Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Report from CEDIA (Long!)

Hello All,
I would also like to extend my thanks to Mr. Stuart and the great staff at Meridian for rolling out the "Red Carpet" ("Virtual Ticket",it was a real treat!)as it seemed to us who participated from both this forum and the AVS Forum. I would also like to say that Frank you notes were right on and it was a pleasure meeting you. After reading your notes I put mine away. I would like to say that when entering the demo room on the first visit (not Sunday morning but Saturday), I sat at the rear of the room by the equiptment rack, and after hearing the guitar which was seemingly real I turned to look at the display. I was quite surprised to see displayed on the 861 SACD PCM. At first I too thought that it was Trifield, what a revelation!. Again Frank you took the best notes and there's really not more to add except that the guy's at Meridian know we want the upgrades and they want us to have the "BEST" quality, I also have to learn to be more patient. It was quite an experience for me and thanks again for the opportunity and the class "A" treatment from the Meridian staff and I hope that the "Vitual Ticket" is extended again, and perhaps those that could not get to CEDIA may get a chance to attend at CES. Good seeing you again Stacey catch you out west.
platoonsgt,
Greg

Here we go again! I have three clarks and I can't stand them at 600 Hz. You actually get voices coming from behind. I prefer the 200 Hz cutoff, but that is just me. clark really pushes for the 600Hz.

>>Thanks for the clarification on the name of the piece and the artists - and it was the vibes and not the xylophone (duh!).

Although I thought it was a DVD-A, it well may have been an SACD. Meridian did make the point that the 861.3 with its multi-channel inputs, was compatible with multi-channel SACD. On the other hand, it may have been a special DVD-A recording. I don't know if it was recorded in PCM and converted to DSD for the SACD or whether it was recorded in DSD specifically for the SACD. <<

Regardless of the source, it is a good album.

I have the Multichannel SACD from Chesky and it's a winner - very nice sense of being at the club, so to speak.

Frank,

Excellent report. Your dedication to carry as much information as possible to this forum is really appreciated. Thanks again.

What I would still be interested in is the sonic experience you had when listening to 5(!) 8ks and 2 5k5s?

In general, the new 8ks did not seem to find too much discussion in this forum yet (IMO).

Or is it fair zu say:
'The 8ks are THE final answer to any speaker question you ever had. It is not necessary to loose any more words on them. Get them, shut up and listen!'

BTW. Were the 8ks also presented in (2ch) direct stereo mode?
(A question for the few of us, who can't afford getting 5 8ks just like that).

Tactiles are really a taste issue, like B+W over-priced speaker . IMHO tactiles are just a non high quality audio issue.

At some point Meridian should follow TAG and Lexicon with a forum, whether in here or somewhere else. Sooner or later.....

Andreas

jburkart:

Meridian's "booth" was actually a large display area (perhaps 40' x 60') where they had almost all of their components on display, including one each of the D8Ks in the various colors, and within that space was a smaller (perhaps 20' x 30' with a 12' ceiling) totally enclosed "listening room" comprised of panels covered in black fabric. The room was very nearly soundproof. I think there were thirty seats (director's chairs with the Meridian logo on the fabric back - I gotta have one!) arranged in five rows of six or thereabouts. There were three D8Ks across the front, two 5K5s on the sides, two D8Ks in the rear corners, and two D33s slightly foward and to the side of the front D8Ks suspended about 10' up. The Runco projector was overhead and all of the equipment was in the rear. With everyone in the room it was a tight fit. In other words, it was no place to do critical listening, so you could only really form a general opinion of how things sounded. It was a much better venue to listen to what surround sound had to offer both in terms of music (in particular 7.1 vs 2+2+2) and home theater. They did not demo simply two D8Ks. All that being said, the sound was impressive. The Jackie Chan clip was particularing awe inspiring. You were so drawn into the movie (it was the scene where he fought the Indians in and around the river) you really weren't focusing on the details of the sound. You just knew 1) it was spectaular, 2) this is what home theater is all about, and 3) I got to buy some lottery ticket when I get back because I have to have this. My guess is that the audio video setup cost probably $250,000.


