Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Thinking about DSP again

Did you take them home for a spin? I think most folks on this forum have learned the hard way that comparing what you have at home and what you have at the dealer is pretty useless. I've heard DSP8000's setups that sound worse than my 5500's because I know they were set up wrong. There is also something to be said for side firing woofs vs front firing they, don't work for everyone and every room.

I'm not saying your own analog setup isn't the best to your ears but until you've put the same effort into DSP's as you have into your analog setup I'd keep an open mind.

Very nicely said. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess. I tend to like the slim simple looks of the 5000's as well (not just because I own a pair). Even though I like the looks of the 8000's (I admit I didn't for quite a few years) the smaller 5200's don't look right to me. Especially in anything but piano black. I love cherry wood speakers and the 5200's don't look as nice as 5000's. I think they could be fixed to look more like 7000/8000's.

No, I haven't heard DSP8000's at home, once I get the house move out of the way I'll have a blank canvas and will put them on my list for audition.

Meanwhile, I can understand people scoffing at squash balls but the principle of air suspension for resonance control is well founded and one of the major manufacturers of air suspension systems in the UK has now moved on from pneumatic systems to something which doesn't need continually topping up with air. Take a look at these links:

http://www.townshendaudio.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=104

http://www.townshendaudio.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=74

I've heard JMLab Focal Alta Utopia's both on and off these speaker supports and the difference they make is startling, I would expect they would be very effective with DSP speakers given all the capacitors they have inside.

Regards
Gary

Do you mean the colour cherry is different? There are a pair of D5Ks on eBay at the moment and they look quite orange, compared to the cherry 5200s M show on their website.

Gary,

It seems you have a lot of work still ahead. For what it's worth, [IMHO] Meridian products are the best sounding products ever created. That said, if not setup properly, they can sound really bad.

I can't tell you how many times I've been to dealers with Meridian equipment and it sounded horrible. The first time I heard DSP8000, I thought, these things don't sound better than my Definitive Towers. I really couldn't understand what the hype was about. Several years later, I walked into a dealer and heard the DSP5200s and I was completely sold.

What I learned is Meridian products are not easy to setup and most dealers do not take the time to ensure these products are displayed properly. Every time I have been to dealer with DSP8000, they have been snuggled between other speakers with no room to breathe.

Great Meridian dealers take the time to ensure the products sound fantastic. When I heard the DSP5200s, the setup had it's own room and the dealer stated that it took two weeks to setup properly.

Unfortunately, when you hear a poorly setup Meridian system, you automatically go to the next system on the floor.

INMO, if you are considering Meridian, I don't think you will ever be truly happy until you try it. Even if decide not purchase Meridian now, you will more than likely revisit the idea of Meridian a few years down the road. Hi-Fi/Home Theater magazines are so much enjoyable for me now, because I feel there is nothing out there that can compare. I can play my system loud & long without distortion with the undeniably the best clarity ever.

It doesn't seem money is a big issue for you, do yourself a favor and give the DSP5200 a test. A G68/5200 combo is absolutely phenomenal. And if setup properly, I think you will agree.

Good luck.

Nick

PS - It took me six months to get my setup (G68/5200/3100) to sound perfect (for me)

Nick: what was it about your system that too 6 months to get right?

Chris - no the 5K rosewood is definitely not that orange. But it's a little less red than the 5200 rosewood. I have both the 5200 and the 5000 in rosewood; Just posted a couple of pictures that are good color representation and comparison
I'll leave them up for a while - feel free to download...

ken

Thanks Ken!

Funny, i thought the darker wood was rosewood, and the lighter was cherry. So yours are the cherry finish then?

actually no - mine are termed as 'Rosewood' - both 5K and 5200s; The Cherry finish is actually the lighter natural wood color :
http://www.Meridian-audio.com/p_d5k2.htm

A bit confusing I know - I went through the same mental exercise... The Cherry finish looks less 'Cherry' than the Rosewood !

You had it right - darker is Rosewood - lighter is Cherry...

ken

edit : I see where I confused you Chris - calling mine Cherrywood in my post inadvertently - I should have termed as Rosewood - changed it above to correct my mistake - Sorry about that; Mine are definitely Rosewood per the pictures I posted...

Honestly, the perfect position, MRC and various listening modes. I would try certain speaker spacing (toe in, toe out, no toe in, etc), center channel above my TV and for example Trifield for a couple of months and then would try something else. Then I got some acoustic panels, tried other speaker positions and MRC for a couple of months.

I finally found the perfect position for me with [very] slight toe in (about 6ft apart between L&R), elevated center (about 8 inches from the floor and 30 degrees pointing upwards) and I listen to music in pure Direct mode. For me, this provide the best imaging I had ever heard (EVER). The other thing I noticed, is when listening to other modes that involve the center channel, the settings (depth, width, level, etc) for the center channel were left unchanged (i.e., at zero).

I've had this setup in place now for several months and I have no desire to change it. I initially got caught up in a tweaker's fantasy with MRC for the first few months and then I realized correct placement and acoustic panels make a far greater impact then MRC. While MRC is powerful tool, I've had better success with simpler (but time consuming) means.


Nick

Nick, I am glad you are enjoying things in Direct, but this is just the start.

For surround modes like Trifield you have to play with centre speaker settings, but when you get it right, its a revalation. IMHO

Carry on enjoying, Cheers, Chris

Chris you are definitely correct. The only reason I haven't played with Trifield nearly as much is because my sub is not the greatest. I've noticed when listening in Trifield, I lose a considerable amount of bass. I'm in the market for one now (Rel B2). As soon as I get the new sub, I will definitely revisit Trifield.