Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Version 3 upgrade questions

Forgive me if this has already been covered. I've tried to search for this info, and I've found people asking the questions but no answers. So, here goes...

I've got a 800 & 861. I'm interested in doing upgrades to v3...or, rather I was until I saw the prices.

For those that have already done the upgrade, perhaps you can answer a few questions of mine:

(1) If I only upgrade the 861, what do I gain/lose compared to upgrading both?

(2) Will my current OA12's work with a V3 861? Can I mix & match an OA12 (for surrounds) with a OA13 (for main & center?)

(3) Many of you have mentioned that CD's sound much better with V3 gear. What part of the V3 upgrade is responsible for that?

(4) For those that have upgraded to a V3 800, what does it entail? i.e., what are you getting for the money?

(5) Does the price of the upgrade include a front fascia change? Or is that an additional charge? (Trying to see if there's something I can leave OUT of the upgrade to trim price).

Thanks.

-Rick

I don't have any 800 series stuff and probably never will :-(

However as far as previous upgrades go on my other kit, I am pretty sure that Meridian do not make any changes to the fascia. This is apparantly to differentiate between older/upgraded kit and newer kit.

However this may not apply to 800 series stuff.

1) you will not have DVD-A digitally from 800 to 861. You will not have upsapled DD and DTS.

2) Yes they work. You will get your OA12 swapped for a OA12m module (free of charge) New OA13 will cost you, and can be used for 2+2+2 only now (only a hand full of DVD-A discs are out in 2+2+2)

3) The IE16 card is swapped for a IE42 card. That might do its work better ? Further the Z3 processor cards is swapped for a CD20 card (more horsepower) and algorimts are done in 48 bit precission i think.

4) Have no 800, but i think you get DVD-A support as the major feature. Further the smart link between the 800 and 861 sends extra data, so the 861 will know which preset to load for CD, DVD-V or DVD-A

5) Fascia for the 861 is not needed i think. It costs a lot (around $2000 per 8xx unit)
The 800 will get more lights i think, but as i do not own a 800 i cannot tell for sure. Other members can tell you the difference.

Jaco

Thanks for the info to date.

Jaco, on #3, I don't understand about the OA13 cards. Do they only EVER work on the 2+2+2 cards? If I had one OA13 & one OA12, would the 861 upsample to 192Khz on the OA13 and 96Khz on the OA12 simultaneously?

Lastly -- for those that upgraded and got "better CD sound" -- did you upgrade to OA13's or just OA12's?

Thanks.

-Rick

Based on my knowledge and experience:

(1) The 861 upgrade cost depends on the age of your 861. Mine was old enough it had to go to England and thus cost somewhat more. The upgrade gives you a lot more DSP power with the new DSP cards and an IE42 input card. If you do nothing else, this upgrade will be noticeable sonically and will make your 861 ready for future improvements that the 861 will make. Still, without the companion 800 upgrade you will be missing out on a lot of what the combination can do.

(2)Your OA12's can work with the new 861 but I was told you cannot mix and match new output cards with older cards. Therefore all OE12 or all OE13.

(3) Both. With version 3, Meridian has made it much more attractive to have all version 3. Version 3 800 upsamples within the player and transmits through the digital link for all modes, not just DVD-A. With the IE42 card of the version 3 861, you get the entire performance capability.

(4) Bought my 800 version 3 new so I cannot compare it to the older version. It is supposed to be better picture quality, the much enhanced user interface of version 3 and the sonic improvements mentioned in (3.

(5) Front fascia changes are extra (I believe they cost $1,495). The change is very minor. Save your money here.

I know it is not inexpensive to change both, but I would recommend you do it if you at all can. You will not be disappointed!

The 861 v3 fascia is the same as the 861 v2. Absolutely no difference so this upgrade is not needed.

The 800 v3 fascia costs $1495 and is not included in the standard upgrade price. You don't get more lights on the new fascia. You just get different labels. The drive A label now reads MLP and the drive B label now reads multi channel. So, IMHO it is not worth spending an extra $1495 to get the new labeling. The standard upgrade costs enough as it is.

If you just upgrade your 861 you will not be able to upsample DD and DTS as this is done in the 800 and only affects DVD's. Even with a v3 800 you will not be able to upsample DD or DTS coming from HBO or SHO for example.

As for the 0A13 cards, I chose to get them because Meridian told me that everyone will have to upgrade to them sooner or later when version 4 comes out so I just got it out of the way now. Meridian also told me they felt that in general the 0A13 card sounded better than the 0A12.

Other than that I can't tell you how the new 800 v3 sounds because I haven't received it back from Meridian yet. Hope it is soon because I sent it in for the upgrade in late July.

[This message has been edited by DougS (edited 10-04-2002).]

You could if you have all DSP 7000 or DSP 8000 since that is done in the speakers.


Sounds like you forgot to include the Micro Brew in the box. Try Redhook ESB next time.

It seems a fascia in Europe is priced higher than in the US. I was told around 2000 Euro's. (perhaps the dealers give them away without making profit because it seems investing money for getting almost nothing back)
But $1495 is still a lot...

Jaco

Stacey,
Suppose someone were to be doing a theater with 8000s and 7000s or 5500s--- hummmm I wonder who that would be..... .... and suppose they used a non Meridian DVD player, could they upsample DD/DTS because of the extra processing power in the speakers?

Jerry, any 44.1 or 48 kHz signal sent to an 8k or 7k gets upsampled. So yes, DD and DTS will be upsampled before you hear it.

I would really like to see the #s on the 7k sales. What I am looking for are how many 7ks sales are going to be used as surrounds in an 8k system.

Did I mention the silver 800 and 861 on display at Cedia? I have them on video, I just need to grab the stills from the video stream.

One other thing -- does the v3 upgrade of the 800 improve its reliability? Just now, I tried to play a DVD and it said "no disc", put in a CD and it worked fine. Tried various other DVD's and "no disc." Power cycled the machine -- everything's working fine. %-|

Anyone had incidents like this get cleared up by going to V3?

Thanks.

-Rick

oooh- Silver Meridian stuff [begin Homer Simpson drool mode]

oh wow- I didnt realize this is one of the benefits of the 800 I wouldnt be getting by using digital speakers. I really think I might skip the 800 now and just get either that panny rp whatever it is with SDI out or have my panny H1000 modded (the player has such good image quality still, even if the deinterlacer is an older chip- wont matter with sdi anyhow)

speakng for my setup, we are building a home theater (still as the house has been slow to go up) and in that time I have decided to go all out with Meridian stuff and do a digital theater, but because I want such a large screen (10' wide 16:9), it means we need to put the center behind the screen so that meant no 8000 behind the screen with its side firing woofers. we are about 3 months away from putting in an order. thought was to do 8000s in corners, 5500 center and sides. now with the 7000s maybe we will use those instead. maybe do 1 7000 for the center and keep the 5500s for the sides as they are such a good "value". btw- right now no subs are planned as I think the 8000s will provide enough bass, but I have wired the room for subs in each corner should I want it as well as height channels should Meridian do it. my equipment will be in another room so I wouldnt really benefit from the silver face plate.

mummmmm silver Meridian gear..... mummmmm