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

FAO Viruskiller!

Joel - you must have had you new boom box for a couple of weeks now.

I'm sure I am not the only Hiker who would be interested in your thoughts on the F80, when you have a few spare moments.

Thanks

Neil

Hi neilf!
Maybe I could contribute a bit. I got my F80 a month ago. Here are the short version:

1) The F80 is much better than any other boomboxes out there. You get the details, voices are exceptionally well defined, and there is surprisingly much bass. It fills small to moderate rooms well, and is generally big fun to use.

2) This is what i doesn't do: You get no stereo separation, the artificial "width" control only makes matters worse. And if you're going to have a party, makes sure it's in a dorm, not a ballroom. Placement is crucial - the DSP does not compensate that well. Inside a bookshelf is a n-no. Place it in ear level on a free standing table - needs lots of air around it.

3)As you live in the UK, DAB is relevant. And in fact, F80 makes the most of it. It actually sounds as good as (and better, if the reception is not ideal) FM. The unit seems tweaked to compensate for DABs shortcomings. The same goes for MP3s (preferably via disc or network, not iPod).

4) With S-video as the best output, don't use it with a screen bigger than 26". Bedroom use is OK. For home cinema it's inadequate.

Is it worth 1700 quid? Probably not. But this is a luxury product. Like a Breitling or IWC watch just shows the time (or for that matter, a Ferrari just brings you from point a to point b), the F80 just plays music (and DVDs). But the joy of owning and using it (if you can afford it) makes up for the price.

Thanks for that review, as you already know, you dont but the F80 for the ultimate stereo separation but dont be fooled.

Put it infront of your TV and put a decent concert DVD on. Turn it up to 11 and see how convincing a soundstage you get.

Yes a proper system puts it in its place......... but WOW!!! it is so much better than it has a right to be. (All that Phsychoacustics again)

As I write I have "Planet Rock" on DAB. The F80 is on the floor behind me and it sounds great. It may as well be Mono anyway as I am not in Pole position.

Talking of Mono, Listen to "The Jazz" on DAB. That is Mono and I just love it. The sound quality is Fantastic. I am listening to alot of 'new to me' music in great quality without a Music server in sight.

F80 owners, Keep the reviews Comeing please.

Cheers, Chris

Thank you Guy - and Chris (though I already knew you love yours) ;-)

Opinions on the F80 from anyone else welcome!

....and I'm still interested in your take, Joel.

Who knows, I might even add my own, as I have had one for 3 or 4 months....

Cheers

Neil

Hi Neil, you asked so...

The F80 is everything good about Meridian with very little of the bad.

If you know the Meridian 96/24 DSP loudspeaker "sound" then you can expect a lot of the same from the F80. I'm still stunned with regards to how good saxophone and piano recordings sound on this thing. Interesting, I would say that the dynamics and response on the F80 beat my DSP33s - Kylie's "I just can't keep you out of my head" really ticks along.

SWMBO is impressed and likes it a lot. She is able to use it with minimal instruction from me. The integration of DAB, FM and CD is really convenient. I've just got to add vinyl and Squeezebox via 562V.2 and 518 (controlled via MSR+).

It looks great.

I have listened to more music in the last two weeks than I have done in ages.

I'm totally addicted to theJazz...

Joel
And now for the big question.......

How does it measure up to the D5k's you were using in that room???

Are you happy or do you regret making the switch???

That's a tough question as both F80 and the 18-bit D5ks have their strengths.

However, I think I'll be able to live quite happily with the F80 in the living room. I'm sure I will occasionally miss some of the 5ks' bass weight, but the additional clarity delivered via an additional decade and a half of Meridian technology development is superb. We could never locate a sofa for optimal listening to the 5ks as a stereo pair, so I've not lost anything with respect to imaging.

Well I think the fact that it's even a discussion shows how good the F80 is!!!

I wonder how many other �1500 to �2,500 ($3 to $5k) systems of ANY size, shape or number of boxes you could have the same "Discussion" about. (Never mind any Boom Boxes!!!)

Interesting

Well quite. There is another major F80 factor... convenience; and if that means I listen to more music, it wins outright.

I've had mine for around a month now.

It's made my listen to a lot more music just because of the convenience factor - push a button "I have music".

DAB, hard to comment on how it is compared to other DAB gear as it's the first DAB radio I've had, suffice to say I'd been convinced DAB is bloody good.

I suspect it's capable of upstaging some more expensive full size systems too - when I picked mine up it was in the dealers dem room in a corner, on a Meridian supplied marketing stand. Granted it's a dem room, but the thing just sounded stunning.

There are some things I would tweak such as being able to label the inputs (for example who the hell has a Zune to justify that label when there is no "Mac" label?), and the alarm clock, maybe change it to a switch-on timer as I want the radio to come on at a certain time, at a certain volume, but not as an alarm - I just want it to stay on.

Hi hutchingsp. The F80 alarm does turn on the Radio. I just checked.

I would also like to know Just what the Heck Zune is.......

Cheers, Chris

Chris,

It switches off after a while though.

At weekends I don't want an alarm as such, but I do like to have the radio come on quietly and just stay on, as it is (on mine at least) it comes on, and at some point, I think about 45 mins, usually I've dosed off, it switches itself off.