Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems INFO: Meridian release All-New DSP8000XE

Hi Rick,

Does the IA21 also have a SpeakerLink input, to operate in passthrough mode, so that an SL connection can still be maintained?

Regards,
Carl

Hi Carl,
No, AFAIK The IA21 doesn't have SpeakerLink passthrough. I think the idea is that when using the IA21 the DSP8000XE would become a standalone Active Analogue speaker, like an ATC SCM50ASL.
If both SpeakerLink and analogue inputs are required, then an AC200, 818v3 or Distributor 1 could be used.

Regards,
Rick

Hi Rick,

Thanks for confirming, I suspected as much.

I was going to say that M have missed an important use case here … but I guess it's a consider business decision.

Now where is that manual RJ45 network switch hiding

Regards,
Carl

Range topping speakers seem to have crept up in price from various producers, so if I were M I would want to re-launch my range topper (which is, after all, a very good loudspeaker) at a price that is more in line with the competitors. However, how to do that without it being obviously just a major price hike?

It seems to me that the changes M have introduced increase the versatility very usefully: wireless connection by bluetooth is something many people want these days for its convenience (and for many, no noticeable change in sound quality), and opening up a purely 'digital' speaker to the analogue active market seems an obvious widening of the market without detriment to the current more specialised potential customers. So, no big deal but very sensible. The rest of the re-launch looks just like a re-launch.

Bespoke signalling: low level crossovers matched to drive units (my M2s have that).
E3 Bass: part of the above? Or perhaps some special attention to tighten up the loose bass that has always troubled me!
FFA: EBA(+)?
Q Sync: FIFO
Pro Active Bass: a wise precaution to protect drivers but is it new?
Pro Active Thermal: thermal protection (surely, not new: my B&W DM14s have that from 1983?)
Tru-time: apodising
TrueLink: MHR
FreeQ: boundary management
Cabinet design: already superb so best to draw attention to it.

So, an overall worthwhile retention of existing excellent technology and introduction of a couple of very sensible though not especially advanced additional features, but if I had 8000SEs already I would not be reaching for my wallet: I could add the two main new features very easily by some very high quality external electronics at modest cost. But current owners presumably are not M's target.

I think for SE owners we need to do our own validation of the sound. I love the SE’s and I remember the step-up from .1 or .2

Is it an equal step up? From what I can see its mostly about the bass? 18Hz vs 20Hz. Or was there a new or updated tweeter? Also you do wonder if there are any drawbacks in fidelity when going from class A/B to D for the bass amplification.

I have always felt the bass was the 8000's less attractive feature. Plenty of it but not tight enough for me, so I hope they have addressed that.

As for the amplification, it is worth bearing in mind that since single ended outputs were superseded by push-pull (as it was called with vacuum tubes) there has long been a form of switching with audio amplifier outputs. Class D takes the switching to supersonic heights and I have never worried about the concept. Of course, like switched mode power supplies which can definitely be sonically superior, in my view, to linear supplies provided their complexities are well executed, Class D must be done well.

With all M's experience of amplifier design I am confident that Class D will have been done very well and its great current capability should serve the bass with special benefit. I agree, obviously, that the proof of the pudding will be in the hearing and I am hopeful we will enjoy really musical bass as well as cinematic drama.

From my position of ignorance it would seem that Meridian probably aren't too interested in selling these. If they do shift many then it is a bonus for them. They seem to be a statement piece, priced accordingly, to effectively demonstrate their IP to license for integration into other manufacturers equipment. I suspect they will be happy with a few of them being in some well known peoples homes and the odd showing in the background of a film, music video, lifestyle article or advert.

Whilst it isn't clear if any significant improvements have been made many of the specs seem to be simply a rebranding of existing IP to remove generic words, non-copyright/trademark type words, such as apodising and boundary control, and also the removal of the Meridian brand name.

It seems to me that the Meridian brand is only really around these days to provide practical demonstration of IP and to service custom installs for high wealth clients.

Based on all the above it will be interesting to see if there are any tangible performance improvements and if these will trickle down to the rest of the range. It does however, seem that a few of the additional capabilities such as Bluetooth and analogue connectivity are deliberately modular so that they can be used with other models either existing or as yet to be announced.

I think that is a very shrewd assessment. "Badge engineering", whereby little changes apart from the badge with new model introductions, is a concept long-held dear by British engineering, especially in the car market. It also seems to apply to many Far-East hi fi companies. However, there is also a promised massive increase in DSP power. The last time there was a large increase was to enable the processing of MQA. I wonder what the new increased power will be used for?

I hope you are wrong on this although I don't know why I should be, apart from sentimentality.

The enhanced DSP power may be the answer here. Perhaps there is a further development of the DAC capabilities seen in the UltraDAC?

If true, does that not provide grounds for optimism? Perhaps it means a newly invigorated Meridian after a long period of apparent sloth? My optimism does not extend to expecting any dealer roadshows or forthcoming appearances at Bristol or Munich.

I don't know why you think that. All I know is that Meridian's use of SMPS was not a happy one. There were countless failures which gave the brand a very poor reputation for reliability. My 808 suffered from this very problem. However, I know that Linn use SMPS so they must be using better quality than Meridian.

I am not sure that they deserve such unqualified endorsement. Not only were there the terrible problems with SMPS mentioned above but there were also problems such as the F80 "fuse" fiasco. And several people here have reported that problems with the F80 were beyond repair.