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Soup Dragon



Member Since: 22 Sep 2023
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 86

 
Meridian (non-surround) - share your best settings !
Hi all,

I’m not a great fan of the standard (non surround) Meridian system but do believe that by changing the various settings, you can achieve a better result than keeping with the default factory settings. When I owned a 3 Series with Harman Kardon sound, the forum I was on shared owners’ settings which helped to get the most out of the system (although there was more adjustability with it being a surround set-up).

My own recommendation would be as follows (+ indicates number of clicks to the right from mid position):

Treble +8
Bass +3
Subwoofer +7

Would be good to share views on whether the above improves things, or your ideas for a better balance. Appreciate it depends on the music type and source, however I just want to find something that works 90% of the time.
Post #1026232 28th Feb 2024 8:52am
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The Phantom Menace



Member Since: 15 Feb 2024
Location: Antwerp
Posts: 11

Belgium 
I am also interested in this thread. I am also currently using the default settings, but I will soon start working with the changes you submitted to see if they suit my music style. Spec: Land Rover New Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE - P400
Post #1027564 10th Mar 2024 11:20pm
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Luca



Member Since: 13 Feb 2023
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 22

United Kingdom 
Mine seems to have a crackle sound coming from the passenger side front when the volume is turned up.
Post #1031686 15th Apr 2024 5:47pm
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CincyRovers1



Member Since: 30 Nov 2023
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 84

United States 

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 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar)
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red)
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone
Post #1052440 21st Nov 2024 5:00pm
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Crazymind



Member Since: 11 Jun 2024
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 156

United Kingdom 
At most this meridian is crap. I wonder if Meridian has done any reasearch for sound quality, specific to the Defender.
Post #1052453 21st Nov 2024 7:31pm
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Moo



Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1399

Ukraine 
Coming from a Volvo XC90 with a B&W system, anything will be poor, but LR's bean counters have done an exceptional job of specifying a really 54IT system. Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy.
Post #1052465 21st Nov 2024 10:06pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20441

United Kingdom 
You can try keeping the bass flat in the middle, the other settings are fine.
When you turn up the bass, you get distortion, and you’ll then get poor SQ at volume.

Distortion isn’t good audibly, and also causes damage long term.

Any crackle is often poor grounding or loose contacts, on the speaker end is more common due to opening and shutting doors and things like that. $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
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Post #1052467 21st Nov 2024 10:13pm
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CincyRovers1



Member Since: 30 Nov 2023
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 84

United States 
The Meridian systems are not as good as they were in the previous generation JLR products, like the L405, L462, L494, X361 XJ, X260 XF etc. I don't think its crap, though - I installed a layer of dynamat on every door panel, and it made a significant difference; and this is coming from someone who has a $12,000 Revel surround sound/theater system in my basement.

My biggest issue with the 400-watt system in my Defender is the lack of midrange. There are only two dedicated midrange speakers, and no settings to adjust the midrange, as it is bundled in the treble adjustment. A 7 or 9 band equalizer would be nice to have. I think the bass response is excellent, and the highs are crystal clear without being overly bright. The lack of surround sound doesn't bother me that much despite the Meridian Trifield being best in-car surround sound I've experienced. After all, almost all songs are recorded in stereo.

The woofers and midrange speakers are just bad quality on the Defender. The woofer on the Defender is a 6.5" paper cone. My old D5 had an 8" polypropylene/fabric cone. It was a much higher-quality speaker. I looked at swapping over a set of these in the front doors as they are 2 ohms, but they are too big and won't fit. Replacing the bass & midrange speakers with 2 ohm replacements will also make it sound a lot better without having to replace the amplifier or going crazy with a fully custom system.

The old 825-watt Meridian Surround system is just as good as the Volvo B&W in objective testing in sound pressure levels, harmonic distortion levels, frequency response etc. Although I do think the B&W in the Volvo sounded a little better than the Meridian. Shame that despite being good-looking and having an excellent stereo, everything Volvo currently makes are unreliable pieces of garbage.

I had the 825-watt Surround in my old Discovery 5 and it was fantastic. The Meridian Trifield surround sound was the best setting of the three, with the others being Dolby Pro Logic IIx and DTS Neo:6. Dolby had that classic wide cinema soundstage with more bass, and the DTS was more neutral with a narrower soundstage. The Meridian seamlessly blends the center and side channels so you are truly surrounded in sound. It has the biggest wow factor. Trifield is now the only option on the newer Meridian systems.

I do think the Meridian Signature in the new RR is better than the same system in the old one, despite being down on power compared to the previous model. 35 speakers are overkill, but I think it is the best system I've heard in a car along with the Burmester 3D system in the current Porsche Panamera and the Naim system in the new Bentley Flying Spur. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar)
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red)
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone
Post #1052522 22nd Nov 2024 2:35pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20441

United Kingdom 
Yes, the mids carry a lot of the mid range bass as well which can lack depth to the SQ.
2ohm is my go to as well, and paper cones on off road vehicles is not ideal.
For obvious reasons.

What’s the soundproofing like on the new Def? On the Puma it makes a good improvement, as a good bedrock to start setting up a good system.

