Meridian DSP8000.2 White
 

They finally arrived!

The WHITE color (ONLY pair over here) set in nicely with the rest of the system.

Differences? Aesthetically, apart from the color (Black vs White), The logo and wordings are different. Attached pictures to show.

Of course - SpeakerLink and the extra 100 watts increase per side, making it now 750 watts per speaker.

Performance?

Well, fresh out of the box, the mids and highs "seems" smoother BUT the bass are a little hard. I guess the speakers are raw and do need some 200 hours of "run-in" as I was told. Incidentally, the cables connecting the entire set up are the new Cat 7 (blue color) with German made (BTR Netcom) "E-DAT RJ45 Field Plugs". Solidly manufactured. Website: BTR NETCOM - ... and your net works - Home. Never seen anything like this before. Each plus costs S$18 per piece.

Dan, thanks for helping to post the pictures.

Cheers!

Congrats Jerry!

The road to perfection is a difficult road to travel, but it seems you are there. :banana:

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...dianSpkrs2.jpg


http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...dianSpkrs1.jpg


http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...dianSpkrs3.jpg


http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...dianSpkrs5.jpg


http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...dianSpkrs4.jpg


http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...dianSpkrs6.jpg

Looking very good in White, Jerry! :yes:

Jerry.......WOW. Most impressive. The black glass on the front of the white Meridian DSP Eight Thousand speakers helps soften the impact of the cream white, and compliments the black speaker grills beautifully. What a fine sound system you have built.

Jerry, gorgeous! Enjoy! :thumbsup:

Jerry,

Beautiful.... Congrats...

You have put together a system that is the envy of many!!!

Enjoy in good health, my friend.

Stephen

Congrats Jerry! The speakers look great! You are definitely leading the charge on cutting edge systems. I can't wait to hear your thoughts after you run them in. Happy listening! :music:

Reg

Congratulations Jerry...beautiful setup...enjoy

Here are two more photos Jerry sent me to post. Both are closer shots of the DSP Eight Thousand's.


http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...dianSpkrs7.jpg


http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...dianSpkrs8.jpg

Hi Dan, Serge, Reg, Stephen, Jem666 & Ivan,

Thanks for the "support" and compliments. Its just that I succumb to the greed of having the latest for the entire hifi chain. I'll post a review, if you guys are interested once I crossed the 200 hours "burn in / break in" timing needed for the speakers and Cat 7 cables (this is really new to me ... Ethernet Cables need break in ...). Its really an expensive "upgrade" where I dont know if the performance is worth the monies. The only thing I know is I now have the latest updated models in play! Talking about vanity!

I am now waiting for the second Twinstore 2TB x 2 to arrive to complete my "humongous storage" dream (4.5TB x 4TB). If ever I can fill these up with music, surely takes me a lifetime to complete listening to the music just for ONE turn, which honestly, I dont know if ever I can do that! Maybe my children will take over from there ... :laughin:

Cheers!

Personally I think White is much more beautiful than black.

Beautiful Jerry!!

Very nice Jerry! You have a system to be proud of :thumbsup: Enjoy :banana:

Thanks Cyril & Howie for the compliments. :thumbsup:

This is one upgrade that I think is like 90% aesthetic and 10% performance based on what I feel today. Still, even though it is one very expensive move, somehow, I still think its worth it. :D

Certainly, when the 200 hours of burn in is done, I shall do a report on the speakers performance and hopefully, it does meet the 10% (and wishfully far exceed it).

For sure, my discussion with Howie, Jeff and Ivan was never to this end conclusively. I would really say, the devil in me made me do it.

Still, the smell, touch and made quality of the WHITE color DSP8k.2 plus the knowing that its the ONLY pair over here made me feel real proud and that ease the pain on the spending. :D I suppose, I can dwell on this "false sense" of pride :smoking:

For sure, the ease of the Meridian Digital system gave me many musical enjoyment and pleasure in movies and music that much more sweeter! Especially watching the Bluray DVD serials like The Tudors, Spartacus, etc, .... If I would want to thread onto the next path ... securing a 861v6 and a Centre channel DSP7200HC would have been on the works. :scratch2: The only thing thats stopping me to such a move is the poor planning of my cabinet where this was not taken into consideration.

If I had known I am into Meridian during the early stage of my renovation, these 2 pieces would have already been in the system today! To me, the Meridian system really gave me more fun that whatever I had before.

Cheers! :banana:

Just beautiful! very nice in white. Wow.

Congratulations - Those are some sharp looking speakers. If they sound half as good as they look you will be in heaven. Enjoy!!!

Well, I upgraded from an older version (lesser 100 watts per side and without speakerlink).

I must say these are REALLY, REALLY great sounding speakers .. if not, I would not plomb in S$25k to get them upgraded. I could have sold off the older version, moved on to Wilson Sasha's and get a pair of Dan Augostino's latest creations to match. :D

Yes, I chose this path as I am really in love and enjoyed the musicality this model (and combination) can do. It may not be the greatest in every detail but certainly, as a total package, it is very musical, relaxing and just makes one sit back, relax and enjoy the presentation.

So, Meridian is really to stay and if there's anymore upgrade, it will be, space not an issue, to a full HT system by adding a center DSP7.2k HC and one more pair of DSP8000.2 with the 861v6 processing the works. These are in the plans but only if I moved out to bigger space to accommodate.

