Topic: Audio Problem Help.

Hello all, first time poster here looking for some higher ups to help me out.

So far I have gone through all of the manuals and checked many forums for a solution to my problem, and I have yet to find one that does not include buying a new tv or stereo system both of which I have and already cost MUCH more then the wiiU.

Here is my problem. I have a analog stereo, and a hd tv that does not have speakers or speaker outs. What I need help with is getting the analog audio outs on the Wii U to work at the same time as the HDMI out. As the system is now I have my hdmi going to my tv and my old wii hook up in the back going to my stereo. If I go to settings in the Wii U menu I can turn on the Wii U analog outs, but doing so will shut off the hdmi out. So now I have sound and no tv, now lets switch the Wii U to hdmi, I now lose my stereo and gain my tv. Here is a twist to all this. I go into wii mode and I have both working just fine. I can play my wii games perfectly I can see them and I can hear them but as soon as I go back to Wii U mode I lose my speakers. This problem is not just in my set up but I have seen dozens of forum posts on other sites people with projectors that cant pass sound so using the hdmi for audio wont work for them either. This is a relatively big problem and should be a easy fix since I have seen the wii mode work just fine.

So if anyone out there can tell me if they are working on a firmware update to fix this I will love them forever. If they don't I will be returning the Wii U and saying good bye to Nintendo.

Your TV must surely have a jack for headphones. Get stereo sound from the TV into your sound system.

I must say that I had a laugh at your threat to say goodbye to Nintendo for ever and never play your Wii U. It's your money and your time, you do what you want.

You HAVE to have HDMI from your Wii U going to your reciever, than HDMI from your reciever to your TV. The HDMI will process the sound through the reciever, and pass the video to your TV. This is in no way Nintendo's fault, so either get the right equipment, or return the stuff.

My TV has no audio at all. Think 42 inch hd monitor, and my stereo has no hdmi. My ps3, 360, and pc all work just fine with my set up. The WiiU is the only one having problems, and only in Wii U mode. Good job on reading my whole post before replying you guys are BOTH so helpful.

I Also just bought the WiiU I can return it with out any problems. So no loss on me if they choose not to fix this simple firmware problem.

I did read your whole post, and you need a reciever w/ HDMI in/out. End of story. Try connecting your Wii U using component, then send component to the TV.

This isn't even a firmware problem. It's a hardware problem on yout TV/reciever's part in terms of being compatible w/ Wii U. Use a TV instead of a monitor.

You can not opt for separate audio - that is HDMI video and analog stereo and yes it IS a pain in the arse. And yes, I agree that barring any physical electronic reason why the audio can't be switched separately via a menu option, it should only require a firmware upgrade.

Buy a cheap HDMI splitter - eBay has plenty and they're typically Au$80 ex China.
4xHDMI in, 1 HDMI out PLUS optical and analog out.
That's what I'm doing...

If a new tv was an option, I think the OP would have thought of that, not all tvs have headphone jacks - believe it or not, and even tvs which claim to output audio regardless of source sometimes tell porky-pies (that means 'lies' for our non-Strine speakin' mates...)

I'm sorry I guess I miss read that fist post. Looks like you know alll the answers and have solved my problem to the max. No one else could have a better solution to my problem then you. Good job, pat yourself on the back for being so helpful. BUT per my first post "I should not need a new tv or stereo. If the WiiU in Wii mode can work with my set up" I do not see a single reason they cant fix a little firmware upgrade to make it work in WiiU mode as well. So if they choose not to fix it and no one has a better fix then "buy a new tv durr" I will be returning the WiiU and moving on from Nintendo.

My monitor is fucking bad ass, and my stereo costs 3x what the WiiU costs. I think changing it out for a new "better" system just to play a WiiU would end up costing me in the end over thousands of dollars! Just to play a system that has has less then a handful of games, is less powerful then my ps3 and 360, and wont do a small update to the firmware to help anyone using a projector, monitor or has a HD tv that has no working audio out? I posted here so I could get real options to my problem and to make sure the higher ups see this and know that this is a problem they should fix.

Ya. My TV says it outputs RAW(unaltered) audio, so I thought it would 'act' as a reciever that ALL my devices can use as a central video source, then output(from the TV) to my older reciever for sound. RAW does NOT mean passthrough, so I was getting only enhanced stereo really... I was disappointed, but I accepted that my TV wouldn't do this(shouldn't expect it to either), and decided to buy a new reciever all together. Even new recievers are kinda iffy sometimes, being completey automatic, and virtual besides the hardware itself, so there's not much 'messing around' w/ the sound options. The Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360, etc., all pretty much demand the newest equipment for the best entertainment experience. Optical outs make it more accessible to use older recievers, which is part of the hardware, but then there would most likely be complaints of more wires(cliche), which is an age old 'problem'. In conclusion, your reciever probably doesn't support 5.1 PCM surround sound decoding, which is required for Wii U surround sound, so unless your reciever gets a firmware update, your out of luck in keeping your older equipment. Or use HDMI splitters to an optical out converter like @Schprocket suggested. My subwoofers 'on its last legs', and there's not going to be a firmware update for that...

