Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Help B4 my mind explodes! To sell or not!

Jaco,

It's the dangling fish of the $7600.00 that has me. There are numerous 568.2's on Audiogon and eBay. The ones that do sell go for $2500 -/+. There are alot @ $4000.00 that just sit there. Same with the 598.

I am worried as time goes by they will be worth even less... What do you see as the used market for them? What will these be worth in 2 years?

I agree finding another pre/DVD combo is very hard to do. DVD-A and SACD dont care too much as DVD's are a primary use of the system. Dont need the DVI output (and I cant even use it as my Mits only does Component and Firewire)

As far as the items to switch
Component - DVD/CD Player - LaserDisk - HTPC
S-Video - DirectTivo - Music Juke

Beyond the crowded back panel and the misc. problems, it sound great.

As far as the dealer, the only thing M Usa did was sent me to a brand new dealer that doesnt even have product. They arent willing to do didly for me.

Jerry,

Lexicon, I really love the product. I can get the MC-8 for $3000.00 new, but what do I do for a Transport? The Lex RT10 is a POS and just a repackaged Panny. Suggestions for a transport?

Theatas, that stuff scares me

I am really liking the B&K Ref 50. If you havent see it take a look. It does a ton and the software setup rivals Meridian. On top of it they just dropped retail to $1995.00. And they offer hardware and software upgrades... Is B&K THAT BAD??? By what percent of M? But again what Transport do I use??

When you ask if the M features matter. It's hard to say. Unfort. the 568/598 is a pair. One without the other doesnt make sense. One thing I found out is that the new M Players DONT upsample in the player. M USA says they dont need to because the G68 is much more powerfull???

So I keep the 598? Noone wants to seem to buy the 568 tho!

I wonder how the B&K and the 598 would sound?

I cant bear going to a 800 series anything. I think Meridian rapes people on the 800 upgrades.

Room Correction, dont care. Audio/Video switching would be damm nice, but guess a pronto pro could over come all this..

What it comes down to taking the $7600 - $1800 (B&K) - $1000 (transport) and putting $4800 in my pocket for later upgrades???

Armin,

Witht the Lex, again what do I do for a transport... Also I cant use the G98/91 scaling features as it take DVI only and I cant use that...

Everyone,

Big Question

What it comes down to taking the $7600 - $1800 (B&K) - $1000 (transport) and putting $4800 in my pocket for later upgrades???

???

Thx again

Scott

Some people who owns them doesn't seem to be worried about price. He has a 568.2 and when I told him the prices I see them, he is not worried at all. He will just find some sucker client to sell it to when they come in for a complete system. He suckered a client into a 565/562v system for >$2k not long ago. His two man show doesn't even carry Meridian, he just looks for a sucker that wants to spend some money on their custom install and then it is time to unload the old junk in their home.

Forgive me if I repeat what has been said but I agree that you would be unwise to dish your 5 series Meridian just because the G series is replacing it.

If you are bugged by the lack of video switching, get a universal remote like the Theatre Master MX-700 I have one and it is great). The remote can be simply programmed with macros to switch audio & video with the one button. Also a MUCH better option to use than the ghastly Meridian remote.

Now if I was starting down the Meridian road again I would definitely go for the 861 - IMO it is on its own BUT I would not buy into Meridian players. They are poor value. A friend of mine drove this home last weekend. He has a $700 Marantz CDP which he carefully modified and, I did not want to admit it, but the sound from his player (into the 861) was scarily close to the Meridian 800 which I have also had modified. The gear here is highly resolving (electrostatic speakers) but I doubt if the difference would be noted on most systems. He was justifiably proud of his achevement.

No, I would look around for another CD/DVD player and have it modified and still have money left. As for DVD-A, it is a luxury that is really not necessary.

So, as someone else said, relax, take a deep breath and do not panic. If you are genuinely concerned about depreciation then replacing your 5 series with something else (which will most likely not sound as good) will give you even heavier depreciation.

Have a great Xmas and leave important decisions involving big dollars and big changes to wait until the New Year.

John

So do you want to upgrade or cash in?

You seem all over the map.

I've been there, I think we all have been at one point or another.

If you have the "upgrade bug" go for just a G68. The G98 would probably be overkill for the video setup you have. Spend money on Video display before more on transport.

You get the feeling of being "current". And get room correction.

But to be honest. I think if all your doing is watching movies maybe you should focus on upgrading the display next.

Scott,
This is not the feeling i have with my 800 series. I have to work hard to afford them. But the cost of the upgrades do not worry me. Perhaps the upgrades are not cheap, but with another brand you end up trading in a unit and write off the same amount of money.

Further, a 8xx series unit has become quite expensive the last 2 years, it seems M raises the unit price with the same amount of money it charges its existing customers for upgrade to that version.
That seems strange, but is nice for existing customers.

Jaco

I think you have to figure out what your primary goal is. Is it getting out of your current setup and saving your bucks for a major upgrade later or plunging ahead onto the latest and greatest ? It took me over a month to sell a 568.2mm for $3900 so $7600 sounds like a good deal. I'd be very suprised if you were able to get more than that at a later date unless you're a dealer that can stand behind the sale. if you decide to cash out, I'd suggest perhaps a 561 and a DVD player with a scaler.

