Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Help Please!! 568 sound drops out.

Hi, can I get some advice from forum members?

I have been using a 568/562v2 combo (with DSP33 speakers) for many years without problem. Just recently, the sound has been starting to drop out intermitenly on DD 5.1 material. I could play a movie without a problem for an hour or so then the sound just quits (all speakers). Cycling power or pressing Source again restores it (just to happen again every 20-30 minutes).

I don't think it's the source components because it happens with two (a cable DVR via SPDF and a PS3 via optical). I ruled out the 562v2 (problem remained after bypassing).

I sent the unit to M but after a week or two of testing they couldn't find the problem.
Of course, as soon as I reinstalled the unit in my system, it happened again. Any ideas how to debug?

TIA.

If you enable the 568 diagnostic displays it might help determine what is going on if you see a change in any of the displays when the audio drops out.

You could also try setting the "Poor digital audio source" checkbox in the Advanced tab for those sources in the legacy configuration program. And while you're in there, make sure the "Source uses validity flag properly" box is not checked.

Thats just the kind of advice I was looking for! Thank you. I will try it and report back.

No Joy. The sound quit twice today while playing a DD stream from a FIOS cable box. Diagnostic displays are:

AC3 5.1 48x
90 EXU0A023E (FIFO)
V DC 748nE51 (DSP)
DAA MMSMSA (Setup)
D2/XX/ia/v C (Source)

Recall that I ticked "poor audio source to turn off reclocking". I really dont think its a problem with the source (I get drop outs on both of my DD sources). Its gotta be a 568 problem.

Any ideas?

Have you installed the lastest firmware for 562, 568, and DSP's?

Are the cables good between the 568, 562, and speakers? Do you have spare cables, can you replace?

The contents of the diagnostic displays are less important than if they change when the sound cuts out. I realize that you probably aren't staring at the diagnostics the whole time, but if you can find something repeatable that causes the problem, you should be able to see a change in the display. That's what I did, when I found a DVR recording (I have a DirecTV HD DVR) that triggered the problem. Fortunately, I was able to describe the problem in enough detail that DirecTV was able to fix it on their end in a later software update.

Terry, the diagnostic displays remain constant whether sound is playing or not (happened 3 times yesterday). I dont think its one of the speaker cables (because ALL 7 speakers go silent).

This happens once in a great while with my directv when tuned to local channels. I change source input and then go back to my SAT input and its fine. It think the digital bit stream shifts way out of sync and the 568.2 gets lost. It rarely happens for me. Once in the past year. But several years ago it was quite often on directv. My guess its your cable broadcast that is causing this.

Never have this happen with my PS3 though. I suppose its possible your 568 sync clock may be out of spec thus it happens more often for you. Just a guess.

Thanks but I don't think it's the clock because I'm not reclocking the inputs (ticked poor audio source). Since it happens with multiple sources, I really think it's the 568 but surprised that M couldn't find the cause.

Poor audio device usually allows for more range to the incoming stream thus allowing the 568 to lock. However if the 568 is out of spec then all external streams will look out of range. It may be on the edge of spec and when there is a deviation it gets lost. Just a guess but this is something that happens on the 568. It gets lost. I use a 518 with all my SPDIF connections to eliminate this from happening. You could also have some other device that is emitting excessive RF that could be screwing up sync. Switching power supplies can screw up SPDIF and cause excessive jitter.