Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 561, 562, 568 as a stereo pre-amp?

Wow...I'm glad there are only two types of folk around here then. :rolleyes:

with respect.....Utter bllx

LOL Nick,

There are plenty of types of people. thats the point. They are all neded and make the world go round.
If you watch the News we arn't making that good a fist of it. But thats another topic.

Cheers Chris

Many many thanks guys. Looks like I will need to experience tri-field before making up my mind.

If it helps at all, I'm currently 2ch, but wanted to move up to Trifield after average-mph demo'd his system to me months back (thanks!).

I'm using a 518 as a pre-amp at the moment, but took the plunge today and bought the 568.2mm that Audio-T had for �1700 (with 1yr guarantee!). Arrives tomorrow - can't wait. (Thanks to Chrislayeruk and Mr Meridian for the advice - you guys just cost me a chunk of cash!)

From what I've read on here, I'm expecting stereo performance at least equal to my 518 + X-24K (which is excellent). If Trifield sounds as good through my speakers, then that's a bonus. I'll let you know what difference it makes. Whether stereo is better, as well as whether I'll be sticking with Trifield.

I'm using Kef Reference series speakers for all three front channels, but I'll have to use an Arcam power amp for the centre - at least I can bi-amp it I suppose.

Cheers,

Mark.

There are, of course, 10 kinds of people; those who understand binary and those who don't.

Hi Thomas,

Not sure if it's of any interest, but I can comment on moving from fully digital volume (518 and Musical Fidelity DAC) to the hybrid in the 568.2. And also on stereo to Trifield.

Firstly, in pure stereo. The difference in going to the 568 was phenomenal. It's hard to use all the standard hifi hyper-adjectives, but I'd settle in saying it was more 'real'. Which is what we're all after I guess. My only reservation is that some digital harshness (sounds like what chrisgeary was talking about) hasn't gone away. A rasp on female vocals. I was hoping it was my old DAC, but it appears not. It's certainly better, esp when oversampling, but not gone.

And Trifield. I had some residual prejudicial hifi snobbery which made me very suspicious, and when I first tried it a mistake in my bass management settings made me think that the sound was less full.

Now I've fixed it, and all I can say is that I don't listen in stereo anymore (after only about an hour of checking, though). The soundstage is so much more precise. My speakers are the Kef concentric driver ones which are normally fantastic at imaging, but this is soooo much better. Because of the better imaging, each instrument is more resolved, and you can easily move your concentration to each one.

So my 2p is - try a good Trifield system. I was originally after a good 2ch DAC, but I'm so glad I went for the 568.2.

BTW - I've also moved to differential cables instead of single ended (phono to XLR), so this might have also helped.

Good luck,
Mark.

many thanks for all the very helpful advice.