Scott,
I cannot argue the relative merits of the 800 series. I can tell you I dont agree with your sentiments.

I didnt know the new players dont upsample CDs inside them- this seems strange. A quick look at the specs on the player shows this to be correct. I suppose they want some area of differentation to the 800.

I do agree that the 5 series you have seem to work as a pair and I agree its best to not split them up.

I can tell you that a while ago someone said to me that B&K gets 90% right, but its the 10% they dont get right that really kills their products. Let me put it to you this way- if their products were that good, I wouldnt have upgraded to Lexicon. And if their products were so good, I wouldnt have upgraded to Meridian. I have been completely satisfied with my M gear- Ive just followed the upgrades.

As to Lexicon- getting the MC-8 puts you somewhere performance wise on movies on the level of the 5 series you now have. Do you really want to go through this trouble to be at basically the same place, but with worse music performance?

If my options were to cash out and then get a Lexicon or B&K piece- in your place I would pass on the deal.

As far as what player to get- I would get a player that doesnt cost more then 500- probably a panasonic, but I would check with the Secrets list that it does not have the color upsampling error, there would be no need to do anything more.

Just read your responses more closely and it does seem you are excited at the price you have been offered. From what I can understand the Lexicons are great on Movies but not so great on music so that would remove them from my list.

Maybe you should sit down quietly and make a sensible list of your priorities. Put down all the pluses for your Meridian gear and all the minuses and try to judge if it is worth $7000+ to you. If the Meridian does not seem to fit your priorities ask yourself why you ever bought it in the first place. If it was an impulse buy then beware of repeating the error.

Give honest answers as there is little point in fooling yourself! Sleep on it and then try to make a rational decision (says he who has hardly ever done this himself in the last 40 years - but you do as I say, not as I do!!!).

But do not rush in hastily as you might negret it.

And, after all the interest and invaluable advise we have given, you had better share with us your decision and your (rational) reasons for it.

Hi Scott,
you are right on the DVI, but be aware how critical it is to run DVI in terms of lenght and signal resolution. I see big ? with added DVI switching. So today i like to recommend to go straight ahead into the display device.
And the rest of you but is... :-)

AArmin

OK, let me put my flame suit on first........

If what duntec says it true about the prices of the 568s etc on audiogon at $2500. Then I say sell what he has for the exceptional price offered and try something else for less money.

IF things don't perform up to his expectations then he can always jump on audiogon and get another 568/598 combo and probably still come out with money in his pocket.

As for the transport you probably won't find a single one that can do both DVD and Audio as well as the M. BUT you can find individual ones that can rival the M in the much less price range.

I understand where duntec is coming from and my list of choices look just like his and I have owned the Ref 20, Ref 30 and amps etc from B&K but I am holding out to really see/play/hear the G-series to make a determination where my money goes.

I am unlike many on this board with the fact that I want to have the best sound possible but I simply do not have the disposable income to drop $big money on the 8-series with DSP speakers etc. Those things are not feasable at this time so I will find alternate means that will produce results that I deem to be acceptably close at a much lower pricepoint.

Sorry if my opinion sways from the rest.

----flame suit off -----

-- CUE


[This message has been edited by cue03 (edited 12-23-2003).]

CUE,
Good tip. That might be a solution, as in duntec his scenario the prices will likely drop the more time passes.
In general it might be wise to always think carefully if it is worth to you to spend more for Meridian equipment, if other equipment costing (much) less give you almost the same quality. But you can get good prices on Meridian items as well if you search well, and have some luck.

Jaco

Tassie,

I agree, it is unwise to sell the 5 series just for the G series. It doesnt give me what I ultimatly want, upgradability. G doesnt offer that and I cant afford the 800 series.

Tell me more about your freinds Marantz? I hear there are all sorts of mods for lots of players??

George,

You are right, I am all over the place, only because I have a 10% deposit down from the buyer of my M stuff and dont have time to really think it out. But like I said above, the G series isnt upgradeable and that is #1 in my mind.

Do you have any thoughts on a better display? I have a 73" Mits with 9" Guns. I HATE LCD, DLP etc, so the only upgrade would be a front projector with 9" guns and my room doesnt have space for it... Other ideas????

Steve, you did get $3900 for the 568? In the US??

Tassie,

Why do you say the lex is not so good on the Music? I do like your other logic about listing the priorities. One big negative is absolutly no local dealer support. And yes, the Meridian was a impulse buy. The dealer was a new dealer and I got in on his opening order. I beleive I paid 30% under retail....

Cue,

Yup you are right, the used market is getting worse by the day!! I could prob buy the same combo back in 6 mo's for 1/3 of what I sold mine for. And I think there will be a used G Market fairly soon to..


So here are my plans.

I Just picked up a B&K Ref 50 to play with ($1800). I have heard good and bad.

Friday, a very GOOD freind and Lex dealer is going to let me have a MC-8. If I want it, it costs me $3200.

Now what I am stuck with is what to do for a transport...

Will the 598 be of any decent use with the above 2 processors??

Reccomendations of transports in the under $2000.00 range???

And to all a MUCH THANKS and a Merry X-MAS!!!

I will provide details as I unwrap the B&K now!!!