Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems CES 2010 speculation thread

I opted for a 5.3 system with three analog subwoofers to give better bass control than strict placement limitations of 5200's or other floor-standers would allow. I have two subwoofers in the front corners and one in the rear corner (all at different heights and supplementing 861's MRC with Velodyne's SMS-1 subwoofer room correction).

That was at least the theory. Wishing now I had just used a 562 and put the $ I sank into the 861 on a wild weekend with hookers in Vegas.

Haha, got to say, sometimes a weekend away is far more rewarding than buying kit with a plug on the end of it!!


The system now makes perfect sense btw.

Good point overall Jaco and it's probably why the trade-in will be at cost only. However, the components in all 800 series products if I recall correctly are the more expensive industrial grade components. That would add to the basic cost to produce a unit. Also the units will not be produced in great numbers as for some Japanese components.

We can expect to pay a LOT more than $500.

Very keen to see the official announcement.

Whether the trade-in program won't make sense depends, I suppose, on the reasons why. If it is because it is prohibitively expensive, then I think a lot of people on this forum are going to have a real problem with that - myself included. I don't presume to know the profile of typical 861 owners, but I'd suspect that some decent pecentage bought it as an aspirational/finacial stretch product. To not be offerred a reasonable cost upgrade option (even reasonable in Meridian-speak), if that is indeed what happens, is I think deplorable. If the trade-in program doesn't make sense because the benefits are minimal, then I have no problem with that.

Surely the old boxes/boards will be retained, or at least some of them, as spares for older 861 units that will undoubtably be left in the marketplace?

Good point overall Jaco and it's probably why the trade-in will be at cost only. However, the components in all 800 series products if I recall correctly are the more expensive industrial grade components. That would add to the basic cost to produce a unit. Also the units will not be produced in great numbers as for some Japanese components.

We can expect to pay a LOT more than $500.
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Hmm, i looked at a number of cards, saw the production lines. Also I worked for a part of Philips and there i saw production lines for PABX systems. Cannot say the machines look much different. But than again, i am no epxert.

And indeed, i expect to pay more than $500

Not much more . Man the suspense is killing me. Someone PM me the cost of the trade in and put me out of my misery. I want to know if I`m destined to be forever more at V4 or if i can swing to V6.

Rob

+1

Dear HH'ers , whilst this thread has been enormously interesting, the emphasis has to be placed on its underlying speculation; as we have heard diddly sqauat from the mothership, (apart from Sir Bob telling us that he is alive & life in the workshop continues). I personally think they have blabbed off their intentions & wares in the near future to appease their new paymasters. None of the stuff is set in stone & I suspect that no one will ever see a V6 (new) south of Easter. As for the 8x brigade (myself included) nothing has been formalised & I suspect its still in conjecture within the shell of the mothership. They have all been extrodinarily busy at this time of the year is the silly season for shows etc. They wont have a definate gameplan until all the dust settles & they get back to adress all the issues gotten from all the various meetings with feedback from the industry & channel. I eagerly await the price table, which I speculate will be in the region of �4k for a full trade-in (plus they will have to figure out the best rate)based on the currency they trade in.
Just my 20 pence worth (slightly more than 10 cents at the mo!!)..
Those of us that have been buying M kit for all these years, know they make statements of intent & design, sometimes it comes out, sometimes it gets scuppered due to unknown commercial reasons.

It all depends whether your disease is audiophilia, or something worse caught in Vegas [though I suppose both could be caught in Vegas i.e.CES if you were in the trade].

But I do hope the trade-ins work for those who thought they had bought upgradability for life.

Well, i have a PDF file from the start of the 800 series where many more than 8 channels would be possible. So i did not expect a backplane upgrade or whatever this is, to be needed.

I believe there might be some official info coming VERY SOON.

I think if I had bought an 861 within the past year, I would be speaking with my dealer. I would be making the point that the unit is sold as future upgradable, and while taking into account that the basic unit dates back to ~1998, perhaps I didn't know that when I bought it, and even if I did, how could I know that the next update would require a wholesale change and presumably a price to go along with it. Perhaps the dealer can work with you on it. Perhaps the dealer can find a way to work with you and Meridian. Thats the route I'd go John. That is a bummer.

In my case, I bought the 861 in October of 1999. I think it was at V 2. something. Over the years Ive upgraded through V4 whatever it is. I forget how much Ive spent on upgrades but it wasnt that bad and in over 10 years now, I would have probably paid more had I been with something else that I know I would constantly be looking for the next latest and greatest. I know I have the latest and greatest with the 861 so no upgraditis there. Even when we know there are some tempting RC options out there.

Will I upgrade? Probably, but it will depend on price. I have been told that its a quite a dramatic improvement in sound- just better ingredients and better software and there you go. But for me, its more about where we go. Its clear the V4 is at a dead end. The results it produces are wonderful. The upgrade for me would be whats the most cost effective way to get into the future. Suppose I don't upgrade now, not really wowed by the lack of say new whiz bang feature (dont know if there is or not this is my speculation) and then they come out with v6.5 or v7. Then I want to upgrade and the path is far more expensive. I would kick myself. This is just me, not meant as any kind of judgement on anyone else's situation.

Information taken from the CES 861v6 brochure:

Modular architecture also
means that as technology standards
advance and new features
are developed existing 861s can be
upgraded - adding new processing
features and connectivity; a service
that maintains the value of the
customer`s original investment.