Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Meridian or Linn?

I know, how could you even think about it!

However, with the 'crippling' of the G95 (no DVD-A playback) I started to wonder if there was a better alternative - I'm not so dogmatic as to believe that Meridian is the be all and end all of home-cinema (you can see that I'm playing devil's advocate, here).

Enter the Linn Unidisc SC - plays everything but HD-DVD and Blu-ray (DVD-A, SACD etc.), and partnered with five-channel Chakra 100 watts per channel Class D amplification for similar money to a G95.

Sure, there's no radio or audio/video upscaling - but it maintains a semi-separates system in a small form factor, and it seems to have a good press. Likewise, the Chakra 5100 is capable of accepting Activ crossovers should I decide to buy partnering Linn loudspeakers.

But, does anyone have any 'horror stories' in their previous Linn ownership - and are there any Unidisc owners out there?

Don't flame me all at once. :p

The Linn stereo in my car is rubbish!!! The sub-woofer has never worked and the radio reception sucks.

Don't know about the home based products though ...

I have a Loewe TV which is distributed by Linn Sight. Ignoring the technical merits of Linn and Meridian products, my experiences of Linn support is as follows.

As well dealerships, they also have presence in a number of stores. My TV was purchased from Linn Audio in Harrods - which was actually cheaper than buying from an internet dealer by the time that delivery and accessories were factored in - FWIW, Harrods were slightly more expensive for the TV itself, but had free delivery/setup/2 year warranty and cheaper options - my TV is modular so you choose the accessories you want.

Pre sales from dealership on forthcoming equipment was probably as vague as that coming from Meridian. Pre sales support from Linn was OK, helpful but not sure if it was entirely factually correct (it wasn't a Linn product afterall). Compared to a big name like Sony etc, much better but not compared to the quality of Meridians pre sales support.

I had a problem with my G98/TV HDMI/DVI interface and three companies became involved. Meridian and Linn directly because of my issue but also Linn and another British DVD manufacturer who were also having problems with this display and their high end products. Meridian pushed the boat out as far as they could without getting in my display. I was privvy to beta software and Meridian support liased with Linn to help resolve the problem. Things did drag on with no resolution and no posinters as to where the problem was. When Meridian did come to the conclusion that it was not their kit (albeit with their firmware not being the most robust during an error condition) I must admit some level of dispair.

Linn on the other hand were a two edged sword. On one side it was almost impossible to get hold of pertinent assistance, but when I did get a contact, they were very helpful. As helpful as Meridian although not as forthcoming with answers. They were not exactly fast. The problem dragged on for many many many months. Also, it is debatable whether I would have got the same level of assistance has Linn not have had an issue with one of their devices - unidisk - so they has a vested interest to sort out the problem.

Resolution of the problem was two fold. Ultimately it was a DVI plug issue - compatibility between my cable and TV. I also needed to get a firmware update, and Linn were not forthcoming in this - it also involved a home visit by engineer which they were very reluctant to supply claiming that I would have to pay since the fix also involved an upgrade. A very different story to Meridian. In the end, I kicked up a fuss and I get the fix. But this would not have been necessary with Meridian.

On the whole, Meridian service is better than my experience of Linn's. But Linn's is not poor.

Plus Meridian (UK) feels more like one big 'happy' family. I don't think there are many manufacturers that you can say this about.

DVD-A is dead, actually it never got past puberty.

I have quite a bit of Linn experience so I'll give you my experiences.

I started out with a full Linn system (Unidisk SC, 2 5125 amps, full aktiv Espeks/Ekwal/Ninka).
I really liked the SC as it did everything I needed and never gave me a single issue.

The biggest weakness of the SC is the built-in passive pre-amp... but it's still not bad.

Since then I have completely re-tooled my system and still have a Unidisk - although now I have a 1.1 - and it's astonishingly good.

The 1.1 is feeding an 861 for movie duty - and it feeds an ARC LS-26 for 2-channel listening.

