Description

auditioned the speakers with the amplifier in dealer showroom and it sounded perfect to my liking. it sounded warm, transparent, lush midrange, very detailed bass. now build the same setup at home, with same interconnect and speaker cables. only difference is dealer uses Marantz cd player and i am using Meridian. set it up in bedroom and first impression is slightly bright than in dealer showroom. just move it to living room (open area, no sidewalls) and it sounds unbearable bright. no bass, lean midrange, bright although never sharp and harsh. my living room is almost identical to dealer's showroom (also very open and no sidewalls). still dont understand why there is such a big difference.
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Components Toggle details

    • Meridian 508.24
    Nearly perfect sounding CD player
    • Y B A Passion Integre 100
    50W@8ohms/70W@4ohms
    • JM Labs Micro Utopia Be
    on JM Labs SMU stands
    • Audio Note AN-VX
    Multi-stands silver
    • Audio Note Lexus LX
    Multi-stands copper
    • ESP Essence Reference
    Power Cable for CD Player
    • Virtual Dynamics Nite II
    Power Cable for amplifier
    • Oyaide ULTIMO SWO-XXX Wall Receptacle
    Palladium over gold over deoxidized phosphor bronze
    • Ecophon Master Alpha Acoustic Panel
    Acoustic Panel on back wall. 40mm thickness fibre glass board wrapped by Gulford of Marine FR701 fabric.
    • DAAD Diffusor Absorber
    1 foot tall baby DAAD sound absorber for central image

Comments 20

Showing all comments by mjcmt.

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Your comments on the sub are interesting and my observations on bass response are similar when the listening area is up against a back wall. It seems to put a hump before the deep bass.

My new listening room is a large rectangular living/dining combo 16wx22lx9h. My seating is at the halfway point of the long dimension with the dining area behind me. The bass is remarkably even and smooth. At first I thought it wasn't punchy enough but after continual listening it seems to be more accurate as all the musical information is there. Its just not as punchy or should I say boomy.

I have since read in Hi-Fi+ magazine that this is the ideal listening environment.

mjcmt

I myself am impressed with the visual statement your room makes. With the exception of the sofas, very modern and inviting. Three modern Barcelona chairs would really compliment your decor.

Nice job on the sound panels on the back wall. It compliments your room very well. It inspires me that sound panels can look attractive, especially in a modern room.

A LCD flat panel would be a good choice for your video choice, particularly because it has a softer plastic screen instead of a hard glass screen like the plasma's have.

Now the big question for me:

Does the Meridian still hold up well against the new breed of cdp's?

I have a YBA Design integrated, and while not in the same league as the Passion, it should exhibit a similar sound-scape. You have enlightened us on your journey though integrated amps, so if you can now express your opinion on this older Meridian cdp. Especially, its synergy with YBA, in light of the fact that I have an entry YBA integrated.

mjcmt