I have started looking into this option and I thank you for the post. I don't think i'm willing to drop 80-100 bucks on a splitter yet, but if I can find a used one around I may go for this as the cheapest work around that might be worth it. A optical out would be awesome if the 5.1 worked with it. I have heard it will only do stereo if you have a Dolby system.

Yes my receiver does not support the WiiU's surround sound because the only way to get it is from the hdmi send. I don't need it. I need a stereo analog out option. If they do a update that stops the analog out from shutting off when the hdmi is on, i'll be more then happy along with the 100s of other people using things like projectors that have no audio system at all. It is a easy fix on their end. If it works in Wii mode as I have said 100 times I see no reason at all why it would be out of the question to ask them to fix it.

We know it sucks to buy extra stuff to get stuff to work, but that's how technology is. Comptabilty is almost always an issue, w/ alot of what ifs, or why nots, but that's not how it is.

The output from the Wii U is literally specific to the newest devices, going as far far as using 1.4 HDMI, that PS3/Xbox 360 don't even use. It's a simple, yet expensive way to do things...

It comes down to is the WiiU worth it? worth replacing a awesome perfectly working system just to have a WiiU? Would you buy a WiiU if it costs 1k out of the box? Hell no! So would you change your whole system for the same reason? As I said every other system works just fine, and I bet in a year when the 720 and new ps4(or whatever they call it) come out they will work with it as well. In the end if they don't fix it or a cheap solution is found it is just not worth sticking with Nintendo.

There is no way in hell the PS4/Xbox 720 will have an optical out, because 1.4(1.5 out soon, maybe) HDMI is pretty much required for the newest stuff, which optical probably won't even be able to support, unless you have 2 at once(speculation/hypothesis, whatever...). I've paid well over a grand for my Wii U, a new TV, reciever, gadgets, just to get the best possible setup. If Wii U included all that stuff I just mentioned, I would have no problem paying that much. The fact is, is that Wii U costs $350, 3D TV costs $600, reciever costs $300, speakers(if you don't have ANY) $150. So $1000 would be a steal if it included all that. Cheap options haven't been available since HD consoles launched back in 2005/6 if you haven't noticed, at least when it comes to getting the most out of your setup.

It really depends on WHEN you got all your unbelievable stuff. If your stuff is so great, it should have no problem supporting Wii U, which IS just as powerful(if not more) than PS3/Xbox 360. Or just find a way for it to work, so you don't have to have seemingly unanswerable questions that we're TRYING to help you with. Put your recievers model number. That would help us help you.

Yeah the dude made no sense when he banged on about having the latest and greatest most expensive state-of-the-art gear but had no proper connections

I thought we all agreed this thread was for all WiiU related BS
https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/wii-u/wii_u_questions_thread

Also when posting in that thread please no more whinge stories and lameo 'I'm gonna divorce from nintendo because it's them not me' threats because they don't care and we couldn't really give a rats... Tell us the brand and model of equipment you're using and someone might check it out for ya cheers big ears

Gotta agree with the Mad guy re: the angst, Nik, and the tv/monitor details.
You seem a reasonable bloke and we're happy to help.

Anyway, my bad on audio - it's coax/optical digital only - and the cost- it's Au$40, plus Au$6 postage..
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/261143971976?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX...

i too am not happy with the wii u audio set up, i hope they include the Dolby codec in a firmware update, that would help solve allot of issues, i hate only getting stereo sound from my wii u on my sony bravia hdtv, because when in surround mode i get nothing, and my Sony bravia is Dolby 5.1, its irritating, and when i play my PS3 and then go back to the wii u the sound difference is glaringly obvious! and i too game frequently on my Samsung sync master, and with my ps3 i just use the scart cable to out put the sound to my hi fi, while getting the picture through the hdmi, its a shame i cant do this with the wii u, as everyone knows gaming monitors have the best response times, and so playing a 60fps game on it feels awesome, compared to on a HDTV, even though my Sony bravia has a very low response time when in game mode, either way these are issues nintendo can fix via a firmware update, i was unaware that the sound through the component or composite cable and picture through hdmi on wii u works in wii mode, i thought it dont work full stop, which would sujest it was a over sight on Nintendo's part, i do hope they update the wii u, and include a dolby codec and allow the audio to be out putted via the component or composite, while the picture is through the hdmi, that would solve all the issues people are having! sorry to hear the op is having these issues. i too have the same problem when wanting to use my wii u on my gaming monitors, shame nintendo should have seen this one coming! please if its not to much trouble forward these issues on to nintendo, they need to be told, and by as many people as possible, or we may never get a fix!

ps4 has optical out. but hey you can buy a great stereo for under 400 that has dolby hd and hdmi. get a job and stop living off mom