Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat ‘Budget’ AV System

In an ideal world I would have the means to buy extra DSP’s and a Trinnov Processor for a decent AV System. Given my realistic finances, I’ve contemplated a more ‘budget’ oriented approach for my modest (15’ x 11’) sized Lounge.

A speculative future purchase, this would be a 7.1.4 system, using a mix of old, existing and new equipment…

(I would keep my 218/210, fed into the 271)

Meridian M6,
Meridian DSW.2,
Meridian 271,
Meridian 258,
JBL Synthesis SDP-55 Processor (new, SDP-58 expected soon),
4 x Focal Sib Evo Atmos Rear and Front/Side Speakers,
Mission Elegante E8c Centre,
Meridian 555.

The JBL is an enhanced Arcam AV40: Direc Live room equalisation is included, is Roon Ready, with MQA - plus FM/DAB Tuner. Unlike Arcam, the JBL has Dante Digital Ouputs (AES67 compatible) directly connected to the Digital Inputs of the Meridian 271.

Until they get the firmware issues straightened out I would not suggest the JBL/Arcam processors.

What is the issue with the JBL?

Does the Lexicon MC-10 suffer with the same issues?

You don't mention the Anthem AVM70; I believe that is a near-clone of the Arcam too, like the JBL. I would imagine that it might thus be affected by the same firmware issues that Bruce mentions but I have no experience either way.

The units have been coming up with a DSP fail error. Sometimes straight out of the box. Attempts to update the firmware have failed and rendered the units to doorstop status. I have returned nearly every one of them for refunds. I have not had any issues previously with the MC10 but have not sold any for a couple of years. Anthems have been pretty good when you can get them.

Hi,

While I do appreciate your issues, I do have to wonder about the merits of spending £2k on a 271, just to maintain the operation of the M6 and DSW combination in an otherwise all analogue system.

I'd be rather tempted to use the M6/DSW with the 210/218 combo as a separate music system and go for a separate 7.1.4 AV receiver or processor for atmos movie watching. The £2k for the 271 could be spent on the L/R speaker set up (perhaps another 2 of the Focal speakers you mention _ actually it's a pity you have M6 speakers, with a pair of DSP52k or 5K, you could simply sit the Focal speakers on top).

Another option might be to just to spend £2k on a top of the range soundbar system and use that for atmos movies.

I've had similar speculations to yours and decided it's not worth the bother. Actually, last Christmas I purchased a JBL 9.1 soundbar and that's been quite fun for atmos movie audio and sits nicely in front of (and below) my DSP 5200SE.

Brian

I ask because one UK dealer has a job lot of brand-new MC-10 units for sale at £1,699 (reduced from £4,799).

I’ve recently stumbled on this unit too and clocked the good pricing. I’ve found little user info about the unit online.

As I toy with switching to full M vs active analogue/Pre Pro M, I’ve also struggled to reconcile the cost of the 271 in order to run Atmos options when having DSPs in the mix.

That’s why the introduction of a Meridian 265 AV Processor would be a very welcome addition to the 200 Series.

The price of those MC-10s is unbelievable. I wonder if one would make a solid upgrade from my Marantz 8802a...

In your case just run the analog left and right outputs of the MC10 into the 218 then onto the M6 SpeakerLink with the DSWs daisy chained off the M6. No 271 required if all the other speakers are to be analog.

Terrific; I had not considered such a configuration.

Even so, the ‘problem’ in that configuration is that the DSW.2 wouldn’t be correctly assigned to its own dedicated LFE channel for Movies.

While I appreciate that the DSW.2 can be designated as ‘Music’ or ‘Movies’ in the 218’s configuration, it’s not the same as having it’s own designated channel.