Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 861/800 Why no 808 or 808.2?

Sooloos a la Meridian will be the ultimate server solution (from an audio quality perspective) when it happens, but apodizing in the processors will also happen.

Hi Folks,

I'm using a 808i.2 into a 861 and then DSP 8ks and 7kvc. I actually prefer the sound of the 808i.2 through the 861. Don't ask me why, it just sounds better to me. I guess I could wire another cable direct to the 8ks but for now this set up suffices.

The 7kvc seems to cope pretty well with Trifield and it is short enough to not be too imposing.SInce my screen is acoustically transparent I guess the ultimate would be another 8k but the 7kvc is more than enough for now. Personally I would probably not want to use a hc speaker in the middle. Seems too much of a compromise unless you raise it up significantly I guess.

howie

Philip and Ronnie,

I had a paper rustling sound in one of my 8000's coming from one of the subwoofers. It could only be heard at low volume but use to drive me insane if I was working sitting on the floor with the keyboard near the speaker. The sound was there even if no cables were connected.

I decided to take of the back of the 8000 to see if I could swap the driver wiring from one to another in order to see if the problem was from the amp or the driver itself. Consequently I learnt that the driver leads are not accessible from the back. I did unplug and plug back in every cable lead on the electronics board and after putting it all back together the rustling sound was fortuitously gone.

Anyway the point of my post is to say that living 12,000 miles away from Huntingdon, is that there is no way I would ever be convinced to send back the whole 8000 speaker back to Meridian for any problem. The removal of the electonics back from the speaker is very straightfoward with the removal of screws. I would much rather securely pack this and send it back to Meridian than risk damage to the speaker exterior itself, particularly when they are out of warranty.

Clearly there would be substantial freight savings but my primary motive would be to protect my speaker shells from damage, which would stay in my home.

Regardless of the distance, the same risk is there for anyone transporting these beasts.


Cheers,


Steve

Thanks for the info in this topic. It has been of great interest to me, especially the "conversation" between Phillip and Ronnie.

I have laboured over a horizontal v vertical centre and therefore a horizontal under/above the screen or a vertical behind a transparent screen. I recall - hopefully correctly - M has demonstrated usually with a vertical centre behind a transparent screen but at HH2 with the horizontal below and tilted upright. I don't have the answer other than a compromise is needed.

Also I struggled with computer predictions for the best listening position not corresponding with the best viewing position. Another compromise for my future plans.

I hopefully will eventually upgrade to DSP 8ks for the front speakers. I assume the 8k.2 still has the same drivers as the previous 8000 speakers. The 7000 to 7200s included updated drivers and amps together with apodizing. When the 8k.2 gets new drivers that will be the ideal time to upgrade.

Finally I wonder how in the new M Cat5 world my 808.2 and 7200s will be eventually connected. My guess is that a new 800 series processor and/or Sooloos with Cat5 connections will give the answer(s). For the present it is great just to connect Cat 5 between the 808.2 and 7200s.

In the meantime I patiently wait.

Howie,

What MRC profiles are you running (if any) ? I wonder if this is why your prefer the 861 route.

Re: h & v centres....I was all set to go for a 72vc until I realised that they are actually taller than the 7kvc. This meant I would have the top of the 7k within the field of view in certain scenarios (slouched on the sofa/couch or with the kids on the floor).
So, I've gone with the 72hc and have to say initial results are really very good. I haven't yet had enough tweaking time but the blend with the 8k's is excellent.

Steve, a few years ago when I had my 5k's upgraded M sent me two special boxes and instructions for removing the back panel. This was all that was required and the carcases stayed at home. The boxes were specific to those panels so they were well protected. I've no reason to think they would have changed this approach.

Steve,
the sound comes direct from one (or a pair or all ) woofer?
It was definetly a electrical noise not mechanical like transformer hum?
Dit you ever find out what could be the reason?
Steve,when you turn up the volume dit the distortion disappears or ditdnt you hear it because the music was to loud?

Robert

Nick / Robert,

I don't want to go off topic here but with respect to transport my comments on this were meant to be for the benefit of Philip should he ever upgrade his 8000's.

I was told by M-UK that they couldn't be sure what the problem was and would want the "whole" speaker back. I too, was also aware that normally they only want the electronics from speakers, particularly for 18bit to 24 bit upgrades, which I have done in the past. M's response alarmed me which is why I thought I would try some fault finding of my own. The rustling noise was a low volume and didn't go up with raising the volume. It was only one driver making the noise and not the matching driver that I assume would have shared the amp. I was hoping to swap the driver leads between amps just to eliminate the amp as a problem, then my next check was to swap the driver out from another speaker.

Remember the noise was still there even without the coms and digital lead plugged in. Upon removing the electronics from the back, I learnt that I had no access to the back of the drivers, so I unplugged and plugged back in all ribbon cables on the circuit boards, just in case anything wasn't seated properly. I was then going to tackle the fault analysis another day but to my pleasant surprise the noise was gone when I put everything back together and fired up the system.

I am trying to recall what I was quoted for a complete electronics changeover, if that was what was required and �2,500 rings a bell, but don't quote me on that. Return freight between Oz and the UK would have been substantial for the entire speaker and the risk of damage had me fearful. Hence I wanted to do some fault finding first because if it was simply just the driver itself, I was going to save a lot of hassle and cost.

I do believe though that if M-UK ever do offer an upgrade to speakerlink for the 8000's they won't insist on getting the whole speaker sent back but they will most likely have a trained rep from the dealer remove the original electronics and install the new electronics backs, which could be sent to the dealer prior to the swap-out. The owner who will be investing in the upgrade will be without their sound system for only a couple of hours and Meridian can be sure that the installation was done properly for warranty purposes.

IF they ever offer the upgrade ??????

Robert - no it was definitely not transformer hum as it originated from a single sub-woofer driver and from nowhere else.


Cheers,


Steve

Previously I wasn't running any MRC profiles and it was still better. After getting my dealer to run the MRC (Since i have no pc at home) it is even better to my ears. Sorry didn't really pay attention to what profiles but will try and check.

howie