Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Automotive What HiFi review of Signature Reference System

Just stumbled upon this; might be of interest...
What HiFi Review

I think you're missing a ':' in the link

D

I've just clicked it & it works for me.

Edit:

Ah; just spotted Carl's fix!

Once again it feels like a "damning with faint praise" review from What HiFi. Always been curious about this "punch" which they prize so highly. Oh, and not forgetting "heft" too, which surprisingly they left out on this occasion.

Cheers

George

Agreed George.

IMO a bunch of political fence sitters using reviews to promote other products!

I kindly ask that they concentrate on the product being reviewed.

Criticism is OK but random comparisons that very few are likely to make is despicable, self opinionated and unacceptable.

JMPOV Hector

I've done a lot of headphones auditioning recently, including the (very expensive: �1500) Audeze LCD-X and LCD-3, and the TRULY IMMENSE (and horrifically expensive: �3500) STAX SR-009 headphones (through a very high quality source and amplification).

The Audeze cans are very highly rated (and I can see why), but to me, as an aficionado of detail and neutrality, they are IMO bloody awful: completely coloured, with too much bass, but - and here's the thing - with a presentation that makes lousy recordings seem good (at the expense of detail and clarity).

By contrast, I could not fault the SR-009 in ANY facet of their performance. Yet the presentation is so different, someone coming from Audeze would probably describe them as "meh", not "warm enough", not enough bass; you get the idea.

Perhaps this is the case with detailed and neutral M gear? Many people "prefer" a certain sonic "signature" when, of course, they should probably be aspiring to none.

On the other hand, perhaps Meridian's commercial relationship with review magazines isn't what the magazines might like...

For me the M automotive system sounds wonderfull when I listen to them last year at HQ.

"Burmester sounds better" ??? as written .. the writers must to check their ears/brain.

Here's the What HiFi Director review which, I think supports my hypothesis above. Too much detail?! Really?

I simply don't believe that the Director is lacking in rhythm; it has to be a psychoacoustic effect of loading the brain with oodles of detail.

Oddly enough, we have discussed exactly this in a Meridian-only context: the transition from the 18-bit DSPs (foot-tapping factor) to the 96/24 DSPs (more detail, less "rhythm").

I wonder just how detailed the monitors are when many tracks are being mixed, or whether it's just a case of your brain getting used to the additional detail? I know that I can't live without it these days!

I'm completely blas� about reviews but reading the above posts I wonder if What HiFi's methods would have been so roundly lambasted if they'd given the car kit a glowing ***** review.

That is a fair point, Not'arf. Personally, I didn't think that the Range Rover review was all that bad; I think the "problem" stems from reviewer expectations and "familiarity" with the Meridian sound. Or maybe the RR system really is "meh"?

Greg, the NYC based demo god of M. equipment, was waxing very enthusiastically to me at the high-end 3D audio produced in the RR at the last US HH night out ... I have not heard it myself but Greg's recommendation means I would at least give it a strong audition.