Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems G65 v Classe SSP

I would expect it to be considerable as the G6x hardware architecture would need to be redesigned to cater for another 2 channels.

I bought an 861 for the sound quality and that's what stops me trading it in.

Agreed, the G65 is an evolution of the other G6x processors. No doubt for cost and resource reasons, this part of the G65 was not re-engineered.

Page 10 of the installation guide suggests that the limitation may be software rather than hardware.

Wouldn't be the first or last time the manuals were wrong though.

Very interesting proposition...

Based on the system Blickman has, I would say that the SSP800 would be a better suited than the G65.

The G65 is a stunning bit of kit, very much reminds me of a mini 861!

The SSP800, although a few years old now, really does hold its own in many systems.

The most logical upgrade for Blickman would be an 861v8 IMHO, IF he feels that his system needs a boost...

We are quite lucky to have all three processors here on demonstration, and with many clients also!

Cheers,
Ian.

Hi,

Page 10 is discussing output channels not discrete input channels. I was told by M that the G series architecture was limited to 6 discrete input channels.

As always, interested parties should purchase on what it does now, not what it might or might not do in the future.

Regards,
Carl

Hi Blickman,

Welcome to the forum.

I have very little experience with the Classe SSP to I can't comment on that. However, if 7.1 discrete input is hard requirement for you, then an 861v6 should be considered in combination with a HD621. There are some excellent value used examples that come up from time to time that may help with budget constraints.

When I made the switch from the 500 series I bypassed the G series and went for a used 800D & 861v4. A while later I traded the v4 in for a new 861v6.

I've not compared as new G65 against a 861v4 but I suspect AQ would be close. A v4 with LPSU then I'd expect the v4 to tip the scale and the differential increases again with the v6 and v8 versions.

Regards,
Carl

I'm especially convinced that high freqency noise and interference is a significant contributor to poor audio quality, and I've advocated Meridian's approach to dealing with HDMI in the past.

I've largely changed my mind though, and I don't think that the existance of HDMI inputs on the Classe SSP800 is any reason to avoid it. HDMI is the invention of the devil IMHO, but while most processor & receiver manufacturers can't make it work well, there are a few who can, and Classe seem to be one of them.

In years gone by I used to compile the Jitter List - a summary of some of Paul Miller's measurements for HiFiNews. It won't make any buying decisions for you, but its still useful information. One of the outstanding entries was the SSP800, whose jitter measured 10ps over SPDIF and 21ps over HDMI. Absolutely outstanding, and better than anything Meridian have ever achieved, with or without digital audio and video segregation.

The right architecture is important, but not as important as the end result. If the end result is good, what does it matter how they got there? Yes, the SP3 uses a separate compartment for HMDI. TV and satellite receivers have been doing that for decades; it's nothing new. There's no reason why an audio processor can't do it.

Hi Nick,

What are the jitter figures for the 861v8 (and HD621)?

Regards,
Carl

I don't have any to hand, but I recall that Meridian equipment typically measured 100-200ps.

I would register and search the Miller Audio research website. It's a gold mine.

Nick

Thanks Nick, I'll do that ... with 861v8, 818.2 etc. things have moved on so it would be interesting to know what they achieve these days.

Regards,
Carl

There's a good Stereophile article here A Case of the Jitters that shows Meridian are close to the state fo the art.

What I'm less clear about is how these tests compare with those done by Paul Miller.

Nick