Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Apodizing CD Players

Thanks to both Nic(k)s!

OK, that's an interesting option- so to get this straight in my head, if I had a 'universal' BD/DVD/CD (SACD??) player (e.g. an Oppo BDP95, etc?) which could output through HDMI, then the HD621 would decode and route appropriate audio to the 5Ks and Screen for BD/DVD, and apodize 2-ch CD to feed out to the 5Ks?

Cheers,

James

Aside from not wasting your money on a 95 when a 93 is ideal for a Meridian system, I'd suggest that's a very good 2ch system.

MC200 or G08.2??? I was thinking about getting into an MC200 a while back until I found out that I would have to buy a new laptop to run the Meridian software, so I gave up on that idea.
I really hate having my music tied to a computer and its software. There are always bugs, configuration nightmares, endless hours spent trying to figure out IP addresses, etc, etc. What happens if I upgrade to the latest operating system and the Meridian software doesn't run on it, for example?
Life's too short for all that. I have my music in iTunes and I almost never use it with my audio system. I use iTunes only to feed my iPod and iPhone with music. It's not a sound quality issue, but just that it requires much more time and effort than it does to just grab a CD and press play.
My personal choice will probably be to seek out a used G08.2 (to experience the Meridian magic some day) and just stick with CD's, and of course LP's.
Yes I am a bit of a curmudgeon but it's something to consider.

Hi Pauli

What laptop do you have? the only restriction as I understand is that Sooloos configure will only run on windows, but realistically you do do not need to use it after initial setup unless you want to experiment with settings? there after controlmac/pc can be used for Sooloos library administration, IP addressing is not an issue as it is handled by DHCP, it really is more straightforward than you fear, and the advice from this forum is excellent

Russ

I have an "old" Apple Powerbook G4. I understand that ControlMac will not run on this. Now you are telling me that "Sooloos Configure" (whatever that is?) will not run on a Mac? You're just fueling my fire.
Yes the advice from this forum is excellent.
Thanks Russ.

Time for a retina display MacBook Pro?

Hi,

Since James is just getting sorted with a pair of DSP5k speakers, I think that adding a HD621 is a bit OTT for 2 channel.

Minimum spend for Bluray would be to get an optical to Coaxial adapter and continue to use the PS3. Next option would be to buy a cheap Bluray player (not all cheap players have a coax output). Something like a second hand Zektor unit would allow switching /conversion between optical or coax sources while feeding the second input on the speakers. Above that, you're starting to get into 562 (or other M switcher) territory for audio switching.

Brian

PS. Is there a "Vogon Poet" category that can be attained?

If you are happy with CD's and the limitations that come with CD's, then get a CD player. If your CD collection is in some kind of order I can't see a problem with what you are doing. I still use my CD player. I simply sort out a few CD's and relax, my CD player is within arm's length anyway.

IMHO, there can be a danger of spending more time flicking through one's collection or adding too or altering meta data than listening to music, not pointing a finger at anyone, but that is what I sometimes do.

CheeRS

Shaun

Thanks for all this, guys, very helpful!

I should mention a few things, to be clear about what I'm after, I think-

Firstly, although I mentioned my PS3 in passing, it's only because my main source gave up the ghost, so it got pressed into service while I'm finding a new one, I wouldn't intend it to become the main source, I use it only for gaming normally.

I have a slight preference for spinning discs, as I don't enjoy interacting with computers much, although I do already own an iPad, so an MC200 would certainly be a possibility. I suppose the things I'm concerned with are simplicity and quality at this stage, which will allow me to upgrade to newer/better gear as funds allow?

Eventually I'll probably move over to some kind of Sooloos, I guess almost inevitably since Meridian will probably not make CD players much longer? But given that the tech is new and will probably get better, am I better off with a universal player and the HD621 now, which I can then integrate into, say, an AC200, MC600, DSP5200, all using SpeakerLink later on?

The killer question for right now is- will a decent universal player through, say, an HD621, give me as good audio quality (or damn near) to something like a g08.2 for my 2-ch music, or do I need to separate music source and video source to really get the quality I need? Not having ever tried that route I have no idea how good it would be? If quality were going to be largely equal, it would be lovely to just buy one good Bluray/DVD/CD player and have done, BUT I am more fussy about my 2-ch music sound quality than I am with movie soundtracks, tbh.

Also, just to be clear- so for 2-ch audio from redbook CDs, would I use the HDMI-out of a universal disc player into the HD621, which would then up sample, apodise, and feed out to the 5Ks? Or would I have to use the coax-out of the disc player?

Sorry for my ignorance on this- new territory for me!

I just checked the specs for the Oppo BDP93 and 95 and both have dual HDMI ports which can be individually configured for sound and/or vision only. Maybe that is a good option? I could use coax digital out into the 5Ks for now, then HDMI out into a HD621 as funds allow?

Can the HD621 definitely be used direct into the 5Ks without a control unit of some kind in between?

Assume that you can control from the front panel of the HD621 without the need for any comms cable links.

Don't write the PS3 off, especially if it is the earlier (pre slim design) unit, I found this to be a great transport for music, beating my Meridian 500 and certainly nicer sounding than my Oppo which I find very thin sounding.

I was going into a G68 optical, but also found it fine using a �15 optical-coaxial convertor from Maplins direct into a pair of DSP5000s.

I used this for quite a while, and it could see my iTunes collection on our Mac too so gave me my music as well.

But I would do that to get you up and running and see what you think.