Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 8Ks vs Magico Minis (Split From Do you use CD Poll thread)

"I had a G08 feeding DSP 7200s but realised I got nowhere near the sound quality I had heard at Bristol. Now with an 808i.2 the sound has been transformed, as you would hope given the investment! But the 8081.2 has added better upsampling and resolution enhancement, apodizing, better FIFOs, better power supplies, balanced digital output via SpeakerLink and also MHR (and probably some other things I have forgotten to mention or am ignorant of). At present, I don't think servers can do this."

I think your experience says more about the difference between the 808.2 and the G08. As was pointed out, you are changing a lot more than simply source functionality.

My experience has definitely been that there is a very significant difference between disc transports. But the best I've heard through my system is definitely in using newer technologies. I've never heard an 808 in my system, but I have no reason to believe that it or any other transport would provide more accurate sound. I say this based on hearing a multitude of high end systems with high end spinners.

I also have concerns that while Meridian can make music sound more pleasurable, it isn't necessarily purist. Often I go back to settings where my processor is doing nothing more than providing D/A and pre-amplification. No upsampling or room correction. On the very best CDs this sounds significantly better in my opinion.

Is it possible to feed a server directly into your 7200s? If so, you should try it out and compare it. Make sure that someone else is switching sources for you though. If you have even an inkling of which source you are playing, your mind could bias your opinion.

Fanz, you should talk to Bob, everything he does is to help provide a more acurate sound, and not all discs are perfect.
So there is the crux of it. Please all the people all the time with all the discs in all the rooms. WOW
For me, I think Meridian do a great job.

You may want to watch this video of the man himself.

http://uk.cinenow.com/videos/318-meridian-bob-stuart-on-digital-dsp-loudspeakers

Enjoy, Chris

Hi Dolf,

My comment wasn't meant to apply to all Sooloos purchasers without exception. Sorry.

I agree when it comes to setting up a system, especially one as complex as a Meridian system. But I don't think that setting up a SB is as difficult as setting up a surround processor. I think that if you can run three laptops, and share files across them, then you should have no problem setting up something like a Squeezebox, Sonos or AppleTV. They are plug and play for the most part - especially the Apple options!

But even if you didn't want or couldn't to set it up then you have a choice of paying Sooloos $7,000+ or paying your local computer guy about a buck fifty to set up iTunes, Sonos, SB, etc. Actually does Sonos do in home set-up? My question really comes down to why pay a dealer/Sooloos thousands to set up a system when you could pay a computer geek a fraction to pretty much do the same thing?

"Fanz, you should talk to Bob, everything he does is to help provide a more acurate sound, and not all discs are perfect. "

I strongly disagree. Music, Trifield and others, can be extremely pleasurable, but they are not more accurate than listening to the CD as recorded. It's not a purist application, and I'm wary about what else Meridian does after the signal is read. Are upsampling, filtering and resolution enhancement revealing more of the recording, or are they making the sound more pleasurable? Is there anything at all being added when Meridian applies its "special sauce"?

I get more joy from stereo than surround sound these days. It's just more 3 dimensional and real compared to the source. The music sounds clearer though not as smooth when upsampling is turned off in my opinion.

What components do you have in your system?

Wow. I have diametrically opposite feelings. The 3-dimensionality of the best stereo is warped and false compared to equivalent discrete multichannel. There are theoretical and acoustical reasons but, subjectively, the advantages of MCH are clear to me. (I prefer not to use the term surround because it encompasses all sorts of post-processing in addition to discrete multichannel.)

Kal

G68, Onkyo amp and Jamo speakers.

Seriously though, soon after I moved from a CD drive to SB I realized just how 3 dimensional and more "pure" two channel is over Meridian's modes. It's almost as if the DSP was making up for the lack of real soundstaging that my previous front end was compressing. I then turned off HS and the image sharpened up even more. I now have a more neutral instead of warm sounding system. It's just rock solid with subtle sounds everywhere. With some music you swear you are using DSP surround, but it's only two channels! Trifield and Music are still fun to play with, but on the better recordings you just get a feeling that it's trickery instead of a real stereo image.

To be clear, I wasn't referring to discrete MC. I was referring to Meridian's DSP modes on two channel recordings (eg. Trifield). Very different things. I haven't used discrete on my Meridian for years due to the limited library, but mostly because of the poor DVDA/SACD - MC A/Dconversion :-(

I didn't know Onkyo made a multi-channel amplifier. Is it an older model?

Agreed. We are in sync.

Much better these days, though.

Kal

"I didn't know Onkyo made a multi-channel amplifier. Is it an older model?"

I was joking about my equipment! I think that segues about the other gear distracts from the point being made. I believe that Meridian is a "purist" company, and that some of the things they do to make the music sound more pleasurable are questionable. Turn off your surround sound modes, upsampling and other DSP processes using a good recording and compare for yourself.

Fanz, I hope you watched all that Bob stuart Video link as he explains why Proper Active speakers are Necessary to create acuracy that you appear want.
Meridian also build systems as a whole.

You have a "Mix Match" system (Nothing wrong with that), but you cant reliably critic what Meridian are about without a complete system to listen to, from Processor to Speakers.
If your comments are about Meridian components in a Mix Match system, then all are valid in that context.
You have to match Eggs with Eggs.

http://Meridian.connectdigitalllp.co.uk/systems.aspx Systems here.
It seems DSP 8000's are Movie system speakers and 7200's are music system speakers by the way they are catagorised here.

As I see things, Cheers Chris