This is a bit like a teenage romance, veering from uncritical infatuation to feelings of rejection and despair.

In my experience Meridian are very bad at communicating. Their handbooks are full of errors and omissions. Their data sheets have many mistakes and do not give enough information. Some of their equipment has bugs and anomalies. Their website has only recently been brought up to date, and the news section failed to mention Bristol, the biggest UK hi-fi event (whatever we may think of it), until the thirteenth hour. This all smacks of hubris and arrogance, and is doubly dangerous in a world recession of dramatic proportions.

Yet, when you actually speak to Meridian, they are the nicest people in the world who are sincerely trying to do their best for their customers, and who seem to care deeply about customer satisfaction. Sometimes, the extra lengths they go to are not visible to the consumer.

I find reports of the Bristol dem very strange (I did not go) insofar as Meridian demonstrated their most expensive CD player and DSP speakers during a world slump; while a hi-fi mag, if reports are to be believed, used their latest innovation (the HD621) for a bizarre misuse of Meridian equipment, including rumoured damage to the speakers (What Hi-Fi Forum).

Nonetheless I am sure that Bob will do his best to answer our questions. And, as ever, supreme gratitude also to John for all his hard work.

Asa Post