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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 30
Harmless
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Harmless
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 30 |
My speakers are analog (JM Lab Electra powered by Bryston 9B-SST). I had heard that the balanced output G68 was much closer to the 861 than the single ended versions, but I don't know what DACs are used in either. You mentioned upgrades from Meridian for the v4. Where would I find a list of these upgrades?
861v4, HD621, DSP6000 24/96, DSP5000 24/96, DSP 5000C 24/96, Bryston 9B-SST, JM Lab Electra 915.1, CC900, 906, Oppo BDP-93, Tivo Premier, Amazon Fire TV, VPI Scout, Benz Micro L2, non plus ultra MC phonostage
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 7,950 Likes: 19
President of the Imperial Galactic Government
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President of the Imperial Galactic Government
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 7,950 Likes: 19 |
Recent 861v4 upgrades are:
linear power supply and 5 year warranty
ID40 -Sooloos endpoint originally introduced for v6
V6 firmware (could be wrong but pretty sure its needed for ID40)
Everything is relative but, G series is budget Meridian, 8xx series is premium product, with premium DAC, with everything optimised for it.
Meridian owner since 1992
Prime & PSU, Focal Elear headphones, Roon (ROCK 8Gi5 NUC), Explorer 1 & 2, F80. 200/203, various Sonos (via Roon).
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 485
Paranoid android
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Paranoid android
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 485 |
For analog speakers I would recommend 861v4 (with latest DACs OA03/OA13) and LPS.
Digital speakers - I think it would be close between 861v4 & G68.
Regards,
Kishore
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Joined: May 2000
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Great Green Arkleseizure
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Great Green Arkleseizure
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,534 |
The current retail price for the G68SL is $12,000. "Budget" Meridian is indeed relative.
561, DSP5500s, DSP5000C, analog sides and rears
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,764 Likes: 6
Robert.W Great Green Arkleseizure
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Robert.W Great Green Arkleseizure
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,764 Likes: 6 |
I agree 100% with Ian, additionally when you can get the cards you can upgrade to v6/v8.
Of course it's not cheap, but then your at the heaven.
Robert
800v3/218/271/8k.2/5k5s  /5kC/DSP3200/Reviver/ TT-ELP/Graham Slee Revelation/Trinnov Altitude 32/OPPO 205 __Ayon/HB/Shunyata/Miltzow -- power cables, __Ayon/Jungson/Miltzow --analog, Miltzow-- digital, __Vortex/WMA ,
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,733 Likes: 88
Don't Panic!
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Don't Panic!
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,733 Likes: 88 |
Hang on a minute. I'd like to make it clear that putting v6 or v8 cards in a v4 is completely unsupported. It is not an upgrade route that you should assume is possible.
On a point of information, the v4 runs on the latest v8 software.
The linear PSU upgrade is offered by Meridian through its dealers.
Last edited by VirusKiller; 2013-11-09 15:23.
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 26
Harmless
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Harmless
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 26 |
This is an interesting topic and one I have entertained. Does the 861 have a tuner like the G68?
Meridian 568, Krell KAV 250A2 & 250A3, Oppo BDP 103, M&K 5.1 (S-150 fronts, SS-250 rears, MX-MPS 5410 Pro subwoofer) Sim2 C3Xe PJ, Directv genie
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,764 Likes: 6
Robert.W Great Green Arkleseizure
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Robert.W Great Green Arkleseizure
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,764 Likes: 6 |
Have a look in Duncan's Meridian Info site (also on the top of every forum page) you can get all the specifications you need. Robert
800v3/218/271/8k.2/5k5s /5kC/DSP3200/Reviver/ TT-ELP/Graham Slee Revelation/Trinnov Altitude 32/OPPO 205 __Ayon/HB/Shunyata/Miltzow -- power cables, __Ayon/Jungson/Miltzow --analog, Miltzow-- digital, __Vortex/WMA ,
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 234
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 234 |
Is the overall consensus then for analogue (assuming the latest analog DAC cards in 861v4):
G68
861v4
G68 linear PSU custom mod
861v4 linear PSU Meridian update
861v6
861v6 linear PSU Meridian update
861v8
Meridian G68 AXV, HD621 | Cinepro 2k6mk5 | 4x Scanspeak A4 monitors, center & 26W Sub | RPi Hifiberry digi+ | Roon
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,505 Likes: 78
President of the Imperial Galactic Government
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President of the Imperial Galactic Government
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,505 Likes: 78 |
Looks about right but these two might be the other way round.
861v4
G68 linear PSU custom mod
I think a personal audition of both units would be required to decide.
Regards,
Carl
861v6+ID40, HD621, 8000.2, 7200HC, 7200.2, SKYQ Silver, PS3, PDP-LX6090, QNAP TS870-Pro (8*6TB), Roon, iPadAir2.
[In Reserve] C15, MD600 (2*3TB), TwinStore RM (2*2TB)
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,733 Likes: 88
Don't Panic!
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Don't Panic!
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,733 Likes: 88 |
IIRC the 861v6 came with a switched mode supply which is updatable to the linear one. I would *expect* the stock v6 to outperform the v4/LPSU, but you never know...
As for the G68 with linear PSU mod, that's frankly anyone's guess where it fits in the rankings.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 945
Pan-dimensional being
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Pan-dimensional being
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 945 |
I think Nick decided on balance that a G68 with LPSU was very close to a 861v4 in sound, to the extent that some might prefer it over the premium product. Changing the 861 over to LPSU totally blew the equivalent G68 out of the water from my recollection of his thread.
Mark
G68, baby Genelecs, Humax Foxsat, Oppo+Vanity93, Toshiba HD-A35, Pioneer CLD-925 + Meridian 519, various other random bits and bobs
Got a black G08.2 you want to sell?
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