Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Re: Message from Meridian concerning Firmware (including Supplementary update)

It's config, but relies on the firmware to accept +ve DSP speaker calibration offsets.

I am quite happy with my �new� sound and I for one will be the last to update my firmware until I get the go ahead from more distinguished and knowledgeable members of this forum.

I have found it very sad reading posts regarding individuals who have waited years for products to be updated or fixed. And these people still buy Meridian gear � Meridian are very fortunate in that they have a very loyal following. And on the whole, patient.

I have a Radiance XS and regularly update my firmware, I can also contact them if I wish � how very different.

Hi Asa, yes, it was something I posted a few months back HERE. I was reading a book and many parts of it were jumping out to me in the context of Meridian and how its business strategy, behaviours, business needs, long term goals and customers in the modern world etc do not all sit so comfortably.

The 'corporate vs family' models were a particularly pertinent case in point.

In programming terms:

(1) changing the source names (as long as the new name fits the length constraint of the table) is benign as it is not used to drive logic (I presume)

(2) the +3db hack is potentially dangerous as it changes a parameter which is used to drive logic; overflows could occur, badly-writen code could trip over, etc.

(3) the firmware hack is copying and pasting logic from one place to another and expecting it to work without understanding how it interacts with global parameters in the new location and how its internal defaults relate to the source product rather than the target - this blind engineering is potentially lethal in software engineering terms

So, with respect George, I fundamentally disagree with your comment "not a bit of code was touched".

Gianni,

The apo patch DOES NOT patch ANY logic !!

In fact I would say the +3dB is more risky.

And the DSP name hack is most risky because if novice made a mistake they could brick or blow a driver. Where the other two have programs.

I'd like to share an analogy I've been thinking about.

Let's say this great Motor Head designer shared his insights into Motor designs and tweaks for better performance. And over the years generated a huge following of like minded Motor Heads.

Then one day the great Motor Head designer said he came up with a new way of doing the spark that improved efficiency by 20%. He used an idea from say diesel trains or something. The Motor Head Designer said I'm going to release a kit that every can enjoy this new trick. He released the trick for the Ford Engine but not the Chevy, Mopar, Audi, BMW etc. YEARS go by and suddenly The Motor Head designer has new Chevy, Mopar, BMW engines with the trick built in. SAME BLOCK but has the trick built in.

The Chevy and Mopar Motor Heads look at each other and say [censored].

One really smart Motor Head looks at the Ford Engine trick and says, piece of cake guys. Everyone is happy. Except the Motor Head designer.

Does the Motor Head designer really think a bunch of "Motor Heads" would just sit their on their a$$ and wait years. THEY ARE MOTOR HEADS for petes sake.

Mean while the Motor Head designer is now selling his motors to the rich and famous that don't even know how to open the hood.

WELL SAID!

After more listening test I can describe more accurate the sound differences.
All that are my personal impressions with a handfull CD�s.
Most listen to female voices and accoustic instruments and with small and bigger ensemles.

There are three kind of differences,
the bass is just a little bit more precise and accurate and transparent,
the heights a little bit more refined,more delicate more "soften" but without the disadvantages to loose resolution,
but the voices and a little bit the body of the instruments(like a accoustic guitar)
are harder and a little less feeling of the voice/feeling expressions.
That influence is major to the other improvements to my ears.
As I prefer very natural voices -
and if I must decide if I like a little more to hard or to soft sound,i would go to too soft-
I stand with the nonapodsing FW.
But the reason here could be also my personal music preference for musical genre, the remaining equipment and my sound preference,
so maybe other stay with the apodising.
And after more listening, its not a huge step, I could stay with booth variants.

So Mr. Stuart is correct here when he post, that the FW have to be adapted to the specific equipment to get an improved sound in EVERY aspect, not only in certain ranges.
I am more excited und curious now how the M adaption will sound.

I have to say "THANKS MR. STUART" for the explaination which kind of sound could be expected when non specific apodising FW will be used.
My "APOLIGIZE to MR.STUART" for my wrong words for THAT issue.

But all the other items for reliable products and very bad service are still guilty.
This is my experience with M in the LAST years,
not in the first years as I stay with M over 11 years.

The FW upgrade have to be made either as a preset
(as other manufacturer allready do)
to try it out, or REVERSABLE from the CUSTOMER if he dont like the sound.

Wistrela Robert

What is such multi-coloured, upper-case, increased point size shouting actually going to achieve?

You may feel better, but Meridian will walk away. I can imagine how easily they will feel justified in dismissing this forum as emotional and irrational (I am not saying that this would be justified).

Bridges need to be built and friendships renewed.

I know that we feel let down, misled and unvalued. And there have been many other problems such as the HD621 not handshaking properly when first launched; or the fiasco of the AC12 not only being required for non-SL speakers and new processors but also not working with standard comms leads.

But the key question is , how do we make things better?

We have to accept that M are not going to design, build and market their products with a vote and sign off from this forum and that is their right. We may never know what, if any note they take of some of the wiser comments made here. They may not like it, but we have invested heavily in them and care just as deeply about developments. They should just accept it and cherry pick anything they find useful. At HH2! Like many others, I filled out several questionnaires on various topics yet have never received a single email or recommendation or offer. So what was the point? Was this information even used?

Meridian products can be complex to set up optimally and dealers don't always know the answers to queries, if they built more reliable products it would relieve the strain caused by lack of any other form of contact with them.

After the Bristol show, I contacted 7oaks with a setup problem and heard nothing back.
An M employee took my email and was to contact me with a return number for my dead D5K. Nothing heard yet. Poor communication is inexcusable these days and easy to avoid.

M do far more things right than wrong, listen to your system for proof.

Maybe we should cut them some slack?

And maybe they should do likewise.

M

Well, I think that, apart from being a little more restrained in our language, there is actually very little we on here can do towards making things better. What should we do? All agree to go back to the previous firmware?

We have (pretty politely on the whole) raised various matters about Meridian products and service with a view to improving both areas. These have generally been met with ... silence. In this case, it is not golden.

Unfortunately it may be inexcusable but often happens in many walks of life.

For me, with my cynical hat on, once the warranty has run out M have no obligations to me, however I might perceive them. If I paid a subscription or fee based support (as do some industries) then I might expect a certain level of service. This would include bug fixes but not new features. And it still might be a poor service!

M may, for customer satisfaction or to encourage repeat business, offer updates - but I don't expect them or feel I have a right to them. It's one of those nice things about Meridian.

What this forum could be used for is to provide a consensus on features requested by our community, (which as someone else pointed out is only part of the M users out there) and submit to Meridian. But in my mind requested is the operative word.

Please stop reading this and go and enjoy your favourite piece of media