Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Worthwhile trading-in 808.2 for 808.3?

You can ask the same question twice and get two different answers. In fact I once asked a question face to face at a hifi show to two of the most senior members of staff and got two different answers. So to resolve the matter, they asked another even more senior person and got a third answer! These were people closely involved in R&D, marketing and the whole company. It is hardly surprising that misinformation comes from M even when you think that your source is fully in the know.

Personally I think they should all spend more time down the Three Horseshoes and exchange information so they all talk the same talk

This probably explains by so little information comes out of Huntingdon and that information that does come out is much delayed as it needs to be verified by more than one very busy person.

Thanks Jesus for your friendly answer

And your friendly question that prompted it

This is all a dismally familiar story. The documentation from Meridian is incomplete and contradictory in the details of its various iterations. The word-of-mouth feedback is often as much down to winks and nods as clear statements. And, as Ian has said, word of mouth is not reliable.

Even after purchasing kit we still don't know the full story as the handbooks are full of errors and contradictions.

This is not down to busy people not talking to each other; it is down to the company not taking communication seriously and making it part of someone's job description [or perhaps it is someone's job, and no-one has the heart to sack them for doing a crap job].

Alas, you can't make "good communication" one person's job. Even if such a person does the job to the best of their abilities, and communicates regularly and reliably with dealers and customers, they are still reliant on colleagues for accurate info. If that's not forthcoming, the person is put in an invidious position. Good communication is either a corporate value which everyone is held responsible for, or it falls on it's face IMO.

Cheers

George

I totally agree. But it would be nice if one person could be seen to be expressing that culture now and again!

I think it would be useful for someone to list the comparisons between the 808.1, 808.2, and 808.3 regarding CD playback only. Maybe a table laying out the specific differences ie "apodization" for comparison between the models.

John

John. That was such a key issue for me that I made inquiries. The information my dealer received that came from Meridian was as follows.

The main differences between the 808.2 and the 808.3 result from:
New design and improved oscillators
Redesigned digital clocks
Reduced RF interference

These changes were reported to improve jitter which in turn improves detail and imaging, what was also called “improve the audio performance by lifting detail and further opening the image”. You should also expect to hear improved timing, particularly in the low-end.

Let`s hope we hear this.

My suggestion is don't focus on just apodising, which was not present in the 808.1, because apodising is only part of the processing steps used by Meridian to improve the sound. Regardless, what I noticed and others write so positively about was especially the 808.2's beautiful clarity of the audio and the precise imaging and soundstage. It was a big improvement over the 808.1.

Thanks for the update. Any idea on the exact improvements in the 808.2 over the 808.1? I heard the 808.2 a few months ago connected to 7200s, and I was completely blown away. I have not heard the 808.1.

John

When we reviewed the 808.1 and .2 side by side, there was definitely an improvement in imaging, wider soundstage and less grain in the .2. It definitely sounds "less digital" than before.

Anxious to get the .3 in for review....

So are we all!

Has anyone got an 808.3 yet, or had a demonstration at a dealer's? I think they were supposed to be shipping by now.

I'm patiently waiting for mine. I was told by the end of the month. So, next week I guess.