Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems DSP5000 24 vs DSP5500 18 in home cinema

I have a couple of hopefully quick questions please, on which would perform better as front speakers in a home cinema, DSP5000 24bit or DSP5500 18bit?

The room is 7M x 5M with a 3.5M screen and is a dedicated cinema.
Meridian kit includes:
DSP5000C
M33 sides
DSP5000 rears
Early 561 processor
REL Storm subs x2.

Will only x1 sub work when I use the sides?

Thanks, all opinions welcome!


The kindly builder fitted x5 Opus speakers in the ceiling but these are switched off until I upgrade to "Atmos 2" !

I may get corrected here but, I am pretty sure if any speaker is 18 bit in a DSP system it dumbs down the whole system to 18 bit. That said, unless you plan on going all 24 bit there would be no sonic improvement of using 24 bit speakers in a system that has 18 bit DSP's also. However the more the system is Meridian the better

Bruce

I am sure you are correct.

Regards

Russ

I thought it was possible to run 24 bit on the fronts with 18 bit on the rears with certain processors. I thought if you put an 18 bit centre in the equation the whole front section would "dumb down" to 18 bit. Not sure this applies with the 561 but I think it does with 568 and up. Happy to stand corrected.

Altus

That will be interesting if true?

Russ

The processor will either output at standard rate or double rate on all channels depending on how HS=Y/N is set.

If outputting at double rate (HS=Y), the 18bit DSP's will just output static.

With a pair of 24bit front's and the others being 18bit, it is possible using the 2 channels presets to set HS=Y and utilise double rate when just using the fronts.

Regards,
Carl

A couple of points...

1) Not sure an early 561 runs 96/24 multichannel out anyway. I'm think that was introduced on 568.. (but may be wrong here!)

2) The 96/24 bit upgrade to DSP speakers was not just about being able to accept higher rate digital audio. There were other improvements to the electronics and amplification. Therefore a 96/24 bit version of the speaker will sound better than an 18 bit version when both running 18 bit (or in reality 16 bit from a CD player).

I would go for the 24 bit 5000's as they are much more versatile in today's age (and much more saleable) and you have the bass covered with a sub. They will also integrate better with your 5000c centre. Next upgrade would be the processor to get the best out of 24 bit speakers.

Good to see Rick posting again (and effectively issuing Meridian press releases!)

You have DSPs already.

You haven't said whether they are 18-bit or 24-bit?

I know I did but, I think we all missed the point of the original question when the poster asked about DSP5000 24 bit vs. DSP5500 18bit.
The 5500 is a completely different animal in the bass department which in a theater situation is not necessarily a bad thing.

Both are great speakers- if you are looking at using them for home theater, I would go with the 18 bit 5500s.

The original poster hasn't answered my original question about whether he already has 18 or 24 bit speakers, and I have no idea about the difference in price he's being quoted for the two.

For future proofing I'd go 24-bit 5ks. He can always move them to rears if his existing 5k rears are 18-bit. If he feels this is bass light one or a pair of D1500s can be daisy-chained off them for peanuts these days (I appreciate there are already subs in the mix).