Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming dBpoweramp plug in failures

OK, the sports car analogy doesn't work - you expect a sports car to have two seats because that's normal for a sports car? You expect a powerful music database to have track level metadata because others, even free ones, do.

I wasn't active on the forum during most of the time you're suggesting, and not really on the Sooloos part of it much before I bought Sooloos, so why should I have known?! What you're saying is that everyone had a chance to complain about it at the time (presumably they bought into it then realised this aspect wasn't there too) but because I'm 'late to the party' a) I have no right to request this be fixed, b) should have checked every thread looking for a problem in case there was one I didn't know existed?

For the third time I already said I'm living with the lack of functionality because I like the sound quality. Why do you keep repeating back to me something I already said like it's something you're telling me?

In any case, because I really can't be bothered to keep re-explaining my points, even if I'd have bought Sooloos knowing this, why shouldn't I find it lacking in a highly priced bit of software and have a right to periodically request it?

If you think that relying on this or any other Forum to act as your "Due Diligence" before paying a "gigantic premium" for a product then it is a small wonder why you are disappointed

Why not do what many here did? Go to your Dealer and spend several hours playing with the System. Rip and Import a few CD's and observe the results. Request / Demand a Demo Unit from your dealer for a week or weekend and carry out tests to see what Sooloos was truly capable of??

That is what people did here to identify the strengths and weaknesses of Sooloos and make a balanced purchasing decision taking into account those realities

You have referred to Meridian's marketing claims on many occasions. And yet you choose to ignore Meridian's (and Bob Stuart's) oft-stated advice to "Buy a Product for what it can do for you Today, not for what it May be upgraded to in the future"

Whether it's your request for Room Correction on the 818 or Track Level Data in Sooloos, you would have been better served to spend the time to find and observe that advice than to buy the respective product and then request product changes after the fact.

OK, if this is how previous discussions over the years went, I now understand Ian's 'yawn' when I first mentioned it I'm bored now too, really bored. Anyway...


No, it was you who suggested that I should have somehow known because it has been discussed on the forum before. I was saying the opposite, that I shouldn't have known from the forum.


Again, why are you making assumptions about what I did without knowing or asking? I drove hundreds of miles to Audio Images to listen to the 818/MC200. I loved the sound, but didn't have time to play with it for hours, or rip CDs. I freely admit that perhaps I should have been more careful, but for the very last time, because I really, truly am done with explaining this; I (wrongly as it happens) expected it to have what seems such basic functionality that freeware has it, and competitors who I'd used before have it. Also, again, it is advertised as about as all singing all dancing as music software gets so I just expected it to be there and I didn't check. There, I've now explained about five times how I got myself into it without being aware, is that OK? I'm not saying I was right to do so and that I shouldn't have been more careful, I'm just letting you know how it happened.

Also, again, for the very, very last time, I keep saying that the sound quality does outweigh this aspect, and that I live with the annoyances in the database for that. That means that I would have bought it regardless, I never said I wouldn't have. I don't want to change it, either, for the above reason, so voting with my feet isn't an option here.


Yes, and then, as you pointed out, they apparently ended up discussing it a lot over a 4 year period? I assume because they werent satisfied with that lack of functionality? If they, whoever they are, were allowed to be annoyed about it/discuss it, why aren't I allowed the same courtesy without being jumped on? I never said, ever, that I wouldn't have bought into Sooloos, or want my money back, or anything of the kind, I'd just like this feature to be there, and so would many, many other people who also bought and are keeping it. Is that unreasonable to say?


No, I'm referring to their current, and past, claim that Sooloos is among the most powerful ways of interacting with a music collection. Do you think that's inaccurate? Again this was in the context of explaining why I therefore thought a basic feature was, or should be there, not as some accusation of false marketing, etc.


What on earth has that got to do with this? I love the 818 and, unlike track level metadata, MRC is not something I feel is missing, or that the 818 should have had when I bought it, why on earth would I? I've never complained about it, it's just an idea for something which might be cool. Other people seem to like the idea too, so what's the big deal?

To be honest, the fact you brought that up as well and your, unsupported, accusation that I 'constantly' bring this up frankly now feel like more of a personal attack? I don't really recall, but think I may have mentioned this on about 2 previous threads before today, once being when I created my own thread asking about how to add track level artist data right after I got Sooloos? That's out of hundreds (maybe thousands?) of posts and/or threads I've been a part of in the couple of years I've been on the forum.

