Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Help me build a Sooloos/MDMS system around my TwinStore

Hello all,

For reasons too boring to get into, I have a TwinStore but no other Sooloos/MDMS components. I would like to draw upon the collective wisdom of the forum to help me explore the various options for completing a Media System that would feed into my G91 and pre-SpeakerLink DSP speakers.

My questions are:

1. If I buy an MC200 can I easily disable "Store" functionality and delegate this to the TwinStore?

2. Since I don't really need the internal HD is there any reason to go for the newer version of the MC200?

3. While it seems that buying an MC200 would be the simplest and least expensive way to get into the world of MDMS, are there ways that better leverage my existing TwinStore without adding the redundant storage of the MC200? I don't yet need all the available storage space but I know I will eventually, so prefer to rely on the TwinStore for storage than on the internal drive of an MC200.

4. I've read on the forum that the MD600 can be configured for "Core" functionality. Is the same true of the TwinStore? If so would I be able to go TwinStore-->MS200 or MS600->G91 and control with the iPad app? If not I assume replacing the TwinStore in the above hypothetical configuration with an MD600 using my existing hard drives would work? Will hard drives already formatted for a TwinStore (and loaded with music) plug straight into an MD600 and be ready to go?

Thanks,
Dom

1. Yes.

2. Better sound (allegedly) from the built in zone of the MC200.

3. You need a core, and the MC200 is the cheapest way of doing this.

4. No. MS600 cannot act as core, nor can TwinStore.

Yes, I transferred a pair of 3TB Seagate drives from my TwinStore to MD600. However, don't try it with an Ensemble as it will re-formate the drives.

Regards,
Carl

Thanks guys. A couple follow up questions if I may.
Does the supposedly better sound from a more recent MC200 apply even if another piece of kit, such as an MS600 or ID41, is the endpoint?
Do new MD600s come with Core functionality enabled or must this still be done by the dealer or during configuration?
Regards
Dom

If your are using a MS200, MS600 or ID40/ID40 etc. then the quality of the audio output of the MC200 is not relevant.

Enabling the core on a MD600 is now user selectable using the Meridian Sooloos Configuration PC program, which is available to download from Meridian's support site.

Regards,
Carl

Hello Dom,

Carl mentioned the Ensemble with respect to swapping drives and it automatically reformatting them but he did not mention that the Ensemble is also another option for you to consider if you want a budget entry level into a MDMS.

It has a user removable hard disk that can be up to 2TB max in size and has the required core the same as the MD600, only it is way cheaper. The Ensemble is an original Sooloos (pre-Meridian) product so the digital audio out will not be as good as the new MC200 c/w 1TB hard disk but the original MC200 c/w 500Gb hard disk is selling around the same cost as a secondhand Ensemble. You will gain 1.5TB of extra storage over the 500Gb version of the MC200. Another bonus of the Ensemble is that it has four extra analogue zones.

The Ensemble can then be controlled with an iPad or iPhone with album covers viewable on the iPad Meridian Core App.

Cheers,
Steve

PS: The "S" in "MDMS" stands for "System" so you have a stutter in your title

Hi DE,

With regards to high resolution audio, the MC200 does it but I don't think the Ensemble can? Just something to consider going forward.

Russ

Thanks, for the suggestion. I don't remember seeing any Ensembles listed in the Restaurant but I will have a look and think about whether I really need one of the more recent products.

About the stutter: I realised the error as soon as I hit the submit button and briefly considered editing the title, but thought I'd leave it as a reminder to proofread more carefully in future.

Regards

Dom

Thanks Russ
I don't have any high resolution material at the moment but I wouldn't want to rule it out.
Regards
Dom

Google Search for 'FS: Ensemble' that finds them.

Regards,
Carl

You could always add a MS200 to the older Core&Store devices.

Thanks all for the useful feedback.
I have decided I'm better off starting from scratch, and will go with an MD600 into an 818.

Can I ask for advice on the best way to connect the MD600 and 818 if I want them in separate rooms and don't want for practical reasons a long length of cable between them?

The consensus from older threads I've been able to find seems to be that a plug-in wifi extender to Ethernet cable would be better than units that send data over the electrical wiring. Is that still the case, and is there a particular product that is generally believed to be best?

While asking questions that are only tangentially related to my original post: is there a preferred ripping workflow for Mac users? I've had a look at the sticky thread on ripping but I don't know if there's a Mac version of dBpoweramp.

Thanks
Dom