Originally Posted by Ratbert
And what are your thoughts on the improvements?
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.

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