Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Meridian CD Transports/Players still good?

In my experience, the built-in DAC implementation in the McIntosh preamps doesn’t come close to a decent dedicated DAC, so I wouldn’t assume it’s state of the art just because it’s newer.

Going the DSP route is a big step, but one many have taken and never looked back. Get a decent length demo, then home demo of this before you sell any more of your original system (unless you can afford to buy used DSP without selling your other great so you can try at home and compare, then sell whichever you don’t wish to keep).

It’s a sound which, IMO, takes a little acclimatisation after most other audio systems (particularly “audiophile” ones, but not after real, live music). I keep listening and have yet to find anything I’d personally go back to in analogue terms - some do one aspect of audio reproduction “better” but not the whole envelope (which is to say they likely accentuate one thing at the expense of others).

After owning DSP systems for many years now, I’m shocked when I put on my old gear (some of which I still possess) how obviously distorting and unbalanced it is in comparison.

You might miss the lovely blue VU meters dancing away though!

FWIW, 7200.2 are a truly lovely speaker, I owned a pair for three or four years.