Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Meridian Users Convention - UK

I'm up for it. I think this is a great idea, don't why it hasn't been proposed earlier...
Huntingdon seems appropriate as well, not too far from central london.

A Great Idea, it needs some focus to make it happen, ie guest speaker, product demo, lunch whatever.
Keep idea's floating in.

Chris

Just to add further support to the suggestion of a demo. It would be so nice to get a proper M demo of lower end set ups as all the shows I have been to to date show off their top kit which is great for making an impact but realistically for most, even fans like us, is out of reach.

Cheers

Simon

"It would be so nice to get a proper M demo of lower end set ups as all the shows I have been to to date show off their top kit which is great for making an impact but realistically for most, even fans like us, is out of reach."

hear hear! Something that the majority of us own, or could aspire to....

ok so who do we get to ask M ?? Who is in the know ? any volunteers. ? I am happy to approach them but i would have thought a dealer or owner of 8000s might be better positioned or even better know to them. ?

just a thought to move things on

Here's my idea: the Marriott Hotel - http://marriott.co.uk/Channels/globalSites/propertypage/UK/cbghd?WT_Ref=mi_left - is just 1.2 miles from Meridian HQ.

It has:

8 meeting rooms
492 sq m of total meeting space
Largest meeting room is Cambridge with maximum meeting space of 260 sq m and maximum seating capacity of 260.

We could all pay a hotel/conference fee to attend a series of seminars given by Meridian staff over the weekend - such as expanding on the existing series of Meridian White Papers, for example, followed by Q&A sessions.

Different Meridian systems could be set-up in the meeting rooms - from modest to dreadnought systems - that suited different sized wallets.

Bed and breakfast rates at the Marriott range from �73 for a single room to �190 for a suite, for a single night (for a two day stay).

If you want more, there's Huntingdon and Newmarket race courses plus Cambridge to visit.

I recently attended a demo at Technosound in Milton Keynes given by M's UK sales manager. He wouldn't know what he was in for if a bunch of us lot turned up and started asking the same sort of questions we ask here!

[flameproofjacketon]Seriously. Reading between the lines, I wasn't convinced that M does that much marketing. When I got on to the topic of networked audio, all I got was "we considered a sound server a while back but nothing came of it". That certainly doesn't say to me that M has marketing channels open to early adopters of new technology like us.[/flameproofjacketon]

Personally, I feel that M could learn one hell of a lot from this type of exercise. After all, most of us have a philosophical affinity with M. But in other ways it would be dangerous for them to open themselves up.

And aren't they all busy at the moment fixing all those firmware problems?

Edit: I would be on for a Huntingdon meet.

I believe there is soon to be, or already is a large demo room at HQ they use for dealer training. They don't tend to do demo's to 'erberts like us, but a big enough gang of 'erberts may swing it!

Be afraid! Be very afraid!!!

Meridian are a great company and are always doing loads on dealer training on site. You can see the older gear they have on display like the prototypes that never made it. But think that the area of the mothership is best.

I think it's a fine idea. It's always a pleasure to put a few faces to names usually at shows. It's also good to spend some chat (and drink )time with the guys we normally deal with on the phone.

However, I can see a few problems that would need to be resolved.

Who organises it ? Is it M ? Is it a nominated or volunteered Hiker? Is it a ticket affair ? Can anyone buy a ticket or is it "Hikers only" Does it become a Meridian-only hi-fi show ? Will M only ever dissappoint since they can't please all the people all the time (some want more entry level demo, some want to experience more of the dream gear)? Is it just a demo session (M have dealers to do that)? Is it a social club to which M sometimes come along and sometimes not ?
Will it become a "run what ya brung" gathering (you know, SB's, BigBen's, SDI machines etc etc)? Is there a uniform (sandles, arran sweaters, pipes )

I'm just grabbing these questions as they come to me.

There are local hi-fi clubs dotted around the country. So, it is clear that gathering can work.
We just need to explore exactly what this one would be and how M might want to participate (if at all).

Can't wait to tell Mrs L though......"Darling, I'm away this weekend to go and chat hi-fi"......"but, you spend everynight on that ****** site as it is !!!!"

Picking up on Nick's point, this forum occasionally transcends Meridian and hifi in general. We've occasionally strayed into politics and found ways of managing ourselves to keep it civilised and socialble. There was the idea of a separate forum to manage "other stuff" in July. Is this something worth exploring as part of the convention idea?

More specifically, I don't think it's fair or reasonable to ask/expect Meridian to put on a private hifi show for us. I doubt there's a business return in it for them (we've already bought and are highly likely to do so again!) A lot of members have detailed, informed, interests in areas M don't seem to want to go or don't want to talk about until they are ready for market and I can't see that changing.

A lot of us value people like Des and Ed and maybe we could invite them and colleagues along. If, as part of that, we could investigate some of the issues and confusion we al get into around setup, configuration, sound potential, etc., that could be interesting.

I'm probably saying this badly but I'd like this to happen. I feel it's best driven by the forum, perhaps through an organising committee and perhaps with a "workshop" approach in selected interest areas.

Regards,
Steve