Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 2009 CES HH Q&A Thread

Fellow Hikers:

I appreciate the praise on my Q&A efforts -- but I will tell you the greater praise goes to M. If you've never attended a trade show like CES or CEDIA, I don't think you'll appreciate how insane they can be.

That M makes the effort to take a block a few hours long and lock it out of Bob's schedule is quite unusual.

The unsung hero here is probably Richard Hollingshead -- he invariably spends more time talking with me than Bob -- and that's saying something.

As for me, I learn a hell of a lot in the discussions which is its own reward.

John
As I've said several times before, I really do appreciate your comments and knowledgeable additions to this Forum. I also greatly appreciate your efforts in relation to the Q&A's over the past many years.

I think it is extremely fair to say that those Q&A's remain as a very frequent "Bible" for Meridian Technical issues (which I suppose is my main point: Why does it have to be that way??)


Don't wish to be pedantic as you I know you are very much tuned into the Industry as a whole, but from Jan 4th last year when the HD-DVD cancelled their Press Conference, EVERYBODY knew that was the Death Knell for HD-DVD. Everything else was just an Epitaph (for better or worse) and everyone knew that

John
You've made my point for me perfectly!!

Like many people here, You've had some concerns about your Meridian Investments and their Future Directions. These "Concerns" caused you to question whether you would keep your 861.

It's quite possible that your concerns weren't just about HD Lossless Audio, but just about Meridian's Plans for their Processor Range

Yet Seven weeks ago you learned enough about Meridian's plans to "get off the fence". I am only asking for that same information, which I really don't think is too much to ask (and in no way do I blame you)

My question is simply this: Why can't Meridian take a Proactive Approach to releasing this information to its existing users and the Public Domain. Why rely on a Q&A which only the people on this Forum will read anyway. Why not release this info to their Dealers?? Why not to the Press??

This is quite obviously in their Best Business Interests and I have no clue why they don't take this route

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.

+1

Or it is indicative of a small, and likely understaffed team, trying their best to cover all the bases and failing to adequately do so in the eyes of their most ardent supporters.

Dan

OK Dan.

Who, out of the small number of staff available, decided in a multichannel world at a mass market show, to only have the highest-of-high end 2-ch gear on demo and not their latest multichannel capable bit of kit (which has wide market potential)?

It just makes no sense.

You must remember the Meridian demo at Bristol only lasts about 30mins. They were showing Sooloos as well as the 808i.2 and, as that's just 2-channel at the moment, using it with speakerlink 8ks (with apodising filters but not yet available as firmware update) seemed very appropriate.

For many of the beard & sandal brigade I'm sure the lack of surround sound was a big plus!

For the 2nd year running I think What Hi-Fi demonstrated they don't know how to deal with Meridian equipment. Ignoring the use of DAC to provide analogue input to the G68 from the computer, which has already been commented upon, they were running at "90" into 5 DSP7.2ks and a SW1600 sub (I think, including the HC - which looked nice apart from the grille which doesn't look as well integrated as the 5.5kHC IMHO) and it didn't seem loud so I guess they didn't get the analogue input sensitivity right.

On the 'stand' they had the HD621 & F80, 5.2ks etc. and time to talk about them.

PS. A number of people from different companies were saying the show had been quite successful for them and interest in hi-fi and sales seemed to be holding up even in these trying times.

PPS. Naim had a very "interesting" demo in which their hard drive & a Mac laptop driving the same new DAC managed to sound quite different - so one or the other (or both) we not bit-perfect!

Given the current economic climate in many locations of the world, it is probably unusual not to be understaffed.

I have the same problem, so I have great sympathy for the lack of staffing issues.

Full blown, my staff is supposed to be 5. It's two with one more coming in soon.

But the problems to which I referred existed when Meridian were expanding!

Bristol is sounding more and more like a disaster thanks to poor decisions and lack of oversight. If someone thought it would be good PR to lend to What Hi-Fi then they should have managed the situation to ensure that it was. As things stand, all reports suggest a PR own goal.

Gee...I am only looking here since I got the new Pioneer 09 Bluray player...which is very nice...and having spent time wondering about Meridian's focus...and being told on this site that Meridian is working on things...and that last January's CES show will provide answers...now the economy continues to be difficult...Meridian has introduced a second "carriage trade" all in one box...and they have no firm solution in the marketplace for folks seeking a top performing answer to Bluray reproduction...which in theory is part of their core market....as a consumer who spends...and has spent alot of money on my system....I have had and continue to have significant concerns about what Meridian is thinking...not just for me...but as a business person what they are thinking.....Presently the resell value of their stuff is in the hopper and they appear to be lagging way behind the market...and all most folks are asking is a vision of the future...or a rough road map....and ideally with some firm dates....so I still wait

For any company customers are their most important asset.
Customers, particularly when the company promotes their upgradability paths, deserve to get some information about the future....
Competitors have delivered similar technology from two to one years...
They have had time and money to develop and ship several "carriage trade" sound centers...spending that money versus serving their long time core markets...
Since I just got from my dealer the new Pioneer 09 Bluray player....and getting True HD out of it through my 861...he is going to use my concerns as a hopeful method for him to learn what to sell me to let me get top performance...I would have thought Meridian would have proactively told their dealers what to do....
He use to sell about 35 861 units per year...plus other Meridian products....in the last 18 months he has sold only 2 units....recalls the comments of some of the British posters that there are few Meridian dealers left....
That is not a good way to manage a company
For me personally I am stuck with the 861...which within its specs is a very good performer....but sadly lacking in customer concern and support....and has made their $20K retail units close to worthless....sad to say