Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems DVDA/SACD Advice

Hi.

Glad to have finally found a forum exclusively for Meridian - can't believe I've never discovered it before - very informative.

Anyway, I'm completely new to DVDA/SACD and have only recently bought something that can play them (it's a Pioneer DV656).

My Meridian kit is as follows: 500, 518, 565, DSP5000's all round (older ones - not 96/24), and a 562V3 arriving very shortly.

Three questions mainly - (a) As a complete newbie to this, can you explain how I'd connect the Pioneer up to the Meridian kit for DVDA and SACD? (b) Is the quality noticeably better than CD? (c) Can you recommend a good example of each format for me to try out (classical preferably).

Many thanks,

Gerald.

I think this will come as bad news, but i see no way to get SACD or DVD-A working with your setup (The multi channel version of both).
If you had analog speakers you could go for a analogue 5.1 channel pre-amp, or seperate bass management system to put the output of your 565 into, and also the output of the DVD-A/SACD player.
But as you write you have Meridian DSP speakers i see no solution.
Upgrading the 565 to a 568.2 will give you the option to get a digital MHR input as option. So with a Meridian 598 player you can have DVD-A.

The 2 channel output of DVD-A/SACD could be input on a analogue input of your 565 or 562v3.

You could try a trade in of the 500, 518 and 565 for a 568.2 at a dealer, or see what people pay for it on the 2nd hand market.

Jaco

Thanks for the clarifications Jaco. To be honest, I'm not that interested in 'true' multi-channel audio (although I am a big fan of Trifield). I am however interested in 2-channel DVDA/SACD.

Are you implying that with 2-channel, I'd simply use the analogue outs on the Pioneer? Has anyone experimented with this and used Trifield?

Would I be missing the point though as there would be a Dig>Ana>Dig conversion going on?

You would have to plug it into the analog input of the 565 or 562V3 if you want Trifield, which would mean an extra A/D and D/A conversion. Trifield manipulates the sound of the L&R channels.

I guess it would be up to you, loss of bits and extra A/D & D/A conversion resulting in loss of resolution vs enhanced soundstage & imaging.