Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems No sound on MD2 (IE44) 861v6 - given up - help pls ?😥

Hello all,

I've been tearing my hair out for a couple days on this issue and have given up. Can anyone kindly help? 😥

I have just recently purchased a used 861v6.

All I want to do, is hook up:

- HD621 (3xSPDIF) and
- 800D (3xSPDIF)

To MD1 and MD2 (doesn't matter which) on IE44 card.

No matter what I try, I can not get any sound from the MD2 output of the IE44 card. I have been trying for days.

Both 800 and HD621 (including my PS3/NVIDIA Shield hanging off the HD621) play sound beautifully on MD1. But when I try to play either, on MD2 (even each on it's own with nothing connected to MD1) no matter what, no sound comes out of MD2. Nothing.

I've tried all the "tricks" in MConfig:
- Ensuring no 'last valid' is set against anything in MConfig. Ie;
- I've ensured either MD1 or MD2 ("Audio" under 861v6) is mapped correctly to the equivalent corresponding 800/HD621 in MConfig (also saying MD1 or MD2 under the HD621 and 800 entries, or vice versa).

I read an old post here that said maybe IE44 defaults to individual coax inputs ie D2 4 and 6 or something, as opposed to Smartlink but, where and how do I check this ? Everything in MConfig (when I click on IE44 card in MConfig) it just says MD2 Smartlink but there is no breakdown of what D4/5/6/ are actually doing. (..?)

I am confident the problem is somewhere in the 861v6 settings either in the box itself or MConfig but I've since given up where to look; I've tried everything.

Finally, I appreciate typical treatment with 861v6/HD621 is:

- ETHERNET RJ45 out of HD621, into 861v6 ethernet on IE44;
- This then leaves 6 coax inputs free on MD1/MD2 for my 800.
- I plan on implementing the two dot-points immediately above but, with holidays, high end shops are closed and I can't get out to buy a half decent ethernet cable for a while yet - most of my high-end stores are closed for 2 more weeks.

So, I just want to hear my 800 and HD621 through both MD1 and MD2 (3xSPDIF Smartlink for each) but there is no sound from the MD2 outputs, no matter what I try - after uploading and reloading MConfig to 800/HD621/861v6.

Really dumb question, in closing - does 861v6 actually work with HD621 3xSPDIF Smartlink on MDx WITH a DVD player (3XSPDIF Smartlink as well) on the other MDx? Or, does V6 actually demand/require an ethernet cable from HD621? Is this the reason perhaps I am not achieving sound on MD2? Is there anywhere I can disable the ethernet output of HD621?

I planned to attach pics of my MConfig here but it doesn't let me.

Would anyone be so kind as to guess what I'm doing wrong or (even better 😇) perhaps take a look at my MConfig file via PM and see if any obvious problems display ? I would really owe you one !

Thanks !

Andrew

Not sure what happens to the MD2,but why dont you use MMHR input on IE44 for the HD621 and MD1 for the 800,with MMHR you could have native 7.1 signal.

Thanks. Fair statement.

Only thing is though that doesn't really solve my problem ongoing.

What I need to happen as the future solution is:

1. HD621 HDMI out (via RJ45 ethernet) into 861v6.

2. 800 Smartlink (3xSPDIF) into 3xSPDIF on (say), MD1. This will be set to 800 Upsampling, to provide best sound for DVD movies.

3. 800 AUX output (one coax SPDIF output) into one of the inputs on MD2 : for 2 CH Redbook CD. This will be set for 800 NOT to upsample and simply pass PCM to 861v6 the latter of which will upsample/apodize; far superior to have 861v6 (not 800) performing upsampling for redbook CD.

So - either way I need to get the MD2 working somehow.

I know Carl is an expert on v6 and 800.. you out there buddy?!

I just don't understand what I'm doing wrong. I'm literally getting no output - I even tried to setup 1xSPDIF out of the 800's D1 output into MD2 D4 ; nope - no sound even just on D4 of MD2 alone.

I just don't understand.

Hi Andrew,

I would test each input on the IE44 card separately. Set each up as a CD input and try D1 - D6 separately. Test with a known good digital output and see what you get.
If D4/D5/D6 doesn't give any sound or signal lock (turn on Diagnostics displays), then I would suspect half of the IE44 card is duff. I would test the MMHR input too (any cat-5 cable will work to test it from the HD621) and see if that works.

It is possible that the inputs have been blown. It is very easy to damage a SpeakerLink input with a PoE Ethernet switch - 48v does not do SpeakerLink much good!

