Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 561, 562, 568 as a stereo pre-amp?

Thinking of replacing my 502 with either a 561, 562 or a 568.2mm. Has anyone compared the sound quality of a 561, 562, 568.2 and 502 in analogue 2-speaker stereo mode i.e. as a preamp? My source is a 596, so I guess it could connect to the 561/562/568.2 via analogue in or digital in (?)

Hi, It depends what you want to achieve.
If you are going 2 channel then there is no point using a surround processor.

If you want Trifield etc then surround is the way to go.

Decide on weather you are going to follow DVD-A and Sacd.

If not, the world is your Lobster. Get the best you can for the money you have.
You wont be dissappointed.

Cheers, Chris

If setting up for two channel only...I would get a good two channel preamp and use the analog outputs on your 596. Adcom has a nice passive/active preamp that I was thinking of pairing with my 596 in a second room. I've heard the 596 in such a setup and was floored by how good it sounded. I've never heard the Adcom but thought about giving it a try so I'm not saying get an Adcom. There are a lot of great two channel preamps out there.

Ron

Thanks guys. I am planning to go DSP one day, so I guess I should stick with a Meridian processor/controler. Hence my thoughts on replacing my 502 with a 561, 562 or 568.

My priority is mainly RBCD on 2-channel stereo, but have heard so much about Trifield that I could be tempted to get a third speaker. But the main criteria has to be that the 2-chaneel sound should not be worst than a 502.

I have a 598DP with a 568.2MM and a single pair of speakers. I used to have a full surround system but decided that really high quality stereo is more important to me, which meant better speakers than I had. I've kept the 598/568 together because I think the red book CD performance is excellent with the digital link and because it enables any future move back to multi channel.

It's unconventional but I don't think you'll regret the move, given what you hope to achieve through the investment.

Regards,
Steve

Why do you all think Stereo is so precious.

If they could have had 3 channels all those years ago, they would have.
Only the mechanical limitations of an LP stopped this.
Mozart would have used more octaves on his piano if he had them.
Read the brochure, unlearn stereo, a flawed idea anyway.
If you go to a concert the Artists dont stand at either end of the stage projecting a perfect stereo Image.
They are in the Middle of the stage and all positions in between.
With todays technology and Meridian we can be immersed in sound from a 2 channel source.

My Advice, Get a Processor Go surround for Music and Movies, experiment, you wont regret it.

Pure Stereo is like going into battle with the finest sword and fighting technique, but with out knowledge that the machine gun is available.

Enjoy, Chris

Chris, you have soooooooooo much to (un)learn...

George

I was only two channel till I purchased my 568.1 back in early 2000.

Now I agree with Chris! The center channel especially anchors the center image in the middle even when your sitting off to one side. Plus Meridians surround music modes are so natural sounding. I only used my fronts and sub with the 568.1 but now with my 568.2 the surrounds are worth leaving on. All channels are upsampled now.

Ron

Well done Ron, I am glad your enjoying it all.
The trick I think is to have well matched speaker voiceing. Another Reason to stick to Meridian.
I have a match of very old M30 Mk2 rears, Old A500's Rosewood Mains, Old M1500 Sub and fairly new to me M33c. As sides I have some Keff 70 S speakers.
To me the sound is sooo all enveloping and satisfying I can hardly believe it.
I have to chuckle when people are complaining about lack of presance in the mid band on their DSP 5000 etc.
I must admit I have no clue what they can be talking about, but when I get there I am sure I will understand.
As for now, I am enjoying sound I never believed was available and for so Little money. (Second Hand Joe Here)

Chreers, Chris

Meridian music surround modes are not just used for center fill like the tons of other ones out there. Besides the energy preservation characteristics of Trifield, it also digs into many theories from Ambisonic wavefront reproduction in its processing of the 2ch music source, allowing the 2/3 frontal channel to convert the dreaded pan-potted amplitude panning (in which the vast majority of music are recorded) into a sound that is true to how we really localize sounds.

Chris, are you chuckling at yourself or at "non believers"?

Well matched speaker voicing can easily be attained outside of Meridian - the obvious route is identical speakers for each channel, which I used to have - but it's naive in general to suggest that only Meridian of all speaker manufacturers can do voice matching.

I have huge respect for Bob Stuart's reputation in psychoacoustics; his work guides Meridian products and influences the industry in general. Despite that, Trifield did not do it for me. The DSP5000's were too directional so that I always knew where the sound was coming from. I wish M were as good with tweeter selection as they are with DSP.

Did I try hard with set up? Definitely. I had good help, too. Meridian's distributor in Finland became a good friend when I lived there and we both spent a lot of time working on it. We felt three Wilson Benesch Discoveries were better than the 5000s but three WB Discoveries are not as good to my ears as one pair of Sonus Faber Guarneri's.

Remember, also, that Bob thinks 2 channel is worth producing the 808 for. He hasn't produced a SACD player that I've noticed.

You're right that artists don't stand on either side of a stage. They stand middle-ish and I hear their sound, plus reflections, with my two ears. Bit like stereo, really.

About 10% of my DVD Audio collection is satisfying in multi channel mode. For the rest, 2 channel provides the best rendering.

'fraid you hit a nerve and sorry to rant. George said it more succinctly. (Still going to post it, though). When technology and marketing conspire to offer compelling multi channel, I'll invest again but I shouldn't dismiss stereo too easily. It doesn't bar one from the Meridian experience.

Regards,
Steve

Hi Steve,

Rant away, thats what the forum is for.

I was not being specific in my mention of a particular speaker, it was a general observation that I get such good and satisfying sound with out the Esoteric stuff people searching for perfection go on about.

But as people we all have differant experiances and motivations, so, whatever works, works.

The study of personality styles has shown me that we will all have differant points of view, all equaly valid.
The trick is to see it all from a differant viewpoint and somwhere in there is a balance.

So Task oriented Reserved people, Lighten up, its only Music.

People Oriented Outgoing people (Me) Try to take it a bit more seriously and dust your kit once in a while.

Cheers, Chris