Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Big DSPs vs other serious speakers

You looking at 2 Wilsons or 5 or 7.

If only 2 it should not cost that much to upgrade just 2 channels to the next level.

There is also a 5x200 watt Krell that should not be 10k more than the showcase model. My guess is more like 4k more. This would upgrade 5 channels as well.

You don't have to go to the big monoblocks.

Only the two for the moment. My SFs will become surrounds as I don't much care for quality in that department. I would need a centre still which makes things tricky, but then centres are tricky at the best of times.

I could keep the showcase for 3 centre channels and either a stereo or pair of monos for the L/R. This would not be so bad and can be done at a later date.

That said I am still not sure about the title of this thread - since I have not had a proper demo of the Wilsons vs DSP7000 - in 4 hours we could not get a proper result from either!

You can mix and match amps later but to judge the speakers make sure you give them enough juice. Then if you like the speakers that require amps. Check them with your amp. Then decide your strategy.

Sometimes the amp power between 100 and 250watts makes a large difference and sometimes not. Depends on a lot of things (mostly the speaker). But you need to eliminate it as a variable in judging the speaker first.

This is a heresy, I know, but it comes from someone who moved from 5 channels of DSP5000 to 2 channels of Sonus Faber Guarneri: You might consider not having a centre channel. I find the clarity of dialogue with the stereo system far exceeds that with the DSP5000C. I will add rear chanels in the future but I'll audition long and hard before adding a centre.

Regards,

Steve

David - I have to say by putting the Parasound A51 into my system the extra power really has brought my speakers to life, the soundstage has become alot bigger but also control at lower volumes is so much better.
IMO the Parasound is an absolute bargain and there is some good discount to be had on the retail price of 3.5k.

Regards
John

I think (but I need to confirm) that the sound I heard from the Wilsons is the direction I want to go. Obviously this is going to require a minor adjustment to my 861 (another balanced card).

This will at some point need more juice to amplify at least L/R channels, perhaps leaving the others to the Showcase. This job will be filled by a much bigger Krell (or Krells). All this needs saving up for, but at least I think I have decided!

My only concern is all the extra cabling I'll have to accumulate to and the extra room I'll need to make for the extra amplkification that was going to be hidden in the speakers!

dmurfet,

You haven't convinced yourself what you want without the proper demo yet, have you

I'll use the smiley face in this thread an post the carnage in a new one........

I`ve auditioned the 6K`s a few years ago and more recently the 8K`s and while impressive, they still do not compare to the sound I get from my Martin Logan setup.
Electrostats, especially large ones like my Monolith III`s , are able to create a soundstage that just can`t be equaled by small point source drivers. The quality of the sound through the mid-range is unsurpassed in my experience.

What would like to see from Meridian is digital amplification and crossovers, something akin to what TacT has done. Where the digital signal from the processor goes into the amps, where there are options for DSP based crossovers and then onwards to a full Digital amplifier with volume managed through power supply tracking (or whatever produces the least harmful distortion products).
However, to drive the Martin Logans, it would need to supply hefty current output. Something along the lines of a Millennium III from TacT.

Now that would keep my more vested in M equipment and the benefits of DSP crossovers, etc, while still enjoying my choice of reproduction technology.

With today`s MRC and computer based setup, the above should be doable at M class prices.

Have to agree. I run smaller MLs (Aeon i) and whilst they're not as bad as Monoliths for current requirement, they still work the amplifier pretty hard. But for sheer sound stage and clarity you simply can't beat them. I think this comes from the fact an ML is really just a very simple 2-way speaker with a very low x-over frequency. Above around 350-400Hz, there's nothing to interfere with the signal. Add this to the purity of sound from an ESL panel and you have a fabulous sounding speaker.

Let's put this into perspective, based on UK pricing (rounded to the nearest thousand):

DSP 7000 - �16,000
DSP 8000 - �25,000

Martin Logan Summits - �10,000 (these are the new range topper)

This leaves between �6,000 and �15,000 free for amplification and cables. You can purchase some awesome amplification for this sort of cash - Krell, Mark Levinson, Bel Canto etc all fall into this range.

It's a ultimately a question of personal taste, but for me DSPs just don't have the same clarity and staging as MLs. Listening through MLs is almost like someone has taken a veil from over the music. Nothing else has ever done this for me, including all the DSPs I've auditioned and heard.

Just my views based on a huge time spent auditioning speakers.

Cheers,

David

I have heard some MLs (Krell pre/power) but not in an audition environment = just the guy I bought my Arcam DVD from. But since he played so quiet (protecting the neighbours) I didn't get a true impression.

I know I may be missing a trick, but MLs are just not for me. I am *very* heavy handed and I'll break them, or my dog will, or my unborn children will (since they'll be like me!)

I'll give you an example - I recently bought a table and benches for my garden - my brief to the manufacturer was " I want a table so if I invite the rugby team round and they all want to dance naked on my table, they can!"

My SFs have already been knocked over (beer induced), I have already spoken with SF about extra wide supports for the Amati Homage but whilst it is seriously the prettiest speaker I have *ever* seen (2 weeks ago) - it just doesn't have that "live forever" quality I need.

Wilson does have it.

Now a new interest......I am going for a holiday in New England later this month and I'm staying in Rockport for a couple of days. Is it worth dropping by the factory for a demo / tour? Anyone heard these?

"Dropping by the factory" may involve a bit more of a hike than you think....Wilson Audio is based in Utah almost 2400 miles away!