Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Controlling a HD621 via DSP5000

Can anyone please confirm whether a HD621 can be controlled from a pair of DSP5000 (24/96) speakers, and if so, how does the cabling work?

By way of context, I have a simple two channel system with Sky as the single digital source (audio out via Toslink to a 561, video out via HDMI direct to any old Pioneer plasma). I want to add two further sources: an Oppo 103D and an Apple TV Box (latest version).

I also have a HD621 to hand but it is not used at the moment. I am not interested in multi-channel in this system.

The setup I am exploring is to feed Sky, the Oppo 103D and the Apple TV Box into the HD621. The HD621 would then be set to output two channel audio (maxed out at 24/96), which I would then feed, via a 75 ohm digital cable, into the DSP5000 master speaker, which would also be set as controller.

The slave speaker would then be daisy chained to the master in the usual way. I wish to ditch the 561 to reduce the number of boxes.

My question is whether I can run a comms cable to the HD621, either from the master speaker (via a 511) or from the comms output on the slave speaker, to allow me to change inputs on the HD621 using an MSR?

If this doesn't work, any alternative suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi Altus,

I previously created a setup that did exactly what you wanted, using an HD621 and DSP7200s.

In my case I used an SPDIF and a BNC-to-BNC to connect to the speaker set to Master/Controller. The control (comms) part worked perfectly. I seem to remember having to be careful which digital out I used on the HD621 and, apologies, I forget which was correct. And all sources must be set to two-channel/PCM.

The button on the front of the HD621 could be used to select sources. But only the remote worked to switch the system into standby.

A caveat - there is a thread hereabouts where the OP could not get a similar setup to work.

Thanks Gianni

On your setup I assume you connected BNC comms out on the master/controller speaker to BNC comms on the HD621? And on the audio side SPDIF RCA 1/2 from HD621 to SPDIF RCA In on the 7200s, with the two speakers linked via SPDIF rather than SL connection?

I don't have as much comms connectivity on the older 5000s but your success would imply that inserting a 511 between master/ controller and the two other components (slave speaker and HD621) should work.

I did read a thread about someone trying to use a G12 or a 512 to control a HD621 but couldn't see any other threads.

You are correct about using the BNC between the HD621 and master DSP for comms but it seems I used the right "input" connection (based on me just checking as I left the wire in place) - odd.

SpeakerLink was used between the speakers ('cos it was there).

I cannot remember which SPDIF it was (1 or 2) but that was used for the audio signal from the HD621 to the DSP.

Thinking about the DSP5000s, and given my odd finding at the top of this post, you might try HD621 (legacy DIN comms) to the input on the master/controller, then DSP5000 (legacy DIN comms) master to slave. Otherwise a 511 should do the trick.

Here is the previous thread I mentioned

Thanks Jon and thanks also for the link to the other relevant post. Too risky to contemplate before the rugby but I'll have a go tomorrow and report back.

That worked just fine. There was no need to configure a comms connection between the HD621 and the master/ controller DSP5000 in Config. I simply used an M lead from the HD621 connected to the legacy comms connection on both units. No need for a 511. Speakers set to type 1 as usual.

One thing I did notice was that my old version of Config would not allow me to add speakers to the HD621. I downloaded the current version from the Meridian website and it solved this problem.

Excellent.

Did you connect the legacy comms to the input comms on the Master/Controller DSP5000? Guess you must have as the output would go to the slave DSP5000.

It is a really neat solution for a two-channel AV-centric system.

For the same use-case, I connected my HDMI sources to the Kuro, then used the optical out into a BlueNote Node and thence to the DSPs. This meant that the family could watch TV without needing the full system.

Yes, comms connected to comms input on DSP5000 master/ controller.

It is indeed a neat solution and the DSP5000s are one of the all time great Meridian speakers! Likewise the Kuro, still going strong after all these years, a wonderfully natural picture.