Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems CES 2010 speculation thread

I think i will be happy with the upgrade option.
The 861 gave my very good sound all these years coming from v2.5 to v4.

So this upgrade after 10 years of use seems still not bad compared to the concept of buy a new box every 2 years.

I only hope it is a price i can afford. Jerry's point seems valid..

I�ve been an owner of various Meridian stuff since the mid 90:s and bought an 861 v1 the summer of 97 and it�s still in the rack. Now upgraded to v 4.25 actually direct from v1 in 2007. I feel I have no choice but to upgrade and my feeling is that the trade-in program will be generous.
The only thing that bothers me is that I will not be able to use my old mc phono card any longer since it�s only digital that counts,sad....

Now this is exactly the kind of statement (from Meridian, directly or via its dealers) that drives me up the wall. This kind of comment simply cannot be applied to the product, generally, when there are multiple audio paths through it.

With analogue inputs and/or outputs, I can believe there are improvements. Are they "dramatic"? I doubt it. Will they be audible? I'm sure they will.

Likewise (and this is the really important one), in an all-digital system, does anything other than the introduction of an apodizing algorithm lead to a "dramatic improvement" in sound quality? I doubt it. Will there be any audible difference between a v4 and a v6 when an HD621 is doing the upsampling? Possibly, but will there be a "dramatic improvement"? Very unlikely.

Will apodizing (with a better algorithm than the 808.2 if we believe the rumour mill) lead to a "dramatic improvement"? Almost certainly, because there has been a fundamental change in the processing of the digital audio that is recognized by Meridian and beyond Meridian as the way forward.

But "dramatic improvement", period? Sorry, I don't buy it.

Hi, which card are you using IA30 or IA 35?
I just start with my external phonostage-have still my IA35 card in-
as the IA30 or IA35 works in conjuction with the IA00 and is limited to 48kHz.
My plan is to feed with the external phonostage the IA45-its a 96/24 card)- to get a better sound overall.
As my 861 is in repair from lightning i cant plug the IA45 card in the 800(dont know whats the reason for that).
So i dry it with the IA 00 (without the IA35) and its sound great,better then the internal IA 35 card.
I will make more test in the next weeks as the phonostage have to break in and also the new cable(need one connection more as previous).
I have the graham slee revelation
http://www.phonostagepreamp.com/revelation-phonostagepreamp.htm
and the ELP laser turntable LT-1XRC
http://www.elpj.com/
Which equipment do you have?

Robert

Joel,

I understand what you are getting at but perhaps there are other factors that they have optimized. Yes we can be frustrated with the latest claims of being "blown away". Everyone says that right? But seeing as I am not an expert in digital audio, just an experienced user, if Meridian, who so far has been pretty solid as a company in terms of backing up what they say with results, wants to tell me the improvement is "dramatic" or "substantial" then I will believe them for now. I have to admit they have quite a high bar to surpass with their claims but, for me, they have earned the benefit of the doubt. We will know soon enough. You're right though, we have complex systems and the improvement will be dependent on many things, even our rooms themselves.

Just heard from the bushvine, UK upgrade for V4 - V6 �6.5 in VAT

Oh well I guess I'd better think about selling that kidney..




Will

Hi Will,

If that's true, it's better than I expected, a new 861v6 is circa �11.5k inc. VAT.

Carl.

But that kind of claim simply cannot be applied broad brush without qualification; and qualification is usually missing from such statements from Bob Stuart and Meridian in general.

If yesterday my 861v4 was the best SSP in the world, tomorrow it will be the second best. I can live with that. I'd like 8 channels, but can wait until there is more 8 channel material.

I have been told by my local dealer that the V4 to V6 requires changes to all the core cards; that is, it is NOT possible to take a V4 unit and simply add the card for 8 channel inputs from the HD621...while disappointed, not surprised...

I have also been told that upgrade details will be released this week which means tomorrow given that today is Thursday...

If you take the pre VAT number and convert it works out to around $10,500...... don't know if that is what they will really charge but if it is even close then I would say its more than fair to charge less than 50% of a new unit for existing V4 customers.

Joel, but how can they use anything except a broad brush. They can't give you specific statements tailored to each individual and their home/ listening space. It unfortunately has to be based on some common standard- if that is the judgment of Bob Stuart/ the pros at Meridian then I am willing to trust them. If they betray that trust then they will be the ones to lose in the end and I am sure they are well aware of that.

I have similar information from my dealer. No way to add new cards to v4 so the trade-in will be for a new unit. He wouldn't tell me price but certainly implied that it was well north of $10K. Clearly have to wait for official details.