Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Meridian 861 Bass Management issues

I am having problems with getting bass management to work correctly.

I have been using Revel stereo test signals on three pieces of source equipment (to rule out any singular source component) set to stereo default for playback mode (so bass management should be functioning). All the tones are 20Hz to 100Hz and no matter what I do settings wise (so far) the tones always go to both the speakers and the subwoofer. I first noticed this issue because, despite setting the bass levels to 80 dB SPL along with all the other speakers in my system in the setup portion of the Meridian program, all the material I played through the subs was too low in volume, and when I went to equalize the subs with the Revel disc (which are balanced to be at the same volume level) there was a ~5 Hz difference in volume.

No matter what I set the bass crossover and LFE settings to (80Hz all the way down to 35Hz), it was letting all the bass signal through to both the speakers and the sub no matter what frequencies I played from 20 HZ to 100 Hz (warble tones with 3Hz bandwidth). I've tried everything I can think of and have talked to the USA branch of Meridian whom had no idea what to do (and weren't very helpful at all unfortunately) and I am currently in contact with the UK tech support office, but they haven't gotten back to me yet. I've tried everything I can think of to get the crossovers to work, but so far no good.

I have previously had issues with trying to download my HDMAX420 settings in the unit and had to hand program those in myself using the telephony in Windows XP. I am worried that there are other areas of my 861 with similar issues, as that would seem to explain why it isn't properly using the settings I am giving it (as it wasn't with the HDMAX420, despite downloading it, saving it, and uploading it to my computer whenever I asked for it). It seemed to save the settings, but wouldn't use them for some reason. I hope this isn't happening here, but it appears to be an option. Also when I sometimes download the software from the 861 back to the computer it will occasionally mess up the download and change all the equipment in my unit to older devices/(device names) no longer used in the 861, specifically my digital input cards are changed to a card that is no longer in use.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also if anyone knows if there is some way to telephony program the Meridian 861, so I can see if this is the same issue I was experiencing with the HDMAX420, that might be helpful. I wouldn't mind hand programming the crossover to test this out as a possibility. At the least I can then know for sure that it was only the HDMAX420 having issues, and not my expensive 861 unit, or possibly a problem with my computer adapter cable (though I don't see why this would be the case, since the 861 is receiving and storing the file, as well as using the settings, just not apparently functioning according to the parameters assigned).

Please let me know if there is something I might have overlooked. Here is a link for my setup file as well for anyone who has easy access to their unit and is curious about my current settings: NoC.msl File Link

Thank you for your time,

- Jeff

Jeff:

I'm going to look at your file in just a little while.

As an FYI, you have to save to the 421 as well as the 861 -- I think you said you did that, but I'm not clear that this is the case.

Also, if you haven't been told to do this by either HQ, try retyping the 861. This will clear everything out and you'll then be starting anew.

P.S. It's the HDMAX421 (4 in to 1 out) not the HDMAX420

It's because your fronts are set to small... This seems to be the only option in your left and right sub setup. If you have a mono sub or front/rear subs then you get more options IIRC.

Ooops! I meant 421...

I have tried retyping.

I was saving to the 421 separately as well, for some reason the 421 wasn't retaining the information, so I had to hand program it using the Windows XP telephony program.

Thanks for the reply,

- Jeff

When you have stereo sub setup they are automatically set to small. This shouldn't be an issue though I think. I'm not having an issue with getting bass on both the sub and the main speakers, I'm having an issue with the crossover not working and keeping the bass from working on both past the crossover point. In other words, I set the crossover and LFE to 35 Hz and I still get above and below 35Hz signals on both speakers all the way from basically 20 Hz to 100 Hz (when the disc runs out of test tones). I'm trying to get the crossovers to work (as they should) to actually crossover at the settings I give so bass is eliminated (rolled off gradually as they are programmed to do) from the main speakers below the crossover point (instead of playing all signals as they are) and the sub to roll off slowly (as they should) after the crossover setting point.

Thanks,

- Jeff

Jeff,

I saw the same problem (full bass being routed to SMALL speakers regardless of crossover) last time I tried bass management on the 861 (with DSP 5500 speakers). My conclusion at the time, four or five months ago, was that bass management wasn't working correctly. I haven't looked at the issue since then but sounds like there are still issues.

Cheers,

Mark

Have you tried setting the rear speakers as small as well?

Yes. I have tried them all as small, and with the rears as large as well. (BTW, I'm only using a two channel test CD as well)

Thanks,

- Jeff

Mark,

Do you use a center channel in your setup, or did you when you last looked at this issue?

I looked at your profile on my machine and think I found the problem... Here's a JPG of your configuration for stereo music:



You'll notice that the crossover is 35 Hz and the LFE lowpass filter is 35 Hz. Unfortunately what you've done isn't really correct setup. By kicking in the Low-pass at 35Hz, you've diminished subwoofer right in the crossover region. This would effectively give you not much output from the subwoofer. Try resetting the LFE lowpass to at least 70 Hz, ideally 140 Hz. You created what I call cascading crossovers and that is never ideal.

Also, 35Hz is a fairly low crossover I would consider raising it to 50Hz or so. Some experimentation is merited. Your rear speakers for music are defined as large, you should redefine those to small as well. In addition, click the "All subwoofers are THX Ultra2 approved, or flat to 20Hz" check box.

Those are the things I noticed in the config file.

FYI, your 2-channel Movie and Multichannel Movie configurations looked fine.

Best,

Jeff:

I sent you the updated config file for you to try out... Let me know how it works for you.

Oh, I used the published addressed from your "Contact" option on the domain.

Best,

I do.

I'd be very interested to hear how John's config sounds as I perhaps made the same mistake.

Cheers,

Mark