Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Re: Trifield Width not working, the fix and ongoing saga

All,

I need some help. I have a 568.2 (not MM). Ever since I had it upgraded, the "Width" setting in Trifield does nothing. I had always assumed that this was because I didn't use a center channel speaker (running a phantom center).

prior to upgrading, the 568 width worked fine, but that was with my old (analog) speakers. I now use DSPs in the front.

I just got a DSP5000C and set up the 568 to accomodate it, but the Width setting still does nothing. All other settings are operational.

My config is:

568.2
2 x DSP8000 L&R
1 x DSP5000C (96/24) Center
2 x M33 Rear L&R

All have the latest firmware.

I called Meridian in Atlanta and spoke with Jason. he suggested retyping the unit to a standard type to see if my config was corrupt. If Width worked on the standard type, he suggested rebuilding my types from scratch. If that didn't do it, he said he could escalate the call to England, but indicated that, since the product was so old (568.2) that they probably wouldn't be willing to put any time into it.

Well, using a standard type made no difference. Width was not operational. I'm hoping there's some setup parameter in my speakers that is preventing this and someone can give me some insight.

Thanks in advance for your help!

John

After you retyped it to you accurately set all your distances and levels?

If the distances ar out of whach the width might be so far off that it has no effect.

Also do a full phase test of all speakers.

Double check all your tweeters are working.

George,

I did all that before I retyped it, but Jason said to use a STANDARD type from the front panel - no changes. When I say Width isn't working, it isn't working at ALL - no change in the least. When it used to work, it ws a VERY obvious change (I could squeeze the image to a sliver and spread it beyond my room boundaries.

All tweeters are working. Went back to my own type and all distances and levels are exact. Phase is correct. I'm going to try reloading the firmware for the 568.2. Can I go back to the non-beta firmware for a test?

Thanks for jumping in - any more ideas - anyone?

John

Do Balance and Depth work? Are you getting anything out of your center speaker? What version of firmware are you running?

Both balance and depth work. The center works fine. I am running 568.2 version 25b9 (beta)

John

Mysterious. Have you tried reloading the firmware?

I reloaded v2.12 (no change) then back to 2.59b. Still no Width adjustment. Hmmmmm.

Ok, I just retuned the system up tonight because of new sofa.

So I played with width. I hardly hear any change. And I always (well a long time see below) never bothered with it and left it at 1.0 default. I think I used to use it back in 568 days and used to confuse width and depth. Maybe that's why.

I'm running 5.0 DSP speakers on a G68.

Even depth has little effect. This depends a lot on placement actual distance and distance put in mconfig. I have had it make HUGE differences on single steps and this seemed wrong. Once I put speakers in a near perfect arc depth is much smoother and much more subtle. I leave depth at 0.0 now.

One thing I did notice is if I got closer I could notice the depth change more.

I also played with axis one more time. Still no change. Until I stood up and swung it from max to min and I could hear it change.

So I suspect two things:

1) BOTH Width and Depth depend a lot on your setup.
2) Meridian did change things at 861V4, G68, 568.2 time frame and somehow width was impacted.

Curious what other folks think about width on these current units.

It may have been the music I tested with too.

Changing the Width on my 568.2MM was subtle but noticeable, as it is with my current G68. Perhaps the farther the speakers are apart the less effect Width has. How far apart are your left and right front speakers?

Mine are fairly close 7 Ft. I would think the wider apart and further things are the more effect you'd get.

It's odd as I've previously found the adjustments to be easy to spot. I'll have a play later today. It isn't beyond possibility that the code is broken in the latest firmware(s).....such things do happen

I'll have to measure the separation of my front speakers when I get home tonight. As Nick mentioned, the effect of Width was not subtle in the past, sounds like M changed it during a subsequent firmware change. I tested both 2.12 and 2.59b and both sounded identical as far as Width.

It may be that, when the 568.2 was released (or upgraded, as in my case) that this happened. I would appreciate anyone else's experience here. Maybe someone with a 568.1 can weigh in on the effects of Width in their setup.

Thanks to all for your input.

John