Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Meridian Director vs. Meridian 568

If so, I would forget the Director or Explorer and search for an ex-display Prime instead.

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for your post. The description of audible differences between 568 and 861 is very helpful. It is slightly confusing that updated versions like the 861v8 make such audible differences.

Thanks also for reporting about the Wyrd. I think the best way is really to check it. In this context however I wonder why the Wyrd is featuring a reclocking unit. The Meridian DACs all have an asynchronous protocol, that means they are in charge of timimg. There is also the Aqvox linear external PSU for a quite moderate price, I could check.

best regards

Sascha

Hi Spinaltap,

Your suggestion has been copied, but unfortunately a Prime is not affordable for me...

best regards

Sascha

An ex-demo Prime was recently advertised here for £750 by a PP - normally £1,200.

Basically the idea regarding the Prime is reaaly quite good, because it is really that kind of unit I am looking for.
So it might be worth saving a little money....

...or find a PP that offers a deal with 0% finance.

Hi Spinaltap,

do you have a Prime or have you ever had the chance to test it?

I mean if I am really thinking about spending so much money, I am getting into a region where competition is really hard. You will probably not find anything being able to better an Explorer in the 300 Euros area. The same applies to the Director, although it did not get a five star verdict with WhatHifi due to some competitors.
For 1500 Euros (+) however, you almost get a Benchmark or even almost a DAC 8 (T+A). ....

Sascha

In their reviewing anything with 'Meridian' in the title, I would take on-board What HiFi's conclusions with a pinch (or shovel-full) of salt.

My thoughts exactly.

A typical What HiFi review, no matter what product:

"Blah blah Punch blah blah Heft blah Weight blah blah Sparkle blah blah...."

They've never liked Meridian kit, same with HiFi News. Alternatively, HiFi World and Hifi Choice are fans, and Hifi Plus back in the day of Roy Gregory dismissed anything that couldn't be tweaked or rewired with Nordost cabling. Funny how he went on to work for them...

Trust your own ears.

Cheers

George

Hi Spinaltap and George,

I have read your statements regarding WhatHifi. But I can not fully subscribe to them. The Exploer for example was highly praised by them. I do agree that a lot of their criteria are slightly non-technical. Instead of relying on some laboratory measuremts they evaluate on the basis of merely subjective impressions. On the other hand you must see that nowaday's products are so highly developed that a more technical evaluation on the basis of laboratory measurements would be rather pointless and boring. Of course I confirm that vocabularies like "more rhythm", "more musicality", "more fluidity" are more than just ambiguous.

What I appreciate with WhatHifi however is that not every new product is praised into the blue. When reading reports and reviews in other magazins (especially in Germany) I do get the impression that bad results are excluded from the beginning on. Each product is an evolutionarily huge step forward, even if they should just have changed the labelling sign's size on the front. In so far it is appreciable to see that there are magazins which do not seem to be the prolonged arm of sales departments.

Additionally I like the idea of comparing several equally priced products. A lot of reviews leave that out and regard the product in isolation, which is not useful for a consumer, who has to take a decision about what to buy.

Until now, I have not been able to discover a one sided perspective with WhatHifi. Maybe, they like Rega and Hugo a little bit more but I think all in all it is in limits....

Sascha