Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Why does there appear to be zero resale value in Meridian?

I'm surprised that the older CD/DVD players hold their value so well, the risk of a mechanism failure would be a red flag to me; I'm guessing that the high quality analogue outputs are keeping the prices high for use in analogue set ups, a use that most Meridian users wouldn't use.

ATB,

Steve

I bought a 4K TV in 2014 for $4k. A year and a half alter it was retailing for $1500. The current version retails for $750 new!
On the other hand, I have paid nearly $1k for a pair of almost twenty-years old Meridian speakers. Twice!

I think this is the crux of the matter - many of us were used to Meridian second-hand prices holding up better than other electrical items. TV's and PC's are notorious, though, for losing value.

.....seems to be a real deficit of 500 series Meridian equipment around at the moment as I've recently been looking for a 568 (.2) - ( if I get desperate id temp a 561 to get things up and running in the short term ) in the UK and there just hasn't been anything available in the last 6 weeks or so. I guess this scarcity is going to influence prices ultimately in an upward trend ?

How does your pricing compare to others for sale in your locality ?

Good luck Chris with you sale tho'

Yeah, I noticed that, and also for DSPs.

Perhaps people are holding onto Meridian gear because it's very good

CD players holding value surprises me a also - that's actually why I got out of CD players back in the day and went over to streaming - not because I had a great love of getting PCs/networking involved in my hobby! I had had a TEAC VRDS-7 heavily modded (re-clocked, PSU mods, etc.) and it sounded fantastic, but just wasn't reliable, and parts went MIA. I then had a 808.2i which needed one repair, but afterwards was good, but I got out of that one before it needed anything else doing, as I believe the .2 drives went N/A, and only the .3 (at the time) was available.

However, if memory serves the pre-ROM drive Meridian players are still serviceable, and the 500 series always, and still does, look and sound great, so maybe that accounts for it?

Having had (2) 568.2mm's - I can understand your desire for one. I sold my spare to a friend years ago.

To support Chris's frustration of Meridian pricing in Australia, I have never bought a single new Meridian item in Australia. New pricing here can be up to 50% more than the UK or US pricing and as Chris points out, you do not recover much back in the secondhand market. Fortunately I am a hoarder and I have yet to sell any Meridian component that I have bought new or secondhand. The main reason for that is that I have 3 sons, who have all grown up listening to Meridian produced sound and it is being passed on.

I have also been fortunate to have a working career that has had me living and working in many countries, which has allowed me to buy both new and secondhand in the US and UK. The Meridian US secondhand market has always been an overall a much lower landed cost for an Australian compared to the UK market, simply due to the population difference of 300 million Americans versus 60 million Brits. UK secondhand pricing versus US secondhand pricing converted to A$ is generally always lower.

As for the many comments on Meridian's pricing, I just found an email reply from my UK Dealer of 20 years dated 22/07/2008, where I enquired about the cost of a Meridian 240V power supply for a DSP6000 speaker. I had bought four 110V 24/96 DSP6000 speakers secondhand in the USA. The Meridian power supply was going to cost A$3,700 each for one speaker. Now for anyone that has never seen behind the plate of the DSP6000 power supply, this part could be described as "dumb iron". The are two toroidal transformers anchored to the metal back plate with a circular rubber washer and metal disc each. There is the power cord socket and fuse holder wired to the two toroids and then a plug from the output of the two toroids, which plugs into a socket at the bottom of the electronics board above. All that was required by me to overcome this "rape and pillage" was to buy 8 "compatible" 240V toroidal transformers that cost me £45 pounds each. I snipped the wiring on the two 110V toroidal transformers and connected 240V toroidal transformers in their place.

Now given this was in July before the GFC later in the year, the exchange rate would have still been around the A$2.40 to the £1.00 back then. The Meridian price for four DSP6000 240V power supplies equated to a total of £6,167 in 2008, whereas I paid a grand total of £360, plus the minuscule cost of the wire joiners and my own free labour. A grand saving of A$13,937 to obtain the same result. They have been working perfectly ever since without a single problem.

Before anyone starts asking me where did I buy the toroidal transformers, I will not be answering this question publicly on this forum.

The original retail price of these in the USA was US$20,000 a pair. IMHO there is no better bargain in the Meridian secondhand speaker market than buying a pair of 24/96 DSP6000's for quality sound per buck.

Cheers,
Steve M

100% agree on 6Ks being an absolutely stonkingly brilliant speaker, even today, and massive value at today's prices. If I had a bigger living space, I would, honestly, get another pair without hesitation.

Just my 2p's worth on the issue of pricing in different countries - yes, Meridian are doubtless expensive in other areas, however, they are sadly not alone in this. E.g., I have a soft spot for McIntosh amplifiers, but living in the UK makes them, frankly, a ridiculous price. Given that there is a very limited second hand market here for their products, I essentially shelved the idea of owning any. The price doesn't even reflect the dollar price in pounds, but is massively inflated - e.g. MC312 retails for $7000 (approx. £5500) in US. In the UK it retails at £10,000. That's almost double the price!

Completely agree, coming from a true DSP6K superfan! I think they are one of the best deals in audio.

When comparing prices between the UK and USA, remember that we have VAT to consider (on the original price) while the US pricing usually doesn't include any local taxes.
Brian

Who knows maybe the low prices will get get interest in the used market that will spark conversations in the forums that will expand popularity. I once posted on the net how a hi end pair of speakers didn't come to life until I mated it with a specific amp and some years later I read on a forum there's this cult buying up these vintage speakers and the latest version of that amp. IDK I listen to my system and am just stunned at the lack of awareness of such a musical product. Now when M is mentioned it's generally in the context of, they 'were something back in the day'.