Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems What is happening with the G Amps?

Given the comments above, the power output of the G56 and the experiences with the N804s, does the group have opinions on the following (all B&W speakers)?

Front: N804's with G57 (I already own these)
Centre: HTM-1 with one G56 in bridge mode
Rears: N805's with one G56 in stereo mode
Sub: ASW-800

Also, any opinions on using Nautilus SCM-1 wall mounted speakers in place of the N805 rears - for DVD-A music as well as for DD5.1 movies? 80% music, 20% movies.

thanks
Sanjay


- Edited -
I meant to say G56 (2chx100W bridgeable) not G55

[This message has been edited by Sanjay (edited 07-21-2004).]

I play also at moderate levels. I live in a house in a row (direct neighbours on both sides, no not know the right English word for it)
In my previous house i played louder because i could, but i do not have the idea i am missing something now.

A 6 Ohm speaker can draw more out of the amp than a 8 Ohm i think, but the power section of the end amp is limiting somwhere.

I have once measured with an radio Shack SPL meter and reached peaks of 100 dB i think (was a while ago in my previous house)

I cannot comment on the heating up. My 558 units are installed in a 19" rack on top of each other with like 5 cm (2") room voor ventilation between top side and shelf of the above device. My 19" rack doors are open front and rear while playing.

The units get hand warm

Jaco

I'm driving a pair of N804's + HTM-1 with 3 Meridian 505 monoblocks and a G68.
My normal listening level is between 60 and 70, with occasional peaks up to 80 (depending on the recording level of the CD/DVD).

The 505's are 160W into 8 Ohm each, and they never get more than slightly warm even after several hours of playing.

Maybe your room is acoustically difficult, in that it is absorbing the sound?

About the speakers you propose: the HTM-1 is the ideal center to use with N804's. I've also had an HTM-2, but this sounds quite different.

Also, if you main goal is 5(.1) channel music (DVD-A/SACD) I would advise getting N804's as rears. Just as the HTM-1 sounds different from the HTM-2, so do the N804's from the N805's.
The G-amp series should be gain-matched, so using different models should not be a problem.

Regards,
Mark

[This message has been edited by markvl (edited 07-20-2004).]

I've listen to the G55 (not broken in unfortunately) in 2 configuration: normal and brdige mode against Primare A30.5 (5-ch amp) and Stello S200 (2-ch amp) in a 2-ch setup (a bit unfair against the 5-ch amps).

Typical Meridian Amp, sound warm, top end slightly absent, bottom end there not very articulate and clear. The change between bridge mode and normal is quite astonishing: 2 words: more dynamics!
Compare to the Primare (broken in), beside the big price difference, the Meridian out class it, The Stello on the other hand was more linear with expanded extremes, slightly colder presentation of the music but more transparent than M and P.
what I would expect from my experience with M amps and the G55, I think the midrange forwardness will come down quite a bit with still some left over, the top end will not be flat and the bottom end improved just slightly (probably not a big enough power supply)

In favor of the G, a very flexible setup there are very few multichannel amps in the world that would allow bridging, cinch+XLR as well as double binding post for each channels for bi-wiring, small form factor, not much heat, good sound but not top audiophile quality.
I think I will go for it for my surround channels with the following configuration:
Center channel bridged 1x300w
2x surrounds @ 100w
and I will have a spare channel left over

my 2c
FB

I am using the bw804's for front & rear left/rights, and the HTM1 for center. Up to now, the only thing I've heard yet that tops it accoustically are 2 bw800, one HTM1 and 2 bw801 (as surrounds) powered by Omega monoblocks!!! If you have lack of space go for the 805 surrounds - else try to get the 804's allround - much fuller sound than the 805's.

As for my room, well its around 10m(L) by 5m(W) by 2m (H) with rough walls and ceiling. The only absorbing matterial in the room is a small carpet covering the space between the three main speakers and the couch. And when I listen to music, I like pop/rock etc a little on the loud side (still live alone and have no neighbours close by

Anyway, I did the speaker conf again, and this time I calibrated to 80db instead of the recommended 75, and did the MRC again also. Now I get acceptable volumes around 70-75, and the amp after four hours seems ok. I just have to fing the proper equilibrium (till I get another G55...). If anyone else is using a similar setup with a G55, can you tell me how you set your speakers? What is this 75db calibration doing exactly?

Costas