Meridian 5xx vs newer lossless systems

Kjweisner,

Thanks for the reply. I think I am going to go with either a 561 or 565. I'd love a 568.2 but the prices on these are still pretty high for such an old unit.

The setup doesn't bother me, similar to my VMPS speakers taking the time to set them up correctly is well worth the effort.

I don’t need much in the way of hookups and no need for video. I run a PS3 as a Blue Ray player/game console/ CD/music server and use the optical cable for that. The video goes directly to the TV via an HDMI cable. I have a second DVD player (for the wife’s use) but could hook up the audio through one of the analog inputs.

The 565’s are running around $550 (just missed one that sold for $350) and the original 568’s around $1,000. Still not sure which one to go for and the price difference is large enough to make me hesitate going for the 568, after all we are talking about a 6+ year old unit that can’t handle the new lossless formats.

Kjweisner,

Well I just bought a 565 with the 7.1 upgrade, can't wait to try it out. Thanks for the advice.

Hey Kjweisner,

I just picked up a 562V to go along with my 565. Do you have your gear connected with the Meridian Comms cables? If so, what are the advantages. I have a Haromny remote that can do the switching or is there something the comms hookup adds?

Kjweisner,

I ended up making a comms cable (couldn't find one anywhere) and hooked the units together. They work great hooked together a real must do if you have these units. The Meridians sound great so I have decided not to upgrade to a HD pre/pro for the near future. I am keeping my eye open for a 568.2mm and if run across one at a good price I'll pick it up. Thanks for the reply.

First, I don’t know what everyone’s talking about, the setup on the 565 was a breeze. I just printed out the manual, READ it and had it programmed in about 15-20 minutes.
Second, the sound is fantastic. Granted, it replaced a Pioneer Elite receiver but the added processing control made a world of difference. My speakers have never sounded so good. The Trifield and Music DSP modes are so good, I never listen to straight two channel anymore. The detailed setup really fine tunes your system to get the best balance and sound. I never watched movies in THX because I didn’t like the sound until the 565. Bottom line is that the 565 is a great unit, even if it’s a little long in the tooth and can be had for a great price in today’s market.