Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Combining an 818 with a Meridian processor

In this scenario, which device is set to be controller?

And must the Master speaker hang off whichever is the controller?

Are there physical (wiring) and/or logical (see questions above) comms issues that might be expected?

My putative setup is 818v3 / G68ADV and non-SL DSPs - how might that work?

I tried creating some sample configurations using the Meridian Configuration program, version 3.07 build 3586.

My desired configuration is a variety of A/V components feeding a G68ADV which outputs F/L and F/R into the 818v3 and thence to the DSPs. Sooloos and analogue music sources would be connected to the 818v3 as I only want unprocessed stereo for them. The centre and surround DSPs would be connected to the G68ADV.

If one inserts an 818v3 as the controller, neither the G68ADV nor any other Meridian SSP is available as a source.

If one inserts an G68ADV as controller, then the 818v3 must be before it as a source.

Presumably one could treat the G68ADV as a <generic> non-Meridian source when configuring the 818v3? And configure the G68ADV without introducing the 818v3? But that is clunky to say the least.

Has anyone found an elegant way round this impasse?

Not eligant I’m afraid ... as the configuration program just does not allow for an 818 after an 861.

I’ve not tried this forteal as I don’t have an 818 ... however, I would suggest:

Two separate independent configurations one for the 861 and one for the 818.

Set the 861 as controller with centre speaker as master, omitting the 818 totally.

Set the 818 forced to be not-controller and for input use an alternative Meridian device in lieu of the 861.

This should get you going, but the 818 adds about 3ms of latency into the signal path so to compensate the front left / right speakers need to be logicaly moved closer * to listener relative to the other speakers in the 861’s speaker distance calibration.

* conveniently rounded the timing formula is 1 ms = 1 foot.

Regards,
Carl

What Carl said but adding a proper RS-232 control would bring the elegance back but would also render the MSR to a life in the drawer

I’d still link the 861 and 818 with a C5 lead ... so comms source switching etc. should still work.

Thanks guys - you have confirmed what I suspected.

The program allows the digital speaker output of an 818v3 to be connected to an input on the G68, but unfortunately not vice versa.

Any views on whether this impasse would involve anything other than a change in the Meridian Configuration program to allow the speaker output of an SSP to be connected to the digital input of another processor?

Edit: I have raised this issue/opportunity with Meridian support.

Hi,

Feel free to shoot me down _ but, can't you have the G68 as controller (and connected to the D1 input on the master speaker) whilst the 818 is directly connected to the D2 input on the speaker.

Brian

Yes you can do exactly this... D1 G68, D2 818 or vice versa...

Then one does not affect the other...

Thanks again.

I was hoping to gain something from the 818v3 for the F/L and F/R channels, perhaps reduced jitter for the relevant A/V channels.

It seems one has a choice between clunky wiring or clunky configuration.

Did not Meridian once say that the solution to MQA for the 861v8 was to buy an 818v3?

Hi,

I don't think the wiring is "clunky" _ it's just an extra signal cable to the speaker.

Also, it might require a bit more in the way of 'configuration' but that's part of the challenge (and flexibility) of Meridian kit.
(It's a bit more challenging to fit a 218 between the processor and the speakers).

Brian

My centre is currently master run from the G68.

If I want to run the 818v3 into the front DSP D2 does that speaker have to be the Master?

Or can I programme the relevant sources that will come from the 818v3 to D2 in the centre Master and it will promulgate that to the L/R?

I am assuming I will also need a C comms connection between the 818v3 and the G68.

Yes only the master speaker can switch between D1 and D2.