Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems DVD Upgrades modification...

So I finally saved up the shekels, and ordered a modified DV-668AV from DVD Upgrades, with the SPDIF board.

It arrived about two hours ago, and I'm just now getting to the point where I can do any testing with it.

It definitely works, and I have successfully used it to transfer SA-CD (at 88.2K) and DVD-A (up to 96K) between the modified unit and a G68.

Does it sound as good as the G91 for DVD-Audio? Nope. Does it sound better than SA-CD redigitized before processing? I think so, but I don't have much time spent listening.


Regards,

Good stuff John, I trust you'll be posting your findings here soon? Are you running the G68 instead of the 861 then nowadays?

Spidey:

For the time being

Cheers,

John,
how much is G91 superior to this mod?
I can't figure out how it can be better or worse, judging on sheer data, because it seems to me that both systems are totally digital and shouldn't really change anything...
Can you detail more?
Thank you
Paolo

Paolo:

There's jitter control on both sides of the connection with G91 feeding into the G68. MHR has an effect on the sound quality as well, how much I don't know, but it definitely has an impact.

Out of curiosity, do you think that all CD players sound the same when feeding a digital output to a DAC or processor?

Cheers,



[This message has been edited by John Kotches (edited 12-10-2004).]

Thanks John,

Great to finally have it confirmed as working with the Meridian units.

/SA

John you are right,

To your last point, I thought till yesterday that there shouldn't have been much difference between say Meridian CD players when feeding a G68 and DSP speakers.
How wrong was I.
Had a demo of a G91/G68/DSP7000s on direct mode, very good indeed.
Then a 808 took its place. That player is amazing!!! layers that passed unnoticed with the G91 came to life with the 808. Smoother, detailed, more organic.
I would love one now!!

Regards,

Harry

John,

I would love to hear your thoughts for G68 vs 861 as well!


Tom

Tom,

You'll have to wait for the review to be submitted and printed.

Regards,

Heh, good enough.

Let us know when its out.

Tom

Ok, I can say this much so far...

Wow! Amazing! (Insert expletives here). For me to get all the surround recordings I want I have to have both formats kicking around regardless of which is better sonically.

I'm just scratching my head listening to the discs. No, it isn't dandruff I'm just wondering where in the world this sound quality was hiding before on SA-CD.

Keep in mind, I only have about 3 hours or so of listening in, but it's going to take quite some time for the smile to leave my face.

DVD-Audio doesn't have quite the level of reproduction as the G91 (or 598DP) does but it is still outstanding.

This is not my most organized or well thought out post here on Hitchhiker's but hopefully my glee with the results is being conveyed.

Back to the room for some serious listening.

Addition
From a practical perspective, it is difficult for me to have everyone over for an auditoning session since we have hitchhiker's the world over. But if anyone is in my area (St.Louis, MO USA) you are welcome to come over and give this modification a listen.



[This message has been edited by John Kotches (edited 12-12-2004).]

I am also thinking about going this route as a one player solution for DVD-V, DVD-A, and SACD. Very helpful to see someone else taking the plunge first. Thanks John! It sounds like you have listened to DVD-A at 96K, does the board limit you to that or could you go to 192K as well (their website says it can)? I like the Denon players for video, and am checking to see whether the board will work with a Denon 3910 and then have someone locally (San Francisco) to install it.