Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems DSP7200 worth getting?

I guess it is weighing up how comfortable you are when considering the combination of the future of M coupled with the overall reliability of their products.

I can’t call the future, I guess looking at companies house information might give an insight. That said I do feel pretty comfortable with the reliability - I am running a pair of D6000s which are likely from the early 90s - plus as noted already there are options via this site of partners and indies who are likely to be able to fix.

My main speakers are from 1996, they have been serviced in 2018 and are still in production today. I totally understand the concern around future. ATC are on a very different course (family business for one thing) to Meridian but fingers crossed they will also be fine long term.

My biggest question would be, is the upgrade worth it, from my perspective and existing kit. I say this because I am contemplating a switch to Meridian in my main rig, for domestic harmony, rather than I want a new sound. But I am not doing anything until I’ve heard some modern DSPs (including the 7200!)

I think Meridian's kit sounds amazing and I have no doubt that people buying second-hand will get a fantastic sounding system with great reliability they can enjoy for years from now. If I had the option, I'd go for the DSP7200SE over the DSP7200 every time, especially now the upgrades are hard to come by.

Totally agree. Generally DSPs are very reliable, and second-hand buyers can get great value for their money.

If we’re in it for the music Meridian DSP second hand is as good a value as I could find.

If were in it for the hobby of building a hifi system then DSP systems from any brand don't make much sense.

The SpeakerLink pair of 8k's I bought had good tone, great imaging and soundstaging with ultimate bass capability for my room and the upgrade to SE offered more air and resolution that I can appreciate when comparing to some of the latest headliners.

I've seen 7200SE's for $10k on AG and for most rooms that would be plenty.

To answer the original question briefly from my own experience.

7200 (.2 in my case) were an absolute joy to own. Not that much physically bigger in room than 5200 in real terms and sounded utterly superb with everything I threw at them.

The sound really grows on you over time, it took me a month or so to really begin to realise just how good they really were, as they are so subtle. This is more true of the bass than anything else - the texture and detail down there is hard to appreciate to begin with as there is still plenty of it, but over time this really becomes apparent.

FWIW, I found the firmware upgrade to the .2 made a huge difference in MQA sound quality, it really was much better. So much so that I stopped sweating whether I’d been wise to miss out on the upgrades when they were around.

They are revealing and therefore sensitive to source quality, though. Fed from an 818v3 they were sublime. Fed by an Oppo they were OK, but the difference was noticeable.

I’ve heard 5500 several times and never been impressed, 7200.2 are a completely different sounding speaker to my ears.

After due consideration of your post I am pleased to make the following comments.

As previously stated I do respect Meridian.

I do not own a horse and consequentially cannot be accused (second accusation) of having a grudge against Meridian.

Please kindly retract (delete) this post or if you wish for it to remain, view the quotes of Sir William Osler for your edification.

Hector

Did you mean this one: "the greater the ignorance the greater the dogmatism" or the alternative "the value of experience is not in seeing much, but in seeing wisely"

Yes

However please, please, substitute hearing for seeing in your final comment.

I am a music lover not an audiophile.

Hector

This is spot-on in every respect.

Looks like a second hand pair of 7200s beckons

.2 are nice if you can get them. Particularly with the new MQA rendering firmware.