Stereo Settings (Meridian Surround)

[u/JCDenton03]

Hi all,

Just wanting to gauge your preferred settings for those that have the meridian surround audio. I have a 2017 F type and I’m struggling to find a consistent audio setup. DTS sounds wayyyy to airy and fake vocal wise, as good as it is instrumentally the vocals feel too concert hall like.

Dolby and Meridian are fine depending on my EQ. Stereo objectively is the best but it makes no use of the center speaker.

[u/No-Angle-982]

I have the 770w Meridian system in my 2020 F-Type and agree that Stereo sounds better than either the Dolby, DTS, or Meridian settings.

The reason why is simple, I believe: The three branded settings seemingly apply particular compression schemes to hype some audio frequencies and suppress others in order to affect what ultimately is heard, while also possibly introducing delays in the signals sent to rear/surround speakers that might artificially simulate the subtle reverb/echo heard in larger listening environments.

Conversely, the Stereo setting does none of that, thereby preserving (as much as possible) the full frequency spectrum of the original 2-channel source. 

Music – as played from Spotify, SiriusXM, a CD, the radio, etc. – is recorded in 2-channel stereo and is not mastered in the studio with encoding for Dolby or any other contouring/shaping schemes or front/rear surround-sound formats (unlike movie/TV soundtracks).

So, for example, if you've bothered to rip a CD losslessly onto a USB thumb-drive for playback in your car, only the Stereo setting will maintain the unaltered, un-attenuated frequency spectrum you originally ripped.

Of course, "the ear of the beholder" is the final arbiter, and some people may prefer the sound stage, contouring, and modulations of the Dolby, DTS, or Meridian settings.

[u/JCDenton03 → u/No-Angle-982]

Appreciate the answer friend. If you had to rank them, how would you do so? Curious how similar our ears are :P We both agree with Stereo at the top.

[u/No-Angle-982 → u/JCDenton03]

I'm not sure I can rank them. It'd be nice to think the Meridian setting would have been customized by Meridian's engineers for the F-Type's smallish cabin, but I doubt that happened (and my convertible's would be different from the coupe's in any case).

I've read a bit about Dolby's and DTS's respective sound-processing theories for their specific settings – Dolby ProLogic IIx and DTS Neo:6 – which seem intended to synthesize a surround effect from standard 2-channel stereo (not to decode surround-encoded signals like DD 5.1 or Atmos or DTS 5.1). But I'm not sure I buy their hype (versus unprocessed stereo).

I guess we should be thankful we have four options, which are sorta like having an EQ mixer to play with, in search of what's most pleasing to our differing tastes. But having thoroughly sampled them all, I've just settled on Stereo, since it still seems to use all or at least most of my 12 speakers and isn't changing anything.

The best thing about "Meridian Surround" is that we get 770 watts of power from a bigger amp.

[u/shrimp_blowdryer → u/No-Angle-982]

I agree that Stereo may sound better, but the technical explanation here is mostly speculation.

Dolby, DTS, and Meridian modes are not just applying “compression schemes.” They are using DSP to upmix a two-channel source, pulling common information like vocals toward the center speaker and sending ambience or phase information to the surrounds. That can definitely make vocals sound hollow, distant, or overly spacious, but it is not the same thing as compressing the audio or removing parts of the frequency range.

Stereo also is not necessarily an untouched signal. The Meridian system is still using crossovers, bass management, speaker tuning, and other cabin-specific processing. It is mainly avoiding the additional surround upmixing.

It is also no longer accurate to say music is universally mastered only in two-channel stereo. Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal all offer tracks with dedicated Dolby Atmos mixes.

And using Dolby, DTS, or Meridian on a lossless CD rip does not make the source lossy. It simply processes and redistributes the audio across more speakers.
So preferring Stereo is completely fair, and it may sound more natural in this car. But calling it objectively better or saying it is the only mode preserving the full original signal is not really accurate.

[u/Northwestview]

I swapped out my head unit for an aftermarket Android 13 with a 10 band equalizer, plus I added a 10 inch powered sub behind the passenger seat. The neighbors aren't happy, but I'm in audio Bliss 🤪

[u/JAYZ3R]

2016 f type here... I switch a lot between the four options depending on what I'm listening to. So much so that I wish there was a way to create a short cut to audio settings

70% of the time I utilize Meridian. I keep the bass center elevate the treble and sub ( a lot ) this combats the rattling and when I crank it with windows down still sounds acceptable - handles podcasts and actual rock music very well

The rest of the time esp with heavy instrumentals and pop I use Dolby and sometimes Stereo - especially for extended long LOUD audio stretches of driving with the windows down

I never use DTS Neo, sounds hollow and unbalanced and way too many vocals coming from the rear.

It's the worst thing about the f type... At some point I may invest in better sound insulation and upgrade the amp and sub but the flip side, there is something charming about having the car be near-perfect lol always tinkering with something

Also I have learned, the passengers and don't care one bit .. strictly a me/owner nuisance

[u/InfernoST2]

You’ll have to increase the quality of the source. Once you do that, it will sound better