WiiM Ultra randomly pauses briefly (audio dropouts) via HDMI ARC

[lordmaddhi]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been experiencing a pretty annoying issue with my WiiM Ultra for about two weeks now.

Setup:
- WiiM Ultra connected via HDMI ARC to a Philips Ambilight TV
- Firmware version: 5.2.813259 (Build: 20260408)

Issue: While watching movies, playback randomly pauses for a very brief moment. On the WiiM display, I can see “Pause” immediately followed by “Play”. As a result, the audio cuts out for about 1 second.
This happens irregularly, but often enough to be quite frustrating.

Observations so far:
- No clear pattern
- Video continues playing, only the audio drops out
- It seems like the WiiM itself briefly pauses and resumes playback

Has anyone experienced something similar?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Wiimer]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been experiencing a pretty annoying issue with my WiiM Ultra for about two weeks now.

Setup:
- WiiM Ultra connected via HDMI ARC to a Philips Ambilight TV
- Firmware version: 5.2.813259 (Build: 20260408)

Issue: While watching movies, playback randomly pauses for a very brief moment. On the WiiM display, I can see “Pause” immediately followed by “Play”. As a result, the audio cuts out for about 1 second.
This happens irregularly, but often enough to be quite frustrating.

Observations so far:
- No clear pattern
- Video continues playing, only the audio drops out
- It seems like the WiiM itself briefly pauses and resumes playback

Has anyone experienced something similar?
Thanks in advance!

Hi,
Please unplug the power cables from both the TV and the Ultra, reconnect the HDMI cable, and then plug the power cables back in after about 10 minutes.

A few questions:

1. Is the WiiM device the only one connected to the Ultra? Are you using it in a group playback setup with other WiiM devices?

2. Have you recently changed the TV’s audio settings or HDMI settings?

3. What is the TV’s digital audio output mode set to? (PCM, Pass-through, etc.)
(You can also try setting the audio output to PCM to see if that resolves the issue.)

 

[lordmaddhi]

Hi,

thanks for your suggestions!

To answer your questions:

1. The TV is the only device connected to the WiiM Ultra. I’m not using any group playback setup. I do have a WiiM Vibelink Amp connected to passive speakers via 12V trigger, but no other WiiM devices involved.

2. I haven’t changed any audio or HDMI settings on the TV recently.

3. I’ll check the current digital audio output mode on the TV (PCM / pass-through) and try switching it to PCM to see if that makes a difference.

The issue started right after the latest firmware update on the WiiM Ultra, so it might be related to that.

I’ll also try the full power cycle (unplugging both devices and reconnecting everything) and report back with the results.

Thanks again!

 

[lordmaddhi]

Hi,

I tried everything you suggested (full power cycle, reconnecting HDMI, checking settings, etc.), but unfortunately the issue is still there.

The random pause/play behavior with the short audio dropout continues to happen.

Let me know if there’s anything else I can try.

Thanks!

 

[Wiimer]

Hi,

I tried everything you suggested (full power cycle, reconnecting HDMI, checking settings, etc.), but unfortunately the issue is still there.

The random pause/play behavior with the short audio dropout continues to happen.

Let me know if there’s anything else I can try.

Thanks!

Have you already submitted a support ticket? I recommend submitting a ticket via the feedback section in the WiiM app.
(WiiM home > More > Feedback)

Your device logs will be sent, which will help resolve the issue.

This might not solve the problem, but there are a few things I’d like you to try.

1. Clean the Ultra’s screen.
2. Unpair the WiiM Remote.

This is to check if these are causing the malfunction.


3. Install Beta Firmware Version 5.2.809757.

Since this is an older version than the latest firmware, it might resolve the issue if the firmware is the cause.

You can install the beta firmware by tapping the "Join Beta Testing" icon at the bottom of the "Device Info" screen.

Goodluck

 

[harkpabst]

I seem to remember that some (long) time ago we had at least one case where the middle button on the volume control knob would be a little sticky. I'm not talking about the surface being sticky, of course , but the button getting stuck inside the volume knob.

