Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems DSP5200SL with 218 volume problems

Hi All,

I have a set of DSP5200SL connected to Sonos and a TV using a 218 and controlled with an MSR.

I love the sound but I am struggling with the volume control as I seem to have to have it at 70% or more to be able to listen. There is very little sound at volume of less than 50% but when I increase the volume it seems to step up very quickly from 70-85.

Have I got something wrong in the settings? I would have hoped to be able to increase the volume more gradually.

Secondly I have my TV connected by optical, when I last used this about 6 months ago It worked well but I got frustrated as I could only adjust the volume using the MSR. I have reconnected and only get the sound on one channel? Both channels work via Sonos and there is only a single optical connection to the TV so can't understand what I am doing wrong.

Any suggestions would be very welcome.

It depends. If your TV is connected by headphones out the volume is also controlled by TV / variable output. Perhaps it has a setting to make it a fixed output.

The 218 has the option to set the input voltage via Mcontrol app. The lower the voltage the more amplification is done by the 218.

You have to connect the 218 to the internet and install the Meridian control app on your phone. With that app you can adjust the input voltage, the volume etc without the MSR.

In addition to the above reply, it’s very worthwhile with Meridian gear to try and use digital outputs from any sources, rather than analogue. The digital processing is what they’re all about, really.

With the TV, sounds like you are connecting via optical output, but how is sound on the TV set to output? E.g., is it set to 2-channel PCM, or surround sound of some kind? For your application, set it to 2-channel if possible - surround might sound quieter and depending on the codec, the 218 might not be able to decode properly giving variable results.

Hi Rick
The Sonos is connected to the copper digital RCA connection, i don't have any analogue inputs. Would adjusting voltage on digital make any difference or is that only for an ananlogue signal?

The volume should be controlled by the MSR, how did you try controlling it?

For the TV I have to use the SMR but for Sonos I can use the Sonos app.

Hi,

Page 20 in the 218 user guide, explains that you can change the "gain" for different digital sources.

Brian

So when you use the Sonos app, does the volume change on the 5200s?

Hi, Yes "Works with Sonos" passes through the required volume OK, just it has to be turned up much louder than I would expect. Almost no sound until past 50% volume

Hi Brian, Thanks I have added 6db of gaian but i notice it says the defaul starting volume is 65% my one was set to 25%. If 65% is the default perhaps what I am seeing is standard performance.

Hi!

Sonos Port if I recall well could adjust its volume for the digital coaxial output. If this is your case, you might be using two volume controls, the first one for the Sonos digital out and the second on the speakers.

Check in the Sonos app if you have the digital out to fixed or variable volume.

I still own a lot of Sonos gear but I don’t have a Port anymore to test it for you.

Regards,

Jorge

Yes you definitely don’t want to have digital volume attenuation in the Sonos. Meridian DSPs use a very carefully implemented hybrid digital/analogue volume control so that quality is maintained always, so set the Sonos to its reference digital level and use the DSPs for volume control.