Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Re: New Firmware Impressions

Edit2: Something is amiss, I'll investigate immediately. I noticed a recent fetch was -16dB. Maybe there is a logical explanation after all

For me something (resolution, smoothness) feels lost in Trifield/Cinema since the new update. I previously ran +3dB tweak and lowered centre in the preset with -3dB(to avoid clipping). I will try and get a hold of my old mconfig and see if it's the +3dB on L/R I'm missing... It feels like a I just lost 30k� of highend gear or something.

There seem to be a bit more tightness in the bass and midrange(upper?) a bit more pronounced as per what changed on non-SL DSP8k's and the DSP7.2kHC front combo.


Edit: All my sources are going through HD621 so they are already apodized upsampled.

Some initial impressions

At the moment DSP5000 LRC, G68D until I update rears.

Seems to be a little more clarity, litle more instrumental separation, bringing 5000's closer to DSP5200 (not that I ever thought differences were huge).

Trifield fix mch more subtle than 565.

Would I have paid for apodising, well it would depend on cost, but for a nominal cost, whatever that is, yes.

I would be very surprised if any one posts "night and day" differences.

Regards I

All my equipment is up-to-date. I haven't done extended listening or measuring but the bass is a little different than before. It is tighter and intergrates better with my subs. The word from my dealer is that the 8000.2 do get a change to the bass alignment even though it is not expressly stated in the release notes.

Regarding Trifield, I think the Trifield settings returned to their default on me through the update on a G68 and 861v6. I don't remember what they were before so I'm not certain. Regardless, it is worth your while to make sure the settings are the same before and after so the comparison is fair.

To re-run MRC or not......?

In the last week or so we've fitted a new carpet with a much thicker underlay than previously. I expected it would require a re-run of MRC and with the new levels in the v6 a new calibration.

So, all seemed to work very well as usual.

Calibration showed rear channels coming in at 4-5dB lower than normal. I wonder if the new firmware changes the fronts vs rears?

New decay is 393 vs old of 352. 29 filters instead of 38 rebuilt at 300 target decay.

I don't think the new firmware updates cause any MRC changes, I suspect its all down to room change.

If anyone else recalibrates or re-runs MRC, I'd be interested to know if you see any changes.

I am not feeling the need to rerun MRC based on a quick listen. I plan on running some RTA tests to compare to my old measurements but I suspect there will be little to no difference.

Just finished the upgrade of my 861v6, HD621 and second system DSP5500 and all worked smoothly. The DSP5500s upstairs sounds less muddy and more delicate which was a nice suprise and the 861 seems more musical using Direct through my Adam Audio Tensor Betas and XLR out. Of course without a one to one its always difficult to tell whether it's wishful or real but I'm happy with the sound so far which is the main point :-) !

Also the recent Sooloos upgrades did allow my 24 bit files to work which had been a problem up till then where they would fail after a few seconds to a minute or so. That was also well appreciated as was getting pretty frustrated with that. Still not perfect though with the occasional stutter on to the next track when part way through so I'll see what difference my new router brings to the equation next week as my old Netgear does seem to be having the odd problem or two these days.

You would have had the same effect simply by turning your master volume up 3dB louder for Direct on an analog setup with the older firmware

It's Apples and Oranges when it comes to DSP Speakers and "DSP Headroom".

First impressions:

It sounds better, (it isn�t easy for a simple joiner to express what is going on exactly) but I prefer the �new� sound. The top end seems clearly, open and transparent. The bass is where I noticed the most improvement; it is tighter. with the old firmware I did sometimes have an odd� boom� (no room correction) but not now. "I don�t I have no room correction applied � why?" I hear you ask, well, the house I live in is due to be demolished so I didn�t get around to it.

My Touch sounds better too, if that is the apodizing fine. It sounds good to me.

I have listened to a few CDs and I can only go on what my ears tell me! Trifield sounds a lot better; I stopped listening to Trifield as it didn�t sound right. Now I have one wall of sound! I only ever use Trifield. The three front speakers simply blend together.

Now onto �Direct� (in config my dB level is 0.0dB) I have tried more CDs my Direct is quieter than Trifield. I can only go on what my ears tell me but it is defiantly not as loud! No question about that.

I have to have the volume cranked up a bit more now, 70/75 is the new standard now.

I haven�t watched any films yet.

I would like to thank everyone involved (they know who they are) and Meridian for the firmware and the fact it was free.

CheeRS

Shaun

I've moved the 3 db disscussion to their own thread New Firmware (3 dB discussion)

Regards,
Carl

808.3 > 8kSL

New firmware brings: subjectively, the high frequencies are more extended and purer; the midrange is clearer; the bass is even tighter and more tuneful. In general the music seems more dynamic, has a more focused soundstage and is generally more coherent. All this seems to fit in with a reduced noise floor.

What I was not expecting was that, where appropriate, bass slam has markedly increased!

All of the above relates to good recordings: the new firmware does not turn dross into gold.

I went into this with low expectations: the old setup sounded very good indeed and I did not think there was much room for improvement using the existing equipment. If my experience is typical then Meridian deserve resounding congratulations.

I can be quite emphatic that the new firmware has brought worthwhile improvements to 8kSLs.

Thanks for the information Asa

Just for the sale of clarity, my reading of your post above is that ALL of your comments apply to Upgrading the Firmware of your D8k.2SL's ONLY.......nothing else has changed.......is that correct??