Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Poll: Music Servers or Transports

With quite a bit of interest in music servers (Squeezebox etc.) of late, I thought it would be interest to solicit opinion to see if traditional CD players and transports (M gear or other) are losing their appeal for CD replay.

Muic Servers of Transports single choice
	I have a music server which is my prime source for CD replay
	I have a music server but still use a player/transport for critical listening
	I'm seriously thinking about adding a server of some sort
	I've done my research, but servers are not for me
	I haven't really considered it in any detail
Votes accepted starting: 1970-01-01 00:00 You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

Interesting poll, Cliff.

When I get chance I'll add my thoughts about the SB3. It is proving to be very interesting indeed.

Judging by the balance of opinion so far, M have probably got cause for concern.

Nick, I look forward to reading your views

Cliff

As well as putting MRC into DSP speakers, you could imagine that M might also make the DSP's wireless.

I could imagine the wired digital o/p from a processor feeding a wireless multi-channel emitting box which hits a wireless receiving dongle or similar on the back of each DSP. No processor upgrade required.

Of course it would all be M-bespoke (as opposed to SB3/regular i.p. stuff) but the selling power/WAF factor of having wireless DSP's will have many a Hiker opening the wallet for the upgrade pack.

So who is the second Luddite keeping me company in the "Haven't really considered it in any detail" category?!

Cheers

George

Wow. The implications for M are stark.

Have any of you used a Mac Mini for DVD playback - any good?

Nice poll results. I was starting to think I was the only one excited about music servers

Mark

Couldn't help but notice this iMerge product on the same site that Bob Stuart gave his recent interview on :

http://www.cinenow.com/uk/play-video-353.html

I dont know about you , but sheer physical space has become a problem recently and this kind of thing really appeals to me . Maybe it is time for the 880 to reappear ?

~M~

To be honest, Mrs Meridian would jump at a product like that. I've had substantial domestic pressure in recent years to dump all my VHS tapes and rebuy the good 'uns on DVD just to save space. The prospect of storing all one's music and DVDs on such a server and ditching the originals (though I say "over my dead body") would actually have Mrs M writing a cheque!

Cheers

George

Unless a server product has RAIDed storage and/or the ability to create backups then it's a dead duck as far as I'm concerned.

As I've posted many times on this forum, what *I* want is a hard-driveless Meridian media player akin to a Squeezebox, but with the following additions:

1) The Meridian player maintains a URL library of what you've got, regardless of the sharing protocol (ftp, smb, nfs, internet...).

2) The Meridian player allows you to record metadata on a per-track or album basis. Wouldn't it be lovely to have the Meridian product normalize your perfect rips (a 518 gain function with memory anyone?) and automatically apply your favourite DSP preset on a per-track basis?

3) It would look damn cool, cost a fortune, and we'd all buy one! (well maybe apart from Mr M ).

The above applies to audio only, but I'm sure video clips and images could also be added to the functionality.

A hard-drive and ripping capability *could* be an option, but in the networked home age, I prefer to manage my data myself.

just bought a SB3, 2 days ago, very pleased with it indeed, still have a Meridian 500mkII, and will do some critical listening this weekend.

However my files are stored lossless, and piped into a Meridian 568 via an optical connection so I'm expecting the difference to be quiet small.

Anyone else have a view on this kind of set-up?

The best feature is logging onto the SB3 front end via a wireless laptop and browsing graphically by title artist etc, one click and its playing through the Meridian set-up.

Great.