Time to move on from HC?
Discussion
I've had a reasonable HC set-up for 10 years or so , upgraded every couple of years. Currently I run Denon 4310, NAIM 150X/175 power amps, Denon Blueray Transport, B&W XT4/2/C 5.1 speakers/Sub. I also have a lower/mid-range Naim 2ch (282/250/hi-cap/Roksan Candy) for the bedroom + lots of SONOS all over the house.
However, i'm getting a bit tired of compromise 7.1/5.1 brings relative to a better 2 ch set-up. I'm thinking of getting shot of the "Cinema" and replacing with the Meridian Sooloos/DSP 7200 in the lounge and down sizing the Naim bedroom to just a ZP120 and bookshelf speakers like my other Sonos rooms.
It seems to me some of the DSP modes are now doing a good job of Virtual surround and I quite like the idea of ditching a lot of boxes/cables in favour of better quality sound.
Am I going mad?
However, i'm getting a bit tired of compromise 7.1/5.1 brings relative to a better 2 ch set-up. I'm thinking of getting shot of the "Cinema" and replacing with the Meridian Sooloos/DSP 7200 in the lounge and down sizing the Naim bedroom to just a ZP120 and bookshelf speakers like my other Sonos rooms.
It seems to me some of the DSP modes are now doing a good job of Virtual surround and I quite like the idea of ditching a lot of boxes/cables in favour of better quality sound.
Am I going mad?
UV
Sooloos is very very cool, having played with a demo unit at Meridian, it is the nicest (and fastest) streaming interface I have used (by a country mile), but it is a serious investment. If you are a Sonus user already and like and are familiar with the interface I would suggest that Sonus + DSP8000's would be better sound quality wise than Sooloos than DSP7200's, the 8000's are just in a different leagure than the 7200's
But what are you going to do for DVD/Blue-Ray playback, although a video version of Sooloos would be welcomed by many Meridian fans worldwide, it is possibly very unlikely to happen, as Meridian are heavily involved in the MLP packet format used on all BlueRay discs and on many DVDs, and are unlikely to release a ripper as they are are also very strong on their own copyright protection
You can of course plug the digital output from a BluERay player or PS3 or DVD player into the second digital input on the DSP speakers.
You should be able to get a home demo on either DSP7200's or DSP8000's, I'd try these with your existing Sonus and see what you think. I'd be surprised is the digital output from the Sooloos is any better than the Sonus, so it will give you a good idea of the sound quality, just without the fancy Sooloos interface.
Hope that helps
davidy
Sooloos is very very cool, having played with a demo unit at Meridian, it is the nicest (and fastest) streaming interface I have used (by a country mile), but it is a serious investment. If you are a Sonus user already and like and are familiar with the interface I would suggest that Sonus + DSP8000's would be better sound quality wise than Sooloos than DSP7200's, the 8000's are just in a different leagure than the 7200's
But what are you going to do for DVD/Blue-Ray playback, although a video version of Sooloos would be welcomed by many Meridian fans worldwide, it is possibly very unlikely to happen, as Meridian are heavily involved in the MLP packet format used on all BlueRay discs and on many DVDs, and are unlikely to release a ripper as they are are also very strong on their own copyright protection
You can of course plug the digital output from a BluERay player or PS3 or DVD player into the second digital input on the DSP speakers.
You should be able to get a home demo on either DSP7200's or DSP8000's, I'd try these with your existing Sonus and see what you think. I'd be surprised is the digital output from the Sooloos is any better than the Sonus, so it will give you a good idea of the sound quality, just without the fancy Sooloos interface.
Hope that helps
davidy
Yeah, that bit i'm not sure about. I think they do a HDMI switcher/processor, but haven't looked at it yet. I'm going over to Grahams later in the week to have a chat about stuff.
The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of active 2CH, its just a question of how much I get embedded in the speakers.
My building has a dedicated Cinema so I can always go and watch stuff there, worst case.
The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of active 2CH, its just a question of how much I get embedded in the speakers.
My building has a dedicated Cinema so I can always go and watch stuff there, worst case.
UV
The Meridian HDMI switcher is the HD621, this strips off the LPCM audio and provides it effectively as 3xSPDIF (MHR) signals into a Meridian processor (not all their processors support MHR. I believe that it allows other types of audio streams to pass through. Not sure if this is what you will need in a two channel system, talk to Grahams, they are a long time dealer and have a good reputation.
davidy
The Meridian HDMI switcher is the HD621, this strips off the LPCM audio and provides it effectively as 3xSPDIF (MHR) signals into a Meridian processor (not all their processors support MHR. I believe that it allows other types of audio streams to pass through. Not sure if this is what you will need in a two channel system, talk to Grahams, they are a long time dealer and have a good reputation.
davidy
Why not add a high quality 2 channel setup as a slave amp to the front effects in your current home theatre?
That way you get the benefit of very high quality 2 channel reproduction and surround for the times you're watching film.
Something like Lyngdorf DP-1 Speakers, BW-1 Boundary Woofers and a TDAI2200 True Digital Amplifier powering the DP-1s and a SDA1275 powering the Boundary Woofers.
TDAI has the RoomPerfect module built into it, which is the best room correction software there is an as at the latest firmware has a dedicated Home Theatre Bypass mode (fixed gain) for just this situation.
We've implemented this setup on a number of midrange home theatre systems, latest being a Denon AVC1HD and and a Triad Gold array and it compliments them beautifully.
Just a thought.
That way you get the benefit of very high quality 2 channel reproduction and surround for the times you're watching film.
Something like Lyngdorf DP-1 Speakers, BW-1 Boundary Woofers and a TDAI2200 True Digital Amplifier powering the DP-1s and a SDA1275 powering the Boundary Woofers.
