Some of you might remember that about a year ago I bought a Thule AV processor to replace my aging Yam E800. It was a bit of an impulse purchase, but has proven to be a brilliant piece of kit as it's a great pre-amp, has the capability to act as a high quality stereo DAC and then throws in 5.1 compatibility with DPL, DD and DTS. Here's a quick pic:
Of course with time comes itchy feet, so I've spent a little while researching potential options that would also allow compatibility with HD audio from my PS3. The most obvious solution is the Audiolab 8000AP, which is well regarded by many on AVForums. Unfortunately I've also read of some potential issues with phantom centre channels on some audio formats, and still had a niggling doubt about the fact that it is still after all a "mid range" piece of kit from a manufacturer who's gear has always left me underwhelmed in other dem's I've had over the years.
Excluding the Audiolab and some other Japanese yawny gear, there's not many other high end processors capable of dealing with HD audio from HDMI. Lexicon make the MC12, but it's bonkers money, and has it's own war stories. Classe have something, but that's also as expensive as our car.
Then I looked at a legacy processor with 5.1 analogue in. It's an interesting idea and if the seller had been more negotiable, I would have bought a Bryston SP1.7. Unfortunately there's a serious issue with using analogue in, i.e. (a) I'd need a new BD player (additional cost) and (b) you'd be relying on the analogue output stages of the BD player. Most analogue stages are really not a high priority item from a sound quality perspective, and the impression I was getting from reading around was that some older/high quality legacy processors running standard DD/DTS were able to get very close to HD audio from a cheapy BD player.
So in the end I took the easy route and added a Meridian 568.2 to my system. If you read around, Meridian are rated as making about the best kit available in it's area of expertise and whilst the 568 is getting on a bit, I'm told that the newer kit really hasn't moved the game on very much in sound quality terms. It's a legacy bit of kit with some definite pros and cons, i.e.
- Being a legacy unit, it doesn't support HDMI inputs. Making up for that, does have the usual DPL, DPL2, DD and DTS, then adds on better versions of each of those, including THX versions.
- It's designed as a digital piece of kit, to the point that it digitises all the analogue inputs before doing whatever it does with it's multiple processors. So personally, I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole if I intended to use it with a vinyl source. As it is, that's fine by me, as I only have digital sources.
- No 5.1 analogue inputs. See my thoughts about on options like using an Oppo BD83 to put analogue HD audio in. At the moment, I'm not really convinced that this is a big deal. 90% of my use is with music, TV or SD-DVD, and I can live with coreDTS/DD for the 10% of BD's that I watch.
- It does now have the option to add HDMI inputs, but it's LOT of dosh. Meridian now offer something called a HD621, which sits between a BD player and any of their processors from 568.2mm upwards. My processor would need an MHR card (about £440) plus the HD621 (£1500). So in short, it's a lot of wonga, but apparently is the absolute dogs danglies and if I ever have any money ever again (don't ask), might be an interesting present to myself.
- No room correction. This was added in the G series versions (eg. G68). Can't say I really miss this. I've used room correction before, it IMO it was never without some type of audio compromise, so I'd rather not use it if possible.
- Very cool setup option. If you find setting it up a bit fiddly by the front panel, it can be connected to a laptop using an RS232 to USB cable and a free Meridian setup application. This allows very easy naming of inputs, choice of input source (e.g. digital coax 2), choice of presets, defining of frequency cut off points etc. If only all processors were so easy to deal with.
- Some interesting connection options including the usual 7.1 RCA/phono analogue outputs, balanced outputs for the front 3 channels (something I now love using), digital speaker outputs for if you have active digital speakers with their own dedicated DACs. There's not many of those around, but clearly Meridian make them and I believe AVI have some too that might be compatible.
Here's a standard pic that I found on the net of a 568. Haven't taken any shots yet and mine is also mostly hidden in the Quadraspire rack that it's sat on:
So, what's it sound like?
Out of the bag, on music pretty much indistinguishable to my SB+ (Squeezebox+) feeding the Thule processor. Hmmm, I was hoping for bigger things on that. Guess it shows just how good the Thule was. The good news is that on movies there's a definite improvement, and it does offer new surround options like DPL2 THX, which certainly improves TV. A lot of Meridian users rave about "Trifield", which adds a small measure of surround "ambience" to music. Tried it, went straight back to "direct" mode.
I'd also read that the Meridian really didn't care how good the digital source was. That's a new one on me, as every DAC I've played with previously usually sounded better with an improved digital transport, and was the reason I'd ended up with the SB+ (SB3 on steroids). So I bought a s/h SB3 to give it a try, and sure enough, the people in question weren't giving me BS. Really did sound just as good.
That allowed two key things, firstly the sale of the SB+, meaning that the 568.2 was going to cost me nothing (a good thing at the moment), secondly it freed up both a rather good aftermarket power cable and set of stillpoints. I know some people are happy to make blanket statments that this kind of voodoo doesn't work, and with some kit I'd agree. For whatever reason, every previous bit of Meridian kit I've owned (a couple of DACs and a transport) always sounded better with the right ancillaries, and sure enough so did the 568.2.
Apologies for the waffle, but thought some might be interested in a few bits of the detail.
So in short, the Thule is up for sale, the SB+ has already left the building, and they've been replaced by a bog standard SB3 and the 568.2. With the freeing up of ancillaries the result is something that's better on music and lots better on movies. Longer term with 568.2 also has some interesting upgrade options (although they are bonkersly expensive). Big thumbs up from me.
