[I know that we have the trading-up thread about the 808.3, but that one is primariy concerned with elucidating features and technical details. I thought a thread concerned with impressions of the new player might be useful.]

The 808.3 was being demonstrated by Sevenoaks in Bristol for two days only (as posted in Meridian News on their website). I would first like to record my thanks to Sevenoaks for their friendly and professional approach. They did everything they could to be as helpful as possible.

The main demonstration was using DSP 7200s and so allowed me to make some comparisons, from memory, with my own setup of 7200s and 808i.2. Unfortunately, the demonstration room placed some constraints on hearing the bass properly, even with the speakers set to "boundary". Discs used and impressions are as follows:

Tracy Chapman, 'Fast Car' from "Tracy Chapman".
This was difficult to evaluate because the bass was so boomy and bloated because of the constraints of the room. I was listening to a simple player and two-speakers system, with no processor for MRC in the chain, just like at home.

J S Bach, "Cantata BWV 59", Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, Gardiner.
On my own system this sounds a very dull recording of wonderful musicians, very two-dimensional and with the soloists buried by the instruments. On the 808.3 the sound opened up and allowed that wonderful soprano, Magdalena Kozena, to really shine. This was a very pleasing but surprising result as I had thought the recording to be beyond redemption. Indeed, I had chosen to play this recording because of its apparent dulness.

Berlioz, "Requiem", LSO and chorus, Davis.
This disc is an old analogue recording of 1969, complete with background tape hiss. Listening to the Dies Irae, the double basses revealed their rich and resonant character wth a full-bodied sound. The huge choirs soared with unrestrained magnificence but spatial precision, one of the essential requirements of this piece. And the timps thundered after the dramatic blast of the trombones. In short, this was the best I had heard this very demanding piece. I chose it because of the demands it makes for scale, dynamics and delicacy.

To summarize, I would say that the new player opened up recordings with great tonal purity, boundless dynamics, spatial accuracy and yet also delicacy where required.

But this is only an impression. The real test is to hear the 808.2 and the 808.3 side-by-side. I have been promised a demonstration player by Meridian within two weeks.

Asa Post