Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Which Other Meridian CD player Come Close To 808.

Hi,

I have heard the G91 and 808 through G68, going to DSP7Ks.
I have to say the 808 is a lot better.
Smoother and organic, with loads more detail.
I have a 507 and I am not looking to updrade to anything but 808 when I can afford it.

Regards

Harry

Harry - Did you try the 808 DIRECTLY into the 7k's? Heard that also on demo - something else !! Would have THOUGHT that you'd have noticed an even bigger difference with the G68 out of the loop?

But the 808 is certainly worth the wait !!

Rgds
George

Hey,

I only heard the 808 through the G68. But I agree directly would have been better.
I was surprised to hear a difference between the g91 and the 808, as they function as transports only.
A question for G68 owners.
If the G68 is in direct mode, is the MRC active?

Regards

I thought RC was the greatest attraction to purchasing M processors and offered a vast improvement over not having it in the loop therefore a G68 should take the 808 to an even higher level.. shouldn't it... especially in stereo mode where you can gain the full benefit of the maximum amount of filters. Are you now suggesting that it in fact hinders the sound quality in some way!??

Just curious as someone eagerly awaiting M next G processor / upgrade path.

Simon,

I've wrestled with this issue for a few years now through 568.1/568.2mm/G68.

I did some tests feeding my 598 through the G68 and directly to the DSP mains. Simply switching between CD and DVD on the MSR to select D1 or D2 inputs meant that you get an instant A/B comparison.

I don't want to quantify what I found but I can say that the G68 is not transparent - even when using direct and MRC off.

It's easy enough to setup via the DSP control menu. I'd be interested in others views. To re-iterate, I am not comparing MRC to non-MRC. Simply an SPDIF feed via processor and not.

maybe they can afford to reduce the tolerances to near zero with the expensive kit.

(there might be no such thing as a "friday afternoon" product with an 808).

just a thought.
Tim

Someone commented with that kind of money still the machine had a plastic feel to it when touching the front panel.I guess when you put down 20K for a CD player it should look like a piece of art work inside out.

I hate to bring this up again but could it be the switching power supply that is the cause for a drop in sound quality through the G68? After all those who have changed the power supply have noticed a great improvement.

Just a thought!

Ron

There is a drop in quality through my 568.2, compared to connecting my 507 directly to the speakers (5.5Ks). Less detail and less definition in the bass.
Thought that the 568.2 had a linear power supply.

Regards

I suspect that this behaviour is common to all of the processesors. It's definitely noticeable with the 561, 568.1, 568.2 and G68(D) that I've had. There seems to be a volume drop of 3-4dB (I haven't measured it) even when set on Direct, compared with a direct feed of the player to DSPs.

Cheers

George

The 568.2 is linear but it lacks good storage capacitors for each of its regulators on the circuit boards. Thus when your amplifiers are demending current and the voltage dips on the AC supply lines the 568.2 suffers. It also has no RF filtering and is very susceptible to external noise sources like the switching supply in the 596/598. Put a 568.2 on a powerline regenerator of ferroresonant transformer with low THD and the sound quality is jaw dropping good. Based on my experience and tinkering the difference is night and day. Look in a 568.2 and all you see is a transformer with multiple taps and small regulators with little capacitors on the circuit boards. The 568 would sound better with an extra bigger linear power supply feeding the smaller regulators instead of a small transformer like it has now. You see big beefy linear supplies in very high end equipment just for this reason. The sound I'm getting out of my 568.2 right now is just amazing. Even movies are more dynamic and I can hear more ambient in the soundtracks. Smooth detailed. Like analog its so good. Even my CD's I thought were harsh sound smooth now. Its amazing ever since I separated my 598 power from my 568.2.

Ron