TDAI has the RoomPerfect module built into it, which is the best room correction software there is an as at the latest firmware has a dedicated Home Theatre Bypass mode (fixed gain) for just this situation.
We've implemented this setup on a number of midrange home theatre systems, latest being a Denon AVC1HD and and a Triad Gold array and it compliments them beautifully.
Just a thought.
Having heard both the Meridian kit (DSP7200s and DSP8000s) and the Lyngdorf kit, for sound quality and 'niceness' to listen to for extended listening periods, I'd go with the Meridian kit.
davidy
PS Plotloss the Lyngdorf kit fell apart when asked to drive my speakers! However, an all Lyngdorf system has it's merits.
davidy
PS Plotloss the Lyngdorf kit fell apart when asked to drive my speakers! However, an all Lyngdorf system has it's merits.
@PL
Interesting set-up, but one of the key ideas is to reduce boxes and have a simpler cleaner install.
@DY
How fussy are the Meridians in terms of space around the speaker? The room I intend to use them in is reasonable large ~1000sqft, but they need to be stuck in the corners, so probably 1 ft distance from back/side walls.
In an attempt to solve the Video distribution problem, is there a good scaler that would cover both scaling and HDMI distribution/switching?
Interesting set-up, but one of the key ideas is to reduce boxes and have a simpler cleaner install.
@DY
How fussy are the Meridians in terms of space around the speaker? The room I intend to use them in is reasonable large ~1000sqft, but they need to be stuck in the corners, so probably 1 ft distance from back/side walls.
In an attempt to solve the Video distribution problem, is there a good scaler that would cover both scaling and HDMI distribution/switching?
UV
Meridian DSP speakers have Boundary Settings, and so can be setup (at this price by your dealer) to compensate for closeness of walls. They will sound better set away from the corners and in 1000sqft (a very large area) you should have a bit of space that they can be given.
Interestingly I've had a demo at Meridian of DSP8000's in their reception area (probably about 1500sqft) with stone/marbel hard floor and glass walls, which is exactly what you don't want for good music sound quality, and they sounded superb (even to the surprise of Bob Stuart, Meridian founder) who thought that they might sruggle with the environment.
With that size area, I would definitely be going for the DSP8000's and staying with Sonus.
davidy
Meridian DSP speakers have Boundary Settings, and so can be setup (at this price by your dealer) to compensate for closeness of walls. They will sound better set away from the corners and in 1000sqft (a very large area) you should have a bit of space that they can be given.
Interestingly I've had a demo at Meridian of DSP8000's in their reception area (probably about 1500sqft) with stone/marbel hard floor and glass walls, which is exactly what you don't want for good music sound quality, and they sounded superb (even to the surprise of Bob Stuart, Meridian founder) who thought that they might sruggle with the environment.
With that size area, I would definitely be going for the DSP8000's and staying with Sonus.
davidy
Yeah, I know, i'm with you, but more so. Such that i'm thinking of binning the 3.1 for the good 2.
Any view on the Denon processor (the ~5k one) vrse the Denon integrated one (the ~5k one, too)?
I should add that the room is APITA sonically, like below, solid wood floors with 1/3 of the exterior 'walls' being glass. This was one of the reasons for the Naim system in the bedroom, music sounded very harsh in the lounge, the bedrooms are carpeted/much softer. I hadn't considered the post processing that might come with better equipment. It might make sense to go for 2 high end active fronts, good processor, and bin the rest. If I miss the multi-channel stuff I could always add more speakers at a later date.
Any view on the Denon processor (the ~5k one) vrse the Denon integrated one (the ~5k one, too)?
I should add that the room is APITA sonically, like below, solid wood floors with 1/3 of the exterior 'walls' being glass. This was one of the reasons for the Naim system in the bedroom, music sounded very harsh in the lounge, the bedrooms are carpeted/much softer. I hadn't considered the post processing that might come with better equipment. It might make sense to go for 2 high end active fronts, good processor, and bin the rest. If I miss the multi-channel stuff I could always add more speakers at a later date.
Plotloss said:
If it's a difficult room you'd be well worth looking at the Lyngdorf kit.
Even the RP-1 in isolation will help significantly.
+1 The lyngdorf kit is the best on the market at the moment and quite frankly pisses on Meridian, sorry but true. Everytime I've heard Lyngdorf it always sounds 'right'.Even the RP-1 in isolation will help significantly.
If you are anywhere near reading at 'any' point, I would highly suggest you pop in to see the main importer in the country for Lyngdorf called Gecko. His name is Robert and his site is here http://www.homecinema.uk.com/
He has the 2+2 setup and the SteinwayLyngdorf kit as well an amazing cinema room. He is a great guy, very enthusiastic and runs a very nice operation from his cottage there. Appointment only but seriously worth popping in as it's always setup. I did a few months ago and ended up staying for lunch!
DavidY said:
Having spent 1.5 days with Rob at Gecko and a day at Meridian in Huntingdon, I wouldn't say that the Lyngdorf kit 'pisses on' the Meridian, they are different sounds, but at this level it's subjective anyway, the OP must use his ears, which I'm sure he will do.
davidy
Yup, sorry, I was a little harsh there. Meridian kit has that desirable, built like that an outhouse quality that the Lyngdorf doesn't really have, but, I think very much makes up for the in true representation of the original musical material that the Meridian, no matter what piece of kit you pick from their range, can't quite do. davidy
To be fair the 2+2 system I heard had the bigger passive wall boundry woofers with two ports and two drivers I think, that aren't available anymore as they have been taken up by the Steinway range.
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