Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems No new firmware update

As Carl stated above, what do you expect from a firmware update?

The 861 has gone from V4 to V6 and then V8 over the last 15 years. None of those versions addressed new codecs even with significant hardware updates. If the 861 was capable of getting a firmware update that would allow it to do modern codecs don't you think it would have happened at some time over the last 15 years? As for MQA, owners of the 808 and 818 did not get MQA without hardware updates. Those owners had to spend significant money to get hardware updates and subsequent firmware updates to the new hardware to get MQA. Heck, if you had an 818v2 and a pair of DSP8000's you had to spend over twenty grand to get MQA. So with that said, why would anyone think that the 861 would get MQA or modern codec support via a free firmware update?

The answer is simple, no amount of firmware updates will enable features that the hardware does not support. Even with a 64 channel backplane, the 861 in its current form is essentially maxed out. Anyone in the know who is being straight with you, will tell you that is true.

The HD621 is a brilliant piece of equipment, It has extended the life of the 568, G series, plus the 861v4 and above. Meridian obtained the license to break HDMI in developing the HD621. Some may say that it is kind of a Band-Aid solution. After all someone buying a $20000.00 processor still had to buy an HD621. I would venture a guess that it was far cheaper for Meridian to break HDMI and produce the HD621 than it was to pay the licensing fees, buy new decoding chips, engineer new boards , and update equipment. Firmware for the HD621 will not enable true UHD 4k, enable HDCP 2.2 or HDMI 2.0. All these require hardware changes. All the other companies had to update their hardware. Trinnov and Theta digital and others offered new boards or factory installed upgrades to support the latest 4k spec. And as far as styling goes, the HD621 is not in keeping with the design of the 861, G series or 500 series. I am not fond of styling or the new components being released such as the 271, 251, 218, etc, but these are meant to be in an equipment rack out of sight. Instead of a black faceplate with a bright blue, red or other color stripe, I would have preferred it to be all black.

My opinions stated here may not be popular but, above all I am a realist and I am just being real.

not only are they meant to be in equipment rack, unlike the HD621, but none of them are a direct HD621 replacement either in terms of functionality. they need to release the 621v2 vs Trinnov patch boxes that also do 4k if you happen to not sell off your 861v8 (and HD621). see what i did there?

No, I don't think many will see what you did there. It is clear that you are unaware of tbe UHD722 which is the replacement to the HD621. There will not be a HD621v2. The UHD722 is a direct plug and play replacement for systems currently using HD621's

edit: i found the UHD722 - it doesn't have a color stripe on it. okay, my bad, it's a direct replacement for $3k.

(i confused it w/ the 271, which is the Trinnov patch box for those wanting Atmos, etc. since the v8 has seemingly been abandoned.)

The small photo on the “Watch this space” link in the UHD722 thread, appears to use the 200 series casework but doesn’t seem to have a colour band on it. The last two buttons appear different from the others, it may be that they illuminate when they have a 4k signal on them (does that imply that only 2 of the 7 inputs are 4k capable?).

What worries me is the likely price hike over that of the HD621.

Brian

it's 3,000 USD, or 2x more than a Marantz AV7703 which does 11.2 channels, Atmos, etc. and it comes w/ 3D and 4K Ultra pass thru.

btw, M had a Marantz driving their DSP's when doing the UHD722 271 demo.

Meridian has not demonstrated a UHD722. They did however demonstrate the 271 with the Marantz processor at the CEDIA 2017.

For the money new M kit costs, shouldn't that be expected?

As I understand it, the G65 still doesn't accept 7.1 digital input from a HD621.. that implies that the underlying architecture has not had significant change from the original G68, which would make what, nearly 14 years...? and yes, I know there have been updates in terms of sound quality, but what about functionality? for a surround sound controller... to be facetious, how many denon receivers have there been in that time? or yamaha or pioneer? and we might pontificate that these devices are mass-made consumer items not for the listening elite, but now we have the 271, Meridian's own documentation suggests using a Pioneer SC-LX701 for decoding and source selecting duties which richer sounds is currently knocking out for £799...

MQA was announced in 2014 yet none of their surround controllers have had any support added in the last 3 years... maybe it does require a hardware update, but then where is it? The 861 is sold on the basis of it's upgrade-ability but have been no upgrade cards to support this, or lossless surround (from what, 2006?), or even higher res audio and DSD. If these can't be supported by upgrades then what value is this upgrade-ability really providing?

Hey, I can't afford the majority of M's product line these days so I suppose I'm not their core demographic, but I've been into hifi and av for 20+ years with mid to top end kit from the likes of sony, pioneer, rotel, denon and lower end kit from M. I would hope that M would want me as a customer, but I'm currently revamping my main lounge setup and I'm not going down the M route. It sounds great, but I need functionality, ease of use, compatibility and WAF too and M's just not doing enough for me in that space...

Which is a shame as I have always really liked the all digital active concept and I like the look and sound of the speakers.

Still, I've got an Explorer and an M stereo in my car so I suppose I'll hang around a bit yet

Iirc it’s actually a Panasonic radio in your car but customised/tuned/badged by Meridian

Is it? well I didn't know that. It certainly has enough M badges, and supports Trifield...

Are there any more detail on this? I can't seem any obvious reference on these forums unless I've missed it?

I find your post to be very interesting. You talk about affordability of M gear yet you drive a Land Rover which certainly in no Kia Sorrento, it comes down to priorities. Also of note is that you are bringing up grievances about products you do not own nor by your own admission, intend to own. The Meridian gear that you do own, by reading your previous posts was all purchased on the second hand market. I bring this up because there is a negative trend in these forums lately. Often these come from folks who are minimally invested or have no experience with the products they are commenting on. Such trends I feel, negatively affect those who are heavily invested in the product, truly enjoy their equipment, and would reasonably expect it to be desirable on the used market when they do upgrade.

--> you do not own nor by your own admission, intend to own...

M not updating their flagship processor nor their speakers to their very own newish tech and fairly ubiquitous codecs like Atmos certainly doesn't encourage new investment, for some;

--> The Meridian gear that you do own by reading your previous posts was all purchased on the second hand market.

does that really matter? maybe he bought his Range Rover secondhand too?

--> I bring this up because there is a negative trend in these forums lately.

see above first point and last point;


--> Often these come from folks who are minimally invested

conjecture in some cases and ultimately moot;

--> or have no experience with the products they are commenting on.

more conjecture (not accounting for products that haven't yet been released )

--> Such trends I feel, negatively affect those who are heavily invested in the product, truly enjoy thier equipment, and would reasonably expect it to be desirable on the used market when they do upgrade.

free speech is tricky sometimes. perhaps some here don't "truly" enjoy their equipment? i guess best not to voice grievances so as to not impact secondhand prices, yet criticizing above poster for buying secondhand? lol

PS Mel perhaps until you step up to 8k speakers, you haven't made a sufficient enough investment to be opining so much, as per your above?

PPS i believe that most everyone if not everyone here in this forum are huge champions of this brand and only want the company to thrive and release the very best products, as they have been for close to 25yrs.