Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming MS600 poor performance

As long as you prefer it, do it. It's your system and your ears.

Meridian take the system approach of a chain of "known" components to provide an accurate sound compared to the original producers intent.
Once you introduce other components with unknown and unpredictable results you enter the area of "Hot Rod Hi Fi".
Now these results may be very pleasing to you with the music you play and you should enjoy it. (The whole purpose of this hobby)

Understand though that this is not the "Meridian Sound".
Bob Stuarts philosophy on all this is well worth a read, even if you disagree.

Morning thoughts, Chris

Hi Chris,

Absolutely right! I think what I have discovered is that the Meridian sound is not quite my perfect cup of tea. It's very good, and I understand why some would prefer it but it doesn't quite work for me. Probably also music dependant. And I also see the reason for the whole system approach. Makes good sense. Just doesn't sound like my ref110! So I'm stealing the M bits I like. I'm not selling the kit I have but I may work in a new DAC of a different flavour in the future.

Cheers

The thing I love about the Meridian kit I own is that you can play any and all styles of music on it and it all sounds as I feel it does / should do

There is no - "more suited to this or that"

+1

Cheers

George

This is good news for those who wish to use their external DAC with the MDMS system Dr Nick, thanks for the post. It's always been a bit disappointing that Meridian makes you pay for functionality you don't need in order to get the best digital out performance (it kind of reminds me of those "packages" you need to buy on a new car just to get the one feature you really need!). Good to know if you just need digital out, the MS200's performance is pretty much on par with the MS600. If that wasn't the case, it'd be a shame to have to pay all the extra money for the DAC in the MS600 when you already have a good DAC. Also, you'd be crazy to spend close to $20k for the 818 just to get the best digital out performance - that's like buying a whole digital front end and pre-amp when you just need a CD transport.

I love to see Meridian coming out with things like the MS200 and Explorer. It's a great strategy to make it easy and affordable for new customers to begin to adopt great Meridian technology without making the rest of their system obsolete. If someone already has a top of the line audio system and wants to get into network digital audio, products like the MC200 and MS200, along with the iPad app, make it easy for them to access MDMS's state of the art music library and playback system without having to purchase things they already have (i.e. a DAC or a pre-amp). Now I'd love to see Meridian continue this trend by allowing customers to upgrade their MS200 or MS600 to the best Meridian has to offer without having to buy functionality you don't need (e.g. a version of the MS600 with an ID41 card and 818 quality analogue outputs to provide top of the line digital processing/DAC in a stand along device without a pre-amp).

The trouble is that in reality, having every permutation of product to suit every individual will just make things more expensive and complicated. IMHO
You will end up having to buy on special order and if you circumstances change, you have to sell and buy something else.
It probably is cheaper, more efficient and environmentally friendly to make products in numbers (as much as that exists in Meridian world) that cover all bases and some features are never used by some people. The next owner may well use them, of course.

Just my view, you may well disagree. Chris

In my opinion the digital output of the MS600 into a G68J was far superior to that of the MC200 into the same G68J.

The MS600 is a great product.

Most users on this forum agree with me.

Regards,
Phil

Like everything offered by a manufacturer, you have to make a choice. Or you can wish and hope and wait for something else.

Many times it's a good, better, best strategy and I believe that's what we have here. MS200, MS600, 818. I really don't think you'll see anything different for some time.

And, like most things, you get what you pay for...

+1 I think the current range of endpoints MS200, MS600, 818 covers all the bases.

Regards,
Carl

I purchased my MC200, MS200 and MS600 at the same time. I ran the MC200 in my 2 channel system and then added the MS600. The MS600 improved the SQ, sometimes significantly. The MS200 is in my HT system downstairs so I haven't compared the MS200 and MS600 directly. If I get motivated enough I'll do that at some point.

Ken

True! However having an upgrade option for standard vs. top of the line sound cards in things like the MS600 (if feasible) would be great.

Are you asking why you suggesting upgrade the 'sound card' in MS600 to an ID40/41?