Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Something NEW in Jan 2012?

Because they want them to buy into Sooloos?!

It seems to me Meridian want customers to buy into the system (B&O etc) not just add components (as with traditional hi-fi purchasing). There are benefits in this as they control the whole source-to-speaker chain so there should be less issues with compatibility and everything has a Meridian sound so customers get familiarity at the different points on the product ladder. They also get the benefit of customers who accept this model will buy more of their products, the flip side being potential customers (or existing customers not on the current Meridian 'path') who don't accept this are unlikely to buy anything Meridian.

Perhaps there's an analogy between Macs and Windows PCs as the former controls all aspects going into their product and (for the most part) it just works, whereas getting all the parts of a PC from different manufacturers can lead to issues and variable performance? You choose which route you want to go down. You have more invested in the first one but it (should) work very well, you have more flexibility in the second (to fit your unique circumstances) but results, while potentially very good can be variable.

Part of buying into a system is you're effectively paying for the manufacturer to have developed all the parts together so they are matched and efficient. A good number of us have bought into this with the DSP speaker (Amp, digital processor and passive speaker in one) so why no the system too?

They've also clearly decided on a direction for the connectivity of their products. It was always going to be painful for some of us when they switched (me included) and it just happens that we are going through it now. Personally, looking forward I think it makes perfect sense and, while I can see the benefits of offering 'legacy' or non-Meridian connections I can also see the benefits of their approach in adopting just one.

If you look at SLR cameras Nikon and Cannon (both generally outstanding products) took different approaches when autofocus lenses came to market. The nikon F mount still supports many manual lenses from decades ago whereas the Cannon EOS mount stuffed all FD lens owners on its introduction. Benefits and compromises with each path. As an aside, both still want you to buy into their system...

Cheers,

Ed.

However, that's not how they are being marketed. Meridian are promoting buying with the audio core requiring a minimum investment of �6k to the new buyer. I still think they have missed an opportunity here to appeal to a broader market

You're probably right.

With the rationalising of their product line I think they're very much focusing on a narrower target audience and there will be missed opportunities. But they're still a small company with limited resources so they have to make calls like this.
Not everyone's going to agree with them - I guess we can just hope they're consistent in their approach.

I don't want to be a prat (coming from mining stock), but isn't part of being a luxury brand keeping out the riffraff, you have to exclude to be exclusive?

There's exclusive, and then there's exclusive though.

This is meant to be an entry level floorstander. As pointed out there are hundreds of Sonos and Squeezebox users for whom these would make terrific "high end" speakers (they'd not want to go any higher). If I was faced with having to shell out a further �1,500 (that's an extra third over the cost of the speakers) just because the manufacturer had a non standard interface I'd be looking elsewhere.

Presumably they have no interface to see a remote either? You can't plug a G12 or 512 into them. If only the reviver could accept a 512 then Robert would have an absolutely killer product.

The one great thing about them is the removable covers. I wonder what they will look like without the grille cloths on? Could M supply us with a knitting pattern so we can make our own? Reggae fans could have red, gold and green striped cozies on them, Footy fans could have them in their team strip, with away colours as well. The possibilities are endless.

We all have wrists to wear luxury brand watches; we all have bodies to wear luxury brand clothes; we can all drive a luxury car.

All of these (plus jewellery) are "stand alone" items and none requires us to already have some special "exclusive" additional item to enjoy them.

Basically, these are not general purpose speakers. They are designed to be part of a Sooloos system and, IMO, they will not be used for any other purpose. I don't see then as part of the DSP range and they are not badged as such.

I wonder if that is Meridian's intention? (Really, I do.)

May be it is - a two channel Sooloos system. Certainly, there's no easy upgrade path to a multichannel system as you'd be left with a redundant stereo Core product.

So as a simple Sooloos system will the M6's work with just the MC200 and iPad?

I guess they would work with Control15 as single source as well but that's obviously even more expensive.

Chris

This is from the datasheet:


No mention of processors etc.

But remember that it does not have any display like the DSP speakers. So, actually, it could be very useful to know whether they are in standby or active mode. On a related matter I find it very annoying that the 861v6 does not have a standby indicator!