Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Is the 861 a dead end?

To be continued..

I decided to live in the 861v4 cul-de-sac rather than chase the big detached dream. Happy I did with ID40 endpoint it is fine for 2 channel, not MQA, but this is catered for in my study.

Choices choices!

Hector

Crion,
Is that your theater? Very nice!

I echo many of everyone's sentiments and I've shared my concerns with people at Meridian over the past year. Why does anyone buy any premium or luxury brand? Typically the brand is based upon some kind of leadership. As I've said before, I can remember when Meridian made their own Dolby Digital decoder in software!

While I'm not super interested in Atmos, I think there is a real risk to Meridian (or anyone) if they are not exhibiting leadership. They don't have to be the first, but they should be the "best".

As a casual observer these days, it seems to me Meridian focused much more on MQA than other areas. That is their choice, but they really need to get to focusing back on the HT side. The 861 is getting long in the tooth. I don't know if you can say its really its in the leadership position like it used to be. Remember when they did room correction for the first time? They also had the first way to get digital audio off DVD-A.

It pains me to say this because I love my Meridian gear, I've had DSP 8000s since mid 2001, but if you ask me right now I would not say its exactly a dead end but I would think long and hard about building a big dollar Meridian system.

I would like to see Meridian restore the 861 (or its successor if there is one) to its rightful place which is at the leadership position in the industry.

I also think I should make a counter point which is, I spent a lot of money many years ago now on my Meridian gear and its still going strong and sounds fantastic. So in my case its been a great investment.

But please, Meridian, give us something that ties everything together, to be inspired by, to dream about.

Crion, I thought you had yellow 8k's?

Perhaps the interaction with RC is preventing the 861 getting an MQA card. But I wouldn't want to have another (ugly!) 218 box with it...

Hi Jerry,

It's the one at Meridian HQ, Huntingdon... recently refitted... the seats are from Jaguar.

Regards,
Carl

And, I understand, the system is running Dolby Atmos, unlike Meridian's customers.

No, I don't think so. I think they have just doubled up each channel with a height speaker

The real test of the future potential of the 861v8 will be in the prices achieved in second hand sales and trade in (against what) valuations.

What depreciation on the original purchase price would be acceptable to those wanting to get Atmos, etc.?

What valuation would a dealer of Meridian and other high-end processors put on an 861v8 to get a sale of the latest and greatest alternative (M or otherwise)?

Another issue with the v8 is no MQA if the format does take off. I'm certainly not minded to swap my cheapo 861v4 with ID40 in any great hurry, or for any significant incremental cost whatever folks say about the uplift in sound quality.

Agreed dpstjp, I love my Cul-de-Sac, low crime rate, no through traffic etc.

Sorry if I am a million miles off the point here but...

Could M not write the atmos software into the current 861v8 by taking the side speakers and making them high/ceiling speakers to give even a basic atmos system??

If so and if that would even work open up the possibilities backwards to 861v4 users and even G series??

Regards
David

I dare say that Atmos ha a mandatory minimum specification without which a manufacturer cannot use the term.

Enabling MQA in a way that excludes multi-channel matrixing and room correction processing does seem more doable as all the elements are within M's control.