Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Upsample DVD from G98 and G68

I don't take such an aggressive stance as UA but I do understand Meridialien's feelings. I had all sorts of problems when I first got my 596 - most of which were fixed with later releases of firmware. However, playing Spiderman 2 (R1) last night I had occasion to stop the disc for a bathroom break and on pressing play again the machine locked up with 00:00:00 in the time display. I had to do a power off at back to regain control.

This really shouldn't happen. The software should be designed to be more fault tolerant. In my work I have to do DFMEA to identify potential problems and clear them before the product is given design release.

The "Rules of DVD Player Design" in order of precedence must be:

1. It must play the discs (a given)
2. It must sound good

I will pay a lot for the second (as we all have) but I shouldn't have to pay extra for the first.

Malcolm

UA, I do enjoy the fact that you go to ground for a while, and then blast back with a good old rant! ;-)

For my own part, having decided that DVD-A wasn't a go-er, I see no point in going beyond a 596 for video, or 500/518 etc for CD. Well diminished returns. The G98 was top drawer (on my crap and now exploded old telly) for picture, but I suspect that the newer Pioneer or Denon models aren't far off (haven't compared).

The point about playability of discs is a 100% valid one...it is a minimum requirement. And your comment about how far you need to go in hifidom is possibly answered by the fact that having sold my G98 and G68D, I'm actually happier back with 568.2, 500/518 and 596. (Okay, the G98 picture WAS better, but not �2000 better than a used 596).

WDSAV, your original question was about upsampling. I didn't rate it on the 568.1 with DSP5000 and then DSP6000 speakers, but I've been using it with the 568.2, and on balance do now prefer it. With the G98 and G68, I thought it was worthwhile with movies, but with CDs, too smoothed out at the extremes with a reduction in perceived dynamics. That's only my own opinion; I know several others disagree. The one thing I would caution against is a making the assumption that newer is automatically better, and that your kit is incomplete without upsampling, MRC etc. You may find like me, that you'd never had it so good, BEFORE you part with the readies. As always, DO listen before you buy, and not just in the shop; you need a few days at home to really get to grips with the kit. And as a final point, if your feet are tapping and you are humming along to the music, you've hit the jackpot. If not, return it too the shop and try some other kit!

Cheers

George

[This message has been edited by Mr Meridian (edited 11-21-2004).]

[This message has been edited by Mr Meridian (edited 11-21-2004).]

"UA, I do enjoy the fact that you go to ground for a while, and then blast back with a good old rant"

Pity most of it is opinionated bollocks though!

QA Perhaps the 17 years you have been listening to hi fi, that volume control has just been cranked up just a little bit too high and those ears have lost their discerning edge?

Cliff

PS Stongly suggest: 'anger-management course'. Mr Angry dies young don't you know, and we don't want to loose one of the more entertaining contributors to the Board!

I am enjoying my $6000 transport thank you, it plays everyone of my 1000+ discs perfectly.

"quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I did seveal A/B comparisons before buying and the player interface does influence the sound quality to my ears."

"How many times have we heard this one before? Upsampling, jitter reduction, buffering, etc. all have an impact on sound quality. But what exactly is "better" once you hit a certain level of hifidom, hmmm? Different yes, but better? I've heard plenty of non-Meridian, non proprietary connected, sub $2,000 transports that are utterly blissful. If you aren't tickled pink with an 861/G68 connected up to a half decent transport, then I colour me dumbfounded."

How else do you make a informed decision on which kit buy other than comparative listening A/B tests?!!! Better that than decisions based on hearsay. I didn't say the G98 was better, just DIFFERENT. A difference I happen to like!

Cliff

Thanks Cliff
I order my G68,G98 and G55 in black,I should get this by next week

Aloha Glen

[This message has been edited by WDSAV (edited 11-22-2004).]

Guys,

Calm down! This is all getting a little heated and I think we're all entitled to our own opinions, however different they may be.

Personally, I'll add one thing. Any item that I buy is expected to do its' job correctly - and I don't care if it costs �1 or �10,000. Most western countries have legislation covering this - if something is claimed by its maker to do X, Y & Z then it must do X, Y & Z or there is an offence being committed.

So if Meridian or anyone else sells a region 2 DVD player and it doesn't play all region 2 DVDs, then there is a pretty major problem there.

I suspect that the problem with the G98 / G91 lockups / hanging may centre around Meridians wonderous custom disc navigation software. I'd guess that there are several bugs in there that need fixing - and fixing fast if Meridian are selling a product that's supposed to play DVDs!! (Can you guess that I'm a software engineer and whenever I see someone boasting about their own custom software I always get a bit nervous)

Finally, I'll re-state a point I made early - I am so glad I've stuck with my 500 series kit and not made the switch to 'G' series just yet!!

Cheers,

David


[This message has been edited by porsche944 (edited 11-22-2004).]

"Did you happen to A/B a Meridian transport with something in the $1,000 range? If not, then where is the sense in spending $6k?"

I did actually! And I'm not particulry rich. I'll bet a number of fellow posters have large collections of sofware build up over the years.

(oops! Correction my butler has just informed me that I don'y have quite as many dics as I first thought)

WDSAV

Enjoy!

Cliff




[This message has been edited by Cliffs (edited 11-22-2004).]

Only seventeen years, well well

I just got my G68-G98 and G55 in, hook everything and played with it, Man talk about a sound that is out of this world.
Up sample CD's and DVD's sounds unbeliveable


Aloha Glen