I have not been an active Hiker for quite awhile. Back in 2004 or so, I bought a set of 6000’s used and LOVED the sound, but had significant issues where they kept going into protective mode any time I listened to them at 90 or higher for more than 10 minutes. Most of my fellow hikers could not understand why. Over a 2 year period, I actually went through 3 different pairs and kept getting the same result, so it simply had to be the DSP6000’s were just not built to play that loud. The back panels got VERY hot on every pair.

So, I decided to give up on Meridian and went through B&W 800D’s, N’s, MBL 101e’s, Martin Logan Summits, Mezzo Utopias, Legacy Audios, JBLs, etc etc.

I moved to North Carolina and wound up buying a pair of original version DSP5200’s off eBay. I put in a last minute bid of $1600 and WON! I really did not expect to win, but then I had to move forward got a C15 that I connected directly to the speakers. AT FIRST LISTEN, I FELL BACK IN LOVE WITH WHAT MOST OF KNOW AS — The non-duplicatable pure Meridian SOUND!!!

I always thought the biggest weakness of Meridian was the NEED to have a good Dealer (which I could NOT find in the Chicago area!!!). So, I sourced one in the Charlotte area. You all know him as CMB Sound Integrations from the Columbia, SC area (Bruce). This guy is simply outstanding from every perspective!

I found a pair of 7200’s original version for a great price and drive down to Florida to pick them up. They sounded wonderful! I got a 861, 218 and DSP5500 Center and was off to the races.

Just had Bruce do the 7200SE upgrade on Friday and these speakers are simply STUNNING!!! When you are convinced that nothing can make what you already have sound that much better — just do the upgrade from original version to SE on any model and get ready for what we all keep searching for:

The WOW factor!!!!

DSP7200SE / DSP5200 / 861 v4 / 218 / C15 / Oppo 205 / DSP5500 Center Piano Finish