Now, obviously today I have ended up mentioning it several times in one day, and it's made it sound like a much bigger deal than it really is, even to me, but that's because I keep having to re-explain what I've already said, or defend myself from you and others who apparently feel it's unacceptable to even mention it. If you look back, I only made one small comment to start with!

Anyway, I'm genuinely done with this. Apologies to everyone else for taking it off topic, I genuinely didn't expect it to get the reaction it did. I have to focus on much more important things tomorrow, so I won't be following further replies. Night night.

Sooloos ripping, including metadata, has overall been a disappointment to me. Functionality that was there is now not there all of the time and for all users. Go back to page 1 of this thread. Also, I read on the forum earlier this year that the dBpa plug-in, which did give us better control of metadata, is now not working! Currently I avoid ripping because of too many issues.

Doubt me? Go and look back to the many threads that highlight the problems with Sooloos ripping and metadata. Sure some of them may be due to, eg, AMG or Apple?

Gerry is a model of how to deal with issues raised (see his post on page 2 of this thread).

I defend 3dit0�s right to post here, �The plug in was great. Shame all the track level metadata is ignored by Sooloos, though�.

But then there is this unnecessary response to his metadata reference, including the idea that if you want track level metadata you may have been better not buying into Sooloos. Those that complain about some persons repeatedly complaining about the lack of track level metadata themselves go on and on complaining about them. I am tired of that. If you can�t contribute like Gerry then why go on and on and repeat your criticism, which just invites another response and then your further response etc.

It is important to remember that there are new forum members who have not experienced the history of Sooloos metadata issues in all the posts over the years. They are here being well informed about such an issue by 3dit0. I would add that he just mentioned the track level metadata issue in passing and without any undue criticism of Meridian. Note that 3dit0 was also praising Meridian in the sentence I quoted above.

The single thing I dislike most about this overall wonderful forum is what appears to be, or is consistent with, the sometimes excessive defence of Meridian stand taken by some. What makes that even worse is that it has at times been associated with unnecessarily harsh criticism of some persons.

Sooloos ripping and its management of metadata is, to me, a disappointment, including the limitations with track level metadata. My hope is that will be substantially corrected in the future. The Meridian sound? Glorious!

On the same day, 3 different senior members of HH independently decided to take issue with your Post(s)...Coincidence??? Hardly.

Perhaps you need to read in between the lines and understand that continued criticisms are neither constructive nor beneficial to a more productive working relationship with Meridian.

These issues have been raised already with Meridian and as we've seen from Meridian's Product Development in the past, it's quite possible that we'll see changes in the future.

I don't understand why 3dit0r's posts are being so aggressively attacked. He is sharing his perspective and doing so in a professional manner. Other perspectives exist that may be contrary, but surely they can be phrased in such a manner that they don't come across as personal attacks. This forum normally maintains a far more respectful tone, which is what makes it a pleasant place to visit.

Cheers, Ian

I agree with Ian (ISB)

I can't imagine that Meridian's management are so childish that they would take offence at reasonable criticism and comments.

If Meridian would post a definitive response on here to some major comments raised then this might avoid them being brought up time and again. All the "Chinese whispers" and comments about "inside knowledge" would be made obsolete.

I understand that the moderators on here are, quite rightly, trying to build a good relationship with Meridian but this should not extend to protecting them from any adverse comments.

Just as you can't imagine they're childish enough to take offence, I similarly imagine that they are clever enough to understand what Sooloos needs.

They have already produced an application for HP which includes track metadata, and which is used by an extremely large number of people (way more than use Sooloos). They have also recently produced impressive software updates to the DSP speakers, obviously some time in the making.

Meridian is a small company and things take time. That there has been no announcement is more likely an indication of caution than laziness, judging from their productivity in other areas.

James has made his point, now let's get back on topic please.

+1

Just to remind everyone that the actual topic of the thread is that "the dBpoweramp plug-in is not working"!

The dBpoweramp plug in failure is an issue for me too.

I was at Bristol SSAV yesterday and I took the opportunity to raise this with Paul Webb, John Buchanan and Richard Hollinshead. One of them, I can't recall who, was aware there might be a problem but after I mentioned it they said they'd bring it up at their next quality review meeting - held weekly I believe.

I mentioned it again later to Richard - he didn't seem to think it would be too difficult to resolve. Without knowing what the problem is I wish I had his confidence. Then again, I'm not an audio tech' guru. Richard most definitely is.

Thanks for raising this issue again Roger. It really would be nice to get the plug-in fixed so that we can start bulk ripping again.