[This message has been edited by Frank (edited 09-11-2001).]

Jburkart,

I think there are a couple of 8k owners here, but they are relatively new plus v v expensive.

I have heard them at a show and they sounded very nice indeed!

Would I buy in money was no object, I think so.

Martin.

Stacey, I am very disappointed that you did not read my thread about wanting a discrete tactile channel with a 0-600 Hz bandwidth. A discrete tactile channel would not contain vocals. If you think I implied using tactile tranducers up to the 600 Hz range, using the standard sountrack without a discrete tactile tranducer channel, you were incorrect in your assumption I agree with you that is impossible to use tactile trandsducers for anything other than 0-100 Hz, perhaps 200 Hz. Using the soundtrack for tactile information is fairly crude. A discrete tactile channel is something that makes anything possible, as well as necessary abilities: such as the ability to have full tactile sensation (0-600 Hz), proportionally correct tactile sensation (increasing subtleties and decreasing exaggeration), and exclusion of improper information (vocals, etc..). Soundtracks do not convey tactile information properly at all. Please see my thread and feel free to expand or ad comments.

For those criticizing tactile transducers, please do not criticize them unless you have indeed seen a proper install. Remeber, the big problem facing tactile transduction is the lack of a discrete channel for tactile transduction. I urge those to read my thread on tactile tranducers, and realize that a discrete tactile transduction channel is something that would be simply amazing. Please see that thread and place your comments here or there.

The Buttkicker people unfortunately, as was told to me by them, feel the need to exagerate the tactile response at CEDIA and CES and turn the levels up way too much. Again, I ask people to realize that a discrete tactile channel would make all the difference in the world. Cannot people see the capabilities a discrete tactile channel would provide?

Thank-you,

Chris


[This message has been edited by Health Nut (edited 09-15-2001).]

I forgot to mention, that after talking to Marvin of tech suppot at Buttkicker, it appears the new Buttkicker 2 will have a fairly linear response probably up to around the 500-600 Hz region with a natural roll-off thereafter. I've asked him to supply me with a response curve comparing both the original and the newer, smaller BK2. It seems that they indeed only got the prototype working the day before the CEDIA show started. He said they would be shipping at the end of September. I hope to have full comparison of both models, although something tells me I might have to get the real details from Eminence, the OEM. I have access to the actual Eminence engineers as they are active particpants of the absolutley wonderful "Bass List" which sports speaker/driver engineers from all over the world--an absolutley amazing list for anyone interested in DIY subwoofer and speaker building. The list also supports engineers of all kinds which includes everything from DIY DSP, DIY amplifier designs, you name it!

I am verry sorry i missed the 9:00 oclock meeting. How stupid one can get. We went for breakfest, and got stuck in a traffic jam because of a crashed freightliner.
But i also got the time wrong. As i said, how stupid can one get...

The demo was indeed quite good, but the bass was a little heavy. That was the only thing i did not like.

The sadest thing is that i could not meat all the people in person. I will not have a change for that anytime soon again i think.

I was totd the 2+2+2 mode is implented in new software, and you only need 2 (4) more channels which you can use as height channels.
Also interesting was the prototype 559 amp. This one is meant as the companion of the 558 to create 7 channels of amplification. IT is a 2 channel unit with the same look as the 558, it will have 2 channels of over 300 watts. No pricing available yet.


Jaco

Here is some information I got my hands on the other day that confirms and possibly expands on information already provided in this thread..... thought the group may find this useful/interesting.

