannot do that. The receiver simply doesn’t have the ability to pull album art from an external digital source and display it on the TV while the TV is also trying to control the AVR via CEC/eARC"

Sorry long winded response, wanted to share this in case anyone else has the same issue and wanted them to not go through the frustration and hours spent trying to fix or debug this issue like I did previously. Thank you all for your help and response I truly am grateful!!!!!
 
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Mr Ee said:
There are pros and cons to each, but in your case optical is clearly not the better choice!
Use coax.
Click to expand...
Why so Grok even mentioned Optical is better choice than Coax. Going Coax won't fix this issue have to just live with not seeing album art via my LG TV using the firestick. Help me understand why I should go with COAX then? Below is what the advantage, both should be technically bit perfect, so essentially no audible difference. 1765221575140.png
 
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@bonkers
Yes, optical prevents ground loops. Coax may cause a ground loop. Never has for me, but it may.
Optical may max out at 96khz. Can be caused by the cable itself, by the cable being too tightly bent or the device at either end.
I don't think I've ever seen / heard of coax doing that.

All that aside, I'm pretty sure your problem lies in the input assignment menu.
Looks like you renamed TV Audio to STREAMER.
Because you have HDMI Control / ARC enabled you can't choose HDMI in that line, hence the X.
With this configuration, whenever the TV is on it will only use the hdmi connecton, you won't be able to use the optical input.
I think you need to move the OPT assignment to a different line, such as CD.

My expectation is that if you turn the TV on the Marantz will auto switch to TV Audio (hdmi), but that you should always be able to manually switch to another line with the tv still on.

So the only bit that's still bothering me is "Fallback: RCA analog out to NR1609's CD input—same silence."
I think you should have been able to switch the marantz to CD input and the pro to line out while the tv was on and hear the music.
 
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