Current guide on replacing / upgrading stereo system?

[User433]

I have an R1T with meridian system for couple of years now and I finally decided I want to upgrade the stereo. Disclaimer: I'm not an audiophile and I don't have a lot of data points on factory systems. That said, I had a custom install (nothing crazy) in my Tacoma and this doesn't compare. It definitely lack low end and a feeling I can only describe as "depth". I know a lot of people give high marks for the Meridian.

Where's the best walk-thru on options? Trying to decide if I should just update the subs or subs+amp or is there good reason to upgrade some speakers too. Also, there's a gotcha with power draw at startup if I recall.

Sponsored

 

[Bullwinkle]

I have an R1T with meridian system for couple of years now and I finally decided I want to upgrade the stereo. Disclaimer: I'm not an audiophile and I don't have a lot of data points on factory systems. That said, I had a custom install (nothing crazy) in my Tacoma and this doesn't compare. It definitely lack low end and a feeling I can only describe as "depth". I know a lot of people give high marks for the Meridian.

Where's the best walk-thru on options? Trying to decide if I should just update the subs or subs+amp or is there good reason to upgrade some speakers too. Also, there's a gotcha with power draw at startup if I recall.

I designed high end car audio for some pretty well know celebrities when I was younger and worked with top home audio brands most of my life. My opinion is that the Meridian system is one of the finest sounding factory audio systems I have ever heard. I took delivery of a 2023 R1S that does not have the Meridian system, but it is still very good. The soundstage, imaging, and detail is excellent. (I have read that the 2nd Gen system is not nearly as good as Gen 1)

Most people over-use their EQ. The whole design concept of the Meridian system is to be be equalized during design to perfectly reproduce the track as it was recorded in the studio. The artist and studio engineers spent a lot of effort making the track sound a certain way. Still, a lot of people inflict a "smile" EQ setting because more-is-more to their ear when it comes to bass and treble. I would strongly recommend running the Meridian (or the subsequent Gen 1 system) flat for a couple days to train your ear to how the music left the studio.

My guess is that the depth you are referring to is really bass. Well designed and custom installed car audio systems usually have an MDF (quality particle board) subwoofer box that is custom sized/tuned to the woofer. They are driven by an electronic crossover and a big amp, and they are capable of very high decibel bass. People love the bass, even if it might be excessive in the opinion of the recording studio engineer that mastered the album. The bass is more a function of a proper speaker enclosure than the woofer or amp.

Did your Tacoma's system have a custom built wood box behind or under the rear seat? If so, you will not likely get the same volume of bass without a big MDF woofer enclosure.

My recommendation is:
Listen to your system with a flat EQ for a week. Understand that the music you are hearing is close to what the artist and engineer in the studio put on the track. My guess is you will better appreciate the balance and ability of the system to place instruments in space and create a soundstage. After a week, if you still miss the low bass, bump up the low bass 1 or 2 notches, but leave all the other frequencies flat. In high end audio--less is more--everything is designed to reproduce what was recorded--and the less done between the input signal and the speaker--the better the sound.

If you still need more bass, I would NOT mess with the amp. This is where all the frequency and phase engineering is--it is actually in the cross-over and dsp chip that is likely in the amp enclosure. You could try to replace the subwoofer itself with a driver with higher sensitivity. Sensitive is the output volume of a speaker with 1 watt of power. The average is probably 90db. Finding a woofer with higher sensitivity should give you more bass. If you compare a speaker with a sensitivity of 90db to one rated at 93db, you will hear that one is louder. 3db is the JND (just-noticeable-differenc) of the human ear.

So a more efficient sub-woofer will give you more bass, but it may not be better or deeper bass and without a wood enclosure it with not be the kind of bass that a high-end custom system can deliver.

 

[bbonkk]

I designed high end car audio for some pretty well know celebrities when I was younger and worked with top home audio brands most of my life. My opinion is that the Meridian system is one of the finest sounding factory audio systems I have ever heard. I took delivery of a 2023 R1S that does not have the Meridian system, but it is still very good. The soundstage, imaging, and detail is excellent. (I have read that the 2nd Gen system is not nearly as good as Gen 1)

Most people over-use their EQ. The whole design concept of the Meridian system is to be be equalized during design to perfectly reproduce the track as it was recorded in the studio. The artist and studio engineers spent a lot of effort making the track sound a certain way. Still, a lot of people inflict a "smile" EQ setting because more-is-more to their ear when it comes to bass and treble. I would strongly recommend running the Meridian (or the subsequent Gen 1 system) flat for a couple days to train your ear to how the music left the studio.

My guess is that the depth you are referring to is really bass. Well designed and custom installed car audio systems usually have an MDF (quality particle board) subwoofer box that is custom sized/tuned to the woofer. They are driven by an electronic crossover and a big amp, and they are capable of very high decibel bass. People love the bass, even if it might be excessive if the opinion of the recording studio engineer that mastered the album. The bass is more a function of a proper speaker enclosure than the woofer or amp.

Did your Tacoma's system have a custom built wood box behind or under the rear seat? If so, you will not likely get the same volume of bass without a big MDF woofer enclosure.

