Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems First Meridian Processor

Hi, I'm here again...

I sold my Arcam AVR600 and now I have money to buy a new processor.

In the Restaurant I saw an 861v4 and 568.2mm.

I know that 861 is better, but how much better? Has 568.2 apodizing filters? and room EQ? does Trifield works?

I have seen on JVB digital the mod with 4 SPDIF output for Bluray player. Do you think that this mod with 861 may sound better that Oppo connect to HD621 by HDMI and then connected to 568.2?

Thanks,
Andrea

The best working solution is a HD621 HDMI switcher connected to your HDMI sources (Be they Oppo 9x or HDI streamers). The 4xSPDIF modding is a hassle and will need to be redone on all multichannel sources, -pain.

Ofcourse you would pick a 861v4 before a 568.2mm. The 568.2mm does not have room correction. Since you are doing analog the 861v4 is superior to the 568.2mm in this department as well. Also the 861v4 can have XLR outputs (check the cards before deciding).

What speakers and amplifiers are you planning on running?

Yes, but I can use the Oppo 93 as Bluray/DVD/MKV player. For Sat receveir I use SPDIF cable.

I think DSP5000 or DSP5200 for front and center channels.

Hi Andrea,

If you listed all your equipment it would be easier to understand your options. If you presently have an Oppo 93 and Sat receiver then I agree with Crion. If you feed the HDMI out to an HD621, you will get full HD sound. Then how much money you have left over will determine the processor that you purchase. I would also consider a used G6x as they are a great value for the money processor. But it will mostly be patiently waiting for whichever used machine comes on the market in your price range. Also consider how accoustically sound your room is whether you really need MRC. Even though we have a very small room the MRC did not do much for us.

Good luck!

Is that with the automatic decay setting or with manually set lower decay values? I played a lot with MRC a year ago, and got the best results with manually adjusting filter values.

Simple, now I have an empty room

Andrea

I have not yet got to the stage of doing MRC myself, so this was done by the Canadian M distributor on a paid tune up trip. I don't know what he did, but I have to assume that he did the best that could be done. It just didn't make a noticable difference in our room which coincided with M's statement that he didn't use many filters.

I appreciate that others and other rooms could be a very different story.

Aloha,

Please be advised that using custom decay times in MRC can and will in too many cases negatively impact dynamics. The issue becomes psychological: you think it's better because you have listened to so many permutations and it must be better since you have played around for so many hrs with too many plots graphs times etc.

Firstly, adjust position of actual speakers in room and then adjust bass and other DSP settings. And then if MRC does not auto-generate go back to said more basic settings and tweak from there.


My strong advice.

Hi Andrea,

Then I am confused. Why does Crion say "since you are going analogue"?

How does the Oppo and sat receiver fit in?

If you are truly starting from a bare room I would start with a pair of DSP's and a source.

Aloha,

I have a 4xSPDIF modded Oppo 83 and it works flawlessly on MCH music, Blurays, etc and has for the last couple of years. I would respectfully suggest a HD621 is more hassle---and expense. Of course the HD621 apodizes but that feature on most of my mch music and Blurays is useless.

Ken

I think the point that Crion is making [I'm sure he'll reply in due time] is that once purchased the HD621 can be used for any HDMI source and also that some folk have more than one HDMI source.

Whereas with the BDP83 4*SPDIF mod, to upgrade this to say a BDP95 one would have to have the mod done again for the new model.

I think most Bluray disk are 24 bit / 48 KHz. So these are still upsampled 96 KHz and thus apodising is applied. But it�s mood point as to whether it make a difference for movies.

Regards,
Carl

Oh, I assumed he kept his speakers... well then, what budget are we aiming for?

I mean if you really just have 2 sources then one could go with just a pair of the best DSP speakers you can afford (they have 2 inputs and a remote).

When funds allow, you can then add a surround pro and the rest of the channels. What this will accomplish is that you can get hold of the best fullrange L/R front channels available to you as these will make most of your listening experience.

We have quantified this again and again, if you go Meridian DSP with a limited budget, then put the cash in your speakers first and digital pre/sources on the backburner because this will net you the best possible sound per buck. I would also skip the HD621 if the cash is tight and "just" go 1500kbit DTS or dolby digital through the coax/SPDIF from your sources with a pre or go stereo if just setting up a DSP pair for the first time.