Meridian audio system - thoughts?

[ScottD4]

We have a '14 D4, ticked the box at purchase to upgrade to Meridian sound system.

I have owned 21 cars now in my relatively young life including the Disco. The Disco would have to come close to having the worst stereo, considering the fact I upgraded it to the 'better' one.

With volume up around 19, which isn't that high, everything rattles terribly. Sound isn't crisp due to the rattles and I'm seriously considering taking it to the dealer. Not sure what they would do about it though?

Anyone got any thoughts on the same system?
Scott

[l00kin4]

Does seem odd Scott. I've had mine up pretty loud and no rattles I noticed. I'll wind it up later on and check it again.

[cjc_td5]

No issues with my meridian stereo Scott. I've had it at 30+ still with great sound and base.

I have noticed that if the input lead is not plugged in quite right, then quality dives badly. Might pay to check your input cable and plug etc. (if that is what you are using for your music.) Bluetooth is average so I don't use it.

Cheers,

[ScottD4]

No issues with my meridian stereo Scott. I've had it at 30+ still with great sound and base.

I have noticed that if the input lead is not plugged in quite right, then quality dives badly. Might pay to check your input cable and plug etc. (if that is what you are using for your music.) Bluetooth is average so I don't use it.

Cheers,

No, we use USB in glove box.

It's definitely the speakers. Just thought I would see if others have the same issue.

[RobA]

No problems with ours at all and we have exceeded 30 a few times with the odd Led Zeppelin session in the middle of nowhere. So would be an excellent idea to take it to the dealer to have the issue fixed

Interesting to note comments on USB sticks. We are using a 64Gig and iPod mini and find that the USB stick just gives you a list of tunes whereas the iPod gives you a much higher level of functionality but overall we reckon the most amazing stereo and it makes long drives easier

Rob

[ScottD4]

No problems with ours at all and we have exceeded 30 a few times with the odd Led Zeppelin session in the middle of nowhere. So would be an excellent idea to take it to the dealer to have the issue fixed

Interesting to note comments on USB sticks. We are using a 64Gig and iPod mini and find that the USB stick just gives you a list of tunes whereas the iPod gives you a much higher level of functionality but overall we reckon the most amazing stereo and it makes long drives easier

Rob

Yeah ok Rob, we will get it looked at. Ours only has 3,000kms on it at the moment so it isn't exactly old.

What level of functionality does it give you over a USB? I can read through the list of songs as well as change on the steering wheel etc, I don't understand what more you could have?

The rattles left me feeling quite underwhelmed given the $80k price tag. Our $15k VW Golf's stereo vibrates less.

[JamesH]

I have the sub boosted up a bit and sometimes I'm getting a rattle from the passenger side during deep bassy sounds. Have not been able to ascertain the trouble and I haven't even ruled out something in the glove box.

I'm very pleased with my upgraded system, it's not the Meridian though, being a MY12 but Id be surprised if it was worse than the old HK.

[RobA]

Yeah ok Rob, we will get it looked at. Ours only has 3,000kms on it at the moment so it isn't exactly old.

What level of functionality does it give you over a USB? I can read through the list of songs as well as change on the steering wheel etc, I don't understand what more you could have?

The rattles left me feeling quite underwhelmed given the $80k price tag. Our $15k VW Golf's stereo vibrates less.

Scott we have done 7000km since picking up ours in mid December so is very new but hardly sits still and we do long distances including towing. The USB only gives you the list of songs so if you want to find an album it's a bit of a PITA but doable whereas the iPod, using the Meridian screen or steering wheel, gives you album folders so I find that more flexible as I can choose what I want to listen to without having to scroll through 64 Gig of songs to find the one I want

Rob

[ScottD4]

Scott we have done 7000km since picking up ours in mid December so is very new but hardly sits still and we do long distances including towing. The USB only gives you the list of songs so if you want to find an album it's a bit of a PITA but doable whereas the iPod, using the Meridian screen or steering wheel, gives you album folders so I find that more flexible as I can choose what I want to listen to without having to scroll through 64 Gig of songs to find the one I want

Rob

Ah Rob, that's the nature of how you have uploaded them to your USB I believe.

On my USB I have all my songs segregated by album/artist.

That way, if I want Taylor Swift (my wife's favorite), I just Browse and have Taylor Swift as a folder in my USB.

Seems to work anyway. We don't drive long distances like yourself, not yet anyway. We are buying a van soon, so that will change.

[drelectro]

Yup mine's fine too, I'd say a trip to the dealer is in order.

BTW what type of music are you having trouble with ?

