Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Choosing a Meridian processor

For what it's worth, I grew up very 2-channel oriented. I now do 100% of my listening with Meridian's version of 7 channel Trifield (an oxymoron, but there you have it). I'll periodically switch into Stereo mode, and always find myself going back to Trifield.

What I hear is:
- Stereo mode is crisper in terms of imaging
- 7 channel Trifield is more emotionally engaging. It's subtle and doesn't (to me) have negative impact on resolution and detail. I grew up in a family of professional symphony musicians. When they would practice, it would make the whole room come alive. I hear/feel that much more with Meridian Trifield than with stereo.

This matches my own experience. I was a very purist 2-channel guy for decades. Then I heard Meridian Trifield. The comment I made at the time was that, directly comparing very good 2-channel in the same room, the 2-channel was excellent in all the ways I would expect, but Trifield put me in the opera house (we had an opera test track). Sounded more like live opera to me, as I go to Covent Garden regularly.

So yes, I agree, more emotionally engaging and “you are there”, as it were. IMO, of course and YMMV…

I should add that I, too, listen to 5.1 Trifield, and that it’s important to remember Meridian’s Trifield processing will utilise subwoofers and surround channels if you have them.

The experiences y'all are describing listening with Trifield are just what I am after by exploring/going down this route. I have always wanted to hear more of the acoustics of the recording site than my room and I think after my acoustical remodel will have moved further towards that goal, then adding the ambient/reverberant cues may be just the ticket.

Thank you for the link on the digital outputs. It seems that limitations on resolution are largely related to DVD. I don't think I will experience copy protection issues with my 2 channel library, so hopefully can send 24/96 to the processor and get 24/96 out. As for the occasional streamed movie or the BBC detective shows my wife likes I am happy to listen to them in whatever, perhaps Meridian's movie mode, Dolby PL, etc., doesn't have to be discrete.

Can anyone comment on experiences they have had listening to classical music with height channels? I would like to think that I won't be missing much and as I said, my suspicion is that Meridian's upmixing DSP may be the best and I don't need to chase after emerging immersive codecs.

I am having a hard time not pulling the trigger on the G61R or 568.2mm that I linked above, but perhaps I should keep watching, as my room is currently torn down(?). . But if someone sees "the one," don't hesitate to point it out to me.

Bill

I suspect you will find that, for music, Meridian’s processing remains the most satisfying. I wouldn’t personally chase height channels, etc.

One thing to bear in mind, since your primary interest is Trifield music replay, is that some feel the centre width adjustment was broken in one of the firmware upgrades and never fixed on the 568. Some say you can load an older firmware for the centre channel only which fixes this. If you really want to be sure, an 861v4 is flawless and is also supported in Mconfig (the latest Meridian config program). 568 and some of the older processors use legacy config. Not a problem, but worth knowing. G61R, I think, use switch mode PSU, which had a bit of a reputation for being unreliable, 568 is linear PSU out of the box (and some say sounds better than G series). 861v4 came as standard with switch mode PSU, but can be upgraded to the current Linear PSU. It can also take an ID40 card for reference standard streaming and Room control, etc.

In case you did decide to go with Meridian DSPs, there is a rare 3x vertical DSP5000 in the Restaurant for sale at the moment here.

I am not connected with, and cannot vouch for the seller, just a heads-up since you’re going for an ideal Trifield setup.

I just had a look on my own (current) versions of MConfig and Legacy Config. MConfig has no option (that I can see) to toggle MHR, only HS on/off. Legacy Config has Always or As Needed, but they are greyed out and I can’t select them.

So just a heads-up to be careful - you may not currently be able to get unencrypted 24/96 from the digital outputs of a Meridian processor. Since this aspect is important to you, unless others chime in here, it might be prudent to start a new thread asking if anyone is currently achieving this.

Thanks again for all the advice and wisdom.

My plan this morning was to note that my list of options seems to be:

568.2mm
G61R
861v4

I have been made aware of an original owner 568.2mm this morning with appropriate software/firmware and will be investigating.

Bill

the 568.2mm works fine with a small firmware/software modification.
more info can be found here and here.

Trifield width/depth settings works fine for me now, and the unit sounds even better.

To make it even more perfect, you can try this tweak.

Sending out 24/96 withouth MHR is only possible as far as I know, with this kind of hardware mod.

Wow. More great information. Thank you for the links.

The processor described by @OldCanCan above (I wonder if that is from the US phrase "that old can can hunt" ) has the 2.569 firmware and C00044 logic.

Seems perfect as I would love to have the NOS filter as I like to upsample in software to an even shorter minimum phase filter (looks like the apodizing one but with less ringing after the initial impulse/no pre-ringing).

you are welcome.

More info about NOS-SRX filter can be found over on this website.
Further talking about modifications is unfortenutly not allowed on this forum.

2.5b9 firmware with DSP-C00044 sounds the best for the 568.2
Perhaps this article is also interessted for you to read.

But I do can say it sounds great !

Thanks again.

I think the only unresolved issue I have is what sample rate/bit depth the 568.2mm will pass out of it's SPDIF outputs.

I am researching/searching in depth. I believe that they will send 24 bits, now trying to figure out sample rate.

Bill

you are welcome.

The 568.2mm will output 24/96 with MHR (encryption).
So 24/96 SPDIF can only be used by deffault with Meridian DSP Speakers.

of course 24/96 will also work fine with analoge speakers, but then over XLR/RCA outputs.

non MHR is only available when configuring the processor to use 16/44 normale DSP speakers.
then MHR is not enabled.

An hardware modification like I posted to you here earlier, can perhaps also work for the 568.2mm which enables 24/96 withouth encryption..

this applies to all M processors, as far as I know.