Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Yet Another 568.2mm + HD621 Help Thread

First, I do apologize for dredging up yet another thread about this topic. I promise I have searched and searched and done quite a great deal before reaching out.

As it stands now I cannot hear any TrueHD or DTS-HD MA audio from any source. I can hear the Sonos which is connected to one of the optical toslink inputs. I can also hear the GUI navigation sounds from the Kodi and AppleTV v2 plus the movie audio IF I switch the source configuration to use the 5.1 DD soundtrack. All HDMI sources are configured as PCM although the AppleTV seems to be a "smart" device that won't allow that setting to be done manually and I don't think the V2 supports TrueHD or DTS-HD MA.

The HD621 is a new addition. Prior to adding it I have had the whole system working well using the same equipment plus a 562v which I have now removed as it's redundant.

I have
568.2mm w/ VGA to component adapter cable
DSP5000 x7
HD621
Samsung Blu-ray, Old-model (configured for PCM output)
Kodi PC (configured for pass-through 7.1 and playing 7.1 TrueHD content)
AppleTV Version 2 (I don't think this supports HD audio formats)
Sonos (Optical input; works great)
Xbox 360 (Untested)

I have:
1. Fetched my original 568.2mm config file
2. Re-typed the 568.2mm via front panel to 7.1DDD
3. Updated the inputs to use Audio Input = Multichannel
4. Confirmed the preset for Discrete is set to Discrete
5. I have no sources in use marked as "This is the enhanced source"
6. The comms types are set appropriately (none)
7. No tick boxes are ticked in the advanced tab (DTS delay, disable smart data, poor digital audio source, or source uses validity flag properly)
8. Discrete preset is modified so that 2+2+2 = 7.1
9. Speakers are all Large 96.24 DSP (unchanged)
10. Confirmed that in MONO mode I can hear Sonos from all speakers
11. Stored with the 2.5 and higher firmware choice selected (box is showing "2.5b9m/V262m" on the front display)
12. Re-typed the HD621 using Mconfig to Type 0 (Multi-channel High Resolution LPCM, Dolby Digital and DTS)
13. Created a scratch configuration for the HD621 with H1-H4 defined connected to generic blu-ray sources, and a non-existent G65 processor
14. HD621 audio properties are: Audio Output: SmartLink/MMHR; MHR Connection: SmartLink; Linear PCM 8Ch. (also tried 6Ch. with no luck either); Dolby Digital 5.1Ch: Yes; AAC: No; DTS: Yes; Output Rate 2x (96k): Yes; MHR: Yes.

I welcome any help you can provide. Again, I can only hear DD 5.1 soundtracks, no True HD or DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks from any source.

Slight update.

With no other changes I swapped the v2 Apple TV for a v4 Apple TV I had in another room. Now the two movies I bought from iTunes can be heard and the front panel of the 568 says "MHR MUS6 96K" so it would appear that it is working at least on this input...

However ...

Every few minutes the sound will get a digital distortion static sound for a 5-10 seconds. You can still hear the soundtrack it's just that it gets distorted in a weird robotic-sounding way. Shortly afterwards it returns to normal.

Still no joy whatsoever on the Blu-ray or Kodi. When I play them the 568 says "Data 96K" with no audio heard.

I have also swapped the HDMI cables and found that the audio still gets the periodic robotic sound and the known-working HDMI cable does not work for the Kodi or Blu-ray.

Hi,

Just a quick comment:

Remember that the 568 is a 6 channel device, as only the 861v6 or higher can do 8 digital channels. The additional channels on the 568 are matrixed side channels.

Therefore, check that you have the 3 ‘component’ connections into the correct outputs on the HD621.

Sorry, it’s been a while since I dabbled with my 568.

Brian

Brian, thanks for the response!

You're quite right, it's only 6 channels with matrixed sides. I am using outputs 1/2, 3/4, and 5/6 of the HD621.

Hi, I sent you a PM

Hualon,

As bxd pointed out, the 568.2MM is only capable of 6 discrete channels (5.1) and the sides are matrixed to feed 8 speakers in a simulated 7.1 setup.

I have a 568.2MM connected to both a 598 and a HD621 via a mechanical component switcher to choose the source. No problem with sound but I have my rears fed into the 568.2MM from the 7/8 digital out on the HD621.

There has been a lot of discussion on this in the past 5/6 versus 7/8 but Meridian has finally confirmed this in writing, see point 18 in the UHD722 topic.Note it also says that the Linear PCM should be set to 6 Ch.

Hopefully when you make these changes, things will be sorted.

Cheers,
Steve M

Thanks!

I have now modified the HD621 configuration so that LPCM = 6ch and I have moved the surrounds to use 7/8. 5/6 is now unused.

I bought a new UHD player (although just using BRD discs in it). I now have audio with the player set to PCM and the disc configured to use the highest quality track (DTSHD, MA, etc.).

The front of my 568 does not say discrete, however. It says PLII-THX and the DD and THX lights are lit up. The diagnostic display reads "MHR Mov2 96k".

Should it say Discrete? My preset options all appear to be the analog / PCM 2 style presets.

PLII is a 2 channel source preset.

It sounds like you might have the 568.2mm configured to use a 2 channel input rather than multichannel SmartLink. I’d recommend double checking 568’s configuration.

Regards,
Carl

OK, some marginal success! It turns out that I DO have the Meridian kit configured correctly and likely have all along.

My ancient Samsung blu-ray player apparently only outputs 2CH on PCM. Wouldn't you know it but the LG UHD player (UP875) I picked up last night ALSO is limited to 2CH PCM output! Unbelievable luck. I'm going to try yet another UHD player tonight.

The marginal success comes in fiddling about with the Kodi configuration. I had to turn OFF passthrough audio in order for the Kodi to handle the decoding. Once I did that the front panel lit up with digital audio while playing the 7.1 DTS-HD / MA soundtracks and I had access to the digital presets (discrete, etc.).

It would appear also that the 2nd generation Apple TV does not support PCM multichannel. I suppose I'll need to consider an upgrade there as well. Woof... this is getting spendy!

Woohoo!

I have a working system now and I thought I'd share a little for prosperity in case anyone else decides to resurrect this equipment in the way I have.

To summarize:

I configured my 568.2mm and HD621 appropriately (see first post) to use the multimedia input and set my devices to PCM output. It turns out, however, that literally all of the devices I tried to connect with multi-channel audio were incapable of outputting multi-channel PCM including a brand new LG UHD player!

I replaced the LG UHD player with a Sony X800 UHD player and was delighted to find that when it is configured to use PCM it actually outputs multi-channel PCM.

On the Kodi HTPC side of things I disabled audio pass-through which apparently is enough to instruct the software to handle decoding on the box. Now when I select HD audio soundtracks I get surround instead of irritating silence.

The Apple TV 2nd Generation doesn't seem to output anything except DD 5.1 even from content purchased on iTunes.

Now the only issue I'm facing is the awful robotic noise that crops up in the first few minutes of soundtracks. I haven't noticed it on the Sonos input which is the only thing I have which doesn't use the multimedia interface. My hunch is that my 568.2mm is slowly giving up the ghost. :-/

I need to make a huge shout-out to Bruce at CMB Integrations for helping me out on the phone and even looping in Meridian for some help. Bruce got me an HD621 at a killer deal and he really went above and beyond to help me get it hooked up. Thanks to everyone!