Regards
Richard

**************************

Meridian Audio Limited
Stonehill, Stukeley Meadows, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE18 6ED, England
To: All Meridian Distributors
Pages: 3
Date: 31 August, 2001
From: Andrew Samalionis Ref. BFN0355
Re: DISTRIBUTOR UPDATE

Introduction
From time to time, usually in connection with major shows, we issue information for distributors as not all of you will attend. On 7 th September 2001 the CEDIA show will begin and a great many things will be talked about and launched.
If you are not attending the CEDIA show in Indianapolis then I would recommend that you spend some time reading this note.
The following subjects will be covered:
� DVD Audio
� 800 Series DVD-A
� 500 Series DVD-A
� A new CD player, the 507
� A new Amplifier, the 559
� Telephone number changes

DVD Audio
This new format has made great advances in the last few months. Warner music have launched a number of titles, as have many record companies around the world. The other major record companies are close to launching titles. Meridian has been active in the promotion of DVD-A, taking part in Warner press launches and demonstrating whenever the opportunity arises.
We believe that DVD-A will become the high resolution format of the future.
In the meantime, SACD also makes some progress. Initially discs have only come from Sony or Philips` based record companies but recently Universal announced that they will be providing some titles in the SACD format. We understand that this is being supported by Sony and also that Universal will back both formats.
It is a very interesting time for high resolution audio and many customers are in a “wait and see” mood right now. You can be assured that Meridian will provide one of the best solutions, both now and in the future.

800 Series DVD Audio - Version 3
Progress on the DVD-A versions of the 800 Series has gone very well in the last few months and products for sale are expected to be available in October. Although the inclusion of DVD Audio capability is the most important advance in the 800 Series, it is by no means the only one.
The following list covers just a few of the additions:

800 CD / DVD-V / DVD-A Machine
� Even higher resolution CD replay
� New improved user interface
� PC and OSD setup
� Upsampling of Dolby Digital and DTS material to 96kHz 24bit
� 192kHz DACs used on analogue output cards
� Digital output also available

861 Reference Processor
� 96kHz 24bit processing on all 8 channels with higher internal precision
� New input/output options:
� Multi-channel digital input to match with 800 DVD
� 96kHz 24 bit analogue input utilising professional ADC and a straight line input design
� 192kHz analogue output cards in both balanced and unbalanced configurations
� New DSP engine with dramatically increased power able to provide a long future for 861
software development (Including more channels in the future)
� DVD-A bass and speaker management including dynamic bass protection and speaker
delays
� Discrete mode for direct multi-channel sources provides many useful controls including:
Bass and Treble tilts, Centre delay and level, rear delay and level, Lipsync, 2+2+2 control depending on speaker configuration
� ProLogic II now available in conjunction with Dolby Digital decompression

500 Series
DVD-A Developments in the 800 will filter into the 500 Series over a period of about three months. It is intended to fit the same DSP engine from the 861 to the 568 and to have a DVD-A player in the 500 Series, the 598. We can also confirm that existing 568s will be upgradable to this new standard and 596 will be upgradable to DVD-A.
Another exciting development is our intention to provide an upgrade for the 561 to support multi-channel analogue input. This will provide a formidable combination with which to drive either a Meridian digital theatre or passive system based on our multichannel amplifier the 558.

507 CD Player
A new lower price CD player is currently in design for release in November. The 507 is a
replacement for the 506 CD Player. Details will be available in a provisional data sheet soon.
Target price is around �1,000 UK retail. Complete details will be issued upon release of the final
product.

559 Two channel Amplifier
Information will also be available soon on a new two channel amplifier, the 559. This will be in production in November and is based on radical new design work that was originally focused on the DSP8000 amplification. Full provisional details are available but here are a few points of
interest.
� 558 chassis style
� Combines with 558 for seven channel theatres
� 300 Watts per channel into 8 ohms
� Over 500 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms
� Fully bridgeable
� Over 1500 Watts of available power in bridge mode
� 1 Ohm drive capability
� Capable of 150 Amps continuous current delivery
� Twin high mass low noise 1.2KVA torroidal transformers
� Twenty 16 Amp output devices per channel
� Single ended and balance inputs
� Trigger input
� Electronic two stage thermal protection
� Rack mountable


[This message has been edited by richardp (edited 09-23-2001).]

"Another exciting development is our intention to provide an upgrade for the 561 to support multi-channel analogue input. This will provide a formidable combination with which to drive either a Meridian digital theatre or passive system based on our multichannel amplifier the 558."

This was not covered at our Q&A and looks like an exciting development.