tk_suki
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2003
- Posts
- 331
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This will be lame but something.
Rec`d Meridian G08 12hrs ago. Listened maybe 3hrs. Playing 12hrs+.
Setup:
1)G08 - of course
2)Cardas NR RCA -> Pre
3) Stealth - pre->:
4.a)CD3000s
4.b)HD650
4.c)AudioTech high-end cheapies RCA cables $10 ->
5) Yamaha Yamaha-DSP-AX1300 - HT amp ->
6) B&W 603S3
B4 I proceed I recommend reading:
http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=70277
+ Steve Pinker "How the Mind Works" pages 528-538 and if you have time the whole book.
Absolutley Amazing!
In the voice of Howard Cossell, vinyl looks like you got some competition.
Seriously. I am no audiophile, yet. But today was a nice day temp in low 70s F so resisted playing with my new toy and went to play some other disc. On the way home stopped by audio stores picked up a new CD, I lost my prime stash accidentally checking out CDPs a few weeks ago. Anyway, for the 1st time saw Meridians on the shelves in Japan! Just the G07 but same price as US list. G07 was on a nice Zoethecus stand with other Meridian components, but not playing at the time. So I listened to the other setups, pretty expensive stuff, Krell, Esoteric, Luxman, etc... Nice extension and detail but still digital sounding, lacking smoothness.
Well the Meridian on my modest setup sounds much nicer to me. Excellent detail, but very smooth, almost(not quite but darn close) to analog, in some ways better, so far all of my CDs sound great with Vinyl a crap shoot, but for those quality records well games afoot, vinly still has that Je ne sais quoi. Now I do recall the Wadia 861 version up(SE) perhaps slightly more detailed, but again smoothness, hmm. The Esoteric P70vu + D70VU + G0s was as good, detailed, smooth, perhaps better but dang 4X cost and doubt in a double blind I would care after a beer or two/three.
I want to listen to a record but can not! Well a new toy so of course getting most attention.
I agree with Edwood, Meridian needs to take it the next step and get into audio server. By the by, fortunately, I backed up half my reference/prime stash lost using EAC, for the iHP, so need to burn some CDs to recover those. But having to much fun with the music now.
I went for the G08 blind, ok a number of positive reviews and legendary name of Meridian made it easier. I did eval a number of players, except for the Wadia and high-end Esoterics, differences in others were subtle, and hard to recall, causing considerable frustration. I want cheapest if I can not tell the dif. The tube CDPs had the nicest sound e.g. stock Shanling, Cayin and Cary but overall detail did seem to be slightly below the solid states, but the solid states were fatiguing, as I recall.
I spent over 3 months in my quest and could spend the rest of my life, but not going to I am happy with the G08 so far, as well I better for what I paid for it, but it could go back for a mere $100.
I chose the G08 for the following reasons:
#1 - 30 day trial period from TTVJ. Still have time to change my mind. No other vendor in Japan was willing to provide such terms, which in my opinion is a must. It takes time to evaluate gear 30 days is about right maybe 2wks which is all I have left thanks to customs. While I am impressed after initial listening, not all new toy syndrom, not going to conclude greatness yet, but optimism does exist!
#2 - No other CDP I had a chance to listen to except those in the $10K range stood out. I have had good success with Head-fi , Audiogon and Asylum user remarks so with the overwheliming POSITIVE feedback on Meridians compared to any other brand, figured a calculated risk. They have good resale value too.
#3 - Engineering. A dedicated redbook CDP. Nearly all the circuitry is for redbook. No SACD, DVD-A to complicate and dilute redbook performance. Costs xtra to add the Uni features. The rest of the Eng, DVD-ROM drive, buffers, etc... I now own only 1 SACD. Most of my music is in redbook and most music avail is in redbook. While SACD&DVD-A titles are increasing rapidly still not as pervasive. I will buy a separate SACD and/or DVD-A l8r as music selection increase and as prices come down on HW.
#4 - Semi-Universal PSU. Works in all of Japan(Tokyo and Osaka are dif) or US, no transformer required. Believe my Roksan TT is same, darn Brits think about these things.
#5 - Size, space is an issue for me. I do live in Tokyo, tight. My audio equip collection is growing and need to accomodate.
