Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems DSP8000SE with no or small center in HT system

If you go for a 5200HC SE in the first instance, try setting it as a small speaker and using the sub to reinforce the bass of that channel (8Ks obviously set to large). Might well go some way to offsetting the smaller cabinet size.

Chris,

I only have experience with 8k legacy and with audio - not HT.

I tried different centers (all vertical) first with 5k,then 5.5k and finally with 8k.
The conclusion of all is for me that you have to have the same type AND still you have to take care about the integration of the center.

You can play with RC and the presets(data) to achieve that.

But I guess for HT the main attraction/impression are the picture and not audio?
I guess the best thing to try it out.

Just another data point...


I used 8k's with 5kHC. Not especially successful. Sure it got the 5.0 setup working but for music it wasn't ideal. I would say that it brought the overall performance down (i.e. did not get the best out of the 8k in modes like Trifield).

I upgraded to 7k2HC. I beautiful coffin of a unit. The performance of the overall system improved but it was hard to get it dialed in. Walls (rear reflections), depth, width (when it was working ), etc. 5.1 music was great, Trifield better but I still found I preferred 2.0.


I never got as far as 3 x vertical 8k (am still married though) but I recall a former member of this parish was adamant that it was the only way to get a fully locked image.


I went 8kSE, changed the room completely and reduced the whole system to 2.0. I have been very satisfied ever since. I don't miss 5.0 or 7.0 for movies. That might challenge convention but I learned after many years and lots of £££'s that it is over rated. YMMV.

Completely endorse this.

As a completist, I have 2 5.1 system still waiting on multichannel music to become mainstream. I have 8000SEs and 5500 centers, one vertical and one horizontal. I have abandoned Trifield for Direct exclusively. I haven’t played movies in years. If I played the +TV 2 channel I don’t think I would miss 5 channel for sports action.