Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Diagnosing speaker problem...

Well, it had to happen. After 20 years of service, one of my 5500 has decided it's had enough, and is refusing to play Comms works, eg it comes on and follows instructions, but there is no sound, just a rhythmic "putt... putt" sound once turned on. This gets louder/softer with volume, changes so the amps seem to be working.

Am looking for suggestions on how to diagnose which part of the speaker has failed... and thoughts on getting a fix. And also how to discount failure somewhere else in the chain. The speaker is the rear left slave in a 7.1 setup.

Have "rebooted", retyped, removed/replugged all cables. Today I'll try an external source directly into the speaker to rule out the existing cables, but what next?

Suggestions gratefully received.

Interestingly, it's rarely ever used, and so at this point is not the end of my cinema. I watch movies in 5.1, using the sides for the rears, and only use the real rears for 7.1 gaming, which I do very rarely. So, all the speakers that are regularly battered by movie soundtracks are fine; but one of the ones that rarely sees any action has decided to quit. Maybe it felt unwanted?! :'(

If you cycle the display options when on, does it show the correct sample rate for the input?

If it shows NL, try input 2 (you may have to retype to get this to work).

The display shows Source, then ----, then something else. No NL.

If I switch off, or disconnect the cable, from the partner the "putt...putt" sound stops - no signal through the cable, I guess.

To use D2 input the manual says Type 5, but not sure whether that's going to be compatible with my Type 6 speaker setup?

I need to get a source with a digital output to test the cable/input card on the speaker. It could well be the output of the master that has failed...

Types are just a starting configuration. You should be able to assign any(?) input to D2 by configuring a source rather than a full te-type. So you don't risk changing/breaking something else and complicating matters.

I did have a look at mconfig, but could find no way to access D2... will have another play/read of the manual and see if I can find a way to select D2 on this speaker.

Further testing - attached a CD player to the input D1 - the sound is intermittent, you get a very short blip of sound, then nothing, then a blip, then nothing, and so on. So, definitely the speaker, and not cables.

IIRC you just go through front panel using MSR.

Printed pages 36/37

Thanks! I see what you are referring to. I did have a quick scan of the manual - first time in 20 years and found it almost impenetrable and my eyes glazed over before I got that far in...

Will give it a try...

TYPE 5 IIRC was used to enable both D1 and D2 inputs. Worth checking D2 for sure.

D2 is same - intermittent audio. Damn.

The problem for me is that the 5500 are the only ones suitable for my cinema, both size, shape and power output; not to mention timbral balance with the other six 5500's in the room. Not sure if Meridian even support repairs for them any more..

Will have to reach out and see...

Well there is a recent new Meridian DSP user on the forum who just took a punt on a pair of 5500's - if they don't like the Meridian 'sound', then there may be a pair going :bike: