Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 808i vs G91 Two channel simplicity.

I own a G 91 DSP 7000/5200 5.1 Theater, and want to create a second Two channel system with no need for Video.

Thinking of a fresh pair of DSP 5200's with an 808i, or DSP5200's with another G91.

The Catch... I want a Tuner. While the Input section of the 808i will upsample a basic tuner, amongst several more analog and Digital outputs. I am torn between a single chassis, and the combo of a B brand Tuner through the 808i, I long for an 808i tuner card.

Does anyone have a comparison on these two
Two channel Disc speaking?

Cheers

Bernie

Bernie
If you are not concerned about video then go for the 808i. The G91 is very very good, but 808 leaves it far behind. I heard it with DSP5200, and the combination is an ultimate music system.
Both players seem to have 5 star reviews in the latest issues of What HiFi and HiFi News.

Hi Bernie,
Definitly go for the 808i it is way ahead of the G91 for CD playback beautiful peice of kit and i would love to own one.

Regards
John

John:

I agree that the 808i will win in a two-channel simplicity race. At roughly 2x the price, it is also dramatically more expensive and should be a consideration in the equation.

Cheers,

Especially when you could move your existing G91 to the second system and use the money to upgrade your theatre (main?)system.....

quote - "I agree that the 808i will win in a two-channel simplicity race. At roughly 2x the price, it is also dramatically more expensive and should be a consideration in the equation."

I agree with you john but if money was not an issue then that would be my choice for CD Replay, i have the G91 and think it is a superb CD spinner but i had a very long demo of the 808i and it blew me away.

Regards
John

If you've got the budget, then you know the answer! If you don't, then you know the alternative answer

Best,

Hi Bernie

My concern would be that you won't get the full benefit of your 808 purchase with 5200s. Yes they will sound good, but having heard all of the DSPs except the 7ks and 8ks, the 5200s are easily bettered by the 5500s and absolutely trounced by the 6000s. I'll readily admit that neither is as pretty as the 5200, but if it was me, I'd only invest in an 808 if I was using more capable DSPs. The G91 seems like the more natural fit.

Just my tuppence worth!

George

PS Devil's Advocate time. I've heard an A/B dem with 5200s being driven by both the G08 and a 588. The 588 was much better, and as the dedicated CD player, I would have thought that the G08 should be better with redbook CD than the G91? If the 588 turned out to be better than the G91, the option of matching 500 series black boxes opens to you again. 504 tuner via 562 ADC?

[This message has been edited by Mr Meridian (edited 04-27-2005).]

Mr Meridian and John K

Thanks for your comments -- I felt that the 5200's bettered the 7k's in a comparison session in my own home. Not certainly in raw power or fast bass response, but certainly in the openness of the amplifier circuits as applied to the Mid/ Upper freq. range. My 7ks are blissful, but heavy.

Lilt, openness, detail, and imaging; the 5200's trounce my 7k's. This may be Software or hardware shortcomings.

Currently my DSP 7k's are operating: Ver:".5" left and "1.02" right. I am not sure how or why these differ. While my 5200's are on Soft ver: ".BC"

I have no friends with the 5500's to compare to, (Heck since getting the M gear I have less friends anyhow) but will look around for a dealer with DSP 55 and 5200's. The 55's are quite large though. As the 7ks don't fit the space, the 55's would likely be impossible.

Having said this (cosmetics aside), has anyone experience with the 5200/6000 comparison. Specifically the clarity improvements (if any) innate to the new 5200 Amp circuit/s v.s. the older models? Has this new triple amp system trickled down and been applied to all models?

In this case their may be a benefit to a hardware upgrade for DSP owners (like me) who feel as though their own DSP 7k's more heavy handed, and are not as fast as the 5200's

Alternatively John Kotches, Do you know of 7k's which may have differing software, and how to patch/update.

THanks.

Bernie

[This message has been edited by Blatent Liar (edited 04-27-2005).]

Hi Bernie

I have DSP6000s, and whilst it wasn't an A/B with the 5200s, I have heard the same source drive both speakers. The 6000s are significantly more open and airy, lots more detail (and not thrust at you relentlessly) and space. More articulate bass, and generally more musical (IMO). By comparison (albeit with the limitations mentioned) the 5200s, whilst very likeable, were congested in the mid/treble, and warmly wooly in the bass. Several tracks caught them out as individual bass notes lost individuality and merged into one 'uber thump' (Sting: Forget about the future). In fairness, that may well have been a dem room acoustics problem, but my abiding impression was "nice", but my 6ks certainly weren't at risk!

I do think that the 5200s address the shortcomings of the 5000 very well, they look drop dead gorgeous, and the WAF must surely be 100% To my ears though, their performance is commensurate with their placement in the DSP range.

Cheers

George

Bernie:

I know very little about DSP loudspeakers at this time, as I haven't had any experience save for a few sitdowns with them at short auditioning sessions.

Best,

Bernie,
I'd agree with George on this albeit via different demo comparisons. I've demo'd all the DSP now apart from the 6k's.

The 5200's did seem better that 5k's but, like George with his 6k's, I didn't see any 'threat' to my current 55's.

I tried a few difficult bass and mid style tracks and found that the detail just gets lost with the 52's. I think it's a simple effect of the bass and mid sharing the same amps and being a 2.5way design.

As soon as you go into 3way, the detail in this area becomes clear and was the main reason for my move from 5k to 55k.

However, I do agree that they the 7k's (and 55k's) do pack quite a punch. So, it is perhaps this that may drive personal preference over the perceived details.

I'd also agree with the above point that an 808 paired with 5200's, whilst ergonomically and easthetically very appealing, would not get the most from the 808. I'd be tempted to put the G91 into your new 2.o setup and put an 808 with your 7k's.

Tough choices hey ?

Rgds

Nick