Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 861v6 experiences

Yes, the standard v6 for the US trade-up program includes two OA18 output cards and one ID26 input card (although ID26 is incorrectly labelled as an output card, it is an input card).

You would think that M would have corrected this by now.
I know it's only cosmetic but at these prices all should be 100% correct.

Carl.

I think somebody spotted this when pictures of the v6 first came out (VK, maybe) so I am a little surprised it hasn't been fixed. But I suppose its a pretty minor infraction, and perhaps they had a run of the ID26 boards already made. My bigger complaint, frankly, is this obsession with optical inputs. I would much rather have had one or two more coax inputs rather than four more toslink. In total the v6 has six optical inputs. I'm sure there must be somebody out there with six optical sources, but I've never met 'em. I don't have any (well, OK, one, but only because I've run out of coax inputs)!

A valid point Simon. Well I just checked and the width adjustment has no affect on playback. So what does that mean it is set to? Besides from that I just listened to Earth Wind and Fire's Greatest Hits and I've never heard it sound so good. I'm still running with the +3db and I don't think it suffers any clipping. I'll have to try going back to 0. My problem is when I calibrate my right rear is my loudest so that is set to 0 and my fronts are -1.5 to -2.5. I suppose I could always calibrate my fronts to 0 and then use the utility to raise the surrounds beyond 0. This way if there is clipping it would be only in the surrounds.

In Trifield rears/sides won't ever clip.

Just to confirm: You are referring to Trifield?

Jerry,
why not let the +3dB in the fronts(and rears) and decrease the volume from the rears in the DSP modes with config?
So you have the optimal resultion from the fronts where its most important and the correct SPL with the rears.

The amount of how much decreasing the volume in config you will take from your calibrate test-
where all speakers has set to zero for the first calibration (measurement).

Robert

I must not have written that very clearly. Yes its Trifield with the width control and its not working.

The idea about zeroing out the fronts is if Meridian has "fixed" this in V6- but I dont think so because they would need the headroom if you're running one of the EQ settings.

[censored] is Meridian playing at?!!!!! Sorry, but IMO that is inexcusable.

I can try it again tonight- my 861 is in another room so I cannot see its display- but if I press on the MSR the up/ down arrows when I have selected the width setting on the 861 and then go into my viewing room there is no change to the sound. On the plus side the sound is wonderful.

OK- good news Width works. This was operator error. I didn't realize I had to press function along with the arrow button to change the values. I thought pressing the arrows was enough. I was checking the LFE on DVDA playback and I was pressing the down arrow and nothing was happening- so I checked the front face of the 861- again in another room- and the value was static- and then I pointed the remote at the 861 and nothing and then I realized I should try pressing the function button and then the values changed. I now have my width at 0.9. FWIW I have my discrete LFE at -5. At -10 it seemed to take too much punch out of the music and at 0 it was a little too much.

Whats amazing is with V3 and 4 the difference from CD to DVDA was huge- both in terms of smoothness and dynamic range. Now I can still hear a difference with DVDAs vs CDs but the gap is closed drastically. CD playback is real real close. And thats without the benefit of Meridians excellent spinners- Im just using my K Player 5000's coax digital output. Pink Floyd on this is really something else. The sound has a warmth that you will now think I am nuts but it recalls when I was a child and I had a phonograph as a source on a much less elaborate setup. But thats the sense- the sound is accurate but warm and has great imaging but still has focus. I can't say enough about this.

Phew. Thanks for rechecking.