#1
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Meridian F80 to buy or not to buy?
I have an opportunity to buy a brand new Meridian F80 either in silver or black for 1000 pounds (about US$1,600) which is quite a lot less than MSRP.
What do you guys think. For a one piece DVD/CD/Radio it does sound pretty good! howie |
#2
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This piece has always caught my eye; me I would probably buy it. In red of course.
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Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
#3
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The B&W zeppelin has good reviews for 1/2 that price; I am sure either one box wonder in either brand will sound similar.
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#4
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Not to belittle the Zepellin, but the B&W is a VERY different beast and frankly not in the same league I'm afraid.
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#5
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That is a great price but if you are only going to use it for background, I also agree that you should go with the Zeppelin.
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#6
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Quote:
It is a glorified ipod dock boom box albeit a very nice one. Problem is I already have one, an Altec Lansing one, though obviously another few notches down the sound quality scale!! |
#7
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Quote:
Radio, there has not been radio on in my house for at least 15 or 20 years. |
#8
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Correction, the Zeppelin does accept a digital input. I should have read the manual.
You can connect a second source to Zeppelin using the AUX socket at the rear, which accepts both analogue and digital signals. Zeppelin will automatically know which type it is receiving. Analogue sources will need a 2-core coaxial cable terminated at the Zeppelin end by a mini stereo jack plug, just like the plug used for your iPod headphones. The plug required at the other end will depend on the source. If the source is an early generation iPod, shuffle, MP3 player, laptop computer or portable CD player, the output will probably be from a headphone socket and the same style mini jack will be needed. If the source has its own volume control, set it to approximately 75% full scale. If the source has a line output – a standard ‘stacking’ CD player, for example – you will probably need two RCA Phono plugs at the source end. If the source has its own volume control, set it to approximately 90% full scale. Sources with an optical digital output use a fibre-optic cable, sometimes called a TOSLINK™. The standard TOSLINK™ termination has a stubby, block-ended shape, but some devices, including Zeppelin, Apple Macintosh®, Apple TV® and Apple Airport Express®, use an optical mini jack plug. These optical mini jacks have the same outline shape as the analogue version, but have no black stripes and have a clear tip for the light to pass through. Download the Zeppelin Connectivity Guide from our web site for more information. |
#9
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Where are you going to put it?
The F80 is more portable with the handle and small size. So you can carry it anywhere around the house with ease. I would go for F80. It has better media compatibility. Plus, I like the look better. |
#10
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Actually the F80 has a separate iPod dock that works very well. With it's digital outputs you can even hook it up to a pair of Meridian active speakers! and there is a new Ethernet link adapter for the Meridian speakers soon to be released. Saw it at the factory last week...
My daughter has a Zeppelin in her room and it's very good for what it is, but the F80 is in another league entirely in terms of performance and flexibility. We used to have an F80 in our bedroom, but my wife (our art director) stole it for her office, so a second F80 is on the way soon. After having an F80 for about a year and a half now, we are still very happy with it! Highly suggested! And we have a very comprehensive review in Issue 12 on page 95... |
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