Lastly, it may be worth re-flashing the unit's firmware, re-typing, and re-configuring everything from scratch to rule out any configuration errors. You could also re-seat the card in case it has worked loose...

Otherwise, you'll need to speak to a dealer in order to obtain a replacement IE44 card or speak to the original seller to arrange some form of refund.

Good luck,

Steve

Hi Steve,

Thanks my friend, I can always rely on you to reach out to help . Cheers.

I will try the D4-D6 single coax as you suggest on CD.

Can you explain further please re diagnostic displays? How/where and when do I locate that?

Good idea re: the ethernet cable, I will try that input too.

Gee .. a bit heartbroken to hear your suggestion that maybe 'half' the card is broken? Can that be possible?

I think the previous user may have used speakerlink I don't know ; but how could that break the MD2 side exactly?

I don't know where to start with the firmware process/where to get it. I don't want to brick the unit it's just cost me a small fortune . Are you, or is anyone able to clearly step me through that process? I'd probably rather rule everything else out, before contemplating this... Again, do you feel firmware could be a cause of half the IE44 (MD2) not working ?

Reseating the card... I imagine that's just a matter of checking the card on the back panel ie unscrewing the screws and seeing if it's sitting properly against its connector? If so, that seems ok and simple.to check. Although, I can't imagine why D1-3 would work and D4-6 wouldn't, if (any) part of the card was loose. Butz worth a try I suppose.

Thanks again for reaching out to help me.

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

In the Meridian Configuration program, there is an option to enable diagnostics displays - once enabled, when you cycle through the displays you get extra information screens - one shows the current input rate plus a few other bits...

If all three inputs are duff (i.e. D4-D6) then I would certainly re-flash, re-seat and re-type as I would find it hard to believe that all three inputs are faulty.

The firmware is easily flashed - you just need to obtain it from an HH-friendly dealer... Just make sure your USB-Serial cable is OK! You'll need the FWupdate program too.

If the previous owner has connected something other than digital to the D4-D6 inputs - then it could have fried the card - I've come across cards with individual inputs fried (normally buffer chips cooked) but would have to have been going it some to take out three inputs at the same time!

When reseating the card - just remember that it is part of the shared OE14 / IE44 backplate, so you'll need to undo a lot of torx screws and bolts!

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers,

Steve

Hi Steve ,

Well, I owe you one. As usual

It looks like I'm saved....

....just.

So, I connected a single digital coax out of Meridian 800 (D1) and connected this to:

D4 MD2 on IE44.. No sound. Nada. I checked and rechecked. D4 is dead

So with a heavy heart, I then moved on to checking D5 instead. Omg..... SOUND!!!! Oh thank god. All I needed was one to work.

I then moved to check RJ45 out of HD621 into 861v6's MMHR RJ45 input (using a cheap ethernet cable) ..... SOUND.

Yahoo !!

Thank goodness..

I don't think I could have tolerated a firmware reflashing(risk) or, trying to buy/replace or reseat this card.

So, this all means I can have my cake and eat it too which will be:

- HD621 for Bluray using RJ45.
- 800 set to upsample, for DVD movies into the 3xSPDIF MD1.
- 800 Aux output (not-upsampling) into 861v6 (D5, MD2) and the latter will apodize and upsample = for Redbook CD.

I'm all sorted.

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction buddy.

You're a saviour.

Oh yeah .. it's New Year's Day now where you are so... Happy New Year!!! !!!

Andrew

Excellent that you got it worked out

Thanks Bruce.

I suppose the overjoy is now (somewhat), overshadowed by the knowledge I've just purchased a partly faulty 861v6 and.. not sure if there's much I can do about that now tbh but, that is another story...

I'm just wondering if there's anywhere else or somewhere in MConfig, that could be causing D4 on MD2 to be silent. Is there a setting somewhere... anywhere ? I haven't checked D6 yet but if that's fine too, how could just 1 output be "gone" ? I just don't get it..

For the benefit of future resale, maybe I might need that IE44 card price after all, as per my PM to you Bruce! If you had time and could still check pricing/availability, I'd really appreciate it !

Thanks again.

Andrew

Good that you got it sorted. I was also going to suggest connecting HD621 via RJ45 MMHR connection but Steve beat me to it.
That’s how I ran HD621 into v6; now UHD722 into v8.
Curious that D4 is duff. Wonder if it’s a simple as a broken wire to the RCA socket. Are replacement cards still even available I wonder?

Good question Simon. Thanks.

I'm certainly not technically minded but I know enough about 800 series to remove (and I have done so previously) the cases, to at least get inside. I might try this and at least take a look for a broken wire.