Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Meridian is known for signal processing. But how about speaker technology?

Have you heard Meridian's 8ks? I've heard enough to believe that Meridian doesn't need to make it's own drive units.

Like 99% of producers of loudspeakers.

+1

And I like the aesthetics of Meridian's speakers: very elegantly curved in a way that expresses their function / purpose.

And of course the cabinet construction is a bit special, made by the company that made spitfires! [OK, not in house, but very well chosen by Meridian]

This can be become an endless debate. Just the fact hat Meridian does use DSPs, and an active-amp approach, as well as high end drivers, does not tell, if the speakers are not "sounded" or made to reach a "certain goal/philosophy". That is only shown by "unbiased" directivity plots, anechoic measurements, impulse measurements, waterfall, etc. All of that you will not find on the Meridian webside and one more reason that sustains the believe others are just a good or better.

Companies of at least equal quality can be found in the pro-world easily, even some that appear to have mastered certain technical aspects that dwarf the achivements of Meridian. However, pls do not ask me to elaborate. In "the" Meridian forum to have an unbiased discussion on Meridian will hardly be possible and becomes easily a never ending story. But I throw you two words. Coaxial driver technology and cardiod directivity.

I think subjectively, if you like listen to a M system per se - it will be great. But equaly I have also heard other systems that, in my opinion, blow M kit away albeit at a disproportionate cost.
I think its about the synergy created from end to end - getting the right ingredients (special sauce 'an all) - if you only based your purchase desision on technical spec alone there would loads of Japanese amps & speakers that would enter the fray. I have found over years of chopping & changing upgrading, downsizing & fiddling with tweaks, cables & various guises of "snakeoils" it was all becoming too much in attempting to mix & max all the variables involved with getting the magic sound. With M kit, they have in their collective opinion created synergistic solution that they are confident people like the sound of.Ive heard other dealers who state they dont like the sound of M speakers , each unto their own. I for one am more than happy now with a solution that is off the shelf, up & running & sounding more than splendid. Though on occasion I have contemplated how my old Osborn speakers would have been like if they were DSP'ed..

After reading this part of your post I stopped reading ...

They also buy in their DSP processors, so what's your point?

I agree with Andreas that this is no the place to have an unbiased discussion. What a shame.

I, for one, would be interested in other views here.

I've heard the 8ks and their stunning transparency, realism and imaging capability. This is achived without "state-of-the-art" drive units, though I'm reasonably sure that the DSP which blends the drive units together and corrects for their "imperfections" is without peer.

So what could state-of-the-art drivers offer Meridian? (Genuine, unloaded question).

Edit: What I'm interested in knowing is whether Meridian has "solved the problem" another way.

The DSP correction possible with Meridian speakers can compensate to some extent for small shortcomings in drive units but these must be chosen to be of good performance and "fit for purpose" by the Meridian engineers. We know they do not just use any old rubbish.

As for making your own...

I use ATC active analogue monitors and, when I went to their factory, there were machines changing the cross-section of the copper wires from circular to a flatter shape to make the voice coils more space and thermally efficient. This must be the ultimate in "make it in house".

That is such utter tosh!!


My favourite speakers without hitting the �100k a pair scenario are Dunlvay Audi Labs, his SC-IV speaker is absolutely fantastic in every respect, the fact so many recording studios are still using them 15 years later is a great advertisment for them.
However, he used cheap off the shelf Vifa drivers, and they are really cheap.
However it is the deisgn of the cabinet and crossover that gets these things singing.
Would they not be classed as a speaker maker??

Most drivers used in hifi are outsourced from specialists.
its the crossovers that a vital and colour what we hear
Most drivers are scandinavian design and made in se asia
Some hifi manufacturers have custom mods made but production runs must be high to cover tooling.
Even ATC now imports speaker chassis from India and ATC was one of the v few 'under one roof providers'.
Roger