Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 861v6, 3100s, revivers, and some advice from fellow HHs

I recently upgraded my v4 for a v6 and have decided to go all digital this time around. My first foray into the DSP world was a pair of DSP3100s. I have a 3100HC on the way and am looking at possibly 4 DSP33s for rear and surround as well as a D1500 for my subwoofer. Ultimately when my finances improve, I would like to get a pair of 5200s for the front.

Currently, using Revivers and the star layout which seems like a more straightforward solution than an AC12. However, I cannot get the slave speaker to output sound. This happens even if the slave is set to left and not right. It also happens even if I move the SL cat cable from the left to the right output on the first SL output row. John has been extremely helpful and I appreciate and believe that most everyone is using the Revivers with great results. But does anyone have any advice or thoughts on what I am doing wrong?

Rafael

Hi Rafael,

I assume you have setup the system in Mconfig.

Try re-typing the DSP3100 to Type 6
Then configure Left/Right and MASTER/SLAVE as required.

Once done, put the whole system into standby and whilst pointing the MSR+ as the 861v6 press the clear button. This should set the v6 to controller and the MASTER DSP to Non-Con. Watch the displays to confirm.

Once that is done, press the source button on the v6 front panel and confirm that the v6 and both DSPs come out of standby.

Check that the volume control works up/down by comparing the displays.

If all that works the try playing some music.

Note: the MASTER DSP must be plugged in to the MASTER bank of RJ45s on the back of the v6 and (in this case) the slave in the adjacent port in the SLAVE side.

If you still have problems try swaping the reviers over and also the RJ45 leads; in an attempt to isolate a reviers or cabling issue.

Regards,
Carl

Hi Rafael,

The Master speaker must be:

1) Configured as Master so it shows a red light on its display.

2) Plugged into the Master Speakerlink row on the 861v6, this is the row with the green line. (As Carl has also mentioned)

3) Set as Master in the 861v6 configuration using the Meridian Config program.
You can see this as its icon should show as a 'Red LED' next to it.

If the Master isn't set up correctly then the slave speaker(s) won't get their Comms, as it is generated by the Master speaker.
So although it's your slave that isn't working, it may be due to one of the three reasons outlined above.

Cheers,

Rick

After many troubling hours trying to track down a very similar issue when I upgraded my speakers, much to my chagrin, I discovered I'd plugged the lead on the back of the speaker into input 2 rather than input 1. Lesson learned for the umpteenth time to look at the simplest and most logical solution first. In my case it was user error.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
John

It's usually user error in such cases. Makes it a bit harder to spot the real issues sometimes.

Thanks John, that's a good tip to remember.

Regards,
Carl

I just need to go back through and start from scratch and take it one step at a time. Would the D1500 also use a reviver or could you just hook it to the subout channel? I guess that once I get my DSP3100HC I could set that up as master with the two DSP3100s as slaves. So retyping the DSPs to type 6 makes sense. What about the 861v6, should that be typed as well prior to making all the arrangements on the Mconfig program?

Has anyone ever had an inability to get the slave or slaves to work no matter what they did?

Rafael

I have had issues as well, but the guideline above does help.

IF no master nothing works. I found that out when I rewired my system after carpetting the room. I had cables mixed up and nothing worked anymore since the master was not connected correctly.

I do have DSP3100 with revivers, but they are all slave (side and rears). So they are setup as Left/slave, Right/slave and typed to 6.

@Rafael, I hate to be a voice of dissent here, but your system seems very imbalanced. As much as I like Meridian's smaller speakers, DSP3100s and DSP33s are simply not good enough to do justice to an 861v6 processor. Similarly, the D1500 (and D2500) subs have never been well regarded, even on this forum.

If it was my money (which I accept it's not), I would concentrate all funds into purchasing a used pair of 5200s as a main front pair, even at the expense of your 3100s. If I was able to hang on to the 3100s, I would stick them in the rear. I'm not sure what I would do with a 3100HC.

My 2c.

I appreciate the responses. The 861v6 was an upgrade and so I felt the need to keep my investment in a first generation 861 purchased in 1997 to good use with the trade in path. Therefore, I have a great processor but can't really afford what I want. Yes, I think I should stick with what I have and eventually get a pair of legacy 5200s and put the 3100s in the rear. I am new to all digital and decided to drop out of the analog speaker path so it is a work in progress. Actually I would like all SL 8Ks for all my channels and one of the new SL DSP subwoofers but can't afford that just yet All kidding aside, would most HHs agree with 5200s as my next purchase? Anyone interested in selling a pair to a chap in the states?

Rafael

Rafael,

You should audition the several levels of Meridian DSP - new & used. On the east coast, it was easy to find several dealers dealing in trade-ins and demo stock in 7200s and 8000s.

Lately there have been two or three pairs of DSP 8Ks for sale on audiogon. I believe a dealership in Tennessee has been trying to sell a pair for a while.

A NY Hitchhiker was trying to sell a pair of DSP6000s for a while but I believe they were sold. I auditioned a pair of DSP7000s in Connecticut before I listened to the 8000s. They may still be available if you are interested (I can ask if you want).
Guess which I liked better Don't forget to buy Revivers from Robert if you are going to buy a pair of non-SpeakerLink DSPs ... put the order for revivers in early as sometimes they can take a while to ship from Austria.

One final thought - the DSP speakers are very heavy and will probably have to ship freight if you can't pick them up yourself. Just keep that in mind if you order from somewhere other than where you live.

Does anyone have any recommendations on using types on the 861v6 for using the SL and Revivers to control legacy speakers?

When I input the two 3100s in, it tells me that I probably should use an AC12. Does the 861v6 recognize that the Reviver is acting as an AC12?

Obviously, I am still not able to get my right front slave to output sound after following everyone's advice. It's as if the slave doesn't get a signal. I can switch everything out and swap things and etc., but essentially no matter what I do, the slave isn't recognized.

Maybe when I put my 3100HC as center and make it master, the two 3100s will act as slaves and work. I will also have a D1500 subwoofer coming in soon. Should that be hooked up with a reviver or just the analog sub output. Thanks for any advice. I would even appreciate a config file that you think would work for me emailed to my address.

As per the other advice, I am now looking at the 5200s for my front speakers eventually, but I need to get past this hiccup with the right slave.

Rafael