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

Hi Rick,
re: speed of the Control:10 as you mention above. Does Sooloos still manage albums as one FLAC file ? I wonder if this is in part how the speed is achieved. If so, what is the impact of importing a users existing FLAC library whereby all tracks are individual FLAC files.
Difference is order of magnitude x10 for an average CD.

e.g. 2000 CD vs 20,000 tracks

Any thoughts ?

Cheers

Nick

Hi Nick,

Yes the Sooloos system does store the entire album as a single FLAC file. I haven't imported an album as several Flacs yet, but I can't see a problem with that. It would handle them the same as any other type of imported MP3, WAV etc.

If you are wondering if the Control:10 would slow down if your ENTIRE music collection is made of track sized Flacs then I have no experience of this. All I do know is that Sooloos have played with track size rather than album size Flacs and haven't expressed any opionion as it being a particularly slow solution. I think the reason for the album size flacs is to allow uninterrupted playback of full orchestral or live albums. (No silent pauses between tracks which some systems suffer from), rather than this being instrumental in the Control 10s speed.

Rick

ID40/808 vs ID40/861 vs CD/808.3

Had a chat about this and here is the suggested performance order:

Best is a CD in an 808.3
Next is ID40 in an 808.3
followed VERY closely by ID40 in an 861.

The 861 has more 'stuff' going on so MAY affect the sound quality from the ID40 but it would be very subtle indeed.

This opinion is not based on my listening experience but seems pretty logical to me.
I guess more people will be able to shed light once we have had a chance to put these through their paces for ourselves.

Rick

Thanks for the helpful post.

I had thought that ripping provided a more accurate copy, and helped overcome some timing issues, when compared with playing a CD in real time.

Perhaps this means that the FIFO buffers have been significantly improved?

I suspect we're getting to the point where any differences are bordering on inaudible.

Or only audible in a perfect room full of 8Ks.

I have successfully used two N band routers (Apple Airport Extremes) to connect my Control:10 to an Ensemble wirelessly. The routers are about 50 feet apart and in two separate buildings (home and detached garage). The real test will come when I receive the 808.3 and use the ID40 card. Right now, I'm using the SPDIF output on the Control:10 into the 808i.2. It's not as good as the CD but it's much better than the Control:10 speakerlink directly into the DSP8Ks. I am expecting there to be no difference in sound quality between the ID40 connection from Sooloos and a CD in the 808.3 drive.

Rick, thanks for your contributions here.

Rick, was that a chat with M co-workers,
are that simple speculations or based on something?

Bill,
Have you ever had the Control:10 and Ensemble connected together with a cable? Or used one in a dealer? And how does it compare to the wireless set-up you use?
In particular the speed with which a track starts to play once selected, and how fast the album covers populate onto a page when you skip through them quickly?
I don't think the move to the ID40 will affect the speed at all so you should be fine with it as you have it, its not as though it needs any more data than the Control:10. Obviously using Control:10 into 808.2 gets to use the apodising and FIFO in the 808.2 which is why it is superior in performance to speakerlink straight to speakers and is the preferred way to do it.

Robert,
That was from inside Meridian. How much 'better' and how big the steps are, and if they are audible or not I suppose will depend on each invividual system and each listeners perceptions. I think the differences between CD in 808.3 and ID40 will be pretty subtle, but it will be interesting to hear when we get our demo unit and get it hooked up! If they're both any better than 808.2 then they'll be pretty special!

Rick

Rick
Thanks for your posts on here and especially for your clarification posts regarding the Sooloos

Out of curiosity, why do you use the word "obviously" above??

Bill's D8k's are the version 2's and therefore have the new Apodizing filters as well as the FIFO Buffers they have always had. In addition, many Meridian dealers have been heavily promoting the advantages of the Balanced Digital connections possible with Speakerlink over the traditional SPDIF connection

So, why do you think the Control:10 via SPDIF into the 808.2i has such an obvious advantage over Control:10 via Speakerlink direct to the Apodizing and FIFO'd DSP8000.2's???

Just like to hear your take on it..........

I started out fully wired while building the library because everything was in the house. There is no difference in speed for refreshing the screen with album covers and no difference for playback. It's all still very fast (and fun).

As has been reported here, the filter implementation in the 808i.2 is superior to the implementation in the DSP8Ks. I was not surprised by the results of the comparison. It is not a subtle difference.

Quite right. Again, though, I think it comes down to convenience. A single Cat5 cable is carrying the balanced digital audio and comms. You need two wires if you go with SPDIF and you still need or want comms. The difference balanced and unbalanced should be inaudible over short cable distances.