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

Awesome home theatre, by the way!

New black tweeters for the 5000.2’s.

Good idea.
Are they available new? Where?

I keep them in stock.😀

OK, I've just finished with some silver solder and flux. The 5000.2s standing on Herbie's Big Dots in my living room stereo system sound good. -Not sure there's much difference from the original H539 tweeter, but I can stop worrying about ferrofluid for a few years.

Recap: to improve upon the Boston Acoustics in-wall speakers that I was using in that room, I pulled the old stuff from the theater when I upgraded to SEs. This "leftovers" setup also includes: Shunyata Denali 6000/S power conditioner, Zu cords, grounded Netgear switch, Allo Signature endpoint and a 568.2mm.

Where would you put a few more dollars/tweaks next?

Difficult to judge as I haven’t had DSP5000’s for some time.

If improving your room acoustics is an option, I’d look at that first. If not, I’d either look at more power conditioning (you can never have enough, it seems!) or some AudioQuest cables for the coax (only naming them, because I used their cables myself, but would still suggest you consider this on a sale or return basis).

As I say, I’m not sure how much these upgrades will help, especially as AudioQuest Diamonds, for example, would be completely disproportionate for this system. That said, rewind back to when these systems were new and that these upgrades likely would have made a difference then - if you buy carefully second hand, it could still make a lot of sense.

PS I approve of the Eames chairs! They are a great upgrade in their own right :-)

Which M + S cables are you using to the DSPs? If it’s not the original Meridian cable, you could do worse than pick up a new pair with the original cable and connectors (Meridian Digital Link) which is what they would have originally been tuned by Bob Stuart with. Always sound great to me and Chris does a great job of making them up to original spec.

It also neatens the install, rather then having separate signal/control cable flapping around.

Sounds as if you’re comfortable with silver solder. Get a set of capacitors from Tarik and recap the 5000.2’s as well as address the R1/R9 resistors (and remove that worry as well)?

Hello Jeremy!

1) Yes, room correction has worked wonders in this odd-shaped space with lots of stone and glass. I use homeaudiofidelty.com filters with both Roon's convolution engine and Audirvana's AU settings via LiquidSonics Reverberate Core. Thierry does a great job.

2) Power conditioning for 5000.2s hasn't returned the spectacular dividends in this setup as it did with my SEs in the theater, where the Denali 2000/T makes those newer speakers come alive. Shunyata is closing this model out at $2000, which I consider a must-have bargain for anyone using Special Edition.

In the living room, despite the same Venom HC C19 cord from the wall, same Denali circuitry (although I did have to replace the cheap plastic feet that ship with the 6000/S), and same Zu Audio EVENT cords to the speakers, the improvements in clarity, tighter bass, quiet background and, especially, dynamics were all less pronounced.

Still worth it for my old smileys (I won't be selling the 6000/S), but not as big a leap in performance.

Hello 3dit0r!

Thanks for weighing in on my sonic adventure.

Aside from reducing the number of wires snaking all around (a real benefit in my household), how would replacing my 75 ohm digital cables change performance? Did Bob Stuart ever opine about preferred materials or specifications?

I agree that M-supplied SPDIF wires sound good, but longer runs make us penny-pinchers turn to companies like Blue Jeans who test to meet the standard technical spec.

Is there a particular Meridian construction method for optimum MHR connections?

Interesting, although perhaps I shouldn’t be too surprised that the more recent Meridian systems benefit to a great extent from improvements in mains power quality. You’re right, the outgoing Denali’s sound incredible value at the discounted pricing and I even considered getting one for my 818.

Once I’m done with the current audio treatment, I’m going to explore homeaudiofidelity.com, thanks for the suggestion! I did build my own filters in Roon, but wasn’t convinced they improved the SQ enough to justify losing MQA...