Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Meridian Prime + PSU - upstream and downstream

I collect my Meridian Prime & PSU tomorrow - looks like they have jumped the 218 in the manufacturing queue.

But don't have any decent kit to connect upstream and downstream of it, ie source and headphones/amp/speakers so looking for recommendations and comments on compatibility with Prime - recent posts have highlighted that some headphones pair with some sources better than others.

I have three possible scenarios that I want to consider.

• Lounge - where family may be around
• Office - where it will be just me
• Bedroom - me listening with wife reading

I suspect that im not going to be able to cover all bases, but I may be able to with inclusion of Explorer.

I currently watch TV in bedroom with openbacked headphones. I don't get any comments but I am mindful of volume I listen at - I suspect with music, im going to want to listen at a bit higher volume, but unlikely to be overly loud. Never listened to specific difference between open/close back - up until now, headphones have been headphones and the only difference was on or in ear.

So I am looking please for suggestions for good headphones to partner Prime, which will possibly have a different bias compared with Explorer/Explorer 2. I am also mindful of frequency response for use with MQA as iirc that someone said that MQA benefitted from headphones with higher frequency response.

Im already making a shortlist of items to audition.

• Sennheiser HD800 and HD800S. Possibly 600.
• Grado GS1000e - I think at Explorer launch at Oxford, I tried these and lesser Grado and could hear the benefit of more expensive unit but wasn't then in market for any.
• Oppo PM1/PM3 - PM2?
• Shure seems to have a good following, but im not familiar with the models
• I would have shortlisted Stax, but having to have an energiser ergonomically and probably price wise excludes them. Different if I was using an 8x8 as preamp.
• Not keen on in ear, but todays post mentioning Shure 425/846 has piqued my interest - former as stop gap that will ultimately be used at work.

Source wise, initially its likely to be analogue out of my MC200 although I need to rummage down the cable box to see if I still have any interconnect that will do things justice. Suggestions for budget interconnect helpful. Shame that USB on MC200 is not enabled as that would have been perfect.

Longer term I was thinking on move to Roon so a NUC and Rock. But, short term I was thinking of a tablet/phone that could run Tidal and give MQA out plus still run from power. ATM, looks like iPhone app won't do MQA compliant output although I suspect that I may well end up buying an Apple USB connector kit with what looks to have an extra charge socket? But intreagued if an inexpensive Android tablet may well do the trick - not interested in phone functionality. In office, I have a MBP for Tidal, but no comfy chair at present - needs a declutter.

At some point, it may be nice to utilise the Prime output into power amp/active small speakers.

Prime and headphones are for long term keeps.

Comments from long term users only only please. I'm acutely aware how listening changes over a period of time and what initially thrills/disappoints may change over extended listening periods. My concern when I go to audition and a sales person may be pressing for a sale at first listening.

Definitely put the Focal Elear on your list. I heard them at Highend headphones the other week and preferred the clarity they had over the Sennheiser offerings. Ultimately the Stax arrangement really took my fancy though.

I would suggest as follows

Sennheiser HD650......... £258
Focal Elear.........~£800......... Review

For IEM's, the Shure 215, 535 or 846 are the ones to go for IMHO and pair very well with the Explorer [and Prime]

Suggest you find somewhere to demo the Elear.......newish HP's but as can be seen from above and similar reviews, they really work........and have low impedence, so work well with the Explorer and Prime

The HD650's are a long proven classic that I've used for more than 10 years........punch WAY above their price.......and for most listening are on par with the HD800 IMHO [without tweaks]........the HD800S are better, but still not a match for the Elear's IMHO

Lastly, no substitute for a long term demo [at least 30-45 minutes.......days at home if possible]........to see what sounds good........but just as importantly what you find comfortable

For portability, practicality & flexibility, I'd definitely recommend the Etymotic ER-4 in-ears, as mentioned in the other recent headphones thread.

I've had two pairs for ~15 years (just in case of breakages!) and which have been back to Etymotic for very reasonable repair after I've damaged them.

They're used with an iPod + Oppo HA-2, during flights instead of the usual Bose sound-cancelling offerings, with my SurfacePro3 + Explorer2, with my desktop computer, etc etc.

Ruler-flat response and considered to be the reference - for the last 20 years....
The 'old' models, which I have, are now $299 through the Etymotic site & the updated models - just released - are $349.

I've tried several Shures & found them really coloured, fiddly, bulky....
Not sure what the reticence is regarding Etymotic (perhaps lack of marketing & lesser availability?) and no - I have no affiliation with them whatsoever !

Most definitely worth considering IMHO.

You wouldn't get MQA from the phone/tablet route unless Tidal streams hifi to them. Best to double check that.

I use a <£40 rPi driven by Roon into my Prime. That takes care of DSD, 192k, MQA etc.

Hi Ian

I think you listened to the Grado GS1000i at Oxford. There have been two further iterations of these (GS1000e and GS2000e) since that time. The later versions are stated to be better but I have never had the urge to try them.

I purchased the GS1000i at that time and have never regretted this decision, however as they are so open (creating a great soundstage) I would respectfully suggest your wife should try reading next to you. You would not want to be disturbed every time she turned a page...

I subsequently purchased Grado GR10 buds for mobile use with my Explorer 1.

IMO both items are great with Prime + PS combo but here Prime is fed Analogue out from 808v6.

I also had Stax here for a short demo, they are in another league but as you say with the energiser at least double the price.

Hector

+1 for the Etymotic ER-4. They sound fantastic. Two things to watch out for, based on my experience only:

- They go a looong way into the ear canal. This makes them great for environmental noise rejection but can be problem if you are prone to wax build up or sensitive to foreign objects.
- The cables are very microphonic, so use the clip to keep them in place.

Other than that, I've not found anything else which comes close in terms of detail.

+1 for the HD650s. I have recently 'rediscovered' mine and in the right setting they are terrific and a great bargain.

Hesitate to say this but interconnects may also make a difference. The pair I had were far too polite for the Prime/HD650 combo.

I won't comment on headphones Ian as have in other threads and am still forming long term opinions.

On the source side, I feed the prime/ps via USB from the squeezebox touch EDO plugin, the PS making a significant difference to the quality of the USB feed, which leaves me the coax out into my main system.

Roon integration into Squeezeboxes would now get you MQA also I understand, however as I don't subscribe to Roon at this point I cannot comment on this, and remain frustrated on MQA given no LMS / TIdal plugin solution as yet.

I know squeezeboxes are old hat to many, but still a great piece of very versatile kit that looks the part in touch format, particularly sat on top of the prime/ps stack...

Lee

You can get Tidal into LMS. So, if that delivers bit-perfect into a device then MQA would be available.

It doesn't nick, there is a separate discussion on this in the MQA area, and numerous over at slim devices. Currently both official tidal app and ickstream are not passing on the blue light magic.

Lee

Cr@p. Just read review of Focal Eclear, then mucked it up reading a review the Utopia - cheap vs SE DSP speakers upgrade, but i wasnt considering price of SE speakers upgrade.

Part of this though highlighted frequency response. How important really is this to MQA? Some of the headphones suggested are <25k, but others are >40k. Had I not come read about some of the benefits of high resolution electronics with MQA, i wouldnt have been bothered, but I have and it puts doubt in my mind that lower resolution headphones would be limiting in some respect.