Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems What is Meridians Special Sauce? What is your take

The statement above is what I questioned. I have NO IDEA what you're trying to say here. But it reads to me like your comparing EAC with FLAC (apples and oranges). I'll assume it was just poorly written.

Several times you suggested we never discuss Soundcards or Ripping methods etc. like it was fact. Sorry but we have, sorry you missed it.

Ok, so I have the G68 on the way. I will likely get a G55 amp, as its a fairly good value for a 5 channel amp and I need one. I have found someone who will do a trade for a G98DH, for my Esoteric DV-50S. I LOVE the Esoteric, but people seem to think the synergy between these products is important. Has anyone ever been able to A/B test a DV-50 vs a G98.

Thanks

Chris

If I were buying now, I'd seriously consider one of these. In fact I'm seriously considering it myself (if it was available now I probably would have ordered one).

http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/12/samsung-bd-up5000-dual-format-blu-ray-hd-DVD-combo-player-on-the/

The only thing that will beat something like this is going with a fairly serious ($3k+) external Video Processor for DVD with a fairly inexpensive modded player with SDI (or even a Meridian Player modded with SDI which would get you DVD-A as well).

There is plenty that will equal it but nothing does Blu-Ray, HD and DVD all in one box at the moment.

Problem is time is not on Meridian's side. Technology is leaping faster than they can fine tune it to perfect it.

I believe LGs replacement will also do HDi and therefore will be totally HDDVD compliant. Here is the kicker to what you said- go back 7 years or so and look at the top VP- thats like a 60k teranex. Now its like a 3-4k Lumagen or CII... WOW

best regards,
Jerry

LG isn't my favorite brand. I had two LG dehumidifiers and they almost both caught fire. Both within a year. I trust Samsung (in general more).

Not wanting to sound snobbish but I wouldn't touch LG if I could help it.

I have had 2 Loewe branded LG DVDR machines and neither have been right - the second one replaced the first one that I could not trust to record. The second one I cannot trust to play - I never even bothered to try and record on it. Its soon to be replaced by a VCR/DVD combo.

And with a name like "Lucky Goldstar" that sold under the Goldstar brand over in the UK, its just a brand that will always remind me of cheap cr@p sold alongside other items such a Binatone.

Hello I'm new here, so bear with me....

It strikes me that M's original claim to fame was its high-end rebuild of the Marantz CD63 replacing circuitry as appropriate. Have things moved on in Huntingdon that would preclude an upgraded re-badged Samsung BD-5000 dual-format player? It's a way in to HD without re-inventing the wheel. It also keeps both camps happy and gets M back to innovative leadership.

Hmmm......

Hi Roy and welcome. I don't think it was the CD63 as this was introduced many years after the original MCD (I've still got a CD63SE from 1995?). IIRC the MCD was based around a Philips transport, but I thought the rest was completely OEM.

Meridian tends to do its own thing now. Unless one of the two competing formats does end up dominant and with significant market penetration, we may never see a Meridian HD spinner...

Ian I feel the same way about the dual player from Samgsung. Their first BR player had major problems. I would wait to see what other people are saying about it. The flip argument though is Sony- it used to always be safe to buy from them and over the past several years it has not been. I guess we know one company its safe to buy from

Btw- on special sauce- lets face it- Meridian just soldiers chips together- its the $100 bills they stuff into the speakers and CD players that earn all the rave reviews! J/K!!! LOL. Its their intellectual property- plain and simple.

best regards,
Jerry

Meridian's first two DVD players, the 586 and 586.2, were reworked Toshibas. The remote was just rebadged too. It wasn't until about 4 years after DVD launched that they came out with the 596 in 2000, so there is more recent precedence.

I'd completely forgotten about that!

I have followed the instructions posted previously on this site for getting the best sound quality from files stored to HD via EAC etc. This was a pain to set up, but goes OK (if slowly), once done. Careful listening comparison of a number of CD's using the G98DH connected to G68ADV through MHR with SB3 (Wifi or RJ45) SPDIF into the G68 displayed consistent differences to my ears. I had a consistent preference for the G98 over SB3, but the difference was certainly not drastic. Memory is a little fuzzy at this point, but the thing I remember most clearly was more natural (or at least preferable, to my ear) sweetness and air to vocals.