CraigG

The latest Play-Fi app (new last week) is 8.5.[something] (CAP 8.5.0.045). That said, 8.4 resolved my connectivity issues, and I believe the release notes for 8.4 said they updated the network drivers. What MCU version do you have? I believe the version downloadable from Klipsch is 4.020. https://www.klipsch.com/firmware?product=38970&serial= https://assets.klipsch.com/files/Klipsch-The-Three-v4.020.zip

I just wanted to follow up to mention that the most recent Play-Fi software update in the app store 8.4 (Oct 2023, 8.4) has finally fixed the issue I was having with my The Three. Just to explain what was happening for me, if the speaker went unused for any short period of time, it would get into a state where it would show up as available in the Play-Fi app, but then if I actually tried to stream to it, the speaker would either reset or the speaker's network connection would reset, then after the reset (which would easily take a minute or more) it would appear again and work OK. All my other Play-Fi devices would work fine. When I reached out to Klipsch support their response wasn't helpful (their response referred to the newer The Threes which are not Play-Fi). I never found an MCU 4.023 update, mine is still on MCU 4.020.

I'll just mention that for USB firmware updates on The Three, it is pretty finicky about what USB drive you use (as are a lot of other devices for firmware updates). Based on my experience, you may be better off with an older USB 2.0 flash drive. Lately I've actually been using an old Lexar JumpDrive Trio (which is an old USB to SD/MMC card adapter) with a 256MB PNY SD card for various device updates. I tried at least a couple of other flash drives on my The Three before I found a flash drive that would work. The same USB drive pickiness presumably also applies to a manual Play-Fi software update. Klipsch has a really good video here showing how to do the manual update on The Three. https://support.klipsch.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034989111-The-Three-Firmware-Update You will want to make sure the firmware on The Three is up to date before doing a Play-Fi software update. Also, if updating the Play-Fi software over WiFi and you have issues, move your The Three as close as possible to your WiFi access point as possible.

Were you able to find a solution for this? My The Three has similar issues to what you describe and is on MCU 4.020. I have 4 other Play-Fi devices, and The Three is the only one that consistently has issues adding it as a speaker to a stream. If there is a 4.023 update available, I'd like to try it. Have you tried reaching out to Klipsch support? I will mention that as far as I know, you aren't supposed to be able to manually select WiFi from the input knob - WiFi gets selected automatically when you stream to it from the app.

I'd suggest making sure your soundbar(s) have the latest firmware installed, if you haven't already. https://www.klipsch.com/firmware

I think that text is referring to using the PowerGate as the amplifier for surround speakers, with another device as the surround master. Play-Fi's website says that to act as a Surround Master, the device must "be capable of decoding a 5.1 surround stream in some format." The PowerGate is a 2 channel amp, I'm skeptical it knows how to decode surround sound. https://play-fi.com/faq/entry/products-that-support-play-fi-surround Unfortunately Play-Fi doesn't list what devices out there can act as a surround master on their website. Outside of the Klipsch sound bars that support Play-Fi, I'm not sure what other products do - it is probably mostly Play-Fi enabled sound bars. As far as I know, all of the A/V receivers out there that support Play-Fi, only support streams coming from other Play-Fi services. They do not support Play-Fi's "Line-In" functionality, which is their other requirement for being a surround master. So, my guess would be that none of the current A/V receivers out there that say they have Play-Fi can act as a surround master either.

Make sure your PowerGate has the latest firmware (as well as other Play-Fi software updates). Best bet is probably to use the Klipsch Stream Utility app on iOS, but there are other ways to update it. Follow the Play-Fi Stream a “Line-In” audio input instructions here: https://play-fi.com/faq/entry/stream-a-line-in-audio-input If you need more details or links to the apps, just ask.

The only announcement I've seen is that Play-Fi is rolling out AirPlay 2 support, starting with the McIntosh RS200 and Arcam rPlay, "with additional products to be announced this year". AirPlay support (the original AirPlay, not AirPlay 2) has been an "optional feature" that is not part of all Play-Fi products, so there is probably an additional license fee to the manufacturer. As far as I know, none of the Klipsch Play-Fi devices originally included AirPlay. It would be a welcome feature addition though!

Which model of The Three is it? The original The Three (with Play-Fi) or The Three with Google Assistant? The manuals for each have instructions for doing a Factory Reset. I'd try that. Are there any LED lights on the back of the unit? Do they light up? If it's an original The Three, install the Klipsch Stream app on your phone/tablet and see if the app sees the speaker. I'm not familiar with The Three with Google Assistant, but I believe it uses the Google Home app to set it up. If it's an original The Three, try connecting an audio source to the line in RCA jacks.

I'm fairly certain that B Yes it is. Play-Fi's Line-In broadcast is supported on: Klipsch Gate receiver Klipsch PowerGate amplifier Klipsch RSB-8 sound bar Klipsch RSB-14 sound bar Klipsch The Capitol Three speaker Klipsch The Three speaker https://play-fi.com/faq/entry/stream-a-line-in-audio-input

I just got a PowerGate and this sounds like the same behavior I am experiencing. I've mostly been using the app, so I'll double check later. But I definitely had to turn it multiple notches before the LED display on the PowerGate would change.

I believe that software link is just the Play-Fi software and not the Klipsch firmware. When I updated my firmware on The Three, I tried about 3 different USB drive devices and finally came to the conclusion that it must've updated the first time, but I never saw the lights flash the way the instructions said they would, so I didn't think it worked. If you have WiFi configured, I'd use the Klipsch app or the Play-Fi app to confirm whether the firmware updated or not. Note that there is the Klipsch firmware and separately the Play-Fi software. The firmware version shows up as "MCU" in the Play-Fi app, and the Play-Fi version is shows as "CAP". On The Three, the Klipsch firmware is updated via the USB port, but you should be able to update the Play-Fi software by using the Play-Fi app.

I'll point out that The Three does not have a battery to charge. I'd recommend making sure The Three is updated to the latest firmware. https://www.klipsch.com/firmware If you can configure WiFi on The Three, you can use the Klipsch app or the Play-Fi app under the About menu item to confirm that The Three has the latest firmware (currently MCU: 4.020). On my Three the WiFi light on top is always lit when the power switch is on, but I mainly use mine for Play-Fi and I have the wireless configured. I'll also mention that The Three is fairly smart about inputs (for better or worse), if there is no signal on a particular input, it may not allow you to select that input. So, if you don't have WiFi configured and it sees no signal on the other inputs, it's possible nothing would light up - but I believe it's always possible to select Bluetooth as an input, so you can configure it. I'd confirm that your aux cable is working for your iPod. I'd also make sure something is playing on your iPod and then try to turn the input selection knob.

Spent some time looking and had a hard time finding this. Look at the bottom of this web page under "Other Downloads" => "The Three / The Sixes USB Driver" https://www.klipsch.com/products/the-three#product-downloads It isn't under Klipsch's firmware and drivers page for The Three.

I think for what you want, an integrated amp, pre-amp or receiver would need to have the equivalent of the Play-Fi mobile app built into it (software that was aware of all the wireless speakers available, what is playing on them, and be able to choose different groups of speakers for playback streams). I'm not sure if any of the multi-room systems currently out there Play-fi or otherwise do that. I think they all require a mobile app to set up and manage the speaker groups. If you use Amazon Alexa for voice commands (which could be an alternative to using the mobile app), it seems to remember the last speaker grouping, but as far as I know, Alexa does not support Play-Fi's "Line In" feature as an audio source. So, I do not think that would help you.