Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Interesting Discussion 861v6 v ADA

Gentlemen, although I stand to be corrected I do not think that he started a "bitching thread" about the 861V6 but rather a thread that he preferred the ADA offering over the Meridian offering; are we now so sensitive that a personal preference of one over the other is now labelled as "bitching".

Warm and fluffy? Hmmm, never thought of it that way but maybe that's why having a little nightcap and M before I go to bed feels so good.

True but I would definitely not characterize Meridian as fundamentally "warm and fluffy" although one could set it up to sound that way if they chose.

Kal

What I mean is, Meridian have a great way of making everything sound extremely smooth, even pretty poor recordings through a cheap transport can sound listenable.

Those comments of yours are probably what got me into M in the first place, Gizz. I think you're right - you can play music longer and louder on M gear, without it being painful. I don't think that makes it warm and fluffy, though. The detail and incision is all there - its just that M doesn't exagerate it.

I think the ADA (in that quite reasonable discussion, for AVS) IS guilty of exageration though. It reminds me of the detailed and dynamic NuForce power amps - detail at all costs. I'm one of those fortunate folks who has heard both 861 & ADA, in two different locations and systems, but tend to steer clear of many of these discussions. Utter one word against the ADA and you tend to get lynched.

My impression is that the ADA can be dramatically effective with movies, but is less convincing where Meridian scores - music. With movies, its all high drama and great detail and dynamics, but it seems to want to bring this presentation to music, even if that wasn't what the performer or producer intended. So it comes across all wound-up and raring to go, racing ahead of itself in an impatient manner. Its like a Formula 1 car trailing after the pace car.

The 861 is more relaxed, and lets the music flow and breathe - its delivered the way it wants to, without being forced. Make no mistake, the 861 can do shock and awe when called-upon, but the best thing is that its transparent to the intent and the emotion. Different sources, styles and recordings sound just that - different - there's no attempt to make them all sound the same. There's no attempt to convey melody at the expense of everything else, like say Arcam, or to major on rhythm like Naim. There's a measured maturity to M that's easily forgotten when you're hearing something new and exciting for the first time. The problem is that you don't want to keep on hearing it over and over again, which is what a good music system should encourage.

Having said all that, I am hearing a lot of recurring, positive, comments from many experienced folks. They can't all be wrong, and it can't help but raise my inquisitiveness. I haven't heard an ADA at home, and I think curiosity might get the better of me.

Nick

Yeah 'warm and fluffy' probably wasn't the words to use, but that is the feeling I get from it, considering it digitises everything it is one of the most analogue like sounding systems I have heard.

I agree. The thread is actually very civilized and most certainly not a 'bitch session', even if I find reason to disagree with many of the opinions offered.

I am not sure I understand what you mean't by warm and fluffy. Meridian can do edgy and harsh: even some classical recordings that ideally should not sound harsh actually do so because that is what the recording is like. I don't think they make everything smooth and "easy listening". But if that is what you want, and you can set up your system to achieve that, then all well and good.

And why would you want an all-digital system to sound analogue? Can you explain what you mean by "analogue sound" please?

And they do not need to digitise what was digital in the first place (the recording studio). Remember that Meridian claim to keep an unbroken digital thread from the recording studio to the speakers until the final moment when the DACS kick in.

Much as I cringe at trying to characterise the sound signature of different manufacturers in a few words, I don't think I would describe Meridian as "warm and fluffy".

"Clear and detailed" would be more in line with my view.

Am also confused now - audiofool terminology eh ?!

I was under the impression - and currently think - that my Meridian gear outputs what's on the disc. It might join-the-(digital)-dots better than other kit, but to my mind there is no "sound signature".

Or ?

Yes, faithful to the original recording seems to describe it. And sounding very natural, if that was what the sound engineer managed to capture.

+1. In my experience, M doesn't "fix" poor recordings - it plays what's there with great accuracy. With clipped, "loudness wars" stuff that are basically loud objectionable harsh mush, what you get is loud objectionable harsh mush. They can actually sound less objectionable on less able kit. But M sounds gloriously musical on well recorded music.