Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Are we doing ourselves 'no favours' re: S/H M Equipment ?

Upgrades will help them keep the customers they HAVE !!!

It will also keep the resale value up, so current customers won't be shy of expanding or upgrading. Confidence in resale value will also encourage current custonmers to experiment with other technologies Meridian offers.

A solid upgrade program and solid resale will help Meridian through slow times when they have not caught up with their implementation of technoligy customers wouldn't hesitate and second guess the technology and market when considering a purchase.

It will have loyal customers spreading the word.

High-End niche market will never fly off the shelves, that's the market Merdian is in. Word of mouth, loyalty, confidence will keep them moving.

This thread is about losing trust and confidence.

It was the 565 upgrade program that really boosted Meridian (it's partly what swung me over from Lexicon) and they have not really repeated it at that product level since then. Yet they still brag about the 565 track record. I had to move up to the 861 to get those sort of upgrades, but I'm still waiting for that HDMI card.

I agree with Malcom's comments. A lot of folks would pay 50% of list for an upgrade. Rather than have to go through the hassle and risk of selling the old for approx 50% of the new device and then buying new. I don't know if 50% is the right number but it's in the ballpark.

To Meridian's credit they have been great supporting product that was purchased used which does help resale value.

You make some very valid points there George, especially regarding the 565 (and to a slightly lesser extent the other '500 Series' of processors, DVD players and speakers).



Holtz'.

George

Whilst I agree that Meridian should try to protect and keep its existing customer base that won't help them survive. They spend close to �10m each year and only just cover that with their sales income. My gut feeling is that we should be more worried about Meridian disappearing altogether - that would mean no upgrades and no support!

This debate feels a little like that surrounding hi-end turntables when CDs came out. The writing was on the wall for the hi-end of the vinyl market. Only enthusiasts remain with a largely ancient catalogue of software.

I believe Meridian will experience the same. They will not survive in their current market position. Cheap technology for source components will crush that side of the business unless they appeal to the mass mid-market - those that can spend a bit more than a "Denon" or "Creek" and then focus on their amps and speakers plus perhaps the professional market (in studios).

I don't want Meridian to change at all ... but surely they have to.

Think I have ranted enough about this one and will desist now.

Regards

Andrew

(very jealous of the trip to Factory - can't go as 'er-in-doors aka Doris aka the wife has banned me)

Isn't this forum by definition 'The Hitchhikers Guide To Meridian ?

Now without wanting to sound like a 'fanboy' I feel that Meridian has taken far more than it's fair share of knocks on this forum of recent from members who, for the want of better words, are hardcore 'early adopters' of the 'New digital horizons'.
The talk here now mostly revolves around the ripping of CD's/Downloads, Music Servers, HDMI, etc. Isn't this changing the direction in which this forum is heading. Surely these subjects are debated with far more expertise and in far greater detail elsewhere. If we are to discuss them here then shouldn't it be in more general terms and in a seperate area, so leaving this to stand as the definitive Meridian archive forum.
Otherwise, maybe it should be renamed 'The Hitchhikers Guide Away From Meridian'.

The 'Mothership' knows that she is lagging behind in the marketplace presently and, I am sure, will be working very hard attempting to regain the lost ground. Otherwise what Andrew has said will probably occur. However, as having no money is my other hobby, I can't really speak at a financial level.


Holtz'.

Holtz

I agree but don't you think this site is an upfront lead on future requirements?
If I was Meridian reading this I'd be right up with what their target customer is into and where they are thinking of going in the future. Companies pay a lot of money for this information and all of us on here are Meridian's target customer. Not just some Joe in the street or Whathifi magazine reader who has no real interest in Meridian but are happy to tell you what they want to see.

Regards Paul

Holtz,

I think most people began their love affair with Meridian through hearing their DACS or Surround Sound processors. Discussing a different source option is merely a means of discussing how to get the best sound from the heart of their system. This should be encouraged - not discouraged. I think that we are merely seeing that those Meridian components that are not essential to the Meridian sound are being shaken out. Meridian's strength is in processing and powered speakers. They have chosen (or perhaps are forced) to stay in the very high end.

I really wonder if there was/is an opportunity for them to come down a notch and sell integrated systems at a price that makes sense for most people. Look at the Arcam Diva for instance. Why hasn't Meridian entered that space? Further, for a company that has sold computer programmable components for so long, I find it lamentable that they have not been at the forefront of networking music in the home. I envision a Meridian lifestyle where your components are networked, upgradable and can access your server just like the SB.

The other scary thought is that perhaps the performance gap between the best and the lowest has shrunk tremendously and will continue to do so in a manner that Meridian will find it quite difficult to justify its existence in the marketplace. While I would love to see Meridian stay in the game, I am all for greater performance at a lower price. If Meridian can't provide that, then call it a day and let someone else in the door. At the end of the day it is about musical enjoyment, and quite frankly I'm not loyal enough to any company where I'm prepared to pay more for the same or less in performance.

KIS - I couldn't agree more. The performance gap between sources has closed considerably. Meridian needs to look to its core strengths (processing and speakers) and work out how it can offer these in new and innovative products.

Things on my mind include, as you mention, genuinely high-end lifestyle systems. How many people on this forum are constrained by WAF? Lots. Imagine a Meridian system where the only leads in sight are the power cords... It can't be that hard. Integration with 3rd-party hardware is also going to be critical and, perhaps, philosophically the hardest pill for Meridian to stomach.

I want to say one more thing though. If Meridian's future is in custom installations (new C-series) and lifestyle solutions (G95) that's fine by me, but it mustn't forget that reputations don't last forever. I may be wrong, but it's usually the enthusiast minority that ends up creating the "aura" which surrounds such a company. And it's the knowledgable enthusiast who is getting burnt at the moment with all of the new developments going out outside of Meridian's World. Maybe time to throw the enthusiasts a bone?

It's all good fun this although, as this thread is not going anywhere I think it's now time to call it a day,.

I will conclude by saying this:~

I sold my pair of DSP5000 Mk2 Speakers, just yesterday, on the open market.
They went for 40% of new. n.b. �1850 ($3625), not good but not bad.
This was however, �200 ($390) more than I had asked for here and �750 ($1470) more than I had been offered.

With that in mind I rest my case.

PS: With 77 people watching I wonder how many of you were following the auction, with interest ?


Holtz'.

Alot of us here talk as if all the progress in computers is Meridians Fault! It isn't!!!

They are just reacting to events in the best way they know how.

Changing markets require creative solutions.

You cannot solve a problem with the same level of thinking that was used to create it. (Einstien)

So Change may seem uncomfortable, but we will get used to it.

Anyone else here run a succesfull inovative company at the forefront of HI-Fi development with the track record of Meridian?

Its easy to knock them, but who could do better?

You can't please all the people all the time.

I think we should give them time, nothing good comes overnight.

Cheers, Chris

And if Meridian gave you $4000.00 US credit towards a pair of 5200 I bet a lot of folks would bite. Then the Dealer sells them for $5000.00 with some warranty (but no upgrade offer). Everyone is happy. You may have to juggle the numbers. It works for DVDO, it works for Lexicon.

This thread is really talking about DVD. I think DSP speakers are holding their value reasonably well.

As far as less money on this forum vs an auction. This site was never geared for auctions. I personally always put my items up on audiogon first and post an FYI here. This site is much more educated in what value items really have. I bought 4 DSP33's for $1800 on audiogon (mint). It goes both ways.

George :
The thread was about S/H Meridian equipment in general.
Most posts were about M's DVD players as they were the easy target.


Holtz'.

Ok, But I think it's obvious DVD has been hit hardest.