Of course with time comes itchy feet, so I've spent a little while researching potential options that would also allow compatibility with HD audio from my PS3. The most obvious solution is the Audiolab 8000AP, which is well regarded by many on AVForums. Unfortunately I've also read of some potential issues with phantom centre channels on some audio formats, and still had a niggling doubt about the fact that it is still after all a "mid range" piece of kit from a manufacturer who's gear has always left me underwhelmed in other dem's I've had over the years.
Excluding the Audiolab and some other Japanese yawny gear, there's not many other high end processors capable of dealing with HD audio from HDMI. Lexicon make the MC12, but it's bonkers money, and has it's own war stories. Classe have something, but that's also as expensive as our car.
Then I looked at a legacy processor with 5.1 analogue in. It's an interesting idea and if the seller had been more negotiable, I would have bought a Bryston SP1.7. Unfortunately there's a serious issue with using analogue in, i.e. (a) I'd need a new BD player (additional cost) and (b) you'd be relying on the analogue output stages of the BD player. Most analogue stages are really not a high priority item from a sound quality perspective, and the impression I was getting from reading around was that some older/high quality legacy processors running standard DD/DTS were able to get very close to HD audio from a cheapy BD player.
So in the end I took the easy route and added a Meridian 568.2 to my system. If you read around, Meridian are rated as making about the best kit available in it's area of expertise and whilst the 568 is getting on a bit, I'm told that the newer kit really hasn't moved the game on very much in sound quality terms. It's a legacy bit of kit with some definite pros and cons, i.e.
- Being a legacy unit, it doesn't support HDMI inputs. Making up for that, does have the usual DPL, DPL2, DD and DTS, then adds on better versions of each of those, including THX versions.
- It's designed as a digital piece of kit, to the point that it digitises all the analogue inputs before doing whatever it does with it's multiple processors. So personally, I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole if I intended to use it with a vinyl source. As it is, that's fine by me, as I only have digital sources.
- No 5.1 analogue inputs. See my thoughts about on options like using an Oppo BD83 to put analogue HD audio in. At the moment, I'm not really convinced that this is a big deal. 90% of my use is with music, TV or SD-DVD, and I can live with coreDTS/DD for the 10% of BD's that I watch.
- It does now have the option to add HDMI inputs, but it's LOT of dosh. Meridian now offer something called a HD621, which sits between a BD player and any of their processors from 568.2mm upwards. My processor would need an MHR card (about £440) plus the HD621 (£1500). So in short, it's a lot of wonga, but apparently is the absolute dogs danglies and if I ever have any money ever again (don't ask), might be an interesting present to myself.
- No room correction. This was added in the G series versions (eg. G68). Can't say I really miss this. I've used room correction before, it IMO it was never without some type of audio compromise, so I'd rather not use it if possible.
- Very cool setup option. If you find setting it up a bit fiddly by the front panel, it can be connected to a laptop using an RS232 to USB cable and a free Meridian setup application. This allows very easy naming of inputs, choice of input source (e.g. digital coax 2), choice of presets, defining of frequency cut off points etc. If only all processors were so easy to deal with.
- Some interesting connection options including the usual 7.1 RCA/phono analogue outputs, balanced outputs for the front 3 channels (something I now love using), digital speaker outputs for if you have active digital speakers with their own dedicated DACs. There's not many of those around, but clearly Meridian make them and I believe AVI have some too that might be compatible.
Here's a standard pic that I found on the net of a 568. Haven't taken any shots yet and mine is also mostly hidden in the Quadraspire rack that it's sat on:
So, what's it sound like?
Out of the bag, on music pretty much indistinguishable to my SB+ (Squeezebox+) feeding the Thule processor. Hmmm, I was hoping for bigger things on that. Guess it shows just how good the Thule was. The good news is that on movies there's a definite improvement, and it does offer new surround options like DPL2 THX, which certainly improves TV. A lot of Meridian users rave about "Trifield", which adds a small measure of surround "ambience" to music. Tried it, went straight back to "direct" mode.
I'd also read that the Meridian really didn't care how good the digital source was. That's a new one on me, as every DAC I've played with previously usually sounded better with an improved digital transport, and was the reason I'd ended up with the SB+ (SB3 on steroids). So I bought a s/h SB3 to give it a try, and sure enough, the people in question weren't giving me BS. Really did sound just as good.
That allowed two key things, firstly the sale of the SB+, meaning that the 568.2 was going to cost me nothing (a good thing at the moment), secondly it freed up both a rather good aftermarket power cable and set of stillpoints. I know some people are happy to make blanket statments that this kind of voodoo doesn't work, and with some kit I'd agree. For whatever reason, every previous bit of Meridian kit I've owned (a couple of DACs and a transport) always sounded better with the right ancillaries, and sure enough so did the 568.2.
Apologies for the waffle, but thought some might be interested in a few bits of the detail.
So in short, the Thule is up for sale, the SB+ has already left the building, and they've been replaced by a bog standard SB3 and the 568.2. With the freeing up of ancillaries the result is something that's better on music and lots better on movies. Longer term with 568.2 also has some interesting upgrade options (although they are bonkersly expensive). Big thumbs up from me.
..... Anyway chance to enjoy the summer !!!!
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