mkhuffman
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I took my truck in for tire rotation, inspection, and for them to check out a weird intermittent problem with the right blind spot sensor. They gave me a Gen1 R1T Quad for loaner. It has the much praised Merridian sound system, so I thought, what a great opportunity to compare with my Tri Premium sound! The loaner is configured exactly like my truck, including the black sport wheels. So it is a perfect comparison.
Conclusion:
Testing Environment:
To objectively measure this, I used my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra placed in the same place on the center console, microphone facing the rear of the truck. I acknowledge it is not a precision instrument.
I used an application called Sound Spectrum Analyzer to measure the frequencies produced by the systems. I struggled to get screenshots without causing noise during the process of clicking the buttons. I was able to get some clean screenshots and used those in the analysis below.
I used YouTube on my phone as the audio source, via a Bluetooth connection. This is not the best quality connection but because I had a loaner, and I wanted to be consistent between the tests, it seemed like the most consistent method to use. I found audio for specific frequencies and for white noise. I used the exact same sources for testing each system.
I flattened the EQ in both systems and removed any extra processing. Like shown here:
Testing:
Since it seems like bass is the biggest complaint between the systems, I focused my testing on that part of the spectrum. However, I did notice the Gen2 Premium has better high end performance, subjectively. This observation seems to be confirmed by the white noise testing. I did some measurements to confirm at 10 kHz, 15 kHz, 18 kHz and 20 kHz. I admit my ears can no longer hear anything at 15 kHz or higher, but I measured up there anyway.
I recorded bass measurements at: 20 Hz, 25 Hz, 30 Hz, 40 Hz and 50 Hz.
Based on subjective listening, I expected the bass to be similar between the two systems. At low volumes it was. But at high volumes, the Gen2 Premium rattled and crackled and sounded like it was destroying the subwoofer, especially as I got below 50 Hz. So sad. This makes me think just replacing the speaker with a decent one that can handle the power would take care of the problem. Maybe I will try that.
The Merridian never sounded stressed, even at high volumes. It just reproduced the bass, strong and clear.
I tried to get a similar volume setting so I could get measurements that objectively compared output. To do that, I used the white noise source and sent both systems at the same dB level for white noise.
Meridian, white noise:
Premium, white noise:
Conclusion: notice how the Premium seems to have a flatter response. Still good bass, but stronger in the higher frequencies relative to the lower frequencies. This was supported by my subjective listening.
With both systems at a similar white noise volume, I compared bass output:
Meridian, 30 Hz
Premium, 30Hz:
Conclusion: the bass with a 30 Hz signal is very similar in the Premium than in the Merridian, at the same white noise level. The overall dB volume is higher in the Premium, but if you check the low frequencies the volume is practically identical. This was supported by subjective listening.
Meridian, 20 Hz:
Premium, 20 Hz:
Conclusion: overall bass at 20 Hz is louder in the Meridian, but the Premium reproduces the 20 Hz frequency with less resonance better (not as loud, but more accurate). Note the strong 43 Hz signal in the Meridian. This may account for some thinking the bass is stronger in the Meridian.
Bass Volume Comparison:
Premium: I turned up the bass at 25 Hz until I started to hear just a hint of distortion. This is the maximum volume the Premium can do without ruining the sound. Obviously, the louder it is, the more distortion you hear. And music without a lot of low bass can be louder (of course) without distortion.
Premium, 25 Hz:
Subjectively, this is not very loud. I was very disappointed with the inability of the speakers to support the bass being pumped into them. Replacing the speakers with more robust woofers would likely make a big improvement. The distortion definitely sounded like speaker failure, not amp clipping.
Meridian Comparison:
Unfortunately, I returned the loaner before thinking about cranking the bass up until the failure point. So I was not able to do that test on the Meridian. But I did measure bass volume at a much higher level than the Premium was able to achieve.
Meridian, 25 Hz:
You can see this is much louder than the Premium. And at this volume level, there was zero bass distortion. It just sounded loud and clean.
I really wish I had thought to crank the Meridian louder until reaching the point of failure. Maybe a current R1T Meridian owner can test that out and see what you get. It is important to keep the EQ flat and use the same source and sound program I did, and at 25 Hz. Of course if you have the same phone, even better. Put the phone on the center console with the microphone end facing the rear of the truck.
High Frequency Testing:
This is somewhat academic as most people are not complaining about the high end response of the Premium. But to my ears (that are admittedly worse than they used to be), the Premium sounds more balanced and cleaner on the high end of the sound. I wanted to see if any measurements could confirm what I hear.
As stated previously, it does appear to be confirmed by the white noise test. But I tested individual frequencies with a similar white noise level just to see what is reproduced.
Neither system could reproduce 20 kHz. However, this could be a Bluetooth limitation or a phone microphone limitation. 18 kHz was easily reproduced by both systems. I cannot hear at 18 kHz, but it certainly impacts the spectrum I can hear if 18 kHz is clear.
Meridian at 18 kHz:
Premium at 18 kHz:
The 18 kHz response is identical in both systems. (Note the low frequency readings are ambient noise, and not sound reproduced by the systems.)
Meridian, 15 kHz:
Premium, 15 kHz:
The Premium has a much stronger volume (~26 dB) at 15 kHz than the Meridian (~19 dB). This seems to confirm my subjective observation that the Premium is clearer at the high end.
Summary:
This testing proves there is a valid bass deficiency in the Premium when compared to the Merridian. This is likely what people have been complaining about. But it also proves the Premium has excellent bass and sound quality at low volumes. If you listen at moderate levels, with a good sound source, you should be very happy with the sound quality of the Premium. If you like concert level volume with strong bass, you won’t be happy at all.
