Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Re: New Firmware Impressions

I've just put the new v6 fw in. Too early to make any specific points other than it sounds very pleasant.....as before.

C00055 took a couple of goes to get in (power on/off). The last one also. Otherwise a normal upload.

Will revert with some more thoughts when I've had a proper listen.

Carl, I've missed where M said 8000.2 have the new bass alignment already. What makes you think this. My understanding is that all versions of the 8000 get a new bass alignment. If that's not so then I'll be less anxious to get the update.

Hi Robert
There was no previous release of the 861v6 Firmware......except that included on the supplied product

Therefore, once you Upgrade to the v6.03 Firmware, you cannot roll back again

So, the only way for Users to compare is to Listen for e.g. an Hour before Updating.........and again immediately after Updating........using the same Tracks for comparison

Perhaps not ideal for comparison, but that's how it is

For many of us I think the question is old FW+3dB tweak vs. New FW with no dB tweak SQ.

Even though it would not be as good sounding I still want to have the new codebase, I have to let the old tweaks go I think.

Don't prejudge it..........You can use the old MConfig to load the old +3db Settings up to the new 6.03 Firmware........this will allow you to compare the "old" with the new

Obviously increasing your Centre by the 3db that you reduced it by to prevent Clipping

Hi Crion, I don't think it is quite so straight forward.

I have been listening for a couple of albums now and switching between tri and direct. I can't detect the same level of night/day difference that I did with the original +3dB.

I can detect some slight difference in treble. Great example is to follow the triangle in Gabriel's latest version of Don't Give Up (orchestral). It's very slight though and perhaps more to do with the overall change in SQ with Trifield. A lot changes when a 7200C comes in to the mix. Both ways sound terrific.

So, what I speculate is that the 3dB headroom is fixed but perhaps not where you'd expect. George's excellent tweak was done via the config file. We now have config showing 0dB in all cases but the underlying code must be at 0 for direct and stereo but -3 for all other multi-channel. So, it does leave open that another point of intervention is at work for level setting per DSP preset.

Obviously one should be careful if re-applying the tweak in this case as it would be unclear whether this would effectively double the 3dB.

As many have found, headroom is essential to prevent overloading the centre. The way this seems to be implemented makes sense in that respect.

Hi Nick
Do your above comments apply to applying the +3db Tweak to the v6.03 Firmware........versus not applying it??

The point of my post above was to alert people that they didn't necessarily have to give up the +3db Tweak when opting for the new Processor Firmware

Also, do you find Trifield sounds any different than it did before the Update??

Hi Ronnie,

Our posts crossed in the ether.
My comment was in the context of v6.03 without the tweak.

Yes, but, possibly because I don't have +3dB applied.

OK, new firmware installed in the 861v4 thanks to my co-operative dealer. It was emailed to me with instructions which ended up a no brainer (which is helpful for those of us deficient in that department).

Really all the fuss before was a storm in a teacup, something which M could have avoided with a little better PR - let us hope they have learned.

Now I listen to most of the classical music Via Sooloos on headphones but of course had to see how the music sounded via the upgraded 861v4 into amps & speakers. My previous crit of M has been that although super at producing surround from 2 CH, the 861v4 did hash up the main L/R in the process. So I've had an elaborate means of overcoming that by feeding the L/R direct to amps & speakers and using feedback to the 861 for synthesised surround.

First impressions are positive and it does look as if the L/R is no longer hashed up in the process of synthesising surround. Using "MUSIC" mode, so far I cannot detect any loss of fidelity feeding ALL the signal via the 861 (remember this is V4) than diverting the L/R via balanced analog direct to amps & speakers. Well done M.

But the other change which really has surprised me is the change in the centre channel. I read the complaints re. Trifield with interest but not great interest as I rarely invoke it BUT the change feeding the TV audio (via HD621) into the 861v4 is dramatic. The volume setting is 10 dB less!!! It had bothered me in the past that the "music" associated with TV programming (documentaries as much as movies) dominated to the extent that the speech was often difficult to follow. No longer - the balance is just right.

So, I'm a happy camper and thank M for not forgetting those of us with v4 861s. I might even now listen to more music via the speakers. But for audio via TV the improvement is quite astonishing and VERY positive.

John

John,
That's a good spot re: TV. I've been away all week and only did the load last night. I only looked at the TV for 30 mins last night and noticed it was quieter than normal. I presumed it was just the specific programme. Will keep a ear out for that this weekend.

Cheers