I visited Sevenoaks on Saturday and was delighted with the entire event. The Sevenoaks staff really had gone to great trouble to make it an enjoyable occasion, with unpressured advice and refreshments to hand as required.

The Meridian team had prepared all the goodies, answered my technically naive questions, and certainly helped me to focus on the most valuable future upgrade path for my 5.1 system. If I recall correctly they explained that apodizing is most valuable closest to the source and dejitter and FIFO furthest away.

I said hello and chatted with Dolf, Duncan and Meridialien although I am sure other HH's were there; it just felt odd to walk up to a stranger and ask if they HH'd. Two unidentified attendees kindly discussed the relative merits of SF Cremona and Amati.

I took time to listen to the AC200/DSP3200 stereo, DSP3200/G61R cinema, DSP7200 stereo, and 8K cinema. Most impressive for my taste was the 7200 stereo with a fluid natural sound, and the 3200 cinema with impressive scale and accuracy for its size. Perhaps the future lies with a combination of both.

On Sunday I spent a short morning in the Bristol show with the hotel foundations tested to their limits by subwoofers. Highlight was REL's demo of the G1 with SF Guarneri Homage and AR amplification; lowlight the waft of stale pasties through claustrophobic rooms.

Thank you to Sevenoaks and Meridian for organising such an informative, relaxing and comprehensive event.

Mat

Sitting Room: 7200SE, 218
Kitchen-Dining: M6, 210
Roon-Tidal MQA, HiRes HDD