Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Am I CRAZY for wanting to go back to Meridian

That is an intriguing offer! So, I made a deal with a dealer out in CO that everybody knows. He offered a new pair of Sopra 2's for my 802's and HTM1 D3. I am close to pulling the trigger, but they have a set of 72000.2 in white that I a drooling over. Since they are only 7k that would leave about 13k to improve other items. If I did this, I assume I can use my gear already here with the DSP's until I find the right Meridian preamp, etc.

I'd pop along to take a listen - with an expectation you might walk away with them!

My understanding from another post is that the parts are still available to upgrade to SE at a later date, albeit no longer as an upgrade kit. I don't know the cost of doing it this way, but IMO it lifts the speakers to yet another level, when you are ready (assuming you still like the Meridian sound).

There are parts available but that route is not encouraged.

I think you should go with the Beryllium Meridians. SE/XE.

There is a more true sound, smoother, yet more information.

Could you please explain why this route is not encouraged.

I'm going to guess, now the upgrade party is over, Meridian doesn't want replacement parts used in this way. It possibly doesn't make commercial sense and I'm going to guess that this route will work out more expensive than the upgrade path they used to offer. It's sad that so many speakers will never get to realise their full potential, though!

I was looking at a pair of 7200.2 speakers in gloss white. I was pretty close to pulling the trigger, but the owner talked me out of it with basically it's going to be really hard to get service where you live.

I guess technically I could still change my mind since the Focal's don''t arrive to their shop until on 9/5 and they aren't coming to get my speakers until next week. Maybe I am just getting old (42) but I am pretty unhappy with everything I have at the moment.

My wife, dad, and I did a long A/B test today comparing the DAC in the McIntosh MCD301, which is a 10 year old CD player, to the DAC in my 5 week old McIntosh C2700 which retails for 8500. Every single one of us thought the music being decoded by the CD player was better. So, I am really stumped on what to do. The 2700 is so hard to get right now., I might be able to get over retail for it.

I already sold the MCD301 because I was planning to get a McIntosh transport and use their '"MCT" connection for pure sound,. I started to remember "the good old days" before we built, when our living room was a G68, HD621, and Mac amps. So much, that I found myself on eBay today looking at Meridian CD players and might pull the trigger on a G08 CD player with 24 bit upgrade.

Did you know that the SOLE US repair facility is only 2 hours from Birmingham in Douglassville GA off I-20. You could drive them over. Marc Koval, dealer, member here, US REPAIR facility contractor/owner and with Meridian in some capacity for 30 years is there. HE doesn’t have a listening room. You should take Bruce up on his offer. He might let you have his excess pair of white 8000SEs for a “song’.

I spent an afternoon with early version 7200s, and they are really wonderful speakers. I am actually a bit surprised no one bought those yet as they look to be in great shape.

While they are not SE versions, I think they still offer a lot of value at that price. If it were me, I would pair those with an 818v3, and this would make for an excellent system.

For context, I routinely listen to material through my 818v3 feeding 24/96 DSP6000s- and obviously not the same experience as through my 8000SEs, it is still very satisfying. My 2 cents is that 24/96 (even on old legacy Meridian speakers) is still really, really good.

Would also add that if your budget would allow for Bruce's white 8000SEs, I think you might find yourself very happy to return to Meridian.

+1 for all the recommendations for Bruce- I agree it is worth the trip to see him.

I always wanted to have Meridian gear, but list prices were too steep for my income bracket. Used prices are a real bargain tho' and my pair were built in 2009 and upgraded and registered to se in 2019. The screen on the master failed in 2020 during the covid lockdown and I finally got it replaced with help from Bruce, Mark was ready for delivery and had the speaker fixed in a couple days. I bought a used pair of kef Blades last summer and currently have both pair of speakers listed on USAM, I'll keep whichever pair doesn't sell.

The dealer that is coming to take my B&W 802 D3's and HTM1 D3 and giving me a new pair of Sopra 2's in return, happens to have these in stock. I have talked to a few different Meridian dealers about the 7200.2 vs 5200SE debate, and it's 50/50. Curious how this system might work:

Meridian 7200.2
Meridian 818v3
Meridian 808v5

or

5200SE
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