Conclusion:
Bass reproduction is similar even down to 20 Hz, but the Merridian has more power. At low volumes, the bass is strong in both systems. But at high volumes, the Premium breaks while the Meridian cranks. You should hear very low bass in your Premium system at moderate listening volumes. At high volumes, you likely hear bass distortion, destroying the quality of the music.
Testing Environment:
To objectively measure this, I used my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra placed in the same place on the center console, microphone facing the rear of the truck. I acknowledge it is not a precision instrument.
I used an application called Sound Spectrum Analyzer to measure the frequencies produced by the systems. I struggled to get screenshots without causing noise during the process of clicking the buttons. I was able to get some clean screenshots and used those in the analysis below.
I used YouTube on my phone as the audio source, via a Bluetooth connection. This is not the best quality connection but because I had a loaner, and I wanted to be consistent between the tests, it seemed like the most consistent method to use. I found audio for specific frequencies and for white noise. I used the exact same sources for testing each system.
I flattened the EQ in both systems and removed any extra processing. Like shown here:
Testing:
Since it seems like bass is the biggest complaint between the systems, I focused my testing on that part of the spectrum. However, I did notice the Gen2 Premium has better high end performance, subjectively. This observation seems to be confirmed by the white noise testing. I did some measurements to confirm at 10 kHz, 15 kHz, 18 kHz and 20 kHz. I admit my ears can no longer hear anything at 15 kHz or higher, but I measured up there anyway.
I recorded bass measurements at: 20 Hz, 25 Hz, 30 Hz, 40 Hz and 50 Hz.
Based on subjective listening, I expected the bass to be similar between the two systems. At low volumes it was. But at high volumes, the Gen2 Premium rattled and crackled and sounded like it was destroying the subwoofer, especially as I got below 50 Hz. So sad. This makes me think just replacing the speaker with a decent one that can handle the power would take care of the problem. Maybe I will try that.
The Merridian never sounded stressed, even at high volumes. It just reproduced the bass, strong and clear.
I tried to get a similar volume setting so I could get measurements that objectively compared output. To do that, I used the white noise source and sent both systems at the same dB level for white noise.
Meridian, white noise:
Premium, white noise:
Conclusion: notice how the Premium seems to have a flatter response. Still good bass, but stronger in the higher frequencies relative to the lower frequencies. This was supported by my subjective listening.
With both systems at a similar white noise volume, I compared bass output:
Meridian, 30 Hz
Premium, 30Hz:
Conclusion: the bass with a 30 Hz signal is very similar in the Premium than in the Merridian, at the same white noise level. The overall dB volume is higher in the Premium, but if you check the low frequencies the volume is practically identical. This was supported by subjective listening.
Meridian, 20 Hz:
Premium, 20 Hz:
Conclusion: overall bass at 20 Hz is louder in the Meridian, but the Premium reproduces the 20 Hz frequency with less resonance better (not as loud, but more accurate). Note the strong 43 Hz signal in the Meridian. This may account for some thinking the bass is stronger in the Meridian.
Bass Volume Comparison:
Premium: I turned up the bass at 25 Hz until I started to hear just a hint of distortion. This is the maximum volume the Premium can do without ruining the sound. Obviously, the louder it is, the more distortion you hear. And music without a lot of low bass can be louder (of course) without distortion.
Premium, 25 Hz:
Subjectively, this is not very loud. I was very disappointed with the inability of the speakers to support the bass being pumped into them. Replacing the speakers with more robust woofers would likely make a big improvement. The distortion definitely sounded like speaker failure, not amp clipping.
Meridian Comparison:
Unfortunately, I returned the loaner before thinking about cranking the bass up until the failure point. So I was not able to do that test on the Meridian. But I did measure bass volume at a much higher level than the Premium was able to achieve.
Meridian, 25 Hz:
You can see this is much louder than the Premium. And at this volume level, there was zero bass distortion. It just sounded loud and clean.
I really wish I had thought to crank the Meridian louder until reaching the point of failure. Maybe a current R1T Meridian owner can test that out and see what you get. It is important to keep the EQ flat and use the same source and sound program I did, and at 25 Hz. Of course if you have the same phone, even better. Put the phone on the center console with the microphone end facing the rear of the truck.
High Frequency Testing:
This is somewhat academic as most people are not complaining about the high end response of the Premium. But to my ears (that are admittedly worse than they used to be), the Premium sounds more balanced and cleaner on the high end of the sound. I wanted to see if any measurements could confirm what I hear.
As stated previously, it does appear to be confirmed by the white noise test. But I tested individual frequencies with a similar white noise level just to see what is reproduced.
Neither system could reproduce 20 kHz. However, this could be a Bluetooth limitation or a phone microphone limitation. 18 kHz was easily reproduced by both systems. I cannot hear at 18 kHz, but it certainly impacts the spectrum I can hear if 18 kHz is clear.
Meridian at 18 kHz:
Premium at 18 kHz:
The 18 kHz response is identical in both systems. (Note the low frequency readings are ambient noise, and not sound reproduced by the systems.)
Meridian, 15 kHz:
Premium, 15 kHz:
The Premium has a much stronger volume (~26 dB) at 15 kHz than the Meridian (~19 dB). This seems to confirm my subjective observation that the Premium is clearer at the high end.
Summary:
This testing proves there is a valid bass deficiency in the Premium when compared to the Merridian. This is likely what people have been complaining about. But it also proves the Premium has excellent bass and sound quality at low volumes. If you listen at moderate levels, with a good sound source, you should be very happy with the sound quality of the Premium. If you like concert level volume with strong bass, you won’t be happy at all.
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