Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems F80

Just head a call from Grahams and my F80 has been delayed again so im not going to get it in time for my easter break

Much as they try, Grahams can't get any answers out of their suppliers why the promises of 'end of month/ early next week etc etc are not being kept.

Hopefully there are no technical issues leading to the delays?

Does anyone know if any customer units have been shipped yet?

If the same issue applies to the F80 as it does to the G95, I am informed that the user manuals have only just arrived from the printers.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh You just want the F80 for Easter, they can post the manual on, you wont read it anyway untill youve had a good fiddle anyway.

I know they cant sell without the manual by order of some eurocrat.

This must be so frustrating, but worth it in the end.

Enjoy, Chris

Just as I was going on my Easter vacation (which I may add, having the F80 to take with me would have been the icing on the cake), my dealer updated me with the reason behind the delay of the F80.

Thankfully there is no technical reason for the delay. Apparently its down to an issue with the manual and the packaging. Ironically, both would have been 'discarded' soon after 'acquisition' although I guess suitable packaging would be necessary for the unit to reach me in one piece.

Well I am now in posession of a white F80 albeit hidden under my desk.

Having cleared it with the wife in Silver, I was disappointed to hear of yet more delays with this colour. However, I was informed that all the other colours were in stock. Second choice was 'Off white' which after seeing the colour on the Meridian colour selector looked very bright - thankfully it is much more toned down. So I don't think I will be disappointed.

A number of things to note - before getting home and having a play:

Contrary to as concluded earlier in this thread, it has optical out built into the headphone jack - which incidentally can be configured to mute the speakers or not when headphones were plugged in. So hopefully I will have the option of plugging it into an external system. Not sure if headphone out can be set to fixed/variable out.

Also, the unit contains FreeRTOS V3.0.0 which looks an interesting read

I have also been tipped off that you don't have to call in the great painter to watch multi region DVD's Will check that when I get home.

I did get a chance to play with a unit at the shop. I had forgotten how sublime it sounded - same experience as on the factory visit when I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. It was sitting between two full size speakers, and even knowing that I had just hit play, I still had to perform a mental rain check and confirm that it was indeed the F80 playing rather than the floor standing speakers. Slightly worrying was the display of the demo unit - showing a yellow line across the top line of the display. Couldn't work out whether the display had slipped down in the bezel or whether it had a fault in the top row of 'pixels'. Hopefully not a QA issue.

Just got to wait for the iPod lead to be made available. Either that or a second SB. Probably wont be much difference in price!

Hi Ian,

Well done !!!

I've looked at FreeRTOS V3.0.0 and am none-the-wiser. Can you enlighten the ignorant (please;))

It all depends if your the kind of person who when buying a new car, sits in the drivers seat first, or pops the bonnet.

Basically, its likely to give some insight into the kind of technology that Meridian use as a base for their kit. Its no longer a black box, or in the case of the F80, red, yellow, white, black and silver box.

I always use to be the kind of person who would pop the bonnet although with our latest car, its modern and make a sound like a black cab so I haven't yet bothered.

Unlike some on this forum, I do however draw the line at changing wheels and tweaking the engine. But its nice to know you can if the desire takes you.

Small article from Bob Stuart on Russ Andrews website.

web page

Hi Guys,

Russ Andrews is showing pictures of limited edition colours of the F80. They are available till the end of the year.

Ian

Deep breath time! I'm considering an F80 to replace - gulp - my 18-bit DSP5000s in my sitting room.

The main reason for such a change is that both my other half and I are unhappy with the intrusiveness of the speakers in the room - black ash 5k monoliths aren't exactly subtle. The room is actually two knocked together with the original separating wall jutting into the room quite a bit for structural reasons. The fireplace, doors and bay windows all conspire to make positioning the TV and 5ks very difficult.

I still have my 3x DSP33 theatre system in the basement to which I can add the 5ks, although the concept of 33s across the front and 5ks at the back is a little wierd.

I digress; I have two questions:

1) How big a room will the F80 fill? My lounge is 11' x 22' and I seem to recall that presentation room we were all in on Hikers' Day had to be at least that size.

2) What optical cable do I need to attach a Squeezebox to the F80 and can the aux inputs be re-labelled to display a custom source name?

Another question:

Will the F80 accept a 96/24 digital input? It must do from a MP221 right?

Hi Virus, For optical connection you need an adapter on the end of a normal optical lead. I had some on a cheap lead and dont know where it came from.

It can be spectcular in front of a TV but you only get s video from it.
It has a Lipsync delay of short medium long and max, but I dont know if this applies to an external input.

The Labeling is on aux1, MP3 MD Aux iPod & Zune. TV md iPod zune and aux2 is on aux2. Optical gets, Optical iPod MD Zune.
Aux3 gets aux3 iPod md & Zune.

No Custom labeling there.

You really need to Demo one in your own room to see if it gives you all you want. (Any Local Hikers willing)?

I have a large conservatory (An accoustic nightmare) and it fills it great.

Good luck, Chris