If there's any second system, it will be more for for the bedroom and I have already started by acquiring a small nice tube retro looking Leben CS300XS. With Mullard and Siemen NOS tubes, they should sound stupendous with matching high enough efficiency speakers to not tax the 15 watts this little amp produces per channel. :D

Many nice things are on the plan ... but need to be strategic in introducing and taking it one step at a time. I sure would not want to make my wife jump at me again, for being frivolous about my past hifi journey ever again! and of course, down playing the real cost of ownership. Those days are way behind me now. :yes:

All I am liking it today is I have a nice system done up, so just enjoy it and take things slow and steady as I move along, day to day. :thumbsup:

Cheers!

Yes "tompj". Dan (and even myself) was skeptical if these rare whites would fit nicely into the overall decor picture and I am glad they did.

Of course, being the latest model gives me the content that I may be enjoying some small upgrades to the power, probably the DAC and of course SpeakerLink which greatly reduces the bundle of wires (not to say its a lot as its already down from the usual mess of cables I had before), but certainly just ONE cable really makes this a neat setup!

The speakers had so far taken a thumping burn in (using Sheffield Drum Record - actually the CD) for the past 30 hours and I intend to do this for a full 100 hours over this weekend. Then have a nice enjoyment over next week and continue the burn in over next weekend to "soften" the new, raw bass speaker.

Thanks for the compliment and seriously, for once, I did stick on to the same brand ..... and I am notorious for being fickle and not really knowing what I wanted! :D

Cheers! :banana:

I agree :thumbsup:

Congrats Jerry.......they look marvelous :drool:

Looks great Jerry, I really like the white.

I'd hate to tell you this but Meridian just announced their new top of the line speaker, the DSP9000.

Just kidding, there's no new speaker, I bet your heart just skipped a beat.

I hope you enjoy your DSP8000s for MANY years to come!

Funny! I know my heart skipped one and they're not even mine!

Reg

Victor... you had me... I went straight to Meridians web site...

Jerry...stunning!

Dave

Hi Dave, Reg, Victor and "Two Dot",

Thanks for the compliments. I sure got a SHOCK after reading Victor's DSP9k being introduced. Phew! :D

After more than 36 hours of burn in, the "newer" things I noticed were:

1. The speakers fins are way much cooler than the older version.

2. At the same default volume setting "65", the newer pair seems to play LOUDER and CLEARER.

3. The mids and highs are more layered ... solid soundstage but with a greater sense of airiness and space behind the singer! Rather like having the entire band at the front stage, now the musicians / singers took on a more 3D presentation.

4. At loud levels, the bass, although still a "raw" now goes deeper and tighter than before. The Manhattans "Men Do Cry" lower bass notes took on a more controlled and palpable manner! The DSP8k, to me was already really, really good, yet the DSP8k.2 seemingly took it to another level, especially the speed, taughtness and delivery of the bass.

I dont think I can ever tie the improvements I hear to the dollars forked out BUT certainly, I am happy to be able to hear improvements.

I am looking forward to another 150 hours or so "run in" and after next weekend, I shall post a thorough "first impression" comparing the notes I took when I first had the "Black Color" version and the McIntosh XRT30's.

Cheers! :banana:

Spectacular looking system Jerry. Congrats! Just love the white. Very sophisticated, elegant looking for such a large speaker.

Wow Jerry, I missed your initial posting and did not know you have upgraded. Those look sharp and I bet the sound is amazing. Looking forward to your comments when you are comfortable that the break-in is complete.

Jim

Hi Jesse, Jim,

No problem. Its almost time the 200 hours is going to reach. When I find time over the weekend, I'll pen down my findings in details. Hopefully, it will be not a boring review.

Thanks for reading and the patience.

Cheers! :banana:

Hi Jerry,

Those speakers look beautiful in white, awesome system and beautiful setup. How is everything sounding now? Any updates?

Joe

http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/q...dianSpkrs8.jpg

Looks very elegant. What are the speakers sitting on? Are they better than spikes?

John

Hi John,

Speakers are "sitting" on Meridian own footers (spikes in the middle). Only 3 of them per speaker, 2 in front and one at the rear. Can be "elevated" to desired height or "tilt" forward/backward. Of course to a certain extent only.

Cheers.

So did you upgrade to the se? What do you think?

Hi Steve,
I've moved on since. Looking back, sometimes its for the better but for sure, this one move is with a tinge of regret on hindsight. I've also moved out of this home now rented out for some passive income.
As Meridian had "killed" Sooloos, it does not make any sense to get the 'se' version anymore.
Cheers

Thank you for responding to my query on a thread 8 years dormant. In your case it wouldn’t have been worth the price for basically a pair of tweeters. Mine are from 2010 so I’m trying to convince myself 10 years is around the time amps are due for a refresh anyhow. Still difficult to justify tho.

Hi Steve59,
My sincere apologies for the late reply.
Cheers

Wow that has to go down in AA history as the longest time between a question and a reply :D Nice hearing from you Jerry. What do you have for a system now ?

I bumped an ancient thread after I was able to acquire a pair of my dream speakers, but I was answered within a couple weeks! I was impressed.

Here's my 3 years old humble system. So far, kept the itch away.

Wouu that looks really cool :) out of curiosity can i ask how the Wilsons perform in a room that seems much smaller than i would have thought possible for these speakers.

In the beginning, I had the same worries as the room is indeed small. But somehow the Devialet has some “matching software” known as SAM, which took out my worries the moment they played together. It’s like a match in heaven. No boom, loud or soft, it just played on. I’ve been so happy that I discarded my idea on selling them off. As I could barely noticed the difference between the series 1 vs series 2 Alexia (could be due to my aging and/or room size), I also dropped the idea on upgrading, more so for having a Dave Wilson legacy product. And of course, saved me a bundle. In summary, I’m happy. If I would go for a change, would be SET and Horns. That would definitely be out due to my tiny space. Hope that answers your question. Cheers!