It cannot hurt if you push and release this button quickly for a couple of seconds and maybe try to hit it not only right in the middle, but also towards its edges. Repeat a couple of times and see if this improves the situation.

Again, no warranty, but it's free to try.

 

[lordmaddhi]

Have you already submitted a support ticket? I recommend submitting a ticket via the feedback section in the WiiM app.
(WiiM home > More > Feedback)

Your device logs will be sent, which will help resolve the issue.

This might not solve the problem, but there are a few things I’d like you to try.

1. Clean the Ultra’s screen.
2. Unpair the WiiM Remote.

This is to check if these are causing the malfunction.


3. Install Beta Firmware Version 5.2.809757.

Since this is an older version than the latest firmware, it might resolve the issue if the firmware is the cause.

You can install the beta firmware by tapping the "Join Beta Testing" icon at the bottom of the "Device Info" screen.

Goodluck

thanks, i've submitted a ticket now

I seem to remember that some (long) time ago we had at least one case where the middle button on the volume control knob would be a little sticky. I'm not talking about the surface being sticky, of course , but the button getting stuck inside the volume knob.

It cannot hurt if you push and release this button quickly for a couple of seconds and maybe try to hit it not only right in the middle, but also towards its edges. Repeat a couple of times and see if this improves the situation.

Again, no warranty, but it's free to try.

i'm not using the knob, so i dont know why it should be stuck in

 

[harkpabst]

i'm not using the knob, so i dont know why it should be stuck in

That's not exactly a reason why it shouldn't malfunction. It's your choice to try it or not.

 

[Pausi]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been experiencing a pretty annoying issue with my WiiM Ultra for about two weeks now.

Setup:
- WiiM Ultra connected via HDMI ARC to a Philips Ambilight TV
- Firmware version: 5.2.813259 (Build: 20260408)

Issue: While watching movies, playback randomly pauses for a very brief moment. On the WiiM display, I can see “Pause” immediately followed by “Play”. As a result, the audio cuts out for about 1 second.
This happens irregularly, but often enough to be quite frustrating.

Observations so far:
- No clear pattern
- Video continues playing, only the audio drops out
- It seems like the WiiM itself briefly pauses and resumes playback

Has anyone experienced something similar?
Thanks in advance!

I also have experienced this issue. Didn't occur on earlier firmwares. I also experience restart of the current song playing when the iPhone WiiM App or maybe Spotify app disconnects with the WiiM Ultra after a while. Strange behavior. Might as well make a ticket on this issue sooner or later.

 

[JelmerD]

Unfortunately I am experiencing the same issue. Audio cuts out for a second or two at seemingly random intervals when using HDMI ARC, displaying pause and then play on the display. Just set up the Wiim Amp Ultra so have no prior experience to compare it to, but would be great to hear if anyone has found a way to resolve it.

 

[BMeek]

I do recall having HDMI isses with the last official release using HDMI input. I moved on to subsequent BETA builds - the Google Cast update, and now the Subwoofer Calibration BETA built on 27 April, have been fine.

I'm mostly playing Radio Paradise on an ATV4K output to the WiiM Ultra via HDMI (via an LG SmartMonitor's HDMI ARC 2.0). It plays all day without issue - even with my Ultra leading a WiiM/linkplay Speaker Group with a WiiM Pro follower (both wired for Ethernet)

 

[BMeek]

Actually, I came back to report that what really may have cleared up my HDMI input issue, was changing my WiiM Ultra's OUTPUT to an external USB DAC [a Fosi ZD3 in 'bypass mode'] at a fixed bitrate of 192kHz/32-bits.

This basically buffered the Apple TV 4K's habit of shifting from 48kHz/16-bit to 44.1kHz on a whim from the Ultra-external DAC connection. Also, I like to think the 32-bit output gives the Ultra more headroom and granular control over the system volume through the DAC.

 

[nja]

I have the same issue. For the time being a reset of the Wiim Ultra box to factory defaulta (done through the app) did help. It worked even with restoring the settings from before.
Power cycle and reboot itself did not help in my case