|
|
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 124 Likes: 1
Hitchhiker
|
|
Hitchhiker
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 124 Likes: 1 |
Picking up on the discussion initiated on “M6’s with DSW.2 advice sought”, on the strength of the opinions aired, I have taken the plunge and ordered a single DSW.2. Suggestions on how best to initially set up with a pair of 5200SE’s would be much appreciated. It’s just a stereo arrangement.
My room is not large - 4m x 8m x 2.5m high, and well baffled with furniture and carpet. Should not, I am assuming, be vulnerable to nasty standing waves. I am planning to place the DSW just right of centre to start with.
My music is almost entirely classical. This set-up is not used for tv.
What would the best cross-over setting to use initially. Anything else I should be aware of?
Any other tips out there to get the best out of this set-up?
Many thanks,
William
808.6,HD621, Oppo 103EU, DSP5200SEs, DSW.2; 218, DSP3200s, Oppo 105D, Panasonic PVR, Panasonic plasma; F80
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,979 Likes: 200
Vogon Civil Servant
|
|
Vogon Civil Servant
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,979 Likes: 200 |
If your 808 is like the 218...
Configure EBC with your room height measurement
Choose ‘Music’ as the output in Sub Mode
Choose Sub Filter as ‘Sub1’ to enable Bass handling below 80hz - this will pass all bass output below this point to the DSW.2
However, if you want to maintain full bass output equally between your 5200’s and the DSW.2, from the Sub Filter choose ‘Wide’
Not an Actor, nor married to Jamie-Lee Curtis.
#1: DSP5200SE|DSW.2|218|210|506.2|504
#2: Prime/PSU|SOtM sMS-200 Mini NEO SE|Focal Stellia
#3: Other stuff
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 124 Likes: 1
Hitchhiker
|
|
Hitchhiker
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 124 Likes: 1 |
Thanks for this. Re connection, does it matter which speaker the DSW is connected to? My “master” is currently the left (default) one. Can I connect to the right hand one? Will I have to reconfigure the “master” to the r/h one?
William
808.6,HD621, Oppo 103EU, DSP5200SEs, DSW.2; 218, DSP3200s, Oppo 105D, Panasonic PVR, Panasonic plasma; F80
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 742 Likes: 54
Paranoid android
|
|
Paranoid android
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 742 Likes: 54 |
The 80Hz crossover is because it is a THX preference (even a specification). Personally, for music (mainly classical, like you) I think that is too high and leads to coloured bass even if you set the gain nice and low. I like my (now 2) DSWs to just fill the very deep bass gap that the 5200s have which is also strongly influenced by one's room dimensions. Most domestic rooms (certainly in most UK sized houses) struggle to reproduce very deep bass because the wavelengths are long so some deep bass lift is required. This does not mean, however, that you will not get annoying resonances at wavelengths (or multiples thereof) of you room dimensions (80Hz crossover accentuates such issues in my view). Hence some room correction, if you have access to it, either electronically or physically is well worth trying. And Meridian were/are right: all frequency room correction is theoretically justifiable, but what Meridian's does is below 250Hz which is where you will hear the principal benefits.
You can connect the DSW to either speaker in theory but since the right is usually daisy chained from the left it is easier to connect to the right (no need to mess around with changing the Master). Check the DSW user guide to make sure you get the switch setting on the DSW correct for whatever connection you choose.
Cinema/Music: Trinnov Altitude32 8-16,218,Cloud 4 channel, Marantz UD5007,DSP5200SE(2+C),DSP3300(4),DSW(2),271,MShort Ceilings,AppleTV 4K
TV: Marantz SR7013 Wharfedale Diamond 9x4+Celestion(C)
Music: Roon,i7NUC8gen,QNAP TS253A, Sony Scala, MS200, Garrard DDQ650,Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
Kitchen: AD88 (bluetooth via i80).
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,979 Likes: 200
Vogon Civil Servant
|
|
Vogon Civil Servant
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,979 Likes: 200 |
I forgot to mention... On the DSW.2, choose '1+2' to carry right/left information. Further information from Meridian... The Sub 1 and Sub 2 filters work in different ways, depending on if the speaker is a sub or not. To a speaker, Sub 1 means to apply a 80Hz crossover which means it no longer plays the bass energy below that frequency. The Sub 2 filter is the same filter but applied at 120Hz. This isn’t a brick wall filter, it rolls off at 12dB/octave (so by 40Hz, the signal is 12dB lower than at 80Hz).
On the subwoofer, the filter applies the opposite way around, meaning it starts to reduce its output on signals that are higher than 80Hz. This means both speakers are working in their optimal range. And yes, a DSW.2 can play down to 10Hz (we don’t filter its output at low frequencies) but its actual output will be lower in volume than other frequencies at this point. At 10Hz, you feel the energy, rather than hear it.
The Music mode gives a totally flat response with maximum bass extension (no filtering a low frequencies). The Movie mode puts a ‘bump’ in at around 40Hz to emphasise the LFE content bass energy and filters off the very low bass. You can use either when listening to music, it may suit some music to use the Movie mode and it is simple to switch between the two on the 218.
There is another mode called “Wide” that can be used if you want both the M6 and the DSW to play the low frequencies. You will see these settings in your 218’s menu under subwoofer (this will be set to “off” at the moment). You can also adjust the intensity of the subwoofer using the sub gain settings to dial the woofer into the room.
Not an Actor, nor married to Jamie-Lee Curtis.
