Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems The next $400 upgrade?

Desiring to modernize a home theater built in 2003, I've purchased various audio items over the last 18 months which now give me great pleasure with many hours of music every week. But I love to tweak things, and wonder about reaching the point of diminishing returns given my mostly-depleted budget. If you had invested in the following setup, how would you spend another $400 to improve stereo sound, not for more recordings?

Streaming Roon/Tidal/Qobuz > Ubiquiti EdgeRouter X SFP > Cat6 to Intel 7i7BNH NUC w/lps running ROCK > SFP fiber to Cisco 2960 > AQ Pearl to M 218 > 75 ft. Cable Matters Cat6a SSTP/SFTP for SpeakerLink > DSP5200SE w/ Zu Audio EVENT cords plugged into Shunyata 2000/T conditioner on a dedicated circuit. I use Roon's convolution engine to apply room correction filters from homeaudiofidelity.com

At the back of the theater, key source components employ a mix of Herbie's and AQ anti-vibration products, various entry-level cords from Zu and Shunyata, and are plugged into Shunyata's PS8 w/ Defender on its own circuit. Other power supplies are further isolated by iFI and Belkin devices.

DSP5200SE speakers at the other end of the room (flanking the screen) stand on M spikes into wooden cabinetry under the screen. Considering the interesting Journey posted here by Jeremy A-H, would Gaia feet be the next best use of additional dollars?

I'm thinking strategically placed room treatments (assuming the necessary domestic approvals!)

Products from the GIK range in the UK are relatively inexpensive and there will doubtless be equivalent suppliers where you are.

Cheers

George

Thanks, George.

I should have mentioned that the theater's initial design and construction considered potential audio issues, including dimensions and absorption/diffusion elements. Once built, we listened, measured and fussed with some of that stuff back in 2003 when the speakers were smiley 5000.2s.

I'm thinking that my latest room correction efforts via REW, HAF and Roon have fine-tuned things.

I’d certainly recommend trying the GAIA’s. If you buy them online or on a trial basis, you could return them if they don’t live up to your expectations. Mine are certainly staying put!

Let us know how you get on :-)

PS I would normally recommend power conditioning as having given the most dramatic changes in my system, but this can get expensive. It’s always worth keep an eye out for Shunyata Triton boxes going cheaply, though.

While I have not tried them myself, the Gaia's come highly recommended.

I did wonder about new feet, but as the 5200s are currently located within wooden cabinetry below the screen, I do wonder if high end supports are likely to realise their potential?

ODC, would it be possible to put up a photo of them in situ at the moment?

Cheers

George

You won't see much: Here's a photo taken in 2003. It's the same today, except that you would see just the DSP5200SE HC center speaker instead of the previous 5000 version, as the others are behind acoustically transparent fabric, including four subwoofers in cabinetry below the screen. Left and right DSP5200SEs are standing on the same platform (over the subs) as the center on either side of the screen, hidden from view. The rear DSP33s extend through cut-outs in the soffit above.

Shogi screen doors open to two equipment cabinets which flank the entry at the back of the room.

Wow! That rooms looks awesome! Nicely done. What are the physical dimensions?

Approx 16'W x 30'L x 12'H with seating on three levels. Floor and walls are thick concrete all around, layered with insulation/sound treatment which includes plywood and foam.

As a long-time Meridian enthusiast (since 200 series in 1983), I have attempted to address power, network, interconnect and room acoustics issues in my recent theater redesign. Now I'm trying to learn how I might have missed the boat somewhere in achieving the next level of performance within a budget appropriate for the DSP5200SE speakers...

Let me correct the above post: I have been using Meridian gear since the 200 series in 1986, not 1983 when I bought that house where I subsequently installed a multi-room wall panel, tuner, and CD player along with other M items...

-Now back to the problem at hand. Because it is so much trouble to disassemble, and then reassemble, the cabinetry surrounding the left and right speakers, I've decided to stick Herbie's decouplers in there (like I use in my living room system) instead of auditioning the GAIA products.

So, if new feet are off the menu, where should I look next for sonic adventure?

Home theatre concessions stand?