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

As an existing 800 owner, I do hope that Meridian stops at a Firmware Update, which adds Apodizing only.........and I have been "clamoring" for it thru my Dealer (and Direct with Meridian) for two-plus years now

I've told Meridian that I would not buy an 808.x, even though I know that both the 808.2 and .3 outperform my 800 as a CD Player

I cannot claim that I understood exactly why at the time, but I've been saying on here since about 2002 that Upsampling in the Source was one of the key differentiating factors in favour of the 800 player..........this in spite of the fact that many on here claimed it didn't matter, as the G68/861 performed Upsampling anyway

Do I think that Meridian could produce a better sounding Bluray player, especially if they produced a 4 by SPDIF Output for the 861???...........Yes, I do..............the reason??..........one can see the many people on here who say that their 10-year old Laserdisc players sound better than even their Oppo Bluray players for CD-replay.........this is most likely due to Source Output Jitter

IMHO, there is very little doubt that Meridian could do a better job in that respect and produce a better SOUNDING Bluray player

However, I don't believe that there is anything that they can do with the Video side of the Bluray, except match the Oppo et al for 1080p/24 output...........the only improvement I could see them making is incorporating some of the Technology from their 810 Video Processor, which Upscales to 4096 by 2400..........but then one would need a Display that can handle that resolution and the cycle continues

So, would I pay e.g. the 861v6 Upgrade cost of �6,500 to upgrade my 800 player to an 800 Bluray player???.............NO, I almost definitely would not

I'm pretty sure it would sound better than my current Oppo..........but for the Movie Bluray content that is out there, is that important enough???........would lower Jitter make the Helicopter, Bullet or Explosion sound better???.........would the Actors' Dialog sound sufficiently different???.........would the Channel Steering sound sufficiently better???..........I have my doubts

If Bluray MUSIC Content ever takes off and produces several Hundred (or more) discs with Music only content, then that might be a different story

So Meridian, if you're reading

a) Release an Apodizing Update for the 800 (charge a reasonable price for it, if that helps push it up the priority list)

b) Don't even consider an 800 Bluray Player, until Bluray Music content becomes a factor in the market...........I think your limited resources can be better spent elsewhere.........such as ID4x Cards for existing Meridian Processor owners, that can play FLAC Files from non-Sooloos Storage........now THAT would be a strong Revenue Stream IMHO

For this I would pay. So to steal your words "Meridian if your listening..."

Regards,
Gary

That says as much as your personal preferences as anything - which is of course fine. But someone who wants the best possible sound for BD films and a deep enough pocket would perhaps have different personal preferences and choose to buy an 800v5 BD player. Perhaps.

Personal Preference???........Perhaps

However, there are other "technical" factors.........consider these for MUSIC

a) We know how a Piano, Violin, Guitar or Saxophone SHOULD Sound......

b) Usually a Note is held longer or played more repeatedly

c) We will play a Music disc maybe 100-plus times and become VERY familiar with how it sounds


Now compare this for MOVIES

a) The vast majority of us don't know how a REAL Bullet or Explosion SHOULD sound.....

b) The sound is normally held for a few milli-seconds only

c) Most that do know, will admit that these sounds are completely exaggerated for effect in Movies anyway

d) Even for the very best Movies, most of us will only watch 1-2 times per Year........thus we are not as familiar with their "sound" as we are with Music content


In summary, I would not fancy my chances in a blind test of being able to distinguish an Oppo from a Meridian Bluray player, when playing a Movie.........if the Blind test was with MUSIC, then I feel I would have some hope

Just wondering ... would you have bought the Sooloos + ID40 if Meridian had released a firmware with apodizing for the 800?

Over 150dB for shotguns and centrefire rifles/pistols.

I'd say they're under exaggerated due to the limits of reproduction.


I agree with your points though, I don't care that gunfire is wrong in most movies.

Steve.


Here's a link for those interested in real levels; Link
Interesting that the most common 'cop' gun, magnum .357 is 165dB!

I don't see why Meridian don't just buy the innards from Oppo and put it in a G series chassis, they can add MHR outputs on the back and charge us �2500 for it.
If the Oppo is �600, someone like Meridian could get the insides for around �100-150 so it could be done pretty easily.
They don't have to pretend it is something made from the ground up, as everyone seems happy with Oppo performance, and I think most here would be happy to pay a premium for matching design, and comms with their system, if they get the jitter down and add apodizing to the firmware even better.

+1 on all lasts posts.
Apodizing on 800 should have be done even before in the processors.

But hope dies last- so Iam still hoping like an ideot because I dit believe what Mr. Stuart is promising-"Upgradeability"...
And M do no roadmap puplishing for a good reason,
because they dont have one...

And for customer "support"
1) I STILL WAIT since SEVEN MONTHS just on misaligned glowed glas cover on my new bought v6

2)have to fix together with the distributor misaligned SPDIF sockets on the input card of my new v6

3)Have still after 19 months crackling noise issues after several repair trys from M on my equipment

4)All the PS and drives replacement on 800/861 I dit stop counting- there was too many.

5)M is only able to sell high priced IA45 cards and they dont even know their own equipment.
My 861v4 still have proplems after MONTHS.It is a FULL volume crackling noises on the analoge outputs and the connected expensive MBL speakers are endangered to get distroyed.
After several mail,phone calls and severall swapping/rearranging and beven buying more cards to get the system running without destroying the connected other equipment,
M is still not able to solve the problem or just exchange the v4 with a failurefree unit.
Only get the answer WAIT or even no answer at all.

So all these cases have the same issues-
no quality and no quality tests on high priced equipment.
M is not able to fullfill SIMPLE quality skills and basic technics.

And I know what Iam talking after 30 years in the business for development and maintenance as a mechanical and electronical engineer in high tech semiconductor business....

keep going that way - very smart M heads

Robert

Personally, I'd be absolutely shocked if Meridian are devloping a BR player - thus I'd tab it more at 10:90. Just doesn't makes sense IMO. I'd think the only possiblity would be, as has been observed before, taking the Oppo and G-erizing it.

BTW, I also have been asking my dealer about apodizing for 800. It would be nice to offer 800 owners a bit of a 'carrot' for all the $$$ originally paid for the 'upgradeable' unit. Or how about some kind of speakerlink output card

Meridian aren't the only company to tout upgradeability as a selling point, only to pull the rug out from under the buyer a few years down the road. Integra Research (of which I've had personal experience) comes to mind.

I will be very skeptical of such marketing ploys in the future. The reality just doesn't match the hype....

Meridian's development department has an x amount of hours to spend on

a) updating a '10 year' old product

b) developing new Sooloos products after a sizable investement



Option a will make 0 (zero) pounds and some goodwill. Option b might actually make some money.

Which option will they choose ...... :-)



Can't please everyone.

Two Old Business Idioms, which have stood the test of time for successful business

1) Look after your existing Customers, and they will look after you

2) Don't forget your existing Customers, while you're out looking for New ones