#1: DSP5200SE|DSW.2|218|210|506.2|504
#2: Prime/PSU|SOtM sMS-200 Mini NEO SE|Focal Stellia
#3: Other stuff
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 87 Likes: 3
Hitchhiker
|
|
Hitchhiker
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 87 Likes: 3 |
I added a DSW to my 5200SE’s last May.
It’s in the corner just behind the left speaker. I didn’t have time to try other places yet but I’ll probably leave it there.
Set to the music, option 1 and gain on -3. and it sounds really really good. It added lots of space to the sound.
Mac -> 818v3 -> 5200SE / Mac -> Director -> 551 -> Epos K2
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 124 Likes: 1
Hitchhiker
|
|
Hitchhiker
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 124 Likes: 1 |
Thanks Andy,
Very interesting, but counter intuitive. Does the speaker being offset in a corner affect the stereo imagery? I’m particularly interested in the effect location will have on deep timbre instruments such as solo grand-piano or cello or organ, etc..
No doubt room dimensions and orientation will be pertinent. Having a heads up re where to start playing with the set up will be very useful.
Thanks to all who have contributed.
William
808.6,HD621, Oppo 103EU, DSP5200SEs, DSW.2; 218, DSP3200s, Oppo 105D, Panasonic PVR, Panasonic plasma; F80
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 203
Hitchhiker
|
|
Hitchhiker
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 203 |
Having recently added a first version of the sub to 5200SE I would say that you probably have more options available to you given the 8 series processing than the 218 I use.
Placed dead center the 80Hz crossover sounds fantastic but inconvenient for my room, I have it now placed closer to the right speaker on the inside and it still sounds great for almost all material, only rarely do I feel more weight from that side.
I've also tried it outside the speakers as well as completely removed behind a couch but then was too distracting. My attention would constantly be pulled towards its position. If I had speakers with stronger bass initially, this may not be the case.
I'd start my testing dead center and find a good crossover frequency. From there, try moving it around to where it's most convenient.
Hope this helps.
1) 568.2mm, 7K's, 5K5HC, 4x420's, D2500, MS200, moded Oppo BDP, Epson5020 FP
2) 218, 5200SE, DSW
3) MC200 core & MS200s to HK PA4000 house distribution
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 87 Likes: 3
Hitchhiker
|
|
Hitchhiker
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 87 Likes: 3 |
Hi William, I don't have the impression the stereo image is affected. The 5200 are placed about 1 meter from the side and back walls. (5x7m room) I’ll probably try to place the DSW behind the couch when I find some time to play around later. I was rather surprised how much depth it added, everything sound more realistic. We are in the center of Paris so during the day there are a lot of background noises compared to the weekend / evening so I have to play a bit with the gain, it’s a bit boomy when there are no background noises. It definitely adds realism to piano and cello, can’t really comment on organ music, Van der Graaf Generator is my only organ music experience 
Mac -> 818v3 -> 5200SE / Mac -> Director -> 551 -> Epos K2
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 742 Likes: 54
Paranoid android
|
|
Paranoid android
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 742 Likes: 54 |
I am of the view that if you can hear a sub then, for music (perhaps excepting hard rock), the gain and/or the crossover frequency are probably too high. Given that the bass response of the 5200SE is far from weak you don't want to be adding to it where it is contributing enough. I don't use 80hz (a THX specification) if I can avoid it - far too high. Fine for cinema but not, in my opinion, for most music. If you can't escape the 80Hz then use the gain very carefully. At the end of the day it is what you like, of course, and it is well worthwhile spending time with tracks you know well and like (especially if you have heard the performer live) adjusting crossover and gain little by little to get what satisfies you. Location of a sub in a room certainly also makes a difference but more, in my view, in worsening or taming resonances than in interfering with directionality. Take time. You'll know when you have it right for you.
Cinema/Music: Trinnov Altitude32 8-16,218,Cloud 4 channel, Marantz UD5007,DSP5200SE(2+C),DSP3300(4),DSW(2),271,MShort Ceilings,AppleTV 4K
TV: Marantz SR7013 Wharfedale Diamond 9x4+Celestion(C)
Music: Roon,i7NUC8gen,QNAP TS253A, Sony Scala, MS200, Garrard DDQ650,Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
Kitchen: AD88 (bluetooth via i80).
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 30
Harmless
|
|
Harmless
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 30 |
Hi, read a couple of conflicting posts on the DSW setting. Sub 1 vs sub 1+2 ? Difference again
218 controller, 5200SE, DSW.2 sub, Roon Nucleus, iPad
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,861 Likes: 375
Meridian Partner Vogon Civil Servant
|
|
Meridian Partner Vogon Civil Servant
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,861 Likes: 375 |
Sub 1 is 80Hz Sub 2 is 120Hz if I remember correctly.
www.cmbintegrations.comOne step from the Presidency #1 Trinnov Altitude 32-8-16, 271, 8000XE, 7200SEHC, 7200.2, Seaton F18, JL Fathom F113, Revel w990's, Kef R7, ATI 528 Amp, JVC RS4100K, SI screen. Roon Nucleus+, Eno AG, Eno M link, 218. #2 Mark Levinson No5105, Ayre VX8 and CX8, Vandersteen Treo CT, Preamp varies. #3 Meridian Ellipse
|
|
|
|
0 members (),
252
guests, and
3
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Forums18
Topics31,202
Posts297,170
Members5,503
| |
Most Online4,788
May 22nd, 2026
|
|
|
|
Google Search
|
Meridian Systems
|
Meridian Streaming
|
Restaurant
|
WiKi
|
Duncan's Meridian Info
|
Board Rules
|
Restaurant Rules