My recommendation is:
Listen to your system with a flat EQ for a week. Understand that the music you are hearing is close to what the artist and engineer in the studio put on the track. My guess is you will better appreciate the balance and ability of the system to place instruments in space and create a soundstage. After a week, if you still miss the low bass, bump up the low bass 1 or 2 notches, but leave all the other frequencies flat. In high end audio--less is more--everything is designed to reproduce what was recorded--and the less done between the input signal and the speaker--the better the sound.

If you still need more bass, I would NOT mess with the amp. This is where all the frequency and phase engineering is--it is actually in the cross-over and dsp chip that is likely in the amp enclosure. You could try to replace the subwoofer itself with a driver with higher sensitivity. Sensitive is the output volume of a speaker with 1 watt of power. The average is probably 90db. Finding a woofer with higher sensitivity should give you more bass. If you compare a speaker with a sensitivity of 90db to one rated at 93db, you will hear that one is louder. 3db is the JND (just-noticeable-differenc) of the human ear.

So a more efficient sub-woofer will give you more bass, but it may not be better or deeper bass and without a wood enclosure it with not be the kind of bass that a high-end custom system can deliver.

Any way to test my Meridan system? When I bought my R1S I thought the sound system was outstanding but 1 1/2 years later it seems dull and as bad as my Lightning Pro. Should I be able to hear every on of the 20 plus speakers all the time? Also I need to turn it up to 18 when before 15 was loud. I use Tidal HD thru the Rivian app.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Any way to test my Meridan system? When I bought my R1S I thought the sound system was outstanding but 1 1/2 years later it seems dull and as bad as my Lightning Pro. Should I be able to hear every on of the 20 plus speakers all the time? Also I need to turn it up to 18 when before 15 was loud. I use Tidal HD thru the Rivian app.

Listen to Audio Test Tone on Spotify. Go to left and right channel sweep and/or pink noise. You should be able to hear all speakers if you put your ear by them.

Playing the system too loud especially with a smiley eq curve can damage speakers because it can cause the amp to clip--meaning clip the top and bottom of the frequency wave--this forces the speaker to stop/start instantaneously with significant power behind it. If you are hearing distortion at high volumes on a clean track--it is almost always clipping--bad for speakers.

 

[User433]

I designed high end car audio for some pretty well know celebrities when I was younger and worked with top home audio brands most of my life. My opinion is ...

What a great response. You're given me a lot to consider. Yes, my taco had a custom box with 2 8" subs that fit perfectly behind the 2nd row.

 

[moondoggy]

I designed high end car audio for some pretty well know celebrities when I was younger and worked with top home audio brands most of my life. My opinion is that the Meridian system is one of the finest sounding factory audio systems I have ever heard. I took delivery of a 2023 R1S that does not have the Meridian system, but it is still very good. The soundstage, imaging, and detail is excellent. (I have read that the 2nd Gen system is not nearly as good as Gen 1)…

This. I engineer audio and I’m picky about sound quality. My ‘24 R1S (Non Meridian branded) stock system sounds more accurate than any vehicle I’ve been in, by far. I love listening to music in it. I use Tidal on the max setting. Occasionally, the audio quality is significantly reduced when bandwidth must be limited due to poor signal…otherwise, at max capacity, it’s surprisingly nice to listen to—especially considering how many complaints this system receives.

I wonder if some folks upset at the quality aren’t receiving a consistent signal with enough bandwidth for max data streaming.

 

[Cte515]

Any way to test my Meridan system? When I bought my R1S I thought the sound system was outstanding but 1 1/2 years later it seems dull and as bad as my Lightning Pro. Should I be able to hear every on of the 20 plus speakers all the time? Also I need to turn it up to 18 when before 15 was loud. I use Tidal HD thru the Rivian app.

i had the same problem with volume level change. Apparently there is/was/is a bug that causes the problem and even messes up the balance. Did a infotainment reset and was back to normal

 

[bbonkk]

i had the same problem with volume level change. Apparently there is/was/is a bug that causes the problem and even messes up the balance. Did a infotainment reset and was back to normal

I’ve done that a few times. Usually because the cover art is missing. Then when I get into my Tesla model 3 thats 6 years old, the sound is just unbelievable. I guess I should sit in another R1S and take a listen.

 

[bbonkk]

Listen to Audio Test Tone on Spotify. Go to left and right channel sweep and/or pink noise. You should be able to hear all speakers if you put your ear by them.

Playing the system too loud especially with a smiley eq curve can damage speakers because it can cause the amp to clip--meaning clip the top and bottom of the frequency wave--this forces the speaker to stop/start instantaneously with significant power behind it. If you are hearing distortion at high volumes on a clean track--it is almost always clipping--bad for speakers.

Thanks and my old ears thank you also

 

[Bullwinkle]

i had the same problem with volume level change. Apparently there is/was/is a bug that causes the problem and even messes up the balance. Did a infotainment reset and was back to normal

How do you do an infotainment reset?

 

[Chewy734]

How do you do an infotainment reset?

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...s-3-types-sleep-infotainment-full-reset.5292/

Sponsored