Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Music Server owners how often do you spin CD's now?

Do you really want a server?


Sure . The only thing wrong with the 880 was a silly price point ( as was discussed here at the time ) and the fact that they were not allowed to use mlp to increase storage capacity.

In my Version 2 dream it would have 1 terrabyte addable storage drives and be upgradable to include DVD and ultimately Hd-DVD . Oh , and wireless Squeezebox 5 Audio/Video capability too .I can dream , can't I

~M~

Presumably there would be RAID drive redundancy and a built-in back-up solution? Sounds like a PC to me...

Roger is your computer hooked up through Analog or Digital interface?

" Sounds like a PC to me..."

Exactly !
Just add mlp !

~M~

Roger is your computer hooked up through Analog or Digital interface?

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- George I used the digital optical out(SPDIF) into a 518 (gain at 0) and levels were never high, pre amp set to max on the Mac, no clipping on the 518 ever, even with hot 'finalized'cds.
518 into D6K's.

I have now abandoned Sound Check and levels of
albums have risen by 8-10 dbs.
Some hot albums clip by 2-4 dbs.
i have reduced the input of the 518 by the same figure.
The resultant sound is better.
Transients snappier, more hf detail.

It is possible in Tunes to manually ride gain
per album which it tags.
Will do this on some of the loudest.

I ask again
I-Volume is designed for I-Tunes.
Anybody used it? ttp://www.mani.de/en/software/macosx/ivolume/index.htm

How can the 518 "clip" on a digital input that is probably only 16-bit?

What is being saturated that's getting clipped?

I don't have any experience with the 518, just curious.

518 enables digital gain to +12,-99db in 1db increments.
SPDIF or AES/EBU IP
Clipping is indicated .
Odb is being saturated.
Upsamples to 22bits
Dejitters, De emphasis,Dithers etc
518 can be operated as digital pre, processor
or controller, very usefull device, a Swiss Army
Knife for an audiophile.
Should be a 519.

I need digital meters for I-Tunes
Is there an application?

Roger

I understand the basic idea of the 518 function. I don't understand why the 518 shows cliping unless your boosting the digital gain. Maybe it doesn't have enough headroom to apply some of it's other tricks.

Since 518 can't adjust gain per album dynamically I'd defeat that function and do it on your preamp. I suspect that is more of a remastering feature of the 518.

Using Sound Check on your hot albums is probably your best bet. I would think this is only a problem on random play - which you indicated you never do.

Nothing stops you, it's only $2500 or $5000...

Spot on George. Some of the 518 functions (other than straightforward gain) will clip at 0dB gain.

I use emphasis for older cds , this can cause clipping on maximised newer cds.
Reduction of 2-3dbs is OK.

I won't use Sound Check again as I dislike the processed sound.

Level changes between albums can be perplexing,
random play throws this up.
Sound Check is not the answer.
I will either manually increase/reduce in I-Tunes or experiment with I-Volume.
I would like a display that showed true digital
levels on Tunes.
A glitch Tunes has thrown up recently is when playing random albums ,it sometimes only plays 1 track before moving on.
Hopefully to be corrected in next versions.

I did a bit of careful comparative listening this weekend. I have been ripping my CD's according to the recommended best quality approach described here with EAC etc., ultimately to FLAC. The SB3 is connected by digital coax with fixed digital volume at max.

I cued up Diana Krall's cover of Almost Blue from 'The Girl in the Other Room' on both SB3 and G98DH. Switching back and forth, the sound was pretty close, but not the same. With the SB3, there is a slight loss of sweetness, most noticeable in voice. Also the brush strokes on the cymbals sounded less like a brush stroke and more like impact and there was some loss of bloom in the lower end. On the other hand, Diana's voice was less diffuse with the SB3.

To my ear, the G98DH had the more natural and enjoyable sound, but certainly not by a huge margin. Very impressive, given the price difference! For me, the margin is large enough to be worth the effort of getting up to put in a disc whether I'm sitting to listen on a dedicated basis or while reading. I intend to connect the SB3 in the family room as the convenient access to all the family's music will trump any other considerations.

Cheers, Ian