[brj]

Has anyone compared a DEQ/X or TacT driven system to a Meridian DSP system?

I realize that this is a very open-ended question, since you can pair the DEQ/X or TacT with just about any amp and speaker combination, but I'm still curious.  Meridian seems to have been pursuing the fully active, DSP based solution longer than most.  I've seen comparatively little written about the Meridian DSP systems, although what I have seen has been very positive (although usually qualified with an "expensive" adjective).

Any comments?

Thanks!

[JoshK]

From what I have gathered Meridian, like some other companies, address only the midbass on down region.  While this is the most troublesome and arguably the best EQ'd region, the DEQX and TACT can be used for dipole correction and other EQ solutions, offering a wider range of speakers that they can be used with.

[thayerg]

Meridian's approach to digital audio spans many more technologies than EQ alone. Meridian digital speakers encapsulate all the technology the DEQX provides, but optimized for those particular drivers. Meridian processors do the room correction and much else besides.

[denverdoc]

Meridian is the pioneer and is what got be interested in this whole approach back in 1994. So to be lauded for that, but last rig i heard was something like 60kB for front end thru speakers. With Tact or DEQX, some digital amps, and DIY speakers, could likely do as well if not better for a fraction of the cost. Just my 2 cents worth, but I am putting my $$ where my mouth is-- sold most of my consumer audio gear, and dropping 7500 for the DEQX and drivers! Should have some early reports in next month or so.
John

[John Ashman]

Meridian's got the integrated and complete digital system on the market.  I think there is one issue preventing them from achieving maximum capacity and that is their choice of drivers.  They could do better here and the speaker budget would certainly allow it.  I'd give them an 'A' in cabinety and digital sophistication and a 'C' in drivers.  Why? I have NO idea except that their older digital speakers were just digital versions of their analog ones and they seem to like those drivers even though there are far better available.  So, with TacT and DEQX, you can choose your drivers and that helps.  Meridian's system does room EQ in the processor, crossover, time and driver EQ in the speakers.  I'd like to see Meridian come up with a high-end driver upgrade, but we'll  have to see.

[denverdoc]

John,

I agree totally with your last post, but we should not overlook the new NHT digital system--DEQX is the OEM for the xover/eq/room correction and the SEAS drivers used are obviously very good--add a transport and for about 6K, have a very listenable system.
J

[John Ashman]

John,

I agree totally with your last post, but we should not overlook the new NHT digital system--DEQX is the OEM for the xover/eq/room correction and the SEAS drivers used are obviously very good--add a transport and for about 6K, have a very listenable system.

You're preaching to the pope!  I've got 32 sets of the NHTs on order, not just for myself, mind you

Though, remember, the Xd needs an analog preamp - no digital inputs for the moment, that will probably happen in a year or so as the system mutates.  Meridian has the more complete implementation, but NHT is higher tech and really shows off what DEQX can do with a good implentation.

[denverdoc]

Wow 32 sets, thats a big $$ committment but I say amen as maybe it will push the super conservative home high end market into some innovation--guess i am a little surprised that the  forward thinking folks at NHT didn't implement the DEQX pre version--among its many virtues has a 100 presets of additional 3 band eq to help out certain recordings, and for me just begs for personally measured,implemented  Fletcher Munson compensation at say 6 different playback settings--at least that is one way I plan to use mine!

John

[John Ashman]

I have more balls than money

The reason they didn't do volume/preamp is because, for HT, there'd have had to have been a standard done for interbox communication, something they are probably working on.  I suspect this will get worked out in the future.  And it would have raised the cost.  But it will happen.  I would suspect there will be an HDMI based product or some other digital system that will have integrated syncing.  NHT is more likely to seek an off-the-shelf solution than to try to develop it solo.

[denverdoc]

John,

I understand. if there is a shortcoming with the DEQX it would seem to be implementation of HT w/o going broke--lets see a seven or eight channel of same at 4k and you have a world beater. Certainly the DEQX represents interim technology and w/in a year or two, my guess is  there will be a plethora of similar products offered by Sony, Yamaha, and any number of smaller companies willing to do the necessary R/D to implement the new generation of Sharcs now beginning to pass the GFlop barrier. Gulp.

It would seem obvious that open, upgradeable, card based architecture will become the de rigeur standard for high end HT and stereo within a few years, with dig outs driving Class D amps. But I thought the same in 1994 when i first became aware of the Meridian approach. I do suspect the high end audio segment is in for a near term and very rough shake down, when the arcane art of passive xover design and analog amp technology goes the way of the dodo.  

Of course, just one mans opinion,
J

[John Ashman]

Well, what's a "world beater" today will likely be considered to be overpriced in 5 years.  I'm not sure what will keep the price of speakers as high as $10K or $20K, but I'm sure high-end will adapt.  On the other hand, it could be like projectors and plasmas where the top-end models exist, but almost never sell because a) they're not that much better and b) they'll be outgunned within years by something obviously less expensive.  In the NHT Xd system, you're paying half for speakers, half for DSP/amps.  I'd bet that the box that runs Xd could be a $1000ish box in several years, bringing the system price down and maybe a $3000 box could do 6 or 7 channels, dropping the surround price to under $10K.  Of course, you could add Be or diamond tweeters or other cutting edge advancements to keep the system at a higher price and higher performance level.  Sony et al will do digital speakers, but they won't put exotic drivers in theirs.  It will be a sales gimmick for the low-end.  Kind of like a $300 receiver can technically do most of what a $3000 preamp can do, just not nearly as well.  

But, yes, as far as the "shakedown", I think this will have to happen.  Even with the natural reluctance of reviewers to embrace relatively inexpensive, but objectively superior design, so as not to slay the sacred cow, when they publish the measurements - distortion, FR, dispersion - what can they say?  "Sure, this digital speaker measures dramatically better, but it just didn't convey the 'magic' of my $50K system".  Yeah, I suppose they might even try that, but I think readers are a little smarter than that.  Meridian's speaker prices have been high because they're competing with themselves.  But I don't see how you'll be able to build a tower speaker for more than $10K within a couple of years and be able to justify it, let alone sell it.  It's barely justifiable now.  Unfortunately, speakers *could* get commoditized, but I hope not.  We'll see, but it WILL be interesting over the next year or two.  Xd is so inexpensive for what it is, none of the high-end companies can compete with it directly, (especially since their analog flagships are $15K+), so they'll have to come out with $20K and $30K flagships and talk about class a amplification or silver internal wiring or beryllium tweeters or exotic woods.  Better?  Maybe.  4-6 times the price better?  Doubtful.  By that time the high-end players bring out their $20K+ solutions, Xd will probably be <$4K with a <$7500 surround solution.  And who knows what others will do to contribute to the mayhem.  PhaseTech is readying a digital system and others will follow.