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

Hi Folks, I have now got my F80 in Red. My best 2nd hand deal yet.

We did the deal at his (Craig, the seller, real nice guy) works car park in the pouring rain. A brand new unit he won in a prize but needed the cash more at this time.

I had to wait till 10 PM that evening to plug it in, when we got to the B&B we where staying in for a weekend break.
Luckily this house had thick walls!!

This is a classy piece of kit and I am still realising just how good it is.

SWMBO Approves, A simple A/B comparison with my Pure Oasis DAB clinched it. She is learning fast about good sounds.

If you know anyone considering their first system, make sure the F80 is on their wish list.

1. They will educate their ear to good quality sounds.

2. If they are students, it is so portable and will come into its own on many levels.

3. Party volume is easily attained.

4. No-one can mistakenly balance a Pint of lager on it.

5. The next system they buy will be so much better due to the education recieved with the F80.

6. The F80 unique amonst Hi-Fi, will not as a first system, become obsolete.

7. The venders of snake oil (Cables etc) will have no hold over the F80 owner.

I have mine in my Conservatory on a Angled corner window sill, it certainly catches visitors by the Eye and Ear.

Even when it is on at a low volume you catch people tapping their feet or singing along.
This is a good sign.

The sound is easy to set up, max width if your not on top of the unit, Tilt somwhere in the middle to taste, it is a very nice tone control.

The F80 delivers more bass than it has a right to. The detail is all there as well.

Thats enough for now, I am going back for a listen!!

Cheers, Chris

Congratulations Chris. You seem to have been training SWMBO well!

Personally, I reckon a pint glass dock would have been nice...

OK, I just as an afterthought, thought I had better try a DVD in the F80.
I chose Steve Marriot, Live in London, 2 Channel DD sound. A favourite of mine, he is sadly missed.
I wasnt prepared to be 'Blown away' by the result but it happened!!
The picture, for a Music DVD, is perfectly OK for this type of watching.

The sound was and is Extraordinary!!!!

It tricks the mind, you go to adjust your main system controls thinking it must be on as well.

"This isn't possible" your mind shouts. Then you just get lost in it untill SWMBO gets out of bed to remind you that you have Neighbours. (This is a Bad thing).

It had, Power and Drive. The Drums where real, the Detail was posibly better than my main system. Giutars sounded oooooooooo Vocals where alive.
Is this what DSP Speakers provide?

Dont get me wrong, It sounds amazing on my main system, but from a box this small!!!!!!!!!

It aint Natural, must be the work of the Devil.

What a sytem left right and Center F80 type satalites would be. ooooooooooooooooo

Perhaps rears as well.

Bring it on BOB.

Cheers, Chris

Enjoy the moment Chris

On a more down note, there are black clouds over our house. SWMBO is not happy at all, we must have the first failed F80.

Radio works fine but no sound output from CD's or DVD's and it is now on its way back to the mothership. I keep telling myself that any electrical device can fail and if they do they usually fail quickly or last for ages. Nevertheless it does take the gloss of it all. Let you all know the outcome as soon as we get it back.

Hi Gavin, they will sort it, you have at least 3 years.

Things do break down early or not at all in my experiance.

Good luck, Cheers, Chris

I would have expected a faulty unit to be swapped by the shop for another rather than sending off for repair.

Ian, this is where it helps to know your consumer law.

As I understand it:-

You should have stated that you 'Reject this item' and then ask for a replacment or refund.

Goods should be as described, of merchantable quality and fit for purpose.

The Shop are liable as they sold it to you.

Having accepted the repair option, (Its the easiest option from their point of view), I dont think you can do much, unless this takes an unreasonable time.

Keep phoning the shop is my advice, also hustle for some freebies as compensation and perhaps a demo unit to loan.
Lets see how good your dealer is!!!

The lawyers here will now put me right on all of this.

On the Bright side, Meridian are a quality company and they will sort things for you.

I hope you get it back very soon, Cheers, Chris

'You should have stated that you 'Reject this item' and then ask for a replacment or refund.'

So if you buy a new car and find a fault you should be entitled to reject it and get a new one?...I don't think so just try it. Somewhere in the legislation must be some small print that allows the retailer to 'correct' faults which in themselves may not render the item as unfit for purpose and not of merchantable quality. Probably the worst example is that of a new house with a snagging list a mile long...loads of inconvenience and not a snowball's chance in hell of getting a new one!


Rod

I don't think that there is any need to resort to legal technicalities. I think if there was a fault with a nearly new unit, it would be swapped out for a replacement unit by the dealership if you asked them nicely. I certainly don't think you would be without F80.

Regarding the law and rights. Pages 4 and 5 are the pertinent sections.

Basically, the consumer has a right of a full refund or can alternatively request a repair or replacement when the fault is found within a reasonable amount of time from new. However, there are grey areas.

But as I say, I think if you asked for a replacement unit, I think it would be looked on favourably, even if it was a loan unit.

Hi Rodders, You can reject a car, you have to know your ground, but you can do it.

A house is a differant matter, and this is being discussed at the moment, it was on a news type program recently.

Normal Items; you can certainly reject, they should work and if they dont you have rights!

I agree Ian, a decent dealer should offer a loan unit as a matter of honour.

This will, after all, be a very rare occasion.

I am not suggesting people go to law, I am saying its handy to know your rights, A friendly compromise is always the best solution.
After all A dealer doesn't want you to have a faulty unit.

Stuff Happens.

This is all changing soon, new EU type regulations are on the way.

Cheers, Chris

As a matter of interest and after the latest F80 email from the big 'M' i decided to email them and ask about a WIFI enabled product, this was the surprisingly quick and candid response: -

Hi James,

Thank you for your email.

We are currently looking at how the F80 range will develop and have a number of interesting ideas for future iterations of the product. The only thing I will say, however, is that the current product is not likely to be upgradeable. The F80 has really been designed as a stand-alone solution - changes to the existing product may require hardware and circuit board
changes and these are not generally retro-fittable.

Read it and weep network jocks - looks like this ain't the product for us : - (

OK, Back on track with this thread, I just had my mate Darren round to hear the F80.
He has a 596/561 Dsp5000C M60 M33 rears system.

On seeing the F80 he was not convinsed I had anything to astound him with.

So we plugged it into the TV and I played some Steve Marriot live. (A blues Masterclass)
That stumped him, he was gobsmacked!!

Then we played a few CD,s and some Radio.
This could have gone on all night.

"I better sell some of my old kit to pay for one of these", he speculated.

I think its safe to say, he wants one.

Another sale comming your way soon Bob.

Cheers, Chris