Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Adding speakers to a "stereo" system?

OK...we finally got the room back in working order.

I set the speakers back up, got all three speakers set as type 6 (For use with a Meridian Surround Controller) with the Master as Left mains, slave as right mains and the DSP5000 as Center Slave. I hooked everything up per the diagram above in the post. I hooked up the Revivers, reset (Cleared) the G68 for the Master, got the handshake and then connected the slaves. Then I went through the Wizard to set up system for the new speaker.

The Left & Right Mains are configured as Large DSP, subs not there, Center as Large DSP, with no surrounds.

I have the center configured for "always" (initially it was set for "movies")...then went through the calibration to set levels. I get the calibration signal through all 3 speakers, set SPL's and went to the satellite input after it was done. I have left & right mains sound, but nothing from the center. I cycled through all the DSP settings to see if it was something there and had no improvement.

I tried a different input (Bluray DVD) and it's exactly the same. Stereo is fine, but the center is silent as the grave.

I went into the Meridian Config Program to look at what is on the G68 currently. When I select the G68, right click for "Properties" and go to the "Types" tab it shows the system is in Type zero (7.1 All analogue, Movie Sub) as "In use".

Shouldn't it be in type 4 (7.1 DSP LRC Movie, An Sub)?

So...the good news is everything works (sorta). I just need some help understanding what is going strange here. The Revivers were an EASY installation...literally plug & play.

Can't say enough about how easy they made it to switch over to CAT6 cabling to feed the speakers. No more cables under the carpet...the wife is pleased, which is probably the most important thing.

Any ideas of what's going on? Or pointers as to how this needs to be done? I have ALL the manuals that came with the system...and have read through them all until my brain nearly burst a blood vessel. They sure didn't make it easy for us...a EE degree is almost required to decipher this stuff.

Edit: Just looked through the DSP User Guide again...Step one shows the options. Do I need to set the compatibility to "G" instead of "500" because of the DSP5000? (Although it won't give me the "G" option on the DSP7000's)...

Joe,

your wiring should be good because you have the communication and audio(in calibrate).

Check-Double check,is every EXACT connected as in your schematic what you posted previous(6th of july) ?

You can switch all DSP on/off,adjust volume and in calibrate all DSP make a sound ?
So your problem is somewhere in the setup.

Check-In the "Meridian Confirmation Programm" or MCP go on the top under "Products" then you see a block diagram.
Make a right mouse click on the center speaker and select "properties". Then unmark the " 96kHz/24-bit capable" box.

Check- also in the "product" sheet that your left DSP has a red Dot -you can enable this also under properties.

Check-Important here is also that you have selected IN THE LEFT DSP that speaker as the master-when you type the speaker. More setups below

Check-Under "Products" you can right click the G68D and select "properties".
Go further to the sheet "Setup".
Mark the "diagnostic display" for later tests.
A good tip is overtime you world with the MCP to choose a different "Start volume",
so after you stored the config file into the G68D, you can easy see that that "Start volume" appears and you are sure that your edit config file was loaded.

Check-After stored the configfile, make the "clear procedure" and select a NON hires source. Now your center speaker have to play.

Check-Press "display" or "Function Display" on your MSR multiple times unless you see the data of the music stream in the G68 and master DSP display like "xx44xx" where 44 means the sampling frequency.
As your 18 bit center is limited to 48kHz its important to know which signal he get.
If the center get higher frequencies it get muted/silent.

Check-For the DSP i would select "type 0" and for comm "500" or "G" series.
Iam not sure about the "G" if that is working with your 18 bit center speaker,
so maybe better "500".

Answers:
The type in the MCP is not really important refer to my knowledge as you configured exact when you go the steps through from left to right in the top line.
I think its just a easier start nothing else.
But that is only for the processor not
for the speaker-in your case type "0" select "master/slave"
the controller choice "n.controler"
and com "500".

Good luck and report back
Robert

Hi,

I believe the DSP5000C you have is an 18 bit version (88Khz/18bit), whilst the others DSP are 96KHz/24bit.

