Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Best sound quality for this setup

I have an 861v4 that I've been using with a Panasonic UB820 for movies and a Sooloos for music (Sooloos recently died, but I'm working on a solution). I had the Panasonic connected via SPDIF and the Sooloos connected via digital coaxial into the 861.

I recently added a Zidoo Z9X streamer into my theater and am very impressed with this little device. I'm streaming movies from my server (in plain vanilla DTS and Dolby Digital, which is fine for me) and again, via SPDIF.

But on the audio side, using Roon through the Zidoo produces music that is a bit lifeless/emotionless and somewhat flat.

I'm assuming maybe it's due to the lack of a high end DAC?

Would possibly adding a decent USB DAC improve audio performance? If not, any suggestions to achieve better sounding audio with music would be appreciated.

Hmm I am not quite understanding given you’ve got DSPs and a DAC stage there, so not sure how adding a USB DAC will help, if the signal is digital out of the Zidoo?

When you say flat and emotionless I think that is hard to really quantify. Is the sound too bright and lacking bass, for example? I’d have a play with your Roon EQ settings, it’s free and if you don’t like it you can turn it off again.

Is the Panasonic a Roon End Point? Could give that a go if it is and compare? If I had to, I’d be happy using my Oppo 203 as a Roon end point into my G65. But I had a spare MS600 so thought best to use that rather than it gathering dust.

I’d recommend getting an ID40 card for your 861v4 and use that as a Roon endpoint, that’s the best sound I’ve gotten out of mine so far.

Remember the DACs are actually in your DSP6000's.

It could be that the DSPs need a re-cap - that will certainly bring them back to life.

If you were UK-based, I'd offer my services to re-cap the speakers. As many others can attest, it is the most cost-effective upgrade you can do to any Meridian DSP speaker!

Cheers,

Steve

Same price, 2 choices?
1. ID40, but is installed in the 861v4, not 818 and 808
2. MS600

You may want to explore adding a HD621 or UHD722 to your input stream. These devices would allow for higher resolution / quality multichannel streams from your Panasonic and Ziddo by utilizing the MMHR input of the 861.

Let's call things what they are here.

In your old setup (Sooloos) you did not use a DAC but it produced better sound, more lifelike. It is probably because it was a better transport chain than what the Ziddo offers.

A Meridian 210 will solve this or an ID40. But for now I would go with Meridian 210 as it is more modern with MQA decode.

Problem solved?

What Crion said!
Another cheaper alternative might be a used MS200.

Unfortunately the Panasonic isn't a Roon endpoint. If I had to use one word to describe the sound, I would say it's "Dull". It's not too bright but it lacks warmth and sounds a bit mechanical. I will play with the Roon EQ and see if that helps, thank you.

Would that card work with legacy speakers/connections?

Interesting! I had no idea. I'll have to do some more research. It very well could be my problem.

Yup! I've used my ID40 with my legacy DSP speakers and also analog XLR outputs...