Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat CES?

Sorry, can't say more at this moment, maybe I said already too much. Will post more info as soon as I get it.

I am aware of the official company position, this has not changed over the years. Does it bug you I know something you do not? You sound as if you do not believe my info.

Well, if they promised you the processor update last June and it didn't materialize, then I would say your information wasn't very reliable. I don't think it is helpful to spread rumor. Before you know it, it is cited as fact. Then people rely on and when it doesn't pan out, they are disappointed (or worse).

Hmmm, I keep wondering why the long delay. I wonder if they plan to release something simultaneously for the V6 and that's what is taking all the time. That way there will be a clear distinction of features and not just one less difference. Just a thought. A wild guess.

I doubt there will be a huge market for a updated 800. (Bluray)

Current Oppo BD-81/93 and a HDI Dune. Can play originals and rips for like 1000 Euro. Sounds very good through the HD-HD621

800 was always more expensive than 861. I will not pay 10.000 + Euro for an upgrade to get a unit where the HDMI output will be outdated within a year, and a new Bluray feature pops up within a year.

Better of to write off a Oppo and a Dune every year to keep current.

And yet many people who have 800s say they still sound better than any other DVD player when playing DVDs. Mightn't Meridian be able to do that trick with Bluray by (for starters) avoiding HDMI for audio entirely?

I don't blame M for staying away from the Bluray arena so far. The sands shift rapidly in Bluray today and a Bluray that would distiguish M would not be without significant development costs. I spent some time today at CES with Vince Galbo, the National Sales Mangager for MSB technology. They are just now releasing a new Bluray based on the Oppo 93 transport. It is a modestly upscale unit with a retail of $3995. My first impression was positive. I would say at least worthy of further investigation. The point is yesterday it was Oppo 83, today it is Oppo 93, tomorrow it is Oppo 95.

Regards,
Gary

*If* (and it's a big if) New Meridian announces an 800 Blu-Ray player, you can bet that there will be a trade-in for existing customers, not an upgrade. Remember that the 800D (v4) and 800DAX are non-configurable = less configurations to support (which makes a mockery of the whole card-based system if you ask me). New Meridian is clearly moving away from hardware upgrades, which makes a lot of sense from a supportability perspective, but is very unfair on existing customers who purchased under the old model.

I think it's 50/50 as to whether New Meridian is secretly developing a Blu-Ray player - it all depends on whether or not New Meridian's new target customers feel there is a gap in the New Meridian line-up. Existing customers should worry about DVD-A support in any new machine (which New Meridian does not need to provide for the Abramovichs of this world). I suppose we can all dream that New Meridian will produce a Universal player one day (not that I will ever buy a dedicated audio disc spinner myself), but I don't quite see the benefit for "New" Meridian. Blu-Ray could be important for audio though and Meridian can add a lot of value by bypassing HDMI.

The 800 is the only product that New Meridian currently sells that doesn't have apodizing, which is an anachronism, so my gut feeling is that the 800 will get apodizing. I also suspect that new firmware will be released for the 861v4, G6x and 800 simultaneously. I'm quite surprised that I haven't seen a big clamour for 800 apodizing on this forum. I think apodizing in the 800 is far more important than apodizing in the processors. Personally, I won't be using apodizing in my G68 when (if) it arrives and I am now completely convinced of the importance of upsampling in the source and SPDIF connection at 2x rates.

If you want 800 apodizing, let your dealer know.

- which reminds me of Ronnie's (or was it Carl's) opinion that 800 non-apodizing upsampling into 861v6 was better than 800 not upsampling into 861 apodizing upsampling. 800 apodizing could bring a lot to those who have the machine.

Agreed. But I'm not surprised after all DVD-A is headed for the history books. I have a large collection of DVD-A which I prefer to play on my G98DH. When that was suddenly dropped for the G96, which does not support DVD-A, that seemed to make a statement regarding DVD-A. I would be happy to support Bluray audio if any content is developed. I think I have all the non-classical blu rays.

Regards,
Gary

An UK dealer had inquired at Meridian and that was the answer I got, which I have posted on this forum at that time.

I agree, people's minds work in mysterious ways considering the last posts I see in this thread. So to make things more clear, I was talking about a SOFTWARE UPDATE for the 800, not a hardware update as people are discussing here.

We hopped onto the 800v5 idea because it has been discussed recently before, and both questions (800v5 and 800 apodizing) are tied up with the same question of whether the 800 has any future at all beyond the current state and firmware.

I have repeatedly requested this of Meridian both directly and via my dealer.
However, since the purchase of a Sooloos + ID40 it has for me become a moot point and now Sooloos FLAC5.1 support is top of my list.

Regards,
Carl