I really don't get eliminating SPDIF from the DSP speakers. If the SPDIF input wasn't there I could/would never have got into them, regardless of sound qaulity, because I needed an entry and upgrade path. And where is the "just add any transport/music server" solution?

Is the new customer proposition really a complete closed system from pre-amp/processor input to drive unit output?

Much as I love this stuff that would immediately alienate and exclude me as both a new product and second-hand buyer. New stuff is a closed system, old stuff will not interface and, as we see, legacy product support is becoming a less significant part of the proposition.

My B system (see below) has value - and is thus resellable - as individual components while my A system is just not that dependent on Meridian. A full current Meridian system with SPDIFs eliminated has zero flexibility, tying the purchaser to dealer trade-ins or high resale loss because you are only selling to purchasers who are already committed to Meridian.

In the spirit of Spinaltap, I would like to confirm that I am not involved in the corrupt theft of a global sport.