Related to this viewpoint, here's my personal history of Meridian - for what it's worth.

I was a Meridian devotee in the 80s and from an early stage was sold on the whole concept of active speakers. I bought some M1s and (at first) a 101 preamp. This was followed by an MCA as preamp (much better) and finally a Pink Triangle PIP (even better). It was an excellent system, but unfortunately family and house changes meant the kit had to go.

At the time I remember having a conversation with Howard Popeck at Subjective Audio in London about why the amp trays in the M1s stuck out of the back of the speakers, rather than aligning with the lower shelf. His explanation was "just cottage industry audio company". Quaint, small business mistake to be seen as just amusing, or at least tolerated.

Fair enough, I thought - and then 30 years disappeared.
In the wilderness years I had all sorts (Mission Cyrus, Onix Audio, TDL, Arcam, PMC, Linn, Naim etc) but up to about three years ago kept coming back to NAIM as a reliable, modern option from the halcyon 80s when Linn, Naim and Meridian were the holy trinity.

I went for an audition to update my NAIM kit at the time and the very helpful salesman spent a lot of time and patience with me until finally suggesting that maybe Meridian was an option. His shop had been a Meridian dealership until the arrival of the PP era, but his suggestion still piqued my interest.

From that vague suggestion, I put my toes in the water again, and overnight abandoned my long term NAIM/PMC relationship and went back to Meridian - first to some 5000s, and then to 7200s and a full Sooloos system (now Roon)

Do I like the sound? Yes, I love it.
Have I got any brand loyalty? No.

In my opinion they appear to treat their customers with utter contempt, and I feel totally let down.
After 30+ years both everything and nothing seems to have changed. They have brought out some stunning products but appear to be even more entrenched in their old world business ways.

In another thread there is a lot of discourse on Linn's approach to MQA. I disagree with almost everything said, but I applaud them for a least acknowledging that it is now 2017.
Where is the official Meridian view on this rather than just Bob's MQA line.

As a Naim and PMC buyer I was genuinely proud to be part of the brand.
I cannot say the same for Meridian at the moment, and if just a few are like me that's a stupid and unforgivable situation for a company like this to be in given the incredible good will of the people on this forum.

Words cost almost nothing. But that still seems too much for Meridian.

Apologies for the long rant - but like almost all on this forum, it's only because I care.



LOUNGE - 218 feeding white DSP7200.2
GARDEN - DSP5000