With a mixed DSP capabilities you will have to set multi-channel DSP preset to limit the output to standard rate audio (max 48.2Khz).

To do this on each multi-channel preset change
HS=Y to HS=N.

The 2 channel ones you can leave as HS=Y.

Hope this helps.
Regards,
Carl

Well... I went and looked at the manual about the DSP Presets and changing them, saw the field you were talking about Carl and then went into my Config Program and those fields were not present in my multi-channel movie presets.

So... I decided to update the firmware. Oh joy! It's really painful... but I finally got all of them to go through and then went into the configuration from the start. When I got to the center channel I deselected the 96KHz/24-bit Capable field, finished up the configuration and went through the calibration.

Once again everything was there... I don't have the mic to do the room calibration (but I will by Saturday so I can complete it)... finished up the config and it uploaded to the G68.

I fired up the Bluray, and the center works! Woot!

I'm pretty sure it was just the 24-bit Capable stuff that threw the system into a tizzy. I'm looking forward to watching a movie on the big screen tonight and seeing what a difference it makes. It's (literally) been 10 years since I've had a system really set up for movies in the house. I had a really good system in the house in town, but when we moved to the country I didn't have a dedicated theater space and once I got this Meridian system it sounded so good as it was in stereo I just never had the drive to go the next step.

I'm working on convincing her to let me hack up her newly painted walls to install the DSP420's for surround... this should be a fun battle. Wish me luck

Thanks for all the support...you guys rock.

OK...I THOUGHT I was finished asking questions.

I found my USB>Serial cable and figured I should go ahead and update all the firmware on the system. The G68 was done a few days ago, so I hooked up the DSP7000's and once I had the files in the Flash Uploader and started it, it asked for a manual reset (Power off/On) and everything went flawlessly. Got the mains done and moved to the DSP5000C...it asks me to do the same thing but when I do it never sees the speaker and starts the update.

Do the 18-bit systems need a different COMM config? I'm set at the default: 9600, 8 bits, none (parity), and 1 stop bit with no flow control.

I know the cable works...it did the first 2 without a hitch.

Any ideas?

Hi,

It is not possible to update the firmware on 18bit DSP speakers this way as their firmware on a ROM chip.

The 24bit versions use EEPROM, which can be updated.

Regards,
Carl

So... do I have to remove the ROM chip and update it in a chip reader?

I JUST happen to have one... since I burn the chips for my ECM on the Corvette.

Get a 24 bit 5KHC and be done with it. They're around and they're cheap. If you can't find one I think I have one but I'll have to look.

Ken

+1 one page back. Cheap and available. Are you afraid of how good it will sound? First thing you know, you got to see a fellow about some 8Ks⌛️💸 It's just a matter of time.

I recently sold my 5500HC to local guy who was using 5000C and he simply loves the change.

I would heartily recommend 5500HC (prices have been from $1K-$1.5K) if your budget allows $1.5K, if not you can get 5000C for $400ish (thought there was one on A'gon)

I hope you have updated your 7K to latest firmware- makes a big difference IMHO.

Regards,
Kishore

Not at all "afraid"...just not prepared to go that route at this time.

We have had to put a lot of money into restoring the house after the Memorial Day floods since insurance didn't do squat, so I don't have the money to dump into another speaker right now. Fortunately I got all the speakers up on tables before we got 5" of water in the house.

I will upgrade it eventually... I just wanted to update it to the latest firmware right now.

Hi again,

It can be done, however there are some difficulties to overcome:

- I'm not sure if the original chips are erasable/reprogrammable.
- Compatible electrically updatable replacement chips are hard to find.
- Sourcing a chip (or binary file) with required firmware version, is also tricky.

Not impossible some on here have done this, try a Google search, but not without quite a lot of time and effort.

BTW you can't use the 5000C firmware file (.mfp/.mfq) you have as that is only for the 24bit version.

What version of firmware is your 5000C running? (When in standby press display to cycle round the version information).

Regards,
Carl