Naim -vs- Meridian -vs- Denon
Posted by: Mr Underhill on 03 August 2005
Thought I'd post my thoughts having done some extended demos.
What caused this? Well, after my initial DVD5 probs. I was supplied with a 2nd machine. This has been failing to read CDs, culminating in a refusal to read the DVD5 software update CD! Feeling slightley upset, and having borne months of less than perfect service from my DVD5s I decided to investigate some altermatives, a Meridian G91 and the latest Denon behemoth.
The Meridian is a well put together machine. The G91 includes a stereo pre-amp and a tuner, in addition to the DVD - although for a thousand pounds more than the DVD5. My impression was that the picture quality was marginally better than the DVD5. But on a couple of DVDs, notably High Society, the picture wavered and distorted. Whilst on an episode of Buffy it lost the image sharpness.
I enjoyed playing the pre straight into one of my 250s. On the whole I was quite impressed with the sound quality.....BUT, 'oxymoron warning', on listening to Rex Harrison sing in My Fair Lady it sounded compressed. I fed the signal into the AV2 and the compression vanished.
The Denon is a BIG beast. It performed faultlessly, playing DVDs, DVD-A and SACD. The picture quality was excellent, and I think shaded both the DVD5 and the Meridian.
In terms of audio the SACD is excellent. This is the first time I have heard why people fuss about this format. CD was interesting. I use the Benchmark DAC1. Other users have commented that the DAC1 is transport agnostic. Well I found NO difference between the Denon's internal DACs and the DAC1, but neither was captivating. Similarly DVD-A was acceptable, but lacked excitement.
With the Denon I found musical passages that hit a resonance with the DVD5 didn't on this box. For instance, in Pride and Predujice there are two instances of music being played by live period instruments, on the DVD5 I found this musically interesting - on the Denon it was just incidental music. That said I thought the Denon was better at presenting the surround effects.
One of my concerns with Denon is there frequent model changes. I spoke to Denon UK and voiced my concerns about getting a five year old model serviced - the person I spoke to had no words of reassurance.
Switching back to the DVD5 I noticed that the picture quality is very good. Also when I could get the DVD5 to recognise a CD it's presentation is fantastic through the DAC1. I bought the recent release of War of the Worlds, as it is a hybrid SACD. I thought the SACD presentation via the DENON was excellent - but this was matched by the CD layer through the DVD5/DAC1.
So, where does that leave me?
I feel the Meridian is a sideways move - but understand why people like these boxes, my eldest daughter has fallen in love with the Meridian remote control!
The Denon is a good DVD player with a superlative picture - but poor medium term support. The SACD replay is very good, but CD and DVD-A is mediocre. However good the SACD is do I want to buy into what I think is a dying format? The DVD-video audio for film effects is very good, but for me failed to communicate the musical content.
Having done the rounds I have decided to give the DVD5 one last go. I do feel very frustrated. This a partially alleviated by Naim, in the person of Adam, and most especially by my dealership, Audio-T, and the support given me by Paul.
Fingers crossed - third time lucky?
Martin.
What caused this? Well, after my initial DVD5 probs. I was supplied with a 2nd machine. This has been failing to read CDs, culminating in a refusal to read the DVD5 software update CD! Feeling slightley upset, and having borne months of less than perfect service from my DVD5s I decided to investigate some altermatives, a Meridian G91 and the latest Denon behemoth.
The Meridian is a well put together machine. The G91 includes a stereo pre-amp and a tuner, in addition to the DVD - although for a thousand pounds more than the DVD5. My impression was that the picture quality was marginally better than the DVD5. But on a couple of DVDs, notably High Society, the picture wavered and distorted. Whilst on an episode of Buffy it lost the image sharpness.
I enjoyed playing the pre straight into one of my 250s. On the whole I was quite impressed with the sound quality.....BUT, 'oxymoron warning', on listening to Rex Harrison sing in My Fair Lady it sounded compressed. I fed the signal into the AV2 and the compression vanished.
The Denon is a BIG beast. It performed faultlessly, playing DVDs, DVD-A and SACD. The picture quality was excellent, and I think shaded both the DVD5 and the Meridian.
In terms of audio the SACD is excellent. This is the first time I have heard why people fuss about this format. CD was interesting. I use the Benchmark DAC1. Other users have commented that the DAC1 is transport agnostic. Well I found NO difference between the Denon's internal DACs and the DAC1, but neither was captivating. Similarly DVD-A was acceptable, but lacked excitement.
With the Denon I found musical passages that hit a resonance with the DVD5 didn't on this box. For instance, in Pride and Predujice there are two instances of music being played by live period instruments, on the DVD5 I found this musically interesting - on the Denon it was just incidental music. That said I thought the Denon was better at presenting the surround effects.
One of my concerns with Denon is there frequent model changes. I spoke to Denon UK and voiced my concerns about getting a five year old model serviced - the person I spoke to had no words of reassurance.
Switching back to the DVD5 I noticed that the picture quality is very good. Also when I could get the DVD5 to recognise a CD it's presentation is fantastic through the DAC1. I bought the recent release of War of the Worlds, as it is a hybrid SACD. I thought the SACD presentation via the DENON was excellent - but this was matched by the CD layer through the DVD5/DAC1.
So, where does that leave me?
I feel the Meridian is a sideways move - but understand why people like these boxes, my eldest daughter has fallen in love with the Meridian remote control!
The Denon is a good DVD player with a superlative picture - but poor medium term support. The SACD replