Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Hardware with Roon Application Noise from Meridian 218 using Roon - Legacy DSP

Hi HHs

I wonder if someone could help?.. I've posted on the Roon forum (still awaiting response) but I have a feeling the issue is with the 218.

I've got it connected to my 6Ks (96/24) and using Roon.

There is an electrical 'pop' noise when the purple signal path light star on the roon GUI disappears after a track stops or pauses. The only way I’ve been able to stop it from happening is by disabling MHR on the 218’s config GUI.

On the Roon app, the 218 setup is as follows,
MQA capabilities - Decoder and Renderer
Volume Control - Device Volume (have tried Fixed too)
Resync Delay - 0ms
Enable MQA code decoder - No

I’ve tested other network streamers independently into the 218 without running on Roon and I have no issues with same connection and playback. E.g. C15. So it seems likely it's something to do with the MHR detection on the 218 and the audio data coming in specially from Roon.

I have also tried changing Digital inputs and re-‘typing’ on the speakers.

Is this normal? If not, please advise if you know how to prevent it from happening.

I'd really like to hear from other members who run the 218 into legacy 96/24 DSPs to see if they can hear the same noise. I'm aware that this could be normal for this setup and maybe my ears are just sensitive to something compared to someone else who wouldn't have an issue with it. Therefore it would be good to see if this is a consistent manifestation with other members.

Thanks for your time.

Can anyone shed any light please?

Hi,
I can tell you my experience, it's not exact the same application, but you should try it.

The 218 is a decoder, not a renderer in your case.

First remove the renderer selection in Roon and then you have two choices:
a) Select the 218 as decoder and thats it
b) Select Roon as the decoder (via the builtin sw in Roon)

Then you can compare whats sound better for you in your case, but leave renderer unselected.

Noise problem:
a) In ROON select on the right lower corner the speaker/audio device symbol.
b) A new tab appear, select the tooth gear symbol.
c) A new tab appear with "Zone name" and "Audio device"(here select "Device setup")
d) On the "device setup" tab you can select TWO controls here here --
---- 1) "MQA capabilities" (the capability of your 218 is asked here) and select "decoder only" as described above
---- 2) "Resync Delay" (It will help with your noise problem) and change from "0 ms" to a longer time eg. 500ms
---- That option mute/delay the output when formats get changed-give the 218 time to synchronize

Here are more here, but I am not on my audio.
The adjustments should help you, if there is still a problem with noise then try to switch MHR off, but I guess that would not the case.

Good luck
Robert

Hi Robert

Many thanks for this

Only just seen this. Not sure why but the messages hadn't come through to my email.

I'll give these a try tonight hopefully.

Thanks again

Best regards

Hello,
I have the same setup and no problem. Why do you turn off MQA decoder in Roon? If you use volume leveling in Roon when you shuffle music, I do, it’s Roon and not 218 that is decoding the MQA and that is when I get the purple light. When 218 decodes I get green and blue light depending on the type of MQA. In your zone settings in Roon, 218, try the “load default “ and see what happens. Good luck

Thanks again for the suggestions.

Unfortunately none of them seem to resolve in removing the noise. I've tried using the ID40 connection with Roon and there's no noise. This seems to be an issue with MHR being on specifically in the 218.

Would be great to hear of someone could clarify why this would be happening with that setting.

If you're able, please can you check that if you 218 has MHR enabled on it's configuration settings?

And then when the signal path light disappears on the Roon player, is there a noise?

MHR is on, analogue output is set to variable, gain 0db, digital output set to 2x and no noise.

Thank you for checking.

What speakers are you using.. and is MHR built in?

Looking at the spec on my 6Ks they have MHR built in so I'm wondering if it's that.

How? The 218 does not have a legacy comms output.

Duncan's Site - 218 User Guide
Here you will find all of your answers. Good luck

I have the 6Ks connected via the digital coax out of the 218 into D2 on the back of the 6ks. I've also tried D1 and retyping the speakers.