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

I think Bob will just laugh at this thread. I think he knows almost all there is to be known about making speakers that deliver accurate presentations of the music chosen.
The very idea that Meridian are not a speaker company is just a nonsense.
They have moved so far ahead of traditional speakers as to make it laughable why the old ways continue beyond the most cheap and basic devices.
In Motoring terms, The Internal combution engine has arrived folks, you can drop steam now.

Is this page 6 already, it seems not lol Cheers Chris

I've never come across any other manufacturer that talks of cabinet rigidness contributing x number of bits of resolution. Meridian knows one helluva lot about loudspeakers.

Just a quote from the 8 year old Stereophile review of the DSP8000:

Those familiar with my loudspeaker measurements will note that one thing I have not shown is a similar waterfall plot calculated from the output of an accelerometer fastened to the Meridian's enclosure walls. The reason is that there was nothing to show. I could find no resonant modes, either in the woofer bin walls or in the head unit!—John Atkinson

Well, I totally disagree with you, as first of all, I hardly think Bob will read anything of this, unless he is much, much less busy as I think he is, and secondly, if he would read this, which has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of his speakers, that still lot of people are not fully convinced, which is a simple fact. That is something an eager technician can never laugh about, not really.

So, the later can either be due to insufficient marketing of Meridian, having not achieved to fully transport/penetrate their acclaimed benefits "permanently" (as said, I'm not really impressed by details offered on the Meridian homepage, e.g. measurements/graphs, which can be a "Hfi" marketing decision), or that for the price asked the speakers are indeed under pressure when compared/leave some desires. The later is up to anyone to decide personally and some have in here already said so. As said, personally I have nothing to say against Meridian speakers, however, I also do (and will) not own them ;-).

Again, if talking about pure quality, we would need to make a discussion on Meridian driver specs, which we all do not know, by comparing competition driver specs, comparing baffle steps, filters applied, etc. Instead we try to convince each other with our ears and marketing beleaves, which will and can only end in a "to each his own" conclusion, nothing more nothing less.

One thing however is true, a fully, a 100% non compromised speaker will never look like the 8000, but then we would add next to price and specs, also a third factor.....design. Oh, oh, this can make all things even more complicated :-)))

Have you actually ever heard DSP8000's speakers? Throw the stupid spec books out the window and go have a listen. I'm not saying they are the most accurate or the best speaker on the planet. But man they sure are amazing speakers.

Meridian doesn't use the most expensive (or should I say highest spec'd) DACs either.

+1

The sound is the thing . Some of the finest musical instruments ( violin/guitar , whatever ) are very humbly constructed but resonate in ways that science can barely explain .


Similarly , some of the finest-sounding speakers on the planet are also the very ugliest ' designs' out of neccessity or compromise .

One of Bob Stuart's favourite demo discs for example is the Stereo DVD-A recording of ' Art Pepper meets the Rhythm Section ' from January 1957 because of the absolute quality of the recording on relatively primitive equipment.

One thing his 808.2/8k demo at HH2 demonstrated was the thoroughness and deication of M's ' listening methods ' .

~M~

P.S. My favourite quote again : ' Not everything that counts can be counted ,

not everything that can be counted,counts .

George, no, and I never will, no need and much too expensive for my wallet. Have you ever heard the best and expensive of the studio speakers, well, I have, but what is the point ? Nothing but a killer phrase.

I hope it became clear, that I'm not against Meridian, I'm rather trying to stand in the middle. I will not say anything negative about Meridian speakers, as it will not make any sence in here, in "the" Meridian forum. Go try to doubt the quality of a BMW vs. Mercedes in a BMW forum. A waiste of time.

But, if we would "try" to make such a discussion, then it can only be done one measurements and specs, 'cause such data has the highest chance to remain unbiased, if done in a comparable fashion.

However, I will not mind to challenge the one or the other saying some things that just sound too wonderfull to be true, as done a few pages back.

I was thinking, if Meridian's driver are such a problem to some people, perhaps I should buy some better, State Of The Art drivers, and make some speakers which are better than Meridian's. I am sure it is that simple.