That`s it for now.
Rec`d Meridian G08 12hrs ago. Listened maybe 3hrs. Playing 12hrs+.
Setup:
1)G08 - of course
2)Cardas NR RCA -> Pre
3) Stealth - pre->:
4.a)CD3000s
4.b)HD650
4.c)AudioTech high-end cheapies RCA cables $10 ->
5) Yamaha Yamaha-DSP-AX1300 - HT amp ->
6) B&W 603S3
B4 I proceed I recommend reading:
http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=70277
+ Steve Pinker "How the Mind Works" pages 528-538 and if you have time the whole book.
Absolutley Amazing!
In the voice of Howard Cossell, vinyl looks like you got some competition.
Seriously. I am no audiophile, yet. But today was a nice day temp in low 70s F so resisted playing with my new toy and went to play some other disc. On the way home stopped by audio stores picked up a new CD, I lost my prime stash accidentally checking out CDPs a few weeks ago. Anyway, for the 1st time saw Meridians on the shelves in Japan! Just the G07 but same price as US list. G07 was on a nice Zoethecus stand with other Meridian components, but not playing at the time. So I listened to the other setups, pretty expensive stuff, Krell, Esoteric, Luxman, etc... Nice extension and detail but still digital sounding, lacking smoothness.
Well the Meridian on my modest setup sounds much nicer to me. Excellent detail, but very smooth, almost(not quite but darn close) to analog, in some ways better, so far all of my CDs sound great with Vinyl a crap shoot, but for those quality records well games afoot, vinly still has that Je ne sais quoi. Now I do recall the Wadia 861 version up(SE) perhaps slightly more detailed, but again smoothness, hmm. The Esoteric P70vu + D70VU + G0s was as good, detailed, smooth, perhaps better but dang 4X cost and doubt in a double blind I would care after a beer or two/three.
I want to listen to a record but can not! Well a new toy so of course getting most attention.
I agree with Edwood, Meridian needs to take it the next step and get into audio server. By the by, fortunately, I backed up half my reference/prime stash lost using EAC, for the iHP, so need to burn some CDs to recover those. But having to much fun with the music now.
I went for the G08 blind, ok a number of positive reviews and legendary name of Meridian made it easier. I did eval a number of players, except for the Wadia and high-end Esoterics, differences in others were subtle, and hard to recall, causing considerable frustration. I want cheapest if I can not tell the dif. The tube CDPs had the nicest sound e.g. stock Shanling, Cayin and Cary but overall detail did seem to be slightly below the solid states, but the solid states were fatiguing, as I recall.
I spent over 3 months in my quest and could spend the rest of my life, but not going to I am happy with the G08 so far, as well I better for what I paid for it, but it could go back for a mere $100.
I chose the G08 for the following reasons:
#1 - 30 day trial period from TTVJ. Still have time to change my mind. No other vendor in Japan was willing to provide such terms, which in my opinion is a must. It takes time to evaluate gear 30 days is about right maybe 2wks which is all I have left thanks to customs. While I am impressed after initial listening, not all new toy syndrom, not going to conclude greatness yet, but optimism does exist!
#2 - No other CDP I had a chance to listen to except those in the $10K range stood out. I have had good success with Head-fi , Audiogon and Asylum user remarks so with the overwheliming POSITIVE feedback on Meridians compared to any other brand, figured a calculated risk. They have good resale value too.
#3 - Engineering. A dedicated redbook CDP. Nearly all the circuitry is for redbook. No SACD, DVD-A to complicate and dilute redbook performance. Costs xtra to add the Uni features. The rest of the Eng, DVD-ROM drive, buffers, etc... I now own only 1 SACD. Most of my music is in redbook and most music avail is in redbook. While SACD&DVD-A titles are increasing rapidly still not as pervasive. I will buy a separate SACD and/or DVD-A l8r as music selection increase and as prices come down on HW.
#4 - Semi-Universal PSU. Works in all of Japan(Tokyo and Osaka are dif) or US, no transformer required. Believe my Roksan TT is same, darn Brits think about these things.
#5 - Size, space is an issue for me. I do live in Tokyo, tight. My audio equip collection is growing and need to accomodate.
That`s it for now.
