Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Better Source Labelling on Meridian Systems

Just noticed this in the v8 User Guide :

"Your installer may have customised the labels displayed for each source to suit your other equipment."

As I have yet to meet a dealer who actually knows how to do this I do find it odd to include it in the manual. Perhaps it would be better to provide a Technical Note with recommended procedure that users or dealers could use to improve labelling?

VCR 2 and LP or Tape and Aux could certainly do with being updated on my system. Pressing VCR 2, for example, selects the Oppo BD Player displaying 'Oppo' on 861 and
'VCR 2' on the Centre Master Speaker. Hardly ideal for nervous or young users and not befitting the magnificent (and expensive ! ) systems which M create.

Please can we have blow by blow instructions on how to do this safely and reliably?

Many cheap HTIBs allow this already.

M

+1

This is of course only referring to the display on the 861.

As we know the source label on the 861 can be fully customised, but the labels on DSP speaker can only be changed to a pre-defined list on the DSP. Both of these method are documented in the user guides and dealers should know how to do this.

Now as we know, the only way to fully customise the source label on a DSP was to modify the firmware. This is of course and never will be sanctioned by either a dealer or Meridian. Also since the introduction of the .mfq files this method 'text editor' method no longer works as this files are encrypted.

So the statement in manual whilst true, is let down by the reality is that the system is not as flexible as is should be in this respect.

We have discussed options that Meridian could implement, the simplest being the ability for the user to select the displayed characters when the DSP is in setup mode.

I written to Meridian direct and via my dealer requesting, but thus far I have not received a satisfactory reply.

Regards,
Carl

Very interesting, Carl. It is telling that the ability to modify Source Names is not mentioned in the DSP Speakers User Guide. I'm of the belief that a simple thing like this could be costing M potential customers. World-renowned as Masters of Digital, VCR2 et al is a little detail that would not attract me if I had my time again.

It would be nice if they could find a way to send labelling from Controller via SpeakLink as part of retyping though. Anyone with a Pronto, Harmony, AMX or Crestron Controller has been able to label correctly for years.

M

Hi M,

It is there see page 31 'Configuring the sources' of the DSP loudspeaker guide v9. However, it is only for selecting the predefined alternative, it is not very inspiring

As for using Comms to propogate custom labels, I proposed this too.
We had some discussions on this on the board, try a Google Search for more details.

Regards,
Carl

Completely agree. This is actually an area where dealers could add genuine value to the forcing of customers to go to them for firmware upgrades.

I modified my DSP labels so they properly match the sources. The value of this to the rest of the family when using the system is such that I will never upgrade the firmware no matter what the SQ benefits unless the labels can be edited. The value of the UI far exceeds the value of the engineering. This single fact is why Apple is worth gazillions, and Meridian is not.

Very well put, I'll have to remember that phrase.

Regards,
Carl

Excellent points Mark, which you would think M would be aware of. Isn't it the UI with iPad/iPhone or C10/C15 that portrays the promise of things to come? i.e. excellent sound quality manageable through a pleasing tactile and infinitely tweak-able interface.

I can't think of many other high-end manufacturers who have not updated their naming protocols (SLS apart) since the 90s. Perhaps this is related to RS232 protocols also?

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has hoped that the Core Control App could absorb some basic system commands (On/Off).

M

Now that I have DSPs which have displays, I have come up against this problem.

Quite a disappointment that there is no way if having the DSPs display the same as the 861.

I hope Meridian can get a step ahead on this aspect, and similar ones, of the UI - rather than being a step behind, or not in step with itself.

- and it would be very simple of Meridian to add a source identity script to the firmware update programme to allow this for DSP source tags. You don't need to change this sort of thing very often and if sensitive to firmware ripping they (Meridian) could leave it in the hands of dealers - but it would be very helpful and easy to do.

I still have my updated sources labels like Wii, Sky and Xbox etc. on my DSPs.

I was quite surprised to recently find that DSP source labels aren't customizable as on 800 series products. Why can't they just follow what's been set on the 8xx?

At the very least it would be nice to have a more extensive list of up-to-date sources to choose from.

Possibly a little paid custom service which gives you a 'personalised' firmware with the sources you want?

Why indeed.