Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Will Meridian survive?

I'm not sure I agree with this. Just think of car magazines. Most people can't afford Ferraris but they are aspirational and get lots of reviews.

Today, I picked-up a special copy of Hi-Fi Choice (in WHSmith) that focused on reviewing the best Hi-Fi components money can buy.

Amongst the 121 or more pages, Meridian 808 merited just one page - and most of that was taken up by photographs.

Conspicuous by their absence, was any mention of Meridian DSP loudspeakers.

That's because Hi-Fi Choice has absolutely no idea what decent hi-fi is. But unfortunately, that's the sort of magazine general consumers will turn to for information.

Mark

They review $20,000 vinyl players...

The problem is that most "Audiophiles with money" have started with analogue stereo - and don't want to try anything else. It's the same problem for AIX Records and 2L who both make high-quality recordings and love to make them in surround. They almost have to force people to sit and listen to it - then they buy most of their catalogue...

I'm with Malcolm. I get a few hi-fi mags and they usually feature something from M. They covered the 808. They covered the speakers and the F80. M is usually in the recommended components parts. I think the reason they all don't fawn over M all the time is because the all digital ethos is contrary to many of these magazines' editorial bias for all analog and tubes and mystical cables that can send the audio signal to the 8th dimension where we all know protons line up in reverse order which helps cancel out any sub harmonic noise... hehehe. And if you look at the cover story on these magazines its maybe 1/12 that they feature something affordable- its usually the crazy expensive stuff like the DSP 8000 or Wilson speakers that make the cover. People want to read about things they don't have access to. And then the complaint letters begin: why won't you cover things the normal people can afford???

I haven't bought a hi-fi mag in about 5 years.

Yes, I can understand why anyone with a Meridian system would have no need to buy a hi-fi magazine and no desire to read its contents. But I was talking about raising the profile of Meridian and generating some brand excitement. Unless Meridian can get new customers they will be in difficulty. The F80 has been a bold initiative and good ambassador. And thank goodness that at last the website has been updated and carries some news less than two years old: this will help.

If Meridian can get the sales figures up it will survive; and if it can reduce unit costs we will all benefit. If it disappears then just think about our guarantees and future upgrades. What can be done to help?

True and, unfortunately, it reflects the dominant view of the readership. Another problem, at least for me, is that if I had a complete Meridian system (I have just the 861), it would require Herculean efforts to test/evaluate non-Meridian components in a familiar context. After all, a fully digital Meridian setup is the ultimate HTIB.

Kal [/quote]

Yep.

A full Meridian digital setup is a closed system. To use DSP loudspeakers as the reference requires a complete analog setup as well.

I did like the concept of the G46 DSP box that didn't come to fruition. This would allow you to use the same A3x0 loudspeakers in a traditional context or in a DSP context.

It strikes me that M need to introduce a new Series, alongside the G Series, but at an entry-level price point. This "H" Series (whatever) could be based around a stripped down surround sound processor (without MRC), a processor with built-in power amps and a processor with disc spinner. Here's the rub: they would not have a hugely expensive case, but a nice-looking plastic one - and be assembled in China at much lower cost. A competitor to Arcam springs to mind.
Needless to say, HDMI in is a pre-requisite.

This brings lower costs, lower prices, creates more brand-awareness, gives an upgrade path and attracts ordinary mortals. It should still sound great!

The G Series should introduce a disc spinner capable of playing blu-ray, DVD-A AND SACD - that would be a killer in the market, especially if the price was reasonable.

I suspect though, that what will save M will be a shift of manufacturing to China and less expensive cases. Sad but true.

I guess the plunging value of sterling helps Meridian as much of their product will be export, and now looks cheaper to their buyers, and thus more desirable...

Mark

G92, G95, G61R mostly cover that. The additional cost of MRC these days is probably small to them.

?? It might be great to have an all-Meridian system but I would not want to have to find ways to insert a new non-Meridian device into it nor would I want to have an additional system for other analog/digital devices . Then the question comes down to what is my subjective reference sound in that room?

So, we do Meridian reviews fairly frequently and it was an all-Meridian system review that swept me into multichannel. Nonetheless, it ain't the only game in town (at least, if you look at our readership).

Kal