Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Off Topic Meridian vs. other high end brands

It seems a little dry around here lately so I thought I would bring up a topic of discussion. How many high end brands out there can compare to Meridian in the following criteria:

Length of ownership

Product scope

Long term support

How long their products actually last

Design and manufacture their own products domestically.


Have fun

Can I add 'churn rate'?

A good friend of mine has Goldmund mono amps, Linn streamer, audio research pre amp, audio research DAC & CD player and Wilson speakers.

The system sounds more 3D than my set up and brighter but at higher volumes just loses control and actually splits the ears. admittedly his room is a lot bigger than mine and my placement is far from ideal.

Tat said during the 2.5 years I have owned my DSP speakers he has changed speakers 3 times and pre amp twice. Speakers are still Wilson but going higher up the range (Sophia, Sasha and now Alexxa), pre amp, CD etc. he has moved from Linn to Audio Research.

get some DSP8k's and you will blow away your friend's Wilson rig, and every other system out there, rooms being equal.

In the UK, Naim Audio immediately comes to mind as a once similar comapny. Their high end products at least are still manufactured in the UK (about 2 miles down the road from me). However while Naim is still generating products aimed squarely at the audio enthusiast (helped by the Focal-JMLab merger no doubt), Meridian has shifted its focus to the installer market. It’s the very slow evolution of some its flagship products that concerned me and forced me to move on.

Linn and Naim all seem to do quite well. They seem to have maintained loyal followings since the early 1980s and some of their classic products are still in demand . I've never been a paid-up member of the flat earth society [1] myself, but I don't doubt the quality. Quad used to have this reputation, but they have been acquired by a conglomerate and I believe now manufacture outside the UK. They able seemed to go through a phase of frequently updating products.

Michell Engineering is more of a boutique operation - they only make turntables and tonearms. They are still going in North London: they refurbished my 1983 turntable a few years ago.

Going beyond music. In photography I would say Leica. In terms of how long the products last: I'm still using an 1934 Leitz lens on a current Leica digital camera (so 83 years). If I needed the lens refurbished for some reason I can still send it back to Wetzlar. I'm not sure if it is significant, but Leica has a significant following of collectors. I do wonder if the high prices they are willing to pay for limited editions of products (think gold plated finishes, custom engraving) helps keep the brand profitable.

[1] For Bruce in the US. Somewhere in the depths of time, a British reviewer or journalist coined this phrase to refer to the adulation for the (admittedly very good) combination of Linn turntable and Naim amplificaiton.

I would pitch Rega as a company of integrity only because I know Roy Gandy a little.

My friend Gary helps him on recording projects and Roy set up my guitar and has come to The Little Rabbit Barn with his family and invited us to see Stephen Fearing in his home. The PA was eight Rega speakers aside and above the stage driven by the best custom Rega amps.

That aside he is a pure analog fan and everything he does is designed to bring more value to the product. Quality is in the Rega DNA and it comes from the top. The digital world does not sit well with Roy lol a lovely man.

huge fan of the Rega RP 10

Hi Bruce

Happy to comment on Meridian. As I have no real experience with competitors products, no relative comments would have a value.

Length of ownership 30 years plus

Product scope Initially completely met my needs and aspirations. More recently not so clever. Meridian have been passed by competition

Long term support Past commitment to domestic customers was fantastic, with the advent of change towards custom install this is no longer so.
Whatever happened to the term "Premium Partner"

How long their products actually last. The previous general policy of Meridian to offer upgrade paths for products has been much appreciated and where this has not been possible we have been clearly informed. Way in front of competition here but at what price ?

Design and manufacture their own products domestically. Design and manufacture has been retained in the UK with the exception of the automotive systems where only design was retained.

Comment
Future choices for 2 channel music are becoming clearer. Stick with DSP technology or move to high end amps and analogue speakers, where choices are much greater.
I am happy with M products and the simplicity/integration offered, I have however heard some stunning options at comparable prices utilising analogue out from 818/808/Ultra DAC (world class) M products.

The quest for quality and value continues.

Hector

Great thread Bruce! I will always have a Meridian digital source. All others pale by comparison. I am equally impressed with the 502 and G02 preamps that were standing in for my Mcintosh while it was being serviced. In the end I prefer a touch of tubes with my 808.6 and transistors with my TTs so with my Mcintosh I will stick. IMO Meridian doesn't get the recognition they deserve here in the US.

Great thread. I listened to a pair of Magico M3s and was duly impressed. I'd love to add one of their center channels and see what Trifield could do.

I'm into M for 20+ years. I've disappointed with their being left behind by the new surround processors that handle ATMOS, Auto and DTS-X. Theta Digital has always been a favorite of mine and is made in California where I live. They utilize Dirac which seems to be technologically superior to MRC.

I sure am hoping for some good news on the upgrade front from M this year. I've heard rumblings that CEDIA could have some positive news.

John

Some thoughts:


Length of ownership
- Owned M for roughly 10 years now, gradually making it up to an 861.

Product scope
- Personally I've not come away really wanting M speakers. Which is a bit of an issue when M stopped making amps, as that only left the sources, something that I'm sure will have influenced a number of potential owners.
- There's been some interesting decisions made on kit that feel rather baffling. We have heard nothing about Atmos support and why is there no DSP room correction in say the 818 and Ultra-DAC. Both areas that M have plenty of experience in, yet haven't taken advantage of. That's allowed groups like Linn to really catch up (at least on functionality) with their DS range.

Long term support
- Only had one requirement to address support, which was when the PSU in my 861 failed. Had it replaced with an LPS, which not only cured the issue, but also made it sound better (bonus). Not cheap, but as they also included a new warranty, well worth it.
- Having said the above, I'm a little dismayed at the move to support only being available by dealers. Quad still operate a support team in the UK, clearly made up of very long standing staff.

How long their products actually last
- M are clearly renowned for their longevity, but being fair, I don't think that's a real differentiator against competitors as most high end gear seems to last well. I've never had a good piece of hi-fi kit from any manufacturer fail, apart from my 861.

Design and manufacture their own products domestically.
- IMO a good thing, only really matched by Linn and Naim amongst the non-boutique crowd.
I'm conscious of the reservations aimed at say Quad for their Chinese built amps, doesn't read well on some forums, despite how good their kit is.

In summary, M have some great products, but in some areas, I believe they've lost their way a bit.