Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 5000’s vs 5500's

The 5500s and 7000s are the only Meridian floor-standing form factors that I've never owned and, interestingly, they are birds of a feather. I did hear the 5500s once at Sounds Expensive in Rugby and they sounded well... Meridian-ish (in the best possible sense).

Yep, the 7000 is essentially the 5500 in a pretty box.

I have read the debates re: 5k vs 5.5k vs 7k and noted previous (neg) comments about 5.5’s sound. That said, there does seem to be no question about the 5.5HC center being highly prized as a center speaker. It IS massive and would certainly be up to any cinematic theatrics thrown at it, I would think. But never having heard it, why is IT so highly rated (while not so much as a vertical L/R)?

I suspect that may have been down to the fact that there were no realistic alternatives if you had large DSPs. There was a centre 6000, or a single 8000 but they pretty much required a very high screen height, or an acoustically transparent screen. A single 7000 offered a bit more screen flexibility, but until the 7200HC it was the only large HC DSP. Having previously tried a 5000HC with 6000 mains, I found it was too much of a compromise on both movies and music.

Cheers

George

+1

DSP5500HC is a beast & Sound Anchor makes a stand especially for it that fits nicely under the screen . Highly recommended

I have 5000s and my strategy is to never listen to a pair of speakers I can't afford. That way the ones I own are the best speakers I've ever heard. =)

Wise man...

So... how much DO the side panels weigh? If the specs are accurate, even the 5500HC still weighs 175 lbs?

Our cutoff for conventional shipping in US (UPS, Fedex) is 70 lbs. Stripped of all four side panels, would the core come in under that? Doubtful. Interestingly, the 5000's come in right at 70lbs.