Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Would you buy a high-end CDP now?

I am considering buying an 808 or 800, with the new trend in w/l solutions like the Squeezebox, would you go for an expensive player or does the Squeeze give you enough satisfaction to hold you off for now.

I would think there is no way anthing can hold a candle to either the 808 or 800, but from the much discussed merits of the squeeze, people are quite happy with it - - but to the true music lover would it be worth spending several thousand times more to get x% in quality?

Anyone's opinions on the matter here will be just opinions.

For �200 why don't you try one yourself. It's hardly a gamble compared to the cost of an 800/808. If you still go for a player then you can sell your wi-fi device quite easily.

"....Anyone's opinions on the matter here will be just opinions".

Nick, completely agree but people's thoughts do help to progress our own thinking. Plasmatico, for what it's worth, I would not spend money on purely a high end CD transport now. The SB has enough approval via both press reviews and forum participants (as do Sonos and Olive Symphony) to persuade me that it is perfectly good enough as a transport. Where I would consider a high end player is if (1) the DACS in it were significantly better than the preamp/processor I would use with the SB; (2) the player offered SACD or DVD-A and/or DVD-V and those formats were important to me or (3) the build quality and pleasure of use is a significant ownership factor. Also for what it's worth, from when I had a 808 at home to try, 1 and 2 could be true but 3 would not.

Regards,
Steve

Personally, I think the sonic differences between a high end player and e.g. a Squeezebox relaying carefully ripped software are negligible.

They are 2 very different systems, however. With the SB you have to run a wireless network and have a nas or computer running slimserver in support. On the negative side you still need a transport/player to spin DVDA and DVDVs. On the plus side, with SB, you get 1000's of radiostations and your entire CD collection is potentially available at multiple locations in the house.

Personally, I doubt if I will ever buy another high end transport for CD replay, but that's my choice.

Cliff

Hi Steve,

I agree totally and base my thoughts on CD playback only. However, as we've done wi-fi vs player vs the hassle of ripping etc quite a few times recently, I think the same two end perspectives would be highly likely to surface in any responses to this question. And, assuming that Plasmatico has read the recent threads on the subject, he'll know that there are three basic camps:- those that have gone wi-fi, those that won't and those that might.

Plasmatico is possibly in the latter - hence his question. And, when you compare �200 to and �8000 player, it's pretty much a no brainer. At least that's how I viewed it when various folks commented that they were rarely using their uber players now...instead using wifi Macs or SB3's etc.

To gamble on any high-end, expensive CD player purchase right now would be financially dangerous, given the format nonsense, and the possibility that you could achieve very close to hi-end 8xx performance for a fraction of the cost with none of the re-sale risks.

Anyway....apologies if my initial comment seemed to try to close down any debate....that wasn't my intention.

cheers

Thank you all for your comments. I am indeed leaning towards the SB3; on the other hand I could buy a MacMini (also discussed here at length) and get the cool factor of having the library visually displayed through the new iTunes.

I bought a WD500GB HD and have ripped most of my CD collection (except Jazz and Classical which for some reason people don't think a SB is the ideal medium for critial listening - nor is Rock or Pop I think, but as Cliff mentioned, at the expense of "negligible" difference).

I would personally like to audition a MacMini and the SB3 before making a final decision, but that is not easy (other than the SB with it's 30 day trial).

Another important consideration is I have ripped my collection using AIFF, as suggested by some members. I understand the best would have been FLAC or similar, but AIFF was faster and more convenient.

Anyway just some random thoughts, before making the jump. I do think the 808/800 must be brilliant players, and would certainly consider them, but only if the difference is substantial something most here (if I am reading correctly) agreed is not.

Has anyone compared an Imerge, Request or Escient player with the SB3 or Mac Mini? I have just pre-cabled my house (finally) and I'm strongly leaning towards the Crestron Adagio with the Crestron (Imerge) audio server. I'm getting a really competitive price for six zones and each zone with its own touch controller.

Curious if there are any concerns with the Imerge (apart from expansion, not that I see myself using more than 250GB any time soon).

Cheers,

Chris

You don't need a wireless network to use a Squeezebox. I went for the wired version and had CAT5 in my last house. In my current house I have a single wire running back to my study where the server and hard disk are.

Another thing to consider is the way a Squeezebox will change the way you listen to music. Once you have ripped all your CDs, and presuming you have set up genres and not ripped the tracks you would normally skip, you can use the random function (which can crossfade too!) and listen to music to suit your mood. It will sometimes play music you haven't heard in a while.

I think the benefits (if any) of a high end transport are far outweighed by the flexibility of having all music on hard disk.

As I run my SB2 into my 561, I get the best of both worlds.. a flexible music library played by high-end DACs.

> a flexible music library played by high-end DACs.

Ditto with wireless SB3 into G91.

Nick, I was just keen to have something of a debate. As I indicated, my position is that SB and a couple of alternatives have sold themselves as transports in any system (and I'm very likely to go the SB route). I'm still prevaricating, though, over what codec to use and, to my eternal chagrin, considering the thought that the RCA Living Stereo catalogue is a good enough reason for getting into SACD, which does imply a high end player. So, of course, any chance to explore all this is keenly welcomed.

Cheers,
Steve

Request may have fixed this, but I have an older unit of theirs and they swore that it had a pristine digital output. So I rip my entire library in FLAC and what do I find out- it has a basic PC sound card that is converting D-A and then back A-D @16 bit 48khz. The resulting sound was very off compared to the 800. I used the M display and I could see the data was at 48khz. Request confirmed this after the fact. I will give them a little pass as this was when they were new and I think they did not expect to have a customer plugging it into such a high end system. But still...

Anyway, for pop or rock music, I hear no difference- none- between my 800 and my mac with its optical digital output. Things like Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Who, Led Zepp, Seal, etc you get the idea.

Now, if I listen to jazz or orchestral music I do feel there is some more life brought to the experience by the 800, but its a very minor difference and I have to admit it could be psychological.

Where the 800 shines for me is in the audio playback of DVD movies. It really adds an extra bit of air to the soundtracks and that is not up for debate.

So for music playback, aside from DVD-A which is now pretty much dead, I would have to say aside from the "want to have the top M player" factors we've discussed I cannot recommend this as much as I like M as a company and I am very happy with my 800.

Getting the 800 3+ years ago is a decision I am happy with today because I feel it really adds to the DVD movie experience, but if I was making the decision today Im not so sure I would do it as it is pretty expensive.

I think the bottom line analysis is if you are really a die hard audiophile who wants a 2 channel experience and wants the top player than these players should be on your list, but aside from that, I think these new computer derived products are really offering a lot of bang for the buck.

I hope this made sense as my brain is fried- night!

best regards,
Jerry

Back to the original post ....

I think if you are really into sitting down and listening to music on either CD or DVD-A, then certainly the 800 is a worthwhile investment. The 808 was a non starter for me as it does not do multi-channel DVD-A; but my 800 is wonderful.

As with all things, we all have different needs and preferences, but IMO to avoid the pleasure of 800 and wait for a next generation HDDVD/BR player from M will deprive you of years of great listening.

Simon