For an all-in-one box I think the SC is a great value. Yes they are known to be glitchy - but by now they have cured nearly all the issues with FW/SW upgrades. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend an SC.

Linn speakers truly transform themselves when you make them aktiv - its just an expensive process.

For the record my speakers were replaced with Aerial Acoustics - my amps are now Levinson.

Hope this helps!
Jim

I actually went from Linn to Meridian back in the early nineties. Prior to the switch I'd been pretty happy with Linn but only in a 2-channel analogue system (LP-12;4xKlout; activ Isobariks). The system went though numerous upgrades as recommended by Linn themselves and each time the sound quality improved (though at a significant cost). I did find the dealers to be zealots however often regarding owning anything other than Linn as heresay - maybe that was Ivor's influence. Reliability wise I'd say the kit was only fair - in particular the active crossover proved to be a regular bug-bear failing in numerous obscure ways during the time I owned it. To be fair Linn did try to fix it but it was always a slow process that left my system effectively dead for monthes at a time.

I switched to Meridian because at the time I considered multi-channel the Linn equivalent required a complete equipment change (ie unlike Meridian it was not possible to just add a processor you had to change the entire pre-amp and the quality of the 5103 was just not as good as the HiFi pre-amp I had at the time). Additionally the components had been styled differently (not good for WAF); were marketed by a different part of Linn, etc. etc.

So I made a wholesale switch to Meridian (though I still have the LP-12!) using 500 series components and haven't really looked back. Inevitably my system has been upgraded since then and while my current system still has quirks I've never had less than outstanding service from Meridian.

Current Linn kit does get good reviews and can look fabulous but to be honest I won't be going back

Graham

I've recently moved across from Linn to Meridian. I became disatisfied with the Karik/Numerik cdp/DAC combo in my Kaber active system. The search for a replacement led me to Meridian via all the new Linn stuff. A side by side demo of a G08/5200 system vs the new Linn Majik set up sealed it for me. As far as reliability is concerned, my Linn equipment had very few problems, and when it did it was usually sorted out, though not always very quickly. I haven't had the Meridian long enough to comment on its reliability, but it seems to be very good in this area.

Even the LP12/Ekos/Klyde has now gone, replaced by a more cost effective, but equally satisfying alternative - Gyro SE/RB300/DL160.

I enjoyed my time with Linn, but I'm enjoying the Meridian much, much more!

Tillman

DVD-A is alive and well - on the Internet. It's as flexible as MP3, if you don't use MLP. Which is a nasty form of DRM that only the record companies wants. And look at them now - EMI and several of the others rejcts the whole DRM idea and wish they never launched it. SACD? Even worse than DRM. No PC in the world can play it. You only need a $50 Creative Soundblaster card to pay - and make - DVD-A (24 bit PC - and burn with external software).

Here's my experience so far on three Linn dealerships:

Dealer A (local) won't ask Linn for a demonstration pair of loudspeakers unless I comit to buying them - but doesn't accept the arguement that I can't comit to buying something that I haven't heard, and can't possibly say whether I would like their sound unless I hear them first.

Dealer B (fifty miles away) was more than happy to audition a complete set of Linn loudspeakers (�2.5k value). Now, half the fun of buying a new system is installing it myself - but this dealer doesn't sell 'boxes' and therefore won't sell unless I engage their installation service at �50 per hour plus call-out charge. They won't offer any discount for 'cash'.

Dealer C (two-hundred miles away) is perfectly content to sell me whatever number of 'boxes' I desire, offers substantial discount on the loudspeakers, and offers incredibly cheap shipping (an Elite dealer).

On the first two experiences, I'm begining to remember why I didn't buy Linn thirteen years ago.

See:

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1336328.0.0.php

Mark S

If it were me, that would end the debate. Sit tight...

So you listen to them at Dealer B and, if you like them, buy them at Dealer C. What's the problem.