barjohn

The problem with using TosLink with the SoundSend is that you lose control of volume because you don't have CEC available. I have SoundSend, Axiim Q UHD and Hub-1. Yesterday when running a test with the Axiim I discovered that lip sync is an issue with it when I tried it with two different streaming devices not being connected to its inputs but into the TVs inputs. It has been a while since I tried the HUB 1 but I recall having issues with it. In my experience, the SoundSend connected via HDMI 2.1 eARC provides the best experience. However if you want Dolby Atmos, as of my last test and before the most recent app update, you need to insert an HDFury Arcana in the loop. Next week I will do more testing.

This is an electric fireplace. While it can produce some heat if one turns on the heater, it is nothing like the heat produced by a gas or wood burning fireplace. The insert that I had made for the center channel speaker is a cabinet box (A cabinet maker made the whole fireplace structure. It houses my electronics in another side cabinet at the same level as the speaker as it is a shelf that extends the entire width of the fireplace and then there is a hidden cabinet at the bottom to house additional electronics. All my speakers are wireless simply requiring power.

I don't have the soundbar so I am making some assumptions, but if the volume can be controlled via CEC using the TV's remote, then just use black electrical tape to cover the sounder's IR sensor. It can't react to a signal it can't see.

I have now worked with the SoundSend, the Klipsch RP Hub1 and the Axiim Q-UHD. The SoundSend is in most ways the best of these WISA transmitters. It isn't perfect yet and it has a few shortcomings but compared to the others offers more bang for the buck. The RP Hub1 is the worst of these but with the last software update that Klipsch released does work. Axiim has not updated the Q UHD in a couple of years so no Dolby Atmos support. If you have a Smart TV, plugging in your Apple TV 4K, Fire TV, Roku, etc. makes them cumbersome to access and use with far too many steps with no real advantage to having all the HDMI ports. If you don't have a smart TV and are only using the TV as a video monitor then it makes sense but it is over priced. It does have a few nice features such as a white noise generator to set speaker levels. The biggest issue I have seen with the SoundSend and it applies to Samsung 2020 TVs has to do with the fact that the TV does not recognize the device as being Dolby Atmos capable. For some reason it seems to ignore its EDID value. If you insert an HDFury Arcana into the loop the issue is solved. As an added bonus you can then get the Samsung to support Dolby Vision.

I knew it was old but I thought I would try anyway. You never know.

I'm looking for the RP-440WF are they still available?

In my setup, a Samsung 2020 65" Frame TV, it would not produce sound from the ARC output, only from the HDMI input on the HUB1. Video came through without HDR support but 4K only on port 1. There is no support for Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos. The one positive aspect is that it does allow updating the speaker software if your speakers support it and need it. The older HD RP series do need this done if they are not current. I can't say whether the newer R series do. The WISA SoundSend does support many features but requires HDMI eARC to optimally perform. While it supports optical TosLink, this is not a good solution. You are severely limited by your TV that does not support HDMI ARC at a minimum. Then, an expensive solution would be the Axiim Q UHD Hub. It would give you 6 full 4K inputs, an HDMI ARC output and expanded capabilities including optimized tone curves for Klipsch speakers 10 band equalizer (either global or on a per channel basis), test tones and much more.

Here is my latest update to my living room home theater setup:

I'm looking to purchase a pair of RP-440WF WISA tower speakers. Please PM if interested in selling with price, condition and approximate location. Thanks, John

Why do you say that? It says that it is removable and it is sort of like clay in feel. I just didn't want to risk the speakers falling and hitting someone. It is too bad that Klipsch didn't have mounting screw holes or mounting plates for various kinds of mounts. Because the base is actually recessed from the edges anything that is too thin would not make contact with the base and the platform.

First, there are multiple WISA transmitters from different vendors. The one from WISA is called the SoundSend, there are also 2 from Axiim, the Axis (which requires a 2019 or later LG TV or an X-Box to act as the HDMI switch via a USB connection to the Axis. The AXiim Q-UHD Hub does not require the X-Box as it is a hub. Klipsch also made but discontinued the RP-HUB1, a hub for their prior HD speakers. Additionally, Enclave makes a transmitter but it will only work with their speakers and they don't sell it separately. The same is true of Bang and Olufson. All WISA transmitters have a 30' range. They are intended for use in a single room. Only the SoundSend has any Dolby Atmos support or eARC HDMI support. None support DTS. The big advantage to a hub design setup is that you only use the TV to display video and you are not constrained by the TV's handling of the audio stream, whether it passes through the signal or processes it first and sends it as something else (usually a Multi-Channel PCM) is avoided. The disadvantage is that some of your smart TV capabilities may not work as well as you would like. Your input devices, Roku Ultra, Shield TV, Apple TV 4K, etc. are plugged into the hub and the hub is plugged into the HDMI/ARC/eARC port on the TV. The hub has to have ARC and CEC support to allow you to control the devices, volume control and the TV from the TV's remote. Without a hub you must have a smart TV where you can control your inputs and stream the audio to the transmitter. Depending on the device, I have found the sound quality to be excellent when everything is connected and being processed correctly but it can be bad with frequent drops and shifts in the wrong setup. See my attached spreadsheets for more information. Audio Results for SoundSend 1.21.pdf Audio Results for SoundSend 1.21-Settings Changed.pdf

No, Thank you. However, I think I have most of the answers I need for now. There are some issues occurring with the sound, especially when using the Roku Ultra based apps like Netflix and Prime Video but I haven't yet identified the source of these issues and I need to do more testing to positively identify whether the issue is the speakers, the SoundSend, the Roku, Netflix or the Samsung TV. Smart TVs are so stupid. I wish the default was pass through the audio from the source without processing unless going to the TV's speakers. Get rid of auto where we have no idea what is being selected and allow us to process the audio where we chose, AVR, SoundSend, HUB1, Soundbar, etc.

@Charles m, Thank you!

Well, some of these are very elaborate and have a dedicated space. My home theater setup is in my living room and has to have a high WFA (Wife Factor Acceptance) so it is not as elaborate as these. I have gone the wireless route so it have 4 RP-140WM speakers as fronts and surrounds, an RP-440WC as center channel, an RW-100SW sub with a SoundSend hub, a ROKU Ultra and a 2020 65" Samsung Frame TV. Where you see our equipment console, will soon become a fireplace and everything will look different. Once that is built and installed I will update the photo.

As an aside, I tried out two other complete wireless packages, the Platin Monaco 5.1 and the Enclave Audio CineHome II. The Enclave was the better performer as it used their own hub design and they only let it work with their own speakers. Since they make it all, they can ensure the integration is solid and everything plays together as it should. The Platin Monaco works well with the SoundSend and appears to be reliable though not quite as solid as the Enclave. I think Plain has a close relationship with WISA. Where it starts to get tricky is when you try to integrate a host of different speaker vendors and each implements their speaker receiver and amps a little differently but to what they think is the same standard. I think WISA has the right idea from a technical viewpoint but they should probably produce the receivers for each speaker too in addition to the transmitter hub. Then their system could be made to work with a large host of legacy speakers with a small dedicated amplifier and many of the communications issues could be easily resolved.