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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 347 Likes: 1
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 347 Likes: 1 |
A bit of a long shot… I’m looking to replace my smiley face DSP5500s with DSP3100s.
Ideally in black.
Anyone?
System 1:
568.2MM, G98DH, Denon DVD-A1XV, Sony CDP-228ES, UHD722, D5KC, D5500.2K, DSP33, Sony UDP-800, AppleTV 4K, Sony KE85XH9096BU
System 2:
562V, M20, AppleTV
System 3
501, 555, AppleTV, Acoustic Energy AE1
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,976 Likes: 199
Vogon Civil Servant
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Vogon Civil Servant
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,976 Likes: 199 |
YMMV, and I’m sure other owners will disagree with me, but when I home-auditioned DSP3100s when they were first introduced, I thought they sounded absolutely dreadful.
They were much worse when heard at the dealership.
My passive Meridian A500s at that time sounded superior.
If you can, listen to a pair before you part with your money.
Not an Actor, nor married to Jamie-Lee Curtis.
#1: DSP5200SE|DSW.2|218|210|506.2|504
#2: Prime/PSU|SOtM sMS-200 Mini NEO SE|Focal Stellia
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1 member likes this:
MarkQV |
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,171 Likes: 59
Senior Shouting Officer
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Senior Shouting Officer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,171 Likes: 59 |
It's always possible that the OP has already heard 3100s and likes them so much that he wants to buy a pair...
Cinema: Meridian 271, 3 x DSP640 (behind screen), 4 x DSP320 (in-ceiling), 4 x DSP3100 (surrounds), 2 x AC12 (interface). 2 x Perlisten D12s subs, Lyngdorf MP40 processor. DT 145" 2.35 AT screen. Sony VW870 projector & S-T lens, Lumagen Radiance Pro.
Lounge: Roon, NUC, Kef LS50 Wireless + 2 x REL Gibraltar-2 subs
Meridian owner since 1998
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 347 Likes: 1
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 347 Likes: 1 |
Actually I haven’t heard them! The reason for change is the aesthetic.
My dearly beloved has reluctantly endured the ‘Stonehenge in black ambiance’ for years and so I’m downsizing to score Brownie points. The latter M gear design really doesn’t appeal, so it’s either DSP3100 or I swap in my pair of soon to be refurbished M20s (the design of which I adore) for a DSP/analogue hybrid setup.
The things we do for love…
System 1:
568.2MM, G98DH, Denon DVD-A1XV, Sony CDP-228ES, UHD722, D5KC, D5500.2K, DSP33, Sony UDP-800, AppleTV 4K, Sony KE85XH9096BU
System 2:
562V, M20, AppleTV
System 3
501, 555, AppleTV, Acoustic Energy AE1
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,174 Likes: 171
Hooloovoo
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Hooloovoo
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,174 Likes: 171 |
I was almost put off owning 3100s by reports they did not sound like other DSPs, but having owned them for a few years I don’t find this myself. I think they are very much in the house sound, but with less bass capacity than most (bigger) DSPs, which of course can perceptively make them seem lighter in balance. I think, if you’re coming from long-term 5500 ownership, I would expect you to be happiest if you were able to pair them with a sub (something like an SW1600 would be great), especially if you run a processor.
In some ways, 3100 are a rather unique speaker - they sort of straddle legacy and new DSP design. They can run apodising firmware, they use wood cabinets with aluminium sides (a little like Meridium) to cancel vibrations, carbon fibre (or Kevlar, I can’t recall which) mid/bass and a soft dome tweeter. Interesting little things.
If your other half is fed up with big black boxes, the silver 3100s look somewhat more pretty and less imposing in the room.
HC: 861v4/ID40/LPS, DSP5000, DSP5000VC, DSP3100, SW1600, HD621, Oppo BDP-105, Sony VPL-HW55ES
2-Channel: Oppo BDP-105, TEAC VRDS-7/Trichord Clock 3/PSU, 551, Quad 303, Harbeth Compact 7ES-3, Kimber cables, Russ Andrews mains and supports.
Previous Meridian: 5000C, 5200SL, 7200.2, 6000, 562V.2, 568.2mm, 800v4, 808.2i, 818v2/v3, 861v8, 502
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1 member likes this:
MarkQV |
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Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 197 Likes: 21
Hitchhiker
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Hitchhiker
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 197 Likes: 21 |
I also like my pair of 3100s.With good placement the soundstage is very wide. They are not as fullrange as the 5500 and will sound a little thinner but the are great revealing monitors if you ask me
Last edited by Rick7; 2026-08-28 20:03.
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