Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Meridian at CEDIA

Well said Ian.

Would I buy Meridian right now? I think I would but it depends on what products we are discussing. When I bought my 861 it was cutting edge. Over the years with software and hardware updates it has become more so. The problem with any technology and being on the cutting edge is that eventually other people will catch you and in some cases surpass you. In this case its the price benefit area. There are now receivers that can do what the 861 does and more- but are they better? I don't really think so. Maybe they have prettier on screen graphics or something else. If someone was going to buy a M processor to run an all analog setup after the processor I would suggest we really research it because maybe its not the way to go today but if they wanted to go all digital then yes, you are buying into that system. In the many years since I bought my 861 and digital speakers Ive never had a regret and the sound quality has always inspired- and gotten better because of MRC and software updates.

I think if you want to be disappointed with Meridian, you can be but its not the HDMI box that is the real issue. You should see the fact that they are losing the battle in my opinion to get inside potential customers minds. Nearly no one really knows of them. Why are they not with a major automaker? Bose is. B&O is. B&W I believe is. People need to hear of Meridian. Most people have never seen nor heard the product- where can you do that? A few high end hi-fi stores that are off putting for most people. Meridian's lack of any modern retail presence is a critical problem (who really goes into the old stereo stores now days?- Not M's target customer). I worry that it is actually a fatal problem. I know several people over the past few years who could have afforded M systems in their homes and instead went to B&O simply because they've seen the product and the wives like the look and the B&O stores promised doing the system soup to nuts. Try that at a typical Meridian dealer today- many are just box movers. Getting into the movie Jumper is nice but M needs to be in a place where people are often. The inside of a car is a good place for this. A few select retail locations would be very costly but IMHO are necessary.

So I think you can bemoan the communication or lack there of but the truth is we here will not make or break the company in terms of sales- we know that. The real problem is a lack of communication to the marketplace. Thats my rant.

best regards,
Jerry