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

DP1:

Going back to the office means I took a little longer than I had wanted with the formatting.

It's up on page 1, post #2 now.

Thanks to everyone for your patience.

Well it certainly wasn't an "anticlimax", some good info in there.

Now if we just knew where the "Wish List" was so we go put things on it

Thank you Bob and John for all the work.

Thanks JK, Bob and Richard. Lots of info there.

Personally, I am very disappointed that existing F80s almost certainly won't/can't get DAB+. I hope that this lack of upgradability doesn't end up biting M and its customers, particularly given that DAB+ was announced prior to the F80 release. I will not consider another F80 until the DAB+ dust settles or I judge that internet radio (via Squeezebox) has reached DAB+ equivalent quality levels, thus rendering the F80's radio functions irrelevant (an F80 is for life, not just for the Naughties).

A couple of questions were answered with respect to current products only, which was a little frustrating (such as the question which explicitly asked how many bits are fed to 18-bit loudspeakers).

It looks like the DSP33s don't upsample either (aren't their electronics the same as the "current" DSP420s?). This isn't a big deal for me though as my G68 takes care of upsampling duties. It might be more important in a standlone system (where DSP3100s would have an advantage).

However, looking at a half-full glass, we now know that:

- The F80 has a PLL on its optical input.

- Apodizing *is* coming to the 861 and G6x.

- The G61R is MIPS and software identical to the G68.

- "We have not enabled a second drive, but 800 has an HDMI output." Now that's an odd thing to say! So if M does a Blu-Ray player, look like it will be an upgrade to the 800...

- Finally:
Please get back to us on this!

VK,

where you have your info?
Do you have allready get some info John or Bob?
Ditz i missed something?

Robert

Seeing as the Sooloos can now IMPORT High Res material, does anyone know if the "Source" can OUTPUT / PLAY them back into e.g. an 861/G68???? Can't see any reason why not, but...........

My question applies to 2-channel High Res material only. Multi-channel would obviously require more SPDIF Outputs etc., etc.

High Res Play back combined with iTunes Import and Control via iPhone could push this into contention for some. Still not sure about the Cost / Benefit Ratio over Sonos / SB though

EDIT: Having looked at the Price List, the Sooloos System would cost between �7k (Ensemble + Control:10) and �9k (TwinStore+Source 1+Control:10). Not sure that High Res Playback capability is worth that. If the Ensemble / Source devices offered 808.2 Playback Performance, then maybe. But.......

I'm not sure if you need Control with Sooloos. There are other options, ie PC and iPhone for control. If you are looking for quality audio playback, then Ensemble plus a disc may meet this requirement alone - IIRC Ensemble about �3k which is M DVD player territory.

If a video playback/multi channel (although without Control:10/20, you would rely on third party devices to rip) option was added, that did not add hugely (under �1k) to the cost, then I see the potential killer app.

Ian
I thought that might be possible as well (Ensemble only) but from a quick trowl thru the Sooloos Literature, it seems like a Control:10 is required.

On Duncan's site as well as Meridian's it says that "Every Sooloos system comprises a Control:10 and........".

On the Meridian Media site there are a few Screenshots of the PC and iPhone Control Apps. They seem very much stripped down versions of Control:10 Interface, which for some or even many here, would be a large reason to buy

The Control:10 also has a Media Drive for Ripping New Material

HitchHikers Day will answer some of these questions, but without having seen the System in operation, most of the IP seems to be in the Control:10. Hence the �4k cost included above

Time will tell

Many thanks for a well structured and quite informative Q&A section.

Thanks to everyone involved on this.
Very interesting and will require a second read this evening!
Cheers,

Ed.

Obligatory thanks to John and Bob for the Q&A session.

Good to finally see that G61 MIPS answer sorted. If only it had the option of balanced output (at least on the front three channels like a 568) I might well have considered it in the trade-up offer this summer.


To address the arguments for and against 7.1 digital input I must say that I am a little confused. I`ve been harping on for a while that, on movies at least, the majority of these so called 7.1 tracks on Blu-ray do not stem from genuine 7.1 discrete mixes, so what Bob said on this matter came as no surprise. It`s a most salient point, though perhaps not one even I'd consider strong enough to account for lack of support in the processors - if only from the somewhat trivial perspective of marketing where people are admittedly drawn to the Nigel Tuffnell law of more of anything being better/louder. More importantly there is probably something to be said too about not knowing what the future might bring, and that at least knowing whether certain devices (I'm thinking G series more than I am the 861) could be retrofitted for MMHR one day would give existing owners, and those considering the summer's true-up offer, some comfort.

Regardless of all that, the Q&A actually appears to supply us with information that, in spite of the lack of true 7.1 titles, MMHR input is still worth having in the processor sooner rather than later, only they seem to suggest they are in no hurry to deliver...

We read that “With respect to Cat5 for the audio signal, both JRS and RH indicate that their listening tests are extensive and that Cat5 via MMHR/SpeakerLink does sound better than coax.” and then later see that, with regard to ways of getting 8-channel digital input into the 861/G series “it is not a high priority item” due to the lack of content. Well, never mind the fact it also ties to the 7.1 debate hindered by lack of content, surely RJ45/MMHR input in the processors is worth perusing on the grounds that they think such a connection delivers superior quality?

Just confirmed with some at Russ Andrews and Ensemble + disc + PC/iPhone is all that is required to get Sooloos up and running. But of course, he may be wrong, but he was very knowledgeable.