Wiim ultra HDMI arc
- Thread starter chrisnew
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Works fine for me with a 2023 Samsung TV, but depending on your make and model there's always a change of running into problems, unfortunately. HDMI ARC/CEC is a poorly speced standard. It did not work with an 11 year old no-name TV (Telefunken).
Do a search in this forum.
Do a search in this forum.
Thanks!
wavetomars
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I’m using it with an LG C1. I had to make sure that eARC was disabled on the TV, but other than that, it has worked pretty smoothly, including volume control.
I am using an LG C3. eArc or arc setting makes no difference : both work.
I can confirm that.
However, the problem is that if you would like to NOT use Wiim, but the device is turned on (or in standby mode), when you turn ON your TV, the audio output on the TV is ALWAYS changed to ARC - no matter what settings you set in the Wiim app. As I use Wiim with my TV only sometimes, I always have to switch manually to TV internal speakers, or have HDMI cable unplugged. Both options are shity.
henninggodske
Senior Member
Unfortunately this is how ARC is designed to work. As long as your TV sees a signal (hot plug detect) on the HDMI ARC interface it shall switch to use that.
To avoid this behavior the WiiM must disabled all signals on the HDMI interface until selected. I am not sure that is possible with current hardware.
@WiiM Team : Can the HDMI interface be turned off?
To avoid this behavior the WiiM must disabled all signals on the HDMI interface until selected. I am not sure that is possible with current hardware.
@WiiM Team : Can the HDMI interface be turned off?
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QuarryHunslet
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You could try using a HDMI CEC Blocking adapter, this removes the functions of pin 13, so your TV shouldn’t wake up your Ultra when you don’t want it to.
henninggodske
Senior Member
If you disabled CEC on the WiiM Ultra then it do not wake up. The TV do however still switch to output sound via the HDMI ARC.
I don't think blocking the CEC (pin 13) will help in this case. Did you try?
QuarryHunslet
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I don’t use HDMI input, but these adapters are designed to prevent HDMI CEC functions, there are plenty of them available on Amazon, and other sellers, so why not take a look and see if you think they would be suitable.
I thought it was some kind of shortcoming related to the new hardware. This is very disappointing
henninggodske
Senior Member
Switching from time to time HDMI on / off is certainly better than changing output all the time. Thanks for the suggestion. I will check if this is possible. There may be some shortcuts for sound output switch that can be used on the remote? I have to read more about it.
SuddenlyAudio
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- Sep 3, 2024
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I’ve the same problem as @sNc with my Sony a80j. It’s quite annoying, especially since the ARC connection was one of the main reasons for buying an Ultra. I’ve tried one of those hdmi pin 13 blocker from Amazon, but when using it I cannot get any sound at all to the Wiim. Which is a bit strange.
I really hope @WiiM Team will look into this at some point.
I really hope @WiiM Team will look into this at some point.
As @henninggodske has pointed out, that's the way HDMI ARC is supposed to work. It stems from the HT/AVR field where nobody would want to use it just sometimes ...
I have a feature ticket open with Wiim for this, but I'm not sure it's clear enough. Can we brainstorm the way it would ideally work?
In my previous prepro, this option was called "HDMI standby". If this was turned off, it would power off the HDMI circuit when in standby which also saved a couple of watts. The TV would not "see" it, and used internal speakers, until the prepro was turned on from its remote. I'd like to still have something like this to save on-off cycles on my components when "other family members" turn on the TV and don't particularly care about the sound, though part of me is as we speak getting used to always having the sweet sound.
But should the Ultra show up as available on HDMI when on (not in standby), or only when input is switched to HDMI? There are pros and cons either way. Hmmm... Or any other way to control this?
Of course, if there's no wiring in the device to cut the HDMI circuit it won't happen. If there is, I trust Wiim will get to it eventually, they've been super responsive. Much more than what I'm used to in audio, nice!
In my previous prepro, this option was called "HDMI standby". If this was turned off, it would power off the HDMI circuit when in standby which also saved a couple of watts. The TV would not "see" it, and used internal speakers, until the prepro was turned on from its remote. I'd like to still have something like this to save on-off cycles on my components when "other family members" turn on the TV and don't particularly care about the sound, though part of me is as we speak getting used to always having the sweet sound.
But should the Ultra show up as available on HDMI when on (not in standby), or only when input is switched to HDMI? There are pros and cons either way. Hmmm... Or any other way to control this?
Of course, if there's no wiring in the device to cut the HDMI circuit it won't happen. If there is, I trust Wiim will get to it eventually, they've been super responsive. Much more than what I'm used to in audio, nice!
SuddenlyAudio
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Yes, that would most likely work. There should be an option like "Turn off HDMI in standby mode" or something similar. My TV switches automatically when I connect the HDMI-ARC while the TV is on, so if we could completely turn off the HDMI until the Wiim is powered on, that would be ideal.
I don't think the Wiim needs to show up as available when not being used. It seems like this is the part that's confusing the TV. If It finds an audio system on the CEC bus, it just switches over regardless any settings.
As a last resort, I would try an IR HDMI switch that doesn't switch automatically. Then, maybe build a thingy that switches the HDMI using the 12V trigger output from the Wiim.
I don't think the Wiim needs to show up as available when not being used. It seems like this is the part that's confusing the TV. If It finds an audio system on the CEC bus, it just switches over regardless any settings.
As a last resort, I would try an IR HDMI switch that doesn't switch automatically. Then, maybe build a thingy that switches the HDMI using the 12V trigger output from the Wiim.
I can see this being handy - if you always want to use the separate audio e.g. if the TV speakers are truly terrible. In combination with either CEC power-on or auto detect, it's very seamless. So disabling it in standby should be an option rather than always.
One could argue that we could equally request the TV makers to only use the ARC on demand after startup. In practice though, none of them do so that ship has sailed. Worse, my LG in another system will stubbornly keep switching from TV speakers to ARC every few seconds whenever available. This shows they really put zero thought into this so our best hope is with the audio system makers.
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Any reason to not always use the Ultra for TV sound? I guess your family would not complain about better sound.
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