Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Help needed getting my new SL speakers working with my 818v2

My new DSP5200SEs arrived... Yay! I'll report in on how they sound once I get them working. I previously had non-SL DSP5200s which I traded in for the 5200SEs.

While the 5200SEs were on order, I had the opportunity to buy a demo 818v2 + MD600. I set this up while waiting for the SEs to arrive, but I could only use the analog output to an analog system. But I verified it worked and I set up the Sooloos system on the MD600.

The SEs arrived and I set them up today but cannot get audio from them over SL from the 818v2.

To test just the speakers, I switched them to use the coaxial input and connected them to a Sonos Connect. This worked...audio played.

But when I switch them back to SL mode (Right, Master, SL - Left, Slave, SL) no joy. They are connected to the upper SL connector on the 818v2 and I have them daisy-chained correctly. When I press Setup on the 818v2, it says that it's in SL mode.

I switched the daisy-chained connection to a home-run configuration but that didn't work either. However, I noted one thing unusual: the slave (left) speaker was not receiving commands to turn on, etc. Is home-run vs daisy-chained something you need to setup on the 818v2?

Also, I know it's getting audio from the MD600 because the 818V2 display changes to match the bit rate of the selected track. I've also tried connecting the Sonos to the CD digital coax input, but get no audio that way either.

Any ideas on what to try next? I haven't played around (yet) with the Meridian Configuration program, but I do have a USB to RS232 null modem cable, so I'm ready to go that route when necessary. Can the Configuration program read the current configuration or can it only store new configurations?

Also, the dealer that sold the 818v2 to me said the 818v2 was already configured and ready to go, but perhaps there is some difference in how he configured it and what I need. He is not local to my area, though.

Any ideas, help, etc will be greatly appreciated.

Have you read the DSP speaker manual? You have to Type the speaker and config it to respond to the SL not SPDIF. Power OFF/ON + MSR 0.

Also make sure master DSP SL is in the correct master socket of the 818. This may be why they don't respond.

This setup is actually one of the most straight forward. You will be only a click or two away from lovely sounds.

Hi,

Make sure the MASTER DSP is connected to the MASTER SpeakerLink port on the back of the 818.

Double check the DSP's config to make sure they are set to use the SL input.

Double check the 818 is configured correctly, see page 30 of the user guide.

Make sure there is only one controller; system in standby, point MSR at 818 and press the clear button.

Try different Cat. cables.

Regards,
Carl

Have you put everything in standby and pressed clear on the MSR (to assign controller)?

Thanks guys for the quick responses but I believed I've done all these things. To review:

I've typed the speakers as Type 1 with the right speaker as the master. When I Power OFF/ON + MSR 0 the speakers display:

Right speaker: Type 1, R.M.RJ45
Left speaker: Type 1, L.S.RJ45

There is nothing labeled "Master SL" on the back of the 818, but the instructions say to use the upper socket (which I am using)

So the SL wiring is:

Upper SL connector on back of 818v2 -> Right speaker input. Right speaker output -> Left speaker input.

I've tried both the right speaker and the 818 as the master controller.

I'm using brand new CAT7 cables with RJ45 connectors, but I've tried CAT5 as well.

Am I missing anything?

The two SpeakerLink outputs are inside a green rectangle, the top labeled "Master" and the bottom is labeled "Slave".

Does your 818 not have this?

Ken

That's it! I had the cable plugged into the SpeakerLink Input connector not the output connector (the 818 is in a rotating rack but with somewhat poor visibility to the back).

I haven't tried it yet, as we have company over for dinner right now (getting harsh looks from my wife for being on the computer with company over), but I'm sure that's the problem. Will report back later.

Can someone answer the question about whether the Meridian setup program can read the current configuration or just write new configurations?

Thanks everyone!

Mconfig can fetch the configuration, it should give you a good starting point, just don't rely on it being 100% correct.

In the absence of having a config file, after that initial fetch, I'd only use Mconfig to store configurations.

Regards,
Carl

Now confirmed, that was the problem (forehead slap). Speakers are now working. I'll report back after I get a chance to sit down and do some serious listening. Thanks to all for the quick responses.

You are in good company here making an error like that. We've all done it.

Glad you are sorted.

How does it sound ?

Haven't really had time for critical listening yet, but in casual listening I am very impressed. The difference in SQ was noticeable immediately especially in transient response. The high end is crystal clear. Bass is very well defined; just very solid. Imaging is improved a bit (although it was very good before).

Basically, I'm just enjoying listening to them so much as we go about our routine that I haven't had time to really do some critical comparisons. We live in a 1500 sq. ft (140 sq. meters) loft style apartment and the speakers are in the living room/dining room/kitchen. So whatever anyone listens to, everyone else pretty much listens to the same thing. The room is very large in volume. Say 20' x 33' with 11 foot ceilings (~200 cubic meters).

There are a lot of variables that have changed so I need to experiment a bit. My previous setup was a Sonos Connect directly connected to non-SL DSP5200s. Now I have the Sonos Connect feeding the 818v2 as well as the MD600 with the speakers upgraded to 5200SEs. So I lot has changed. In addition, I am adding Hi-Res files to my library which wasn't possible with a Sonos only system. That said, I suspect most of the improvement is due to the speakers.

BTW, I really appreciate this forum and this community. I would not have made these purchases if I hadn't found this forum and learned so much by reading older (and current posts). So thank you all!