Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Help! Should I go back to 500 series?

I'd welcome thoughts on the following scenario -

I currently have a G91 feeding 5xDSP5K's and a Pioneer 504HDE plasma.

I'm very close to making a decision on a DVDO VP30 scaler. The driver for this is the realisation that I will soon need HDMI switching. Whilst I could of course get a HDMAX421, it seems like a sensible decision to go to the VP30 given cost/functionality.

However - this would mean that I'd take all scaling and switching responsibilities away from the G91 - it would basically only be used as a DVD player and processor. Having turned my brain to mush trying to work out the implications, I think I'm right in saying that I would not be able to feed the audio out from the DVD to the VP30 and then back into the G91 for processing - I'd have to leave it in there.

This messes up the "neatness" of the switching somewhat, but I guess I could live with it. However, the main question - and point of the thread - that then arises is....

Would I be better off without the G91, and replacing it with, say, an SDI-modded 596 and a 500-series processor (a 561 or 565)? A G68 is out of the question due to financial constraints.

Help and advice greatfully received.

I don't why you don't just leave the G91 doing all you're audio and put the VP30 in for video duties.

I understand that switching needs to be wife friendly etc, but, you could simply buy a decent remote with macro function so that screen, scaler and G91 all switch to what they need to at the single button push.

The picture and sound results will be far better by keeping it simple.


edit....ref your other post.....the point of the G91 is at least it is a one box solution for playing discs and processing surround sound. Going back to a 59x/56x combo could be done for the sale value of your G91 I'd expect however, it's two boxes.

Hi Nick -

I appreciate I could leave audio with the G91, but I'm concerned I may then have potential lip-sync issues with video processed by the VP30. The other consideration for "downgrading" is that it would give me the SDI option (something that I've only recently been learning about, but I understand would give the best possible video).

Coming from a 565/562/500/518/Pioneer 868 I certainly liked the G91 because of the 1 box approach, but am now realising that it really does cause problems down the line as you consider other upgrade opportunities/necessities.

I'm not sure of the second hand values, but would assume that if a swap situation were to arise (someone looking to move from 500 series to G), then a G91 for an SDI-modded 59x and a 56x could be a close match value-wise and everyone's a winner!

Not that I'm procrastinating or anything, but....

I've now decided to go down this path and replace my G91 with older 500 series kit and a separate video processor.

Given that my speakers are 18-bit DSP5000's (5 of them), and that I'm not really fussed about DVD-Audio would people be kind enough to comment on the price/performance benefits of 561 (or 565) vs 568, and 596 vs 598?

Video processor will almost certainly be the DVDO VP30 (feeding a Pioneer 504HDE). Other inputs will be Sky HD (this is what's really driving this decision), Pixelmagic HD Media Box for ripped SD DVD's, and Apple Mac mini for ripped CDs.

Ideally, I'm looking to get replacement DVD player (I guess this doesn't have to be Meridian - but at the very least I'll probably want it SDI moddable), the processor (this will be Meridian of one flavour or another) and the VP30 for the price that I can offload the G91 for (money's a bit tight at the moment!).

VP30 is circa �1100, so that would (I guess) leave about �1400 for processor and DVD. SDI mod costs can come later.

Clearly I could get a 561 (or 565) + 596 for that budget. Would I be missing out on that much by not going 568 and/or 598?

TIA,

Gerald.

/edit
Probably worth mentioning that I expect all video and audio switching will be carried out by the VP30 - so strictly speaking, I only need the 56x to take a single digital input and process it.

Doesn't the VP30 have digital audio inputs?

If so, connect your digital sources to the VP30 in line with the video inputs. It'll add delay for the digital audio, and output it.

You'd just use one input on the G91 for decoding digital sources then.

Regards,

Hi John -

You posted just as I was editing!

I need to off-load the G91 for financial reasons.

My thought here is that (for roughly the same money that the G91 is worth) 56x+59x+VP30 will give me better video (and of course more flexible switching + 4 HDMI inputs) than the G91, and that audio will be near identical.

Regards,

Gerald.

Gerald,

That's a different story then...

I do wonder how much you'd come out ahead if you sold off the G91 and got 5xx components as replacements.

Best,

The key thing here is what you don't mention - the VP30.

Everything that I've read over the last few months leads me to believe that a VP30 will trounce a G91 when it comes to external video sources, and that a 59x+VP30 will be better than a G91 for DVD.

When it comes to the audio side of things, is a G91 significantly better than a 56x processor considering the fact I have 18 bit DSP5000's (that won't get replaced or upgraded for the foreseeable future)?

I've got to be pragmatic here really and weigh up the relative merits of G91 + HDMax421 vs 56x+59x+VP30 at very similar monetary values. If I can improve video quality (from all sources) & not loose anything audio wise, plus gain flexibility, all for no effective financial outlay, I'd be mad not to consider it!

Regards,

Gerald.