Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 861v6 Review (Home Theater Review)

Hi all,

Just thought I would share 861v6 Home Theater Review in case you have not already seen it.

Meridian have also added this to their News page with link.

John

I sincerely hope Meridian is achieving economies of scale and profit maximization with that v6 + HD621 combo because the pricing is...let's just say it's more than a pill to swallow.

I want nothing more than for Meridian to flourish.

I understand your point and I also hope M is very successful with the v6 + HD621. However, I don't believe the 861v6 will have much of a chance at true "economies of scale". From what I understand each v6 is constructed to order. When I ordered my v6 it was 7 weeks before delivered. Of course components will be ordered in quantities that work best for M considering holding costs etc., and a few parts might have other units in common but the v6 sales will pale when compaired to something like the Oppo BDP-93 for example.

I once asked Ken Forsythe, Director of Product Placement, Meridian USA if M had considered making a processor priced between the $8000 G68 and the $26000 861v6 given the large gap in price. He responded by saying "You would have to work hard to find a bad processor in the $10000 price range. And the G series with HD621 is at the top of these.
Everything beyond this is truly in the realm of diminishing returns. Once beyond the $10000 range Meridian puts everything they have into making the best processor that the current technology allows, what ever the price. And that unit is the 861."

Now that I have lived with my v6 for about 9 months I cannot imagine not having it.

Regards,
Gary

Curious that 861v6 reviews have been so few-and-far-between, so it is nice to see this one. Three comments:

1. I think the review 'over-eggs' the upgradeability omelette frankly. I've owned Meridian pre-pro units for over 15 years (back to the orgiginal incarnation of the 565), and over that time I don't believe there is another component in my sysetem that I have spent more $$ on cumulatively. Certainly there have been times where upgradeability was economically practical, however, that has not happened in quite a number of years (really not since the 500 series).

2. Criticizing the v6 for not accepting legacy formats sort of misses the point: 861v6 is an audio processor, not a video processor. I'd think most people dropping close to $30K on the 861/HD621 combo would also invest in a competent video scaler/switcher.

3. Nice to see the reviewer listening to some music, in addition to movies. 861 really shines playing music.

I aggree with Gary, 861v6 is a terrific piece of kit.

Simon

Thanks Gary. I believe that with electrostats, which I btw really appreciate, the v6 makes a tangible difference in your analogue setup.

The returns diminish even further in an all DSP environment I believe. Perhaps someone who moved from a v4 to a v6 in all digital setup can chime in on specific improvements? (Preferably after they test their range of hearing )

Perhaps you might elaborate on why that would be, given that the DAC Specifications haven't changed from the v4 to the v6??

Ronnie i meant in absolute terms re: analogue.

But now that you raise that point where is the major improvement in analogue in the v6 then?


And if anyone has A/B'ed v4/v6 in all DSP I'd love to read your specific impressions.

Asked and already Answered in Posts and Threads too numerous to count and by many different people

My impresions of the v6 are part of this wider post My Mini Review: 861v6, 7200, ID40 & Sooloos

Regardsa
Carl

Indeed there have been numerous comments over the past year + in various threads comparing the v4 vs v6. I am not sure if any were A/B but they were at least from v4 owners that had upgraded. I don't recall reading from anyone here that they were disappointed in having moved up. Well, maybe one but he moved on to another processor.

I went back to check the review that started this thread because I had remembered him stating that he was very familiar with the v4. It was odd that he never made a comparison between the v4 and v6. In the May issue of Stereophile Kal made some comments comparing the two units using passive speakers (B&W 800 Diamonds) and gave a solid nod to the v6. I have heard the v4 numerous times under varying conditions and I was always impressed but since it wasn't in my system it's just not possible to draw any reliable conclusion.

Allow me to add to the chorus that v6 is an audible step-up from v4. (I have both). I had just done casual spl meter level match and compared couple of music tracks and movie. I was more interested in hearing more sound thru v6

I think comparing 'apo v4' and v6 should be interesting. I have not applied room correction yet.

Cheers,
Kishore