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Meridian 861 or what? I cannot decide - help please

203.39.146.128
Posted on March 27, 2000 at 15:25:41
John C.-Aussie


 
Hi inmates

I've posted on this before but please bear with me as the decision is difficult.

After a lot of soul searching and some research, I'm still looking at replacing our messy setup of 3 processors (Theta DSPIIIa, Lexicon COP3+ and Technics 500) with a single processor. With SACD, DVD-A & goodness knows what else on the horizon, the upgradable Meridian 861 looks appealing, but its price is truly obscene and I'm a bit embarrassed about admitting to even considering one. Believe me it took a long while to come to this stage of thinking.

The positives for the 861 are -

· upgradability

· superb jitter suppression

· better PCM interface

· processing of ALL known formats (DD, DTS, etc)

These are reported as combining to give excellent digital replay, something of lesser importance for us re CDs but of more importance to us with operatic and other music laserdiscs. Also it could be important in the future with Australia agreeing to DD as the standard processing vehicle for broadcasting.

However I'm getting some negatives about the 861 -

· its reliability is in question

· it is a real pain in the butt to set up and reconfigure

· the remote control is a monstrous abomination

· ALL signals it handles are changed to the digital domain

I can get around the last point with a separate bypass circuit and have been assured the ghastly remote can be replaced with our PRONTO but the first two are of major concern.

So, can anyone report on the reliability of Meridian gear and/or can anyone put me in touch with any more 861 owners (I've already made contact with one - reports superb sound but problems as outlined above)?

With all the hard earned bikkies at stake your further input would be appreciated, particularly regarding high end alternatives. It might be cheaper & better in the long run to use a Theta or Proceed unit (anyone experience with these?) now & change it all later if & when SACD, DVD-A or whatever take off.

Peace at AA

John


 

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Re: Meridian 861 or what? I cannot decide - help please, posted on March 27, 2000 at 16:32:21
DK


 
John,

I'm familiar with all this stuff, and I agree with your pro/con list for the 861. I would add that another pro for any of the Meridian processors is that they SOUND very nice! Not all do of course....

Having said that, I wouldn't jump in to a 861. Too much is yet to come. Get something that will decode current formats and wait out for DVD-A etc.. to become a reality. I went with a used Lexicon DC-1, not because I couldn't afford better, but because of the future changes coming and the fact that while the Lex sounds markedly inferior in terms of sonic purity compared to its competition, its surround sound processing is the best (IMO). Logic7 is superb. The remote is excellent, configuration is a piece of cake (no computer setup here!), and they're cheap. I got mine with current software v4.0 for $1500.

Other processors I've had in-house for extended auditions or owned: Proceed AVP, Theta CasaNova, Meridian 565, Meridian 561, Lexicon DC-1, EAD Encore, Yamaha DSP-A1, B&K Reference 20. IMO, a DC-1 would be a big improvement on what you currently have for surround sound, with a trivial investment waiting for everything to shake out. If you must get something better to tide you over, the Meridian 561 would be my choice, but keep in mind it is not upgradeable to the coming standards and prices on the used market haven't dropped much yet like they have for the DC-1.

Just my 2 cents.....

 

Re: Meridian 861 or what? I cannot decide - help please, posted on March 27, 2000 at 20:26:52
Rodney Gold


 
Personally , I would get a 861/800 (I think you can also configure the 800 cd/dvd player with the same cards as the 861 or pretty damn near) if I were running a full Meridian system (IE DSP speakers etc)
The Setup is complex , however Meridians attitude is that the dealer should do it and tends to isolate the consumer.The 800/861/etc can be interfaced to a computer as well , one can do config etc via a laptop (which might just be a lot easier than going thru menu's , however one would have to program it oneself)
The remote isnt that bad , however my learning remote (Sony) handles all the MSR's functions.
I tend to agree with DK in respect of the processor alone , however using an 800 might just be the ticket - if you consider its a multi player source , pre , processor, room correction , Ad etc.
IMHO , if you are spending those big bucks , I would make VERY sure that the processor WILL handle any future formats (I know a 800/861 can easily handle SACD , however the Q is , will Meridian provide that option?)
I think the best option is to try to find out if an 800 will allow you the setup you require and if it still has expension slots for add ons , at worst one can get an 800 + 861 for a system that has it all , but geez , we talking major bucks here

 

Well, if anyone's opinion holds weight, yours does...., posted on March 27, 2000 at 20:35:33
Chris Garrett


 
Isn't the GOOD life GRAND? Sure beats the soup kitchens!!!

Chris

 

Re: Well, if anyone's opinion holds weight, yours does...., posted on March 28, 2000 at 00:14:46
DK


 
Hey, I didn't say I've OWNED all of those! And no way could I afford an 861 even if I wanted to. The pre/pros I've owned, in order, are the Yamaha, B&K, Meridian 565, and now Lex DC-1. The others were all in-home auditions. And of course, this is nowhere near a comprehensive list, there are yet others I've only heard in audio shops or not at all that the original poster might want to consider too. Classe, Linn, Krell come to mind, and other new pre/pros were announced at CES.

What concerns me with most of these pre/pros is that I am not seeing the upgrade path to new technologies be as simple and low-cost as many of them are implying. The Meridian 561 is a perfect example. As recently as 6 months ago, Meridian was claiming the 561 would be upgradeable to new technologies as they come on line. Now, they've changed their tune, saying the cost will be too great--so they introduced the 568 and are leaving 561 owners holding the bag. If this happens from Meridian, which has a well-deserved reputation for supporting old products with upgrades, what are we to expect from some of the others?



 

Agreed, posted on March 28, 2000 at 00:20:06
DK


 
To be honest Rodney, of the two, the 800 is more appealing to me than the 861, since you could use it as a single source system driving traditional power amps directly. I like the plug and play system for TWO transport drives too!

But you're correct, this stuff is SOOOO expensive. IIRC, the total cost of the new 800/861 system with all the new 24/96 speakers and subs is on the order of, what, $150K?? Are there actually people that can, not to mention are willing, to spend that kind of money? I guess it's all relative, we look like whackos to the guy that is happy at Best Buy, but still.....

 

how dos the B+K compare with the others?, posted on March 28, 2000 at 06:36:34
late


 
hi,
it would be cheaper to stay in the B+K family, but i wonder sometimes if a different brand ( esp. the Parasound ) might not be a better choice.
Thanks

 

Loser!!!, posted on March 28, 2000 at 18:38:32
Chris Garrett


 
Just kidding of course. Well, I'll stick with my handy dandy, no real
frills, Denon 3200.

My HT was the first system built over these past 14 months and I guess
I'm glad to say that I put most of the cash into the STEREO.

Hell, I run a 16 screen theatre here in Miami, so I have that to fall
back on. All my screens were recently EQed, so they're 'cooking with
gas' right now!

Nice to see someone with real taste, however.

Chris

 

Here you go and can I borrow a dollar?, posted on March 29, 2000 at 19:12:59
Chris Garrett


 
Found this for your info. I wish it were me selling it!!!

Chris

 

Thank you but I do not need the video switching options ..., posted on March 29, 2000 at 19:39:31
John C.-Aussie


 
... and I guess they add heaps to the price if the guy paid $16,000!!! Gulp, who in their right mind would pay that & be prepared to sell in 3 weeks. Guess I am (relatively) sane after all.

Thanks just the same Chris, your interest in helping this poor deranged audiophilic idiot is appreciated.

Peace at AA

John

 

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