Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems DSP SE Upgrade Kits - Has anyone got them yet?

Realistically, that's not going to be possible in Hong Hong.

Agreed, but thought the point should be made.

Sorry, it was "SE Showdown" not "shootout".

Here's the thread.

My two-channel system comprises an 808.5 and 8000.2's now upgraded to SE.

The first thing you notice is the quiet switch-on compared with the thumps from a standard 8k. The second is that the display tells you that it is an 8kSE before reverting to the familiar standby indicator.

When I heard the 8kSEs at Bristol they were still work-in-progress with some bass boom. The version available via the upgrade kit has no such problem. All the virtues you might expect are present (air, spaciousness, detail, dynamics, attack, scale, tonality, texture etc. etc.). Improved timbre, upper extension and background detail are all particularly impressive.

Bass is significantly improved in clarity and musicality. Surprisingly, on the old version (8kSL), the bass in the first track of alt-j's "An awesome wave" sounded muddled and muddy. It now sounds part of the music. This was the only disc I have played that previously offered troublesome bass.

But perhaps best of all is how subtle and delicate some music can now sound, such as the pizzicato strings on Schubert's piano trio "Nottorno" D897.

I must express my thanks to Meridian for making upgrades available. This not only saves all the bother of selling kit and buying fresh but is also a green solution.

And thanks also to Sevenoaks Exeter for undertaking the upgrades with their usual thoroughness and professionalism.

Asa Post

Thanks for sharing your impressions, sounds like you are a happy customer.

Russ

Yes thanks. I should also add that I have been particularly impressed by string tone and the resonant qualities of drums i.e. the actual thwack (I hope that makes sense).

Steve Heim in New York just upgraded a pair of 8000s to SE for me and IMHO the difference is remarkable. The speakers are tied into a Sooloos server and 861v8.

I particularly liked the fact that these heavy speakers could be upgraded on site rather than having to go back to Meridian.

My 7.1 system has also been upgraded. This now comprises 5k2VCSE, 8kSE (front), 5k2SL (sides), 8kSL (rears), D2500, 861v8.

The upgrade has brought similar benefits to those gained by my 2 channel system. Most importantly, as well as a greater sense of space, the dialogue in films and broadcasts is much clearer and more characterful. This may seem like bathos after such an investment. However, it is thoroughly worth having and has significantly enhanced the pleasure of the system.

Thanks to Meridian and Sevenoaks Exeter for making it possible.

Have just had my 861v6 upgraded to v8, as well as my DSP8.2K's & the DSP7200HC to SE's.

A lot of initial faffing & typing / reprogramming later - it would have been nice to have received (at least) the processor with an even slightly representative configuration - but it's now time to assess the differences.

"The Jury's still out" although very early impressions are of slightly more air / ambience in the higher frequency range, and marginally tighter / punchier bass.

Watch this space....

Hi Rolski

Have you made sure EBA is on? Try turning it on in the speakers themselves rather than via the processor.

Russ

+1. There's nothing marginal about the impact that SE brings to the 8k.

The firmware on your 861 may not yet switch EBA on or off via the SL comms. So, as Russ says above you should enable EBA on the DSP themselves.

FW updates are fairly imminent I think.

Still waiting on my SE upgrades to arrive, but when I had my 808.3 upgraded to .5, it took several weeks before the electronics bedded in. Probably didn't reach full potential for about a month.

I would expect the same on the SE upgrades. Im sure you wont be disappointed.

Cheers
Greg