Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 808 vs 808.2

I think it's the player per se that is costing a certain amount. If it has analog outputs or not I'm not convinced it would affect the price greatly. (G68J vs G68D). D versions are not the best when you want to offload them into the second hand market. Then you don't want to limit your buyers too much.

I think it's just easier that the dealer handles it case by case, ie. if you buy DSP speakers from him and a 808.2 then a bundling discount might be appropriate.

I agree with you crion especially since I just bought one and I don't want to see a cheaper D version appearing anytime soon

Have had the 808.2 since friday but unfortunately it must have been hit during transport so it went back today

I used it over the weekend and I am very impressed. Going back to my other digital sources tonight was no fun at all. I have always thought that for 2-channel music Meridian is very good but perhaps not at the extreme top compared to some other systems I have had in the past.
The 808.2 changed all that and I am stunned with the extreme quality sound it produced and I hope the player will return swiftly. Now I am definitely stuck with Meridian. Thanks for a great product!

The 808 is a statement player.

Component cost is not significant.

You pay for 26 years of brilliance from Meridian.

Meridian should charge the same for a digital only version to maintain the player's status.

Analogue outputs are essential for s/h resale.

With apologies to Roger

So, you suggest that Meridian use cheap DACS? And I thought that including balanced analogue was not a cheap operation. As coachjay sugests, stripping out analogue circuits might actually improve the sound.

Of course not. I'm only suggesting that at the 808.2's price the cost is not that significant.

Yes, the removal of the analogue-specific circuitry would allow Meridian to sell an "808.2D" at a reduced price and still make the same profit per unit, but is it worth their while? The emphasis of the product is on the best possible standalone CD player and sales are targetted at a far wider audiance than Meridian afficionados.

My views on the subject of digital transports are well documented on this forum and some/many will disagree with them. All I will say here is that it will be interesting to see whether or not an 808.2 would sound any better than, say, any low jitter digital transport into an 861 into DSP speakers (with the new apodizing filter somewhere post-transport).

Yes, or even direct into the 7200's which have the filters (according to the revised, non-provisional data sheet).

In his interview at Bristol for CineNow Bob suggested they were only using one of the available filters, presumably those on the 7200 and not 808.2, in their 7200/808.2 system. Or did I misunderstand?

Comparing 808.2, G08 and computer output into the 7200 would be very interesting.

Unless I've misunderstood (which is completely possible ), the apodizing properties of the filter are tied up with the upsampling. Presumably then, if you've already upsampled (808.2), you won't re-apodize. So I assume it was the 7200 apodizing filters that were redundant.

This is, of course, the reason why we need(!) the apodizing upsampling in our processors: To handle all non-apodized two and multi-channel source material. Otherwise, all other processor work, such as DSP, time-alignment and room correction will be done at low res.

I am really a bit confused here. I am not disputing your inference, but why put the filters in the 7200's in that case?

For direct connection of non-apodizing (i.e. non-808.2) sources to the 7200s.

And, from what you have just said, not involving a processor.

Right.

I just ordered a Black 808i.2 before the price increase. The drop in the US dollar makes purchasing Meridian products all the more expensive.