Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Restaurant at the End of Universe Meridian Dealers - Equipment INFO: Meridian discontinue Upgrade Kits for SE and Reference 800 Series

Following the launch of the Meridian Special Edition range of loudspeakers in 2014 and the associated upgrade programme, Meridian are now moving all Special Edition Loudspeaker upgrades and 800 Reference Series upgrades to a last-time-buy. Your final opportunity to purchase these kits will be 1st May, 2020.

There is no change to the production of all factory manufactured DSP5200, 7200, 8000 Loudspeakers in .2 or Special Edition form or 800 series products 818v3, 861v8, Ultra DAC, which will continue as normal.

So if you're interested in upgrading your DSP5200, DSP7200, DSP8000 to SE, or your 818, 808, 861v6 to current versions 818v3, 808v6, 861v8 then please contact your Meridian dealer before May 1st 2020.

Rick

Seems a bit like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
If a customer cannot afford the upgrade price today and is still saving he certainly will not be able to afford new SE tomorrow. Result another lost customer/cause. Meridian marketing and strategy beggars belief.

Ernest Hemingway "For Whom The Bell Tolls" 1940, little chance to get back 14 years to 1926 "The Sun Also Rises". A tenuous connection yes, but unless Meridian are about to release a complete new high end range of DSP speakers it is in my opinion nonsensical. To my understanding the upgrade boards for 5200 (qualifying products) 7200 and 8000 speakers are the same as those included in the latest SE models.
If Meridian cannot support the relatively low overhead cost of supporting upgrade kits then "For Whom The Bell Tolls" is the likely outcome.

Pause for thought.
Hector

There has been a fair amount of press regarding DSP speakers from competitors and many offer complete systems for the cost of a Meridian upgrade kit. I hope Meridian is releasing a new line but not really feeling it.

The timing of the announcement along with the cut-off date are just plain stupid. My impression is that audio upgrades and other discretionary spending is being curtailed in all but the most well-heeled households at the moment.

Has Meridian ever catered (directly) to anything other than well-heeled households?

I think that this announcement is disappointing, particularly because these are identical parts to those in production SE loudspeakers. However, how many who have not upgraded in the last 5 years (for cost or other reasons) were likely to upgrade in the future? Is this non-upgrader remorse? Or aspirational remorse? I think this may actually hit dealers and trade-in customers more than non-SE owners as it limits the ability of the dealer to "add value" to used gear.

Bad timing as all non essential travel is banned. Nobody is going to buy into this and wait 12 months or more for install of the upgrade.
Remorse all round methinks.
Hector

I'm a little surprised to see 808 upgrade kits on this list as I thought these had already finished?

I recently enquired about an 808v5 to 808v6 upgrade to be told the last upgrade kit had been sold.

This reminds me of Apple’s approach to the Mac Mini.

Once, it was totally upgradeable by end users. Then, Apple introduced proprietary fixings for opening-up the Mac Mini, plus non-replaceable memory, then soldered-on storage.

All this was designed to encourage customers to replace their Mac Mini rather than upgrade an otherwise perfectly serviceable product.

I would imagine that it will depress used prices of legacy equipment. Just seems so unnecessary.

I suspect the demand for upgrade kits was negligible as most people who wanted to upgrade and were in a position to do so have done so, and this allows Meridian to tidy up logistics, they can order speakers, cabinets and electronics in batches based on what they plan to manufacture and not have to build (expensive) slack into the supply chain to allow an unknown volume of adhoc upgrade kit purchases.

When I upgraded my 8k’s to SE’s (2016) the dealer said Meridian had no kits available so he got them to remove two from production, if true this is clearly no way to run a supply chain so in a way it is good to see them getting sorted, times are tough and Meridian need to do what is necessary to try to survive which in the current Covid 19 shutdown is far from certain.

Logistics? For $80k speakers? Looks like the new buyers don't understand their customer segment.

This is about upgrade kits not the actual speakers, regarding awareness of customers and the business segment look at Meridian's recent product launches (200 series) and products they have ceased (Sooloos, 808) and just maybe their focus is shifting away from where it has traditionally been?