I’d always start with sound proofing as, by default taking out the resonance and adding a bit more panel weight, especially on larger panels and panel skins increases SQ anyway by removing background rumble and noise, I know it reduces background noise by quite a few dB even just using a limited amount. $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
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Post #1052523 22nd Nov 2024 2:43pm
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Crazymind



Member Since: 11 Jun 2024
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 156

United Kingdom 
Very interesting and detailed description, but I am firmly convinced it is below average. As it was on my XF and on my Ipace. Any "round the corner" shop can improve the basic system much more than the expensive OEM upgrade.
The output is no better than my Iphone 15pro. Which is not a compliment.
My Taycan's Bose, which is not great, compared to the Meridian is miles better. To the point certain tunes i listen in the porsche, I can't listen to in the Defender! it sounds crap!
One of all, the V8 sound of my Maserati recorded by myself with my ipone: I close my eyes in the porsche and it feels like I am in the Maserati. If i do the same in the Defender, I can only hear the metal clattering of the V8 engine, not the beefy and deep sound. No matter how much time i spend with the sound settings. To the point i Have got a playlist for the Defender and one for the Taycan.
Post #1052525 22nd Nov 2024 2:52pm
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CincyRovers1



Member Since: 30 Nov 2023
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 84

United States 
Soundproofing made a huge difference. It is noticeably quieter, and the audio system sounds warmer and cleaner, especially when traveling at highway speeds. I still have some tire noise, as my Falken Wildpeaks aren't the quietest tire out there, but adding dynamat behind and inside of the door panels makes it sound an order of magnitude better. I also was able to fix an annoying rattle that I had that drove me nuts. Turns out it was caused by a piece of felt behind the speaker grille. I secures it down with some tape and it went away. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar)
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red)
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone
Post #1052527 22nd Nov 2024 2:57pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20441

United Kingdom 
Oh yes, anything slightly loose and that’ll resonate like hell with just a bit of bass or even closing a door.

I like Dynamat, with closed sell adhesive 2mm foam over it in places, and premium cloth loom tape are my go to items. You can overdo it especially with super thick foams etc, even the speaker wires can resonate if they aren’t secure or quietened, if you can’t secure it professional cloth loom tape will add protection and prevent noise with just one wrap, but no problem with heat if it’s just one wrap around.

Tesa cloth tape, not fleece like tape, but cloth loom tape, adhesive cotton basically but rated for the purpose, the fleece like tape attracts more heat, so I’d avoid that but the cloth one is great. Very Happy $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪
Post #1052528 22nd Nov 2024 3:03pm
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CincyRovers1



Member Since: 30 Nov 2023
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 84

United States 
Crazymind wrote:
Very interesting and detailed description, but I am firmly convinced it is below average. As it was on my XF and on my Ipace. Any "round the corner" shop can improve the basic system much more than the expensive OEM upgrade.
The output is no better than my Iphone 15pro. Which is not a compliment.
My Taycan's Bose, which is not great, compared to the Meridian is miles better. To the point certain tunes i listen in the porsche, I can't listen to in the Defender! it sounds crap!
One of all, the V8 sound of my Maserati recorded by myself with my ipone: I close my eyes in the porsche and it feels like I am in the Maserati. If i do the same in the Defender, I can only hear the metal clattering of the V8 engine, not the beefy and deep sound. No matter how much time i spend with the sound settings. To the point i Have got a playlist for the Defender and one for the Taycan.


Sound is obviously a subjective thing. But like I said, in objective testing, the Meridian tests extremely well.

I will say another problem with the Defender is the placement of the midrange speakers. They are positioned pretty low on the door compared to other JLR products, and thus it has a lower soundstage. I think another reason the Meridian systems in the new RR & RRS sounds better is they moved the midrange speakers from the front doors to the corners of the dashboard.

I replaced my Discovery with a Macan S with the Bose. I was dead set on getting the Burmester, but after listening to it, i was shocked how bad it was for the price. It literally sucked and the fact that it was a $5700 option was beyond me. I just decided to stick with the Bose, which is perfectly average, but the Burmester felt too powerful and not properly balanced. It was fatiguing to listen to, which is a shame, because the Burmester system in the Panamera is one of the best I've heard. I think the Bose in my Macan is perfectly fine for listening to music. I swapped the dashboard Bose tweeters for rear door Burmester tweeters, and it makes a big difference. I recommend doing that on your Taycan. The Burmester AMT dashboard tweeters can be retrofitted to the Bose system, but you need to change the connectors and make a special mounting plate. Rear door Burmester tweeters are plug & play, but you do need to cut off part of the connector to fit, as well as either swap over the capacitors or just buy new ones to solder on. There are plenty of threads on Rennlist on this subject. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar)
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red)
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone
Post #1052529 22nd Nov 2024 3:12pm
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CincyRovers1



Member Since: 30 Nov 2023
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 84

United States 
custom90 wrote:
Oh yes, anything slightly loose and that’ll resonate like hell with just a bit of bass or even closing a door.

I like Dynamat, with closed sell adhesive 2mm foam over it in places, and premium cloth loom tape are my go to items. You can overdo it especially with super thick foams etc, even the speaker wires can resonate if they aren’t secure or quietened, if you can’t secure it professional cloth loom tape will add protection and prevent noise with just one wrap, but no problem with heat if it’s just one wrap around.

Tesa cloth tape, not fleece like tape, but cloth loom tape, adhesive cotton basically but rated for the purpose, the fleece like tape attracts more heat, so I’d avoid that but the cloth one is great. Very Happy


Tesa tape is what I used to secure everything down. That stuff is excellent. I used the proper name-brand Dynamat for my doors. I bought direct from them, as their HQ and factory is 25 minutes from my house. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar)
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red)
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone
Post #1052531 22nd Nov 2024 3:16pm
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ruben



Member Since: 04 Feb 2021
Location: ASTURIAS
Posts: 204

Spain 
I am not that particular about sound, the Meridian seemed good to me, to be honest, but it is a pleasure to read such detailed and thorough expositions on this subject, keep going guys, I will be here silent trying to learn something useful, and thank you very much for your time dedicated to this effect!! Bow down Bow down Defender 110 SE I6 D250 23MY
ExDiscovery 3 TDV6 SE
Post #1052534 22nd Nov 2024 3:50pm
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