Reference Upgrades

[JSCC]

Was prompted by fellow AA member (Jim, thanks for informing and you may just be right about the changes being bringing the current gears up to the 40th Anniversary specification) about NEW 808.5, 861.8 and 818.2

Checked the website and found the following notes (for EXISTING owners) with regards to the above:

For Existing Owners

Existing owners of Meridian 808.3, 861v6, 818 and DSP7200 will be able to upgrade their products to the new specifications. To do this will require both hardware and software upgrades.

For more details and availability, and to arrange an upgrade, please contact your Meridian retailer.

800 Series Upgrades include:

Full hardware upgrade to new model specifications for 808.3, 818 and 861v6
New cards to match new version plus ID29 USB card for 808.3 and 861v6, including:
ID29 asynchronous precision USB and digital input card
ID41 Reference digital media system end-point card
OE38 two-channel SpeakerLink digital audio output card
OE34 multi-channel SpeakerLink digital audio output card

Full "core firmware" update to support new cards and introduce new SpeakerLink features such as EBC, height, and subwoofers

New linear PSU for 808.3 and 861v6 including full new product warranty
Available from December 2012 (provisional)

I will share more when my local dealer reply to me the cost of these changes (or if there's a need to buy a whole new unit) as I wonder would this also mean that Meridian is now able to play FULL 192/24 High Rez music instead of today limiting to only 96/24 (while able to store 192/24)? And of course, the $$$ involved in such a major upgrade. Seriously, Meridian recognise that the CD Player is still essential and thats why the 808 series is still being produced.

Cheers!

[tunes]

Just got this same info in an email from meridian today. Will wait to see what they are charging for this update before getting too excited

[JSCC]

Originally Posted by tunes

Just got this same info in an email from meridian today. Will wait to see what they are charging for this update before getting too excited

Indeed the local dealer said the same thing. The way I look at it, the fastest we can have the upgrade would be in January 2013. I dont know if this is going to be a relatively "cheap" upgrade but if it is to run into 5 digits, then I might as well start "itching" and consider to move on to look for a "retirement" system where I can live with them and realising that they are not going to be in anyway affected by upgrades. Meanwhile, the Meridian is serving me with really fine music performance, something up to today, I cant just fault them, even if I want to nit pick.

Cheers!

[Crion]

Actually, the 861v8, 808.5, 818v2 are actually a develpment cycle/upgrade after anniversary series. Anniversary CD player/streaming zone and surroundprocessor was in reality 808.4 and 861v7.

Anniversary series can also be upgraded to the new specification with 40% lower jitter.

The UK price indications so far has been within reason and I think though no confirm yet that the whole processor upgrade can be performed by accredited dealer at dealer/home since no soldering is required.

The DSP7200 tweeter/backplane upgrade will involve sending speaker backplane to service for modification/upgrade.

[SRT-10 Viper]

Here is a note sent to my Meridian dealer:


This is good question with a bit of a lengthy answer. The 808.5 will allow 24/192 playback in two ways 1) via the new ID29 USB card that comes standard in the new machine. 2) via the ID41 card for Sooloos that is standard on the new machine.

For 808.3 you can achieve 24/192 playback by installing either the ID29 and/or the ID41 cards and installing the new firmware when available. The retail cost of the ID29 card is $1,500 and the cost of the ID41 card is $2,000.

Purchasing the complete upgrade kit for the 808.3 would also include the new power supply, digital output card and analog output card at a retail cost of $6,000.

I hope this helps you and your customer.

Best,

Jeff Dean
Meridian America, Inc

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by SRT-10 Viper

Here is a note sent to my Meridian dealer:


This is good question with a bit of a lengthy answer. The 808.5 will allow 24/192 playback in two ways 1) via the new ID29 USB card that comes standard in the new machine. 2) via the ID41 card for Sooloos that is standard on the new machine.

For 808.3 you can achieve 24/192 playback by installing either the ID29 and/or the ID41 cards and installing the new firmware when available. The retail cost of the ID29 card is $1,500 and the cost of the ID41 card is $2,000.

Purchasing the complete upgrade kit for the 808.3 would also include the new power supply, digital output card and analog output card at a retail cost of $6,000.

I hope this helps you and your customer.

Best,

Jeff Dean
Meridian America, Inc

Chuck
Here is my concern with the answer you received. It notes that you can get 24/192 from the ID29 USB card. I do not care about USB 24/192 I need Optical or RCA digital. Now the answer may have not been all inclusive but it leave me a bit worried.

[SRT-10 Viper]

I believe the USB card has coax on it, but don't take my word for it.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Still-One

Chuck
Here is my concern with the answer you received. It notes that you can get 24/192 from the ID29 USB card. I do not care about USB 24/192 I need Optical or RCA digital. Now the answer may have not been all inclusive but it leave me a bit worried.

Jim.......Take a look at this Meridian page. It shows the ID29 card as having 1 USB; 3 x Toslink optical; 2 x SpeakerLink.


818v2 Technical Specification - Meridian

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Jim.......Take a look at this Meridian page. It shows the ID29 card as having 1 USB; 3 x Toslink optical; 2 x SpeakerLink.


818v2 Technical Specification - Meridian

Dan
Thank you for pointing me in this direction.

[TommyC]

I like how Meridian treats its customers by releasing future upgrades to existing machines. I hate companies that release a non-upgradable SE/MKII/Superduper edition every 2 years.