Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Firmware no longer available

I find this whole thing a disaster, everyone will be all over the map on versions.
I agree it will probably get encrypted even if it's not put up one the web.
Perhaps it will need your serial number registered by your dealer to even load.

It does seem daft to expect customers to box up and transport speakers (many of which are a 2 man lift and require careful packing) and indeed processors to the nearest premium dealer just for an update many competitors now do via ethernet or similar.
I use a Denon processor (AVP-A1HD) and they charge a premium for upgrades and use a coded voucher to encrypt the download, seems to work ok.
I can understand the worry about unofficial firmware and its affect on performance but the end user matters too. Hopefully they can work out a way around it.

I think recent events have brought software security to a head at Meridian in an unfortunate way, but these changes were probably bound to come anyway at some point.
We will have to wait to see how it all plays out.

Thoughts, Chris

As Nick says, just take a step back for a short while. Your speculation is running riot and is largely incorrect.
News will filter through soon as to how things will be and it's not all bad.

Out of interest I just had a look at the Denon download area for firmware. There's some pretty strong warning on there guys!.


Do they still support 10yr old product? 15yr old product? 20yr old product? ... Er NO!!
Are they still developing firmware for any obsolete product? ... I don't think so?

Anyway, as I said, just hold on for a short while and more information will come through.

Gerry

Well Denon are also considerably cheaper than Meridian so a degree of built in obsolescence is a little more acceptable. I don't consider a $12K processor in the same way.

Well that may be the case in the US but in the UK, Denon's premium product has been upwards of �5k for some years ... current AV preamp just under �7k.
That's more than G68 or G61R + HD621.

True enough 800 series is more expensive but my point is that many folk here are STILL using products such as 568, or indeed 565 and these units are in the main very reliable and offer fantastic performance for their age. Indeed 568.2mm can be used with HD621 to provide a very effective solution for modern HD audio ...can you think of ANY other AV product from that era offering this?

Since that will take a couple years we most certainly will have to wait. Par for the course.

This didn't happen over night. Meridian hasn't been upgrading much of anything for years.

As others have said, it is the terribly poor communications that leads folks to dooms day scenarios.

This whole mess *IS* Meridian's FAULT !!!

Erwin would not have poked around with their firmware if Meridian kept their promises and did things on reasonable calendar.

I think most folks just wanted the Trifield Fixed (568.2, G6x, and 861v4) and if they got Apodizing that was icing on the cake.

Lexicon is a closer example to Meridian http://www.lexicon.com/downloads/index.asp and they do communicate with customers directly on the web.

If you wish to put Meridian in the likes of Denon, so be it.

You�re stating examples of Meridian's past history. If Meridian did what they seem to be proposing the second hand market of things like 568's will not be as good as it was. Do you think folks will be interested in used 861v4 or G68's (not bought from a dealer) if firmware support is only through a dealer.

Meridian has done some great things but communications has got worse and worse over the years and that is what it all boils down too.

If we were comparing Yamaha $1K-ish to Honda $20K-ish and Meridian is $12K-ish to Ferrari $120K. Used or not.

People have a certain expectation from uber expensive items.

Don't tell me you have tweak for a 6 Year old Ferrari for say 20HP more and pull out the rug.
Don't tell me you found the problem on the alarm system and have it fixed and never deliver.

And don't be so surprised when some mechanic figured out how to add the same 20HP, after being told it could be done and never delivering.

Hi Gerry,

I can appreciate your backing and supporting Meridian here, you're a Premier Partner, after all. However, I find this particular statement way over the top and out of line.

I have owned my 568.1 for almost precisely 10 years. And I would hardly say that Meridian is supporting my obsoleted product with firmware updates. I don't recall the date of the last firmware update for the 568.1, but it's been more than a few years. And, I have no expectation that the 568.1 will be included in any forthcoming firmware updates to add apodizing upsampling filters.

Dan

Dan,

I think he is just saying they built the HD621 such that it could extend the 568.2mm capabilities to "competitive" standards.

+1

This is classic 'throw the toys out of the pram behaviour'

Sometimes it's not exactly clear who's "toy and pram". Seems like many toys are up in the air right now and not just at HQ.

The facts of what has/has not been delivered over the last x years are well documented on this board.

Suggest we try and stay on topic to this specific issue of how f/w will be handled in the future. We do not know that at present.