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

For what it's worth, on those rare occassions when I play a DVD with 'regular' DD or DTS, I do prefer to run the audio via a digital coax directly to the 861v6 rather than via HDIM through HD621. Obviously Bluray goes thru the HD621.

I always decode in the player as I have never been able to hear a difference versus decoding in the processor.

Sorry to press you on this again Jerry, but you did *hear* a difference with the Trifield width settings? It's just that another v6 owner has just reported here that it doesn't work! What is your firmware version?

I had G68R on loan prior to getting my own 861V6 and I did play around with Trifield setting, width and depth made quite a bit of difference but eventually I prefer the default setting. So, when I have my 861V6 I never bothered with changing the Trifield parameters especially when the sound was so good with the 861V6. Having seen the the last post from VirusKiller above, I decided to give the width another try and this time I could not sense any change of sound with the width changes. Will give it a try again with more materials when I have the time tonight. What is the latest firmware for 861V6? Could not see any firmware update for 861V6 on M website.

I don't think you can mistake the effect of changing Trifield width. It's very noticeable so I would think that the answer is that it has not been fixed.

My 861v6 (& 7200s) arrive tomorrow
I'll check Trifield width out and report back ASAP.

Regards,
Carl

Lucky git Enjoy!

I have had my 861v6 for going on three weeks now. I originally had no plans to do the trade up from 861v4. I loved my 861v4 and felt the upgrade would be minor. However, I feel the 861v4 is as far sonically as it is going to be. That plus the upgrade pricing made me go for the trade up. My setup is all analog 7.1 Trifield for all music listening, Dolby PLIIx for all movie listening using the same 7.1 setup. I have an 808.3 that I previously did the trade up on and a HD621. When I did the 861v6 trade up, I ordered 2 one meter long Meridian speakerlink cables to connect the HD621 and 808.3 to the 861v6.

I have no sources that take advantage of apodizing in the 861v6. Further, most feel the digital speaker upgrade surpasses the analog upgrade, which appears to be the new analog output cards. Despite this, 861v6 is a big improvement from 861v4 in my setup. Every single sonic parameter is better, in some parameters a lot better, both for music and for movies. What is exciting is how balanced these improvements are and how well they serve both music and movies.

Music sounds improved in a distinctly non hi-fi way. The 861v6 reduces reproduction artifacts to such a degree that you are left with a much closer feel of the real instruments and voices in a real space. I have played numerous CDs that sound like hearing them for the first time.

Movies show that the improvements are across the board in the 861v6. The sound field is more alive with a greater sense of envelopment and precision. Dialog is quite noticeably more intelligible. The enhanced dynamics and improved control over the low end give everything more impact. The end result is a lot more compelling audio to go with your video.

I will post more detailed observations below. I would advise any 861 owner still on the fence on whether to upgrade to seriously consider doing so. I was ready to pass on the 861v6 trade up. After living with the 861v6, that would have been a mistake.

Observations

The 861v6 is a lot quieter than the 861v4. The architecture change in the 861 backplane that necessitated the obsolescence of the 861v4 must be responsible for some of this. The soundstage for music is like the 808.3, transparent from front to back and side to side. This has a big impact on movies in that the sound field is more alive and the walls melt away like never before.

More digital grunge in stripped away with 861v6. Everything sounds clearer and cleaner yet more natural. Small details that were not distinct with 861v4 are now distinct with 861v6.

The 861V6 is more dynamic. It has a greater range of dynamics from soft to loud and is more expressive in its dynamics. I really notice this with movies.

The 808.3 did not sound better in the low end to me but 861V6 does. V6 really takes control of my subs and goes deeper with better detail at the same time. Superb low end pitch definition not previously heard from music sources. The low end is very tight at the same time, which is quite noticeable with movies.

If you have an 808.3, you are not hearing all it can do through an 861v4. It is from time to time startling how much more like music the same selection sounds through the V6 vs. V4. With the combination of the 808.3 and 861V6, it can be like hearing your music for the first time. The transparency of the 808.3 combined with the 861V6 sounds utterly natural. Depth is enhanced.

The Trifield width control does nothing.

When playing blu-ray movies, my 861V6 displays PLIIx Mov8. With 5.1 sources, I get the IIx sound from the rear speakers. With 7.1 sources, I get the 7.1 sound encoded on the disc. Prologic 5.1 sources display PLIIx Mov 6.

With the HD621, I have a comms cable connected and the speakerlink cable takes care of what would have been four coax cables. For the 808.3, the speakerlink cable does the audio as well as the comms. It is cool to have one thin cable take care of the entire interface between the 808.3 and 861.

Except for the speakerlink and MMHR input difference with 861V6, setting up an 861v6 and 861v4 are identical. With the HD621, you simply spec eight channels out vs. 6 on MMHR. With 808.3, I selected speakerlink out vs. coax. Very simple.

There is a fan cage on the bottom of the 808.3 and the 861V6. I have never heard the fan running on either. I do see a blue light coming out of the opening to the fan cage on both units. It is bright enough that with the lights out in my room, I can see both from under the unit. Not real bright but noticeable and I wish I could turn it off. I have no idea the function of the light.

Interesting report.
Do you have DSP, whichequipment else you have?
There is a blue LED on the capicitor board-part of power supply of the v4,
its the control light as other for ceratin voltages I think-
have to look at my pictures.

You only have hires sources as you write you have " no sources that take advantage of apodizing in the v6" ?
When the 808.3 apodize with CD�s, I understand, but what is with all other sources?



Robert

Sorry but if your playing blu-ray movies it should NOT be displaying PLIIx as that is a TWO Channel Movie mode. Remember Dolby Prologic !!! Sorry if I misunderstood.

It should show Discrete, Cinema or THX if you have things set up in HD621 and your blu-ray player correctly because those are the ONLY multi-channel presets.

George
My 861v6 also displays the same thing. I believe the PLIIx preset does multichannel. I have used Cinema in the past and prefer PLIIx for all movies especially Bluray.

George,

From the 861V6 owners manual:

Content type Presets available
Music 2,
Movie 2 Music, Trifield, Ambisonics, Super
Stereo, Music Logic, PLIIx Music,
Stereo, Direct, PLIIx Movie, PLIIx
THX, TV Logic, Mono.
Music 6
Discrete, PLIIx Mus6, THX Music,
Ambisonics B format.
Movie 6
Cinema, PLIIx Mov6, THX, THX
Surround EX, THX Ultra2 Cinema.

PL IIx can do the same processing with blu-ray is does with 5.1 dolby prologic sources. When you have a 7.1 setup, the only way to get sound from all speakers with material that outputs six channels vs 8 is PLIIx.

Blu-ray and satellite feed my HD621. My only other source is the 808.3. I am not sure what DSP means but I have no digital speakers. Interesting on the blue LED. I never saw this on the 861V4. I let the HD621 apodize vs the 861 because the result is it sounds incredible and because I think apodizing belongs closest to the source possible.