Hmmm... I personally think that my old B&W 605 S2 loudspeakers were great... for what they cost, and also the bass. The bass i would go as far to say was better (IMO) than the recent dsp5500's i had. I think, to me, they were "better" as they went deeper or seemed to to my perception and recall. It was the best bass i have ever heard barr the dsp8000's in respect of deepness or feeling of a fuller sound. Of course, the tops and mids were, again IMO, far better on teh dsp5500's. The mids did have a different presentation also.
Now, im not saying that to beat the bass on the B&W's one would need the dsp8000's. Im saying with the smalll amount of demo's i have heard with the dsp5200, 7k's, 5500's and 8k's, that i felt the bass was superior in 8k's in that line up. Now this is not a scientific thing whatsoever, i did not do a side by side comparison of all the models, and therefore, consequently, also not a blind test either so my recall of the b&w's may be somewhat rosier than it was.
It was an aspect that i did raise with Rhonda at the Hitchhikers day (1st). I asked why, seemingly, they did not "invest" as much time, money, research, materials as B&W did ie driver research and consequent use of Rohacell coating on their kevlar bass drivers leading to a stiffer, stronger but still light cones, resulting in better linearity, control and so forth. Rhonda advised, that Meridian did indeed spend intially a lot of time with researching drivers, found the best ones, and that they use DSP trickery to get the absolute best out of the speakers that could not be achieved in the analog or active designs, and as a result, they felt there was nothing to be gained to research new drivers. As far as they were concerned the research had produced, for them, a great set of drivers and ones they would continue to use. Now, she did not say that they were close minded in new research, just thatthey had invested initially a lot and no need fo rthem to restart that process again. Im sure they would if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Andreas. I understand what you are saying but, if i was to raise the issue, i would do it in a different way.
Its great to ask questions, query or interrogate such things as we wish. But, to ask such questions and then add a controversey within it, is not quite asking the same as trying to be curious and rasing a discussion.
The problem, IMO, lies with the bit that says you 1) have not heard the dsp8000's, 2) taking statistics/specifications as the qualitive measuring quotient.
I agree that if Meridian teamed up with say another hifi company, B&W and they could have even better loudspeakers system, imagine rohacell kevlar coated bass units, maybe this esostar tweeter one keeps hearing about, maybe, we could have even better sounding loudspeakers. But who knows.
But, to then say that Meridian use speakers from another company and do not make and research their own, in effect, makes their loudspeakers systems not x, y, z good is quite nonsensical. Their DSP's are really good. Compare the B&W 802d's say, approx 10k (cant be asked checking to make sure), now compare to the dsp5500's. Difference is you have not only the speakers but either side has a digital crossover, DAC, controller pre amp, quad amps, associated wiring, and a remote control. Now id B&W were to do that for you, you would be looking at considerably more monies, lets say that getting the dsp5500's would just be a fraction of teh cost. So this is to an extent, apples to apples comparison with ref to whole system approcach.
So i would urge you to listen to the dsp8000's. Its no point saying you guys are going to flame me, if you're going to not even bother listening to the dsp8000's and then, saying that you have heard these other high end systems, (wether they be for studio use or not) and comparing to something you have not heard.
George explained it in a nutsheell:
"Have you actually ever heard DSP8000's speakers? Throw the stupid spec books out the window and go have a listen. I'm not saying they are the most accurate or the best speaker on the planet. But man they sure are amazing speakers."
What point is there in specs if the sound is truly astonishing to a person who "believes" in the realism or "lifelike" presentation to them of say, their favourite singer, composer. Basically statistic/specifications become a moot point when an individual is engrossed in their passion of music. Its music that we get these instruments for, what use is it for us to become pseudo scientists and/or quality assurance officers. It a means to an end.
Its seems you ignited the fire and created a self-fulling prophecy.

mrmarbach - Im sure it is that simple. Please dont blame me if it all falls to pieces afterward but, do take my advice, be sure to use plenty of blu tak instead of glue. It will be the best dampening material ever. Trust me, i read the specifications and it will sound great.

[quote=Meridialien]+1



One of Bob Stuart's favourite demo discs for example is the Stereo DVD-A recording of ' Art Pepper meets the Rhythm Section ' from January 1957 because of the absolute quality of the recording on relatively primitive equipment.


my favourite recordist is Roy Du Nann
ex Capitol ,poached by Contemporary Jazz inthe late 50's LA
He recorded in their stockroom!
Neumann valve mics direct to 2 or 3 track Ampex
verb added in the mastering.
Roy was a radio/comms/signals guy in WWII
he was sent to England to master Radar techniques
Later in his career Roy was a little deaf
(cans to loud in signals)
That's why his recordings are so perfect imho.

Please check out the contemporary discography,its cool.
Roger

Thanks for the blutak tip - I'll bear that in mind. I'll let you know how I get on. Prices will be announced later.

Very interesting , Roger , thx .

M have always said that with well-recorded material their speakers will really shine and with poorly recorded ones , well , it will show them as they really are too .


~M~