Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems What was your first piece of MERIDIAN kit? How did you get there now?

I first heard Meridian M100s on demo at a Hi-Fi show in Cambridge in the mid-1980s and was blown away; I don't remember what the source was. After 20 years of lesser brands, I finally bought a 502 pre-amp, then a 557 power amp - both about 2 years ago.

Since then: added an F80 as a 2nd system in the kitchen, bought and sold M33s, sold all my other non-M kit, bought and sold DSP5Ks (18-bit), bought and sold 568.2mm, and now have DSP5K 24-bit (L/C/R) and an 861v4.

See signature for what is still for sale!

(Another) Duncan

Nice to hear all those stories! I am pretty much a sentimental guy and a music lover, so bringing back those memories is so sweet!
I am also convinced about the demos. My father when earning his first wage was searching for a really nice setup. He went to a hifi show in Paris around 80 and listen to all the brands there (think there were no M in france back then). He told me that his criteria was that the music should sound like a real band/orchestra. He bought the Cabasse Sampan, one month wage each and a nice tape deck/turntable/amp set. Today they still sound true and alive but a little shrill and tiring.

Oh boy why does M have to escalate the price ladder like all the pseudo rip off brands nowadays...

No youngster with a normal bank account is going to sink 10K in a hifi setup!

Used to be a shop in Tottenham Court Road called ' HiFi Experience ' which had about 10 demo rooms sealed with a patio door . Inside the M room was a 565/5k based movie system and she/herself was spellbound from the 1st minute , never took her eyes off the screen .

Soon after , heard an M based music system ( with B+W speakers I think ) at a show . Spellbinding .

The ' Dragon's ' chased us ever since

561M/Classe Amp with , initially , a split Analogue/Digital system rising to 861 V4 5k system and , ultimately , 861 V6 with 72k/52k and Sooloos MC200/TwinStore .

We need some cheaper hobbies ! Bring on the iPad App

~M~

1985 was listening to LS3/5a's fed by a SOTA Sapphire -> AR SP3a1 -> AR D-75. Added a Technics CD player which I didn't like, so found a barely used MCD Pro which I loved. Got tired of tube repair and traded speakers and other EQ for a pair of M100's. Heaven began <g>.

My first experience of Meridian was in the very early 80s at Chris Brooks Audio, Cheshire. A friend was demoing a piece of kit and at the end he put on active M2 system in another room and it sounded stunning, so realistic. I couldn't afford anything like that then but the memory of that sound never went away.

I ended up going down the Linn route and assembled a tri-active LP12 based system over the years. About six years ago, I decided to change the Karik/Numerik CD/DAC combo and started auditioning CD transports and buying hi-fi mags. I read a review of the DSP5200 system and it ignited the Meridian spark in me. My wife and I found a dealer and listened to a DSP5200/G08 system and compared it with my set up and a new set up from Linn. No contest we ended up with the DSP5200/G08 system.

The only drawback is that I could never afford to move up the Meridian hierarchy, so what I have is what I'll always have, so thank goodness it sounds so ace! I have never listened to any of the more expensive components.

My first piece of M kit was a 861v2.5
I came there after a owning Yamaha 2070 which I had modded with 5 channel input to use a ddp-1 for AC-3 from LD.
I did not want to buy an all in one again and throw away the aplifier part after 1 or 2 years since something new came along.

For a while M went along with the new algorithms that came along (DD, DTS, EX/EX, PL2); to bad that stopped.

My first M Kit:

Linn Sondek LP12, Meridian 101 Pre, 2 x 105 Power, Linn Sara's

Started with Linn Sondek, Ittok, Asak, M101B and natural ash M3 (still got it all but not in use) bought new from Howard Popeck at Subjective Audio after a long demo comparing various bits with Chris Cross "Ride like the Wind" as main demo track.

The natural ash M3s were a special finish as at the time Meridian offered to do any wood finish - they delayed delivery a bit as I understood the cabinet maker (or Meridian) wasn't satisfied with finish quality on the first attempts.

I've then gone through loads of second-hand equipment to build up my current stock. I was always attracted to the Meridian upgrade policy and the quality of their support (and maintenance of old equipment).

Chris

Hi forum,

My story: I dreamt of owning M gear for years and finally was able to purchase a 500 series set consisting of a 500, 518, 566.20, 502 and a pair of 505's driving my B&W Nautilus 802's and a REL Sub. That was somewhere in the 90-ies.

I tremendously enjoyed owning the set (it was a dream come true) but never got to experience the quality it was suposed to deliver since we moved to a new home with all wooden floors ... the sound was pure horor.

But this 500 set was just a temporary situation, as the main actor in my dreams always was a pair of Meridian DSP's. We moved to another house in 2007 and last December that BIG dream came true as I traded-in the 500 set and I got myself a pair of DSP7200's and a 808.3 (and Oppo BDP-93 DVD player).

Next step will be adding a Sooloos Media Core 200 and perhaps audition a subwoofer.

My old rig:



And the sub (acting as our butler too):



These pics are shot hours prior to the 500 series leaving my home:







And a picture of the tidy new situation:



Sound is fantastic, so natural. Thanks Bjorn and Garmt!

Edwin

I wonder who will be the first M6 owner to post their story here, with photo's.
We will see, Chris

Very nice photographs of the 500 series

Thanks for sharing

Hi Edwin,

Great photos, you should consider posting the photos of your room in our Link to Home Theater Photos thread.

Regards,
Carl