Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Sub vs better DSPs for 2Ch?

I've just scanned the 818 user manual. From what I can see the control of subwoofers is limited to DSP models over SpeakerLink. If you remove the 568 I can't see how you would integrate volume control between the DSP5000s and an analogue (or even digital) fed DSP device controlling the subwoofer.

So, going back to your original question which was (paraphrasing) "would adding a sub to your DSP5000s be a reasonable alternative to going for larger DSPs?" but now considering it in the context of no 568 you really have two choices: adding Meridian DSP subwoofer(s) or going up the DSP speaker hierarchy. And, much as you/we would like some form of room correction in the 818, it isn't there now so is not relevant to the argument.

In your setup, the DSP subwoofer would be integrated over SPDIF with the DSP5000s being configured to (coarsely) set the cross-over level; the volume being set at the subwoofer itself. This is a low cost experiment for you using either two D1500s or one D2500. The D2500 worked very well for me with DSP5000s but I would go for two D1500s if it was me, starting with one to get an idea of the benefits and issues.

Would that be better than a pair of DSP6000s, ignoring the DSP5200s which you don't like and the DSP5500s and DSP7000s based on their un-heard-by-me rep for floppy/heavy bass? Only you in your room can tell that but the migration path is more expensive and more risky if you didn't like the result.

I went from DSP5000/D2500 to DSP7200s. Expensive yes but the benefits in the rest of the audio band are there to be heard. And that is with a 568.2 being the controller, not an 818. I think you owe it to your 818 to let it show what it can do with better DSPs; DSP6000s at least.

IMHO, YMMV, M2C, etc.

Hi Gianni,

Thanks for that, if I can only integrate DSP subs and no RC with an 818/5Ks, it becomes an easier scenario. That said, I've never actually seen any legacy subs come up, but doubtless they do occasionally. When you tried the two SW1500s with 5Ks, did you get an improvement in the midrange by 'freeing' the 5K drivers from their bass duties? That is more my concern rather than massive bass (which could be problematic in my room in any case).

It seems either that or some 6Ks are the way to go for me from here, right now. That said, in a different setup, the minidsp stuff does look fascinating and I have a second system (analogue speakers) which I might try it in at that price!

Cheers,

James

I used one D2500 and not two D1500s.

Hector did, his post and experience are above on page one of this thread.

Legacy subs are out there if you post a WTB.

Thanks, that's true, although it sounds like Hector was using a 568 or other controller to set the mains to 'small', which is when he got the improvement (although not sure what kind of improvement).

Do the DSP5000s have "Sub1" and "Sub2" crossover settings? If so that would have a comparable effect as using a processor.

I have a D1500 and wouldn't recommend it. SW1600 would be the minimum I'd recommend.

They do with roll-off curves being shown on Page 62

You are correct 568.1 is controller.
The improvement came when second SW 1600 was added and at the same time front DSP5Ks were set to small on the advice of St Des and St Edd.

Regards Hector

Thanks for the confirmation Hector. Might I ask what kind of improvements you got in that setup?

Guys, yes, it was those 'Sub' curves I was referring to yesterday. I once activated one by mistake on my 5Ks and was like 'where'd the bass go?!'

So, assuming you used one of the 'Sub' settings in the 5Ks, in an all Meridian setup, you could integrate at least one Meridian sub in my system without a multichannel controller? But could you integrate Meridian stereo subs with just an 818, though (e.g. you daisy-chain off the L & R maybe?). That might be quite a neat solution if it works.

Sorry, I really know nothing at all about this kind of stuff.

Alternatively, would this open back up the possibility of using a non-Meridian sub with the 818, and a bit of RC only for the sub channel? For example, if you were to set the 5Ks to Sub 1 and feed them with the coax out of the 818. Then could you feed 2 subs through something like a miniDSP from the analogue outs of the 818 (and let the miniDSP integrate them and do a bit of RC)? Or would this introduce a delay of some kind as the bass is processed?

James,

If the sub settings on the DSP5000s are the same as the DSP33s then you have to set them as full-range (i.e. large) to daisy-chain a sub off them. I have always thought this a bit odd because by running them full-range you restrict the improvement you would have to the mid-range from a reduced frequency range.

cheers
Tim

Hi Tim, how weird, I would have thought the same. I don't know whether the 5Ks are the same though - makes one wonder what the 'Sub' settings are for, if that's the case?

For when you are running the 5000s with a sub and a processor that cannot restrict the frequency range to the main loudspeakers.

cheers Tim

If you are daisy chaining the subs off the DSPs and using a processor, you have to tell it that the speakers are full-range so they get fed all the bass. The speaker then applies filters to reduce the bass of the speaker, the full range signal is then to the subs which apply their own LPF.

You can only set the sub filter for one stereo pair of speakers (i.e. not each speaker independently) but you can set the levels of two Meridian subs daisy-chained off that speaker pair independently. It is really quite flexible and intuitive and you don't need a controller to do any of this.

If you use a controller to do the sub filtering you can still do some/all of the above as well.