Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Re: Message from Meridian concerning Firmware (including Supplementary update)

I'm delighted that they are watching and responding. Acknowledging there is going to be no dialogue, this is nonetheless a positive step and to be welcomed.

D

The additional reply and clarification from Bob Stuart is very welcome. It does at least show a willingness to take account of views expressed here, and to comment further. The threatened brick wall of further silence has been breached and that is very good news. I only hope that further constructive exchanges will take place.

Meridian is likely to view this forum as a site of continuous griping. They must feel that they can never do anything right: the HDMI solution of the HD621 was criticised for adding an extra box and reducing elegance; their introduction of new products and their adoption of new technologies is slated for being too slow; and the introduction of free apodising updates for 5k2s was soon followed by business (and complaints) as usual. And how many of the moaners have actually bought Meridian equipment new, and therefore directly helped the business? The inevitable conclusion is a feeling of anger, frustration, bitterness, cynicism and despair.

Forum members report poor quality control and slow responses to fix new equipment. They also see a long line of broken promises with regard to Trifield, upgradeability, firmware updates and suchlike. Equipment is difficlt to operate optimally because the handbooks do not include enough information with sufficient clarity, particularly when third party kit is added of a kind not made by Meridian (so the answer could not have been that a Meridian version should have been purchased). And being enthusiasts, they would welcome tweaking and operational tips from the people who know best: Meridian themselves. The inevitable conclusion is a feeling of anger, frustration, bitterness, cynicism and despair.

So, as has been said again and again, the solution is better communication. This is all so like a lover's tiff. We are all on the same side. Things could be so much better and happier. We can either communicate and grow together, or engage in emotional shouting matches and grow apart.

Having just picked up my 800 from the dealer - after Meridian couldn't find a problem with it - I noticed it's still running 267 firmware not the "latest" 272. I suspect this is due to something Bob refers to in his statements; my 800 updated to V3 and then with HDMI is not the same as a V4.

However that does leave me with a problem that it still won't play a DVA-A without inserting a gap between each track/chapter - so for example Beatles Love won't play correctly (which is something I understand 272 will do).

I hope the updates Bob has promised will include my 800 V3/4 and get it working correctly on DVD-A, never mind apodising etc.

Anyway - have to wait till tomorrow to re-install in the rack and see if the other problems have gone away.

I know this could be regarded as whinging but it's hard to explain to people (especially SWMBO) why the 800 doesn't do things my 598 (or, for example, an Oppo which I think is slightly cheaper) can and no-one has explained to me or my dealer why this is the case.

Chris

Asa Post,
I have never bought a new Meridian product and I am unlikely to be able to afford to do so until the kids have left home - or maybe ever if M's target market moves too far upstream for me. (That is not a criticism of their business strategy, just a statement of fact). But I contribute to Meridian's revenue and profits by buying secondhand. A liquid market for used products is necessary if those who do buy new wish to trade up. M recognises this by providing trade-up schemes through the dealer network occasionally.

Before Christmas someone I barely knew asked if they could come round to listen to my DSP5Ks. I willingly agreed and he has also bought secondhand since. So, I'm also providing marketing and support services ... free and on my own time.

I considered bringing this point up in my first post today, declaring my hand as some sort of outsider, but decided against. But you have given me the chance to state my case. Hope you don't mind.

Thanks,
Duncan

Hi Duncan

You make a valid case that I fully acknowledge but I was trying to put a slightly different spin on the situation.

And I certainly do not consider you or anyone else as "some sort of outsider".

I was trying to show how easy it would be for us to get into a:

"I shall never speak to him again"

"he does't understand me"

"I don't believe a word he says"

type situation.

OK.

We are totally agreed that the solution is better communication. :-)

Duncan

I personally didn't even considered installing the "fix" that was posted on the site, but to have to go through a dealer to get future updates is not possible for me because their none in my area. So I really hope this re-engineered update mechanism takes that into consideration (I know this is the case for a lot of folks).

Looking forward to the update (for the 861v4, DSP8K...) and continuing enjoyment of my M kit.

I understand where Bob is coming from, i.e. recommending that we avoid potentially damaging mods to our kit.
As such, I'm going with his recommendation and have just called my dealer regarding the plan for firmware updates to my 568.2.
Their reply was that they will talk to Meridian on Mon and get back to me. I do hope that this suggestion of a firmware update is not simply vapourware, as I'll not be impressed. The kit might be built to "last a lifetime", Personally I'd prefer not to have to wait that long.

On a positive note, and just so Meridian know, if there were to be a dealer firmware update, assuming the it was a sensible price, e.g. sub �100, then I'd pay for it if it was appropriately tested and warrantied.

I asked the same question of a dealer yesterday re the "contact your dealer re firmware" statement. The reply from the dealer was that presently, the dealers have not had any notification of how things may be in the future.

Hopefully this will change shortly....

Avii

Having spent most of the last 2 years struggling to get my 'cabin-pressure' speaker problem sorted out (success now hopefully !) I haven't dabbled with the +3db or Apodising changes. I do hope the software updates come soon and this doesn't turn out to be another false dawn. A simple thing like customizing the Source names on 7K2 speakers can't be done safely because a backup copy of the Firmware has never been made available publicly.

A quick look at the Firmware page shows that apart from the HD621 and Sooloos only the Configuration program has been updated in the last year.

When M do communicate, either through staff or dealers and it doesn't pan out , customers will always feel that they are getting a rough deal.

M

Thank you Bob for clarifying your original post. Your position is clearer now.
However, I still don't understand why it is necessary to change the update mechanism. You have made it clear that there are dangers, that unofficial firmware is not supported, you are not concerned with IP infringment and that new firmware is imminent.

If new firmware was released soon I don't think any sensible person would try unofficial firmware nor would anyone go to the effort of trying to modify firmware again.

As I first posted, I believe it was purely done because of frustration due to no updates for an extremely long period and lack of communication from Meridian.

I hope this can be a learning experience for us all.

Bob made the comment that if they were told of this change they would have responded yet I want to point out that M was contacted regarding this unofficial update for almost a month with very little response so I was told. Clearly they don't communicate within Meridian.

Also these firmware fixes were promised years ago. I will not believe it until I see it. I hope it is true. I really do but my faith just isn't there after 7 years of nothing.