Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Upgrade thoughts

After having spent two years with my current set-up I am currently thinking about an upgrade to my system. My system comprises of:

- 861v3
- HD621
- DSP7000 (front)
- DSP5200HC (centre)
- B&W 805 N (rear)
- Linn Majik DS (music)
- Dune Base 3.0 (movies)
- Marantz 7005 Bluray
- Marantz SA12S1 (sacd)
- UPC HD set up box (TV)
- Linn 5125 power amplifier

The most logical upgrade might be to use the current trade-up offer and go for the 861v6. As an alternative (I have a limited budget) I could also gradually build a complete Meridian system by buying second hand (i) 861v4 (or G68) (for room correction), and (ii) DSP 3100/3200 (as rears) and in the future (next year or so) upgrading the front speakers to DSP 6000/7200/8000 and maybe follow the Sooloos route and pick up a second hand 861v6 (this will not be in the near future).

I use the system for around 50%-50% for music and TV/movies and should also note that the living room acoustics are far from perfect. Being limited by my wife in improvements in that area I would think that room correction (861v4/v6) would be a real improvement. I have not yet updated the DSP7000 with the new firmware but want to do this. In addition I am also giving thought to the non-official update/upgrade of the 861v3.

Any wise advice?

Yes DSP speakers are best bang for the buck upgrade wise and I see the DSP5200HC limiting your systems potential for both Movies and Trifield.
A DSP7200HC will be your biggest upgrade apart from upgrading DSP7000 to DSP8k's.

1. DSP5200HC -> DSP7200HC
2. DSP7000 -> DSP8000
3. 861v3 -> 861v6

After the full DSP Speaker upgrade (DSP7200HC and DSP8000) you can crown the system with a second hand 861v6. That would give you the best bang for the buck system on every step of the way. Do it piece by piece. Go for the weakest link which now is your DSP5200HC.

I would say that 7k to 8k is a huge step up. And, given the current prices that you can find 8k's at I would not hesitate.

I think a 7200HC in a 7k pair will not shine.

What result do you want from your system? More bass? Cleaner sound?

I actually think you should be careful with going to the 8000s - they are tremendous speakers - but they can put out A LOT of bass. Usually thats a good thing but depending on your room, you might really need to control it. The speakers do have the boundary settings built in which will help, but the best way to get results out of them in my experience is the MRC. Given that you already have the 7000s on the fronts and the 5000 series HC speaker (the 7000s are supposedly close to those in terms of performance), your front seems pretty well matched. Going with 2 8000s could highlight the difference between them and the HC speaker.

My vote is to go in stages and go with the v4 with the MRC. Then see how you like it and then when the upgrade bug hits again in a year or two go ahead and get those bad boy 8000s. Maybe a year or two later you look for a 7200HC and then you move the 861 to v6.

When you get MRC be sure to turn off the boundary controls in your speakers and then run the MRC. See the wiki for hints and tips.

Thank you all for your helpful advice which is further food for thought. Good thing is that this takes away any pressure to trade in the 861v3 in the next month (in the Netherlands the trade up program runs until March 31) for a 861v6.

JerryL, I think that I am not in particular looking for more bass but it needs to be better controled in combination with overall cleaner sound. From that perspective first going with MRC is a good option as this is also most likely not the most expensive option of the options mentioned. Please note that my center is 5200HC and not 5000HC I do not know if that would change your view on the combination with 7000s.

It is my understanding from HH that 861v4 does not have better performance than G68 in a DSP system so both of them would be a good start.

As we live in an apartment my wife might have some issues with the size of the 8000s so these may have to wait for another house so maybe first getting a 7200HC center might be a better route (after first getting MRC).

If anyone is interested in a 861v3 please let me know. In the Dutch trade up program they represent a value of nearly EUR 9,000 (keep on dreaming...) .

A voice of dissent on that issue (and I'm not alone). The 861v4 sounds noticeably different to the G68 in a DSP system. I have owned, and subsequently sold, a G68 twice, both times going back to the 568.2. To my ears, the 861v4 is quite a step above the G68.

I'd also caution against puting too much reliance on MRC. It's actually quite subtle in it's action, and not a panacea for all ills.

Cheers

George

Same experience here. Never really got in to G Series kit and was actually shocked at the time when M decided to terminate the 500 Series. Player sound quality was sublime and yet full. Still get great joy from V4 too.

This FS: 861v6 in the Restaurant may still be available at a good price though.

~M~

+1 on Each Point made

Some good points here. I know I'm obsessed with center speakers but I love them also so much. And physically the horizontals DSP5000HC/DSP5200HC are almost identical in performance. They are both box shaped, DSP5200HC has rectangular bass reflex ports in the back while DSP5000HC has circular smaller ports in the front if I remember correctly.

Now what is the problem with this you say? Well There is only one BIG thing I have problem with the DSP5000HC/DSP5200HC and that is the cabinet volume is not matched to the L and R speakers. That means it has to work harder to achieve the same SPL volume and extension. Working harder means less sound quality than their vertical counterparts who can work more effortlessly.

DSP5500HC/DSP7200HC are physically matched with equal speakervolume size with their vertical counterparts L/R.

I would say the DSP7000-DSP7200HC-DSP7000 front to be vastly superiour to the DSP7000/DSP5200HC-DSP7000 front that is imbalanced. You will hear the difference as in superior clarity and effortlessness and extension.

What additional qualities (not capabilities, e.g Trifield) do centre speakers provide aver a stereo pair? The discussion talks about needing to match the centre to the fronts when, in most domestic cases, there will be a compromise, meaning a horizontal centre with the front tweeters being at different levels.

Are we getting better wrap-around sound because we can move our FL & FR further apart but then need to fill in the middle?

I would welcome views on these front set-up alternatives (all with two rears and no subwoofer):

(1) DSP5200 L&R plus DSP5200HC vs. DSP7200 L&R (min separation FL-to-FR = 160, max = 260cm)

(2) DSP7200 L&R plus DSP5500HC vs. DSP8000 L&R (min separation FL-to-FR = 210, max = 300cm)

Forced to make a choice, then I would prefer the better Stereo Pair over a "lesser" Stereo Pair Plus Centre for both Music and Movies

So, a D7k2 Pair in your Option 1 ....... and a D8k Pair in your Option 2.

And to the OP.......a D7k2 pair will offer much better Audio Performance than your current D7k pair, wth obviously the D8k offering even more of a step up.

If I was spending your money, I would start there rather than Centre Speakers of changing your Processor, Best Bang for Your Buck is the commonly used term.

Ronnie, there is no question about those setups. Going for the better stereo pair is the way to go in those setups. As those alternatives really provides for much better output.

Why I put up a DSP7200HC as the first upgrade was to remove the DSP5200HC which impedes the DSP7000 pair in both Trifield and Movies.