Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 861 vs MC12 thread, are either "really" needed over 568?

Meridian is an ideal pre-amp processor for a digital front end like DVD/CD, DVD-A, and who knows, possibly SACD in the future. With Meridian offering a 'pure' totally digital DVD-A path in the next month or so, how are you going to top that?

If you want to listen to a turntable and vinyl, I agree, you are looking in the wrong place. Then again, I'm not sentimental about wax cylinders and things that Thomas Edison invented

How do you feel about light bulbs?

I think everyone has there own point on the curve they choose to be. Some would think a 568 is extremely excessive and others it's just not enough. For me and what I'm willing to invest in Audio/HT the 568 is perfect.

Regarding Lexicon, been there done that, never again.

I'm actually running 5.0 and extremly happy. I have my eye on a 598 when it comes out but it may be a hard sell. I'd rather upgrade to all digital if I had money to burn, rather than more speakers. And I think it would have to be very near the top end digital speakers to top Krell and B&W. And looks matters. 803's were bought half for looks. 802's and 801's are ugly as sin to me and my wife. 803's are even pushing it with the wife.

My room does not allow 7.x to be done right.

I think folks are artifically adding too much bass to there systems. Again there is only so much abuse my wife is willing to take in bass, looks and number of speakers. She keeps me sane.

My room does not really allow for 7.1, but I have it all the same. I'm using two B&W solo speakers, small and neat, ones purched on the back of the sofa, the other on a piano stool in the fireplace (not ideal at all), but it makes a difference, and very quickly melts into the perfection that is Meridian.

What can I say about the 861 v 568, oh how I wish (not really) that I had never heard the 861 in a room I know well. I've heard the 861 in two dealer demo rooms and thought NO DIFFERENCE, why bother. But then I heard it in the house of a good friend and I had the 568 over to do an A/B.

The 861 just reaches deeper into the material, music just sounded so natural, it stopped you in your tracks, it was just amazing. Put the 568 back in and oh dear, still a truely great product, but not the genius that is the 861.

This is so sad, but not a day goes by that I do not think about owning an 861, I know I should get out more(-:

I have heard a number of high end processors in the 861 price range and to be honest they did not sound as good as the 568, so am I unhappy? No, I just want an 861!

If all you care about is HT then the Tag is a fine processor, very similar to the 568 for DVD, music is not anywhere near as good.

Martin.



[This message has been edited by mgarthwaite (edited 08-26-2001).]

I have a friend who auditioned both 861 and 568 and he largly found what most of you have- that there isnt that much of a sonic difference but he did say it was there- like what Martin said. I trust his opinion on these matters.

- Jerry