[tiddy]

Hi Scott

I have a MY14 with the Meridan audio as well, however my gripe is the lack of punch from the sub, now given that its minuscule in size & sits in a swallow recess in the lower tailgate its probably no surprise. I have an Alpine S type sub & matching mono bloc amp I want to fit but I have been told by a few audio installers that I can't.

They say because the LR system is active, external subs & amps won't work, but I'm open to some one who may now more, but anyway, I have had mine to 45 & the middle/high end sound is beautiful, better then the HK system I heard in '13 model, just the sub doesn't really do what a sub should.

But if yours is as bad as you say, maybe a second opinion before heading back to the dealers...or better still take the USB to the dealers and stick in in one of their cars and see if you get the same result.

Cheers

tiddy

[giskard]

Not sure if the Meridian has the same menu setup as the earlier HK system, but if so, start by adjusting bass, treble and sub to 'flat' frequency response and try cranking it up a bit. If you still get the rattles, it may be an issue with the set up.

[nat_89]

There was another thread with someone complaining about the Meridian quality sound system. It was quite a while ago now, i have the HK one in my MY13 HSE and i think its pretty good as i took the new RRS for a drive with the Meridian whilst at the dealer picking my D4 up brand new and thought it was pretty ordinary!!

I do love the HK one with its 11spk but i wish i opted for the bigger one but awhell still think it sounds great although haven't heard the D4 Meridian one only in the RRS.

[LandyAndy]

I have the upgraded Meridian system,its awesome.Handles AC/DC,Jimmy Barnes/Chisel,Pink Floyd and Dire Straits easy,even Money For Nothing up loud.
I can see albums listed on my usb and songs contained in the albums.Try the browse tab on the touch screen whilst the USB is playing;);););)
However it must only reckognise some music formats.There are albums on thad USB that the laptop put there and can read/play but the Meridian cant.I do have similar issues with an Alpine unit,CAT unit and a Jensen marine unit.Interestingly they all differ on what they can see and read,the CAT unit is worst,it only lists all the tracks as 1 2 3 4 5.............etc not folders as the others do,it may be a setup issue,havent looked into it as yet.
Andrew

[AnD3rew]

I have the Meridian in my Jag, it's not bad but it's nowhere near as good as the Harman Kardon in my D3. Lots of people on the Jag forum complaining about rattles from the Meridian.

There is a thread here.

Meridian Audio System - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum (http://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/f-type-72/meridian-audio-system-132408/)

[DiscoFan]

Coming from a Prado to the Disco with Meridian I reckon it sounds awesome. I use the Bluetooth streaming exclusively and the sound is fantastic with no rattles. Generally max out at about 22. That's plenty loud enough for me and very crisp IMHO.

[dmdigital]

Meridian is great in MY15 had to play a little with levels to get it where I wanted but does an excellent job. Bluetooth is definitely lower grade than USB but that's to be expected. No rattles unless it's extremely loud.
The sound is even better since I changed my iTunes to sync the iPhone music at the highest bit rate.

[ScottD4]

Yup mine's fine too, I'd say a trip to the dealer is in order.

BTW what type of music are you having trouble with ?

Anything.

[ScottD4]

Thanks for all your replies. Whilst most of you have positive things to say about the Meridian there are a couple that don't, hence a trip to the dealer is in order.

As I mentioned if it was a cheaper car I wouldn't mind so much. But at this price point I expect excellent quality, especially when I purchased the 'better' stereo.

[Epic pooh]

Out of interest Scott, what is the bitrate of the music you're playing ? Do you get the same result if you play a CD (assuming you have a CD player) ?

On my Ye olde HK Logic 7, I get some of what you're talking about with low bitrate (poor quality) tunes, particularly the poor low frequency range performance.

[Mungus]

Scott, Definitely take it back to the dealers. At a month old, my '14 HSE Meridian system had a vibration/rattle from the drivers speaker. Hadn't even got the volume to half way at this stage. Dealer mentioned it was more than likely loose speaker mount screws, so they took the trim off and tightened everything up. Vibration gone - until a couple of weeks later and then it came back with the odd song. ACDC Honey roll and a Didge song by Jamiraqui were the test songs that made it rattle. So, I pushed a few times over the next few days on the trim (top rear corner of speaker surround) and it stopped. Seems like it wasn't the speaker, but the door trim.
Hasn't come back since and I now regularly play at 30-35. I must say this is the best sounding OEM stereo I have had in any of my vehicles. Absolutely love it! The subwoofer does rattle the number plate though, but a couple of screws should fix that. As you do, I play my music from the USB. Recordings on the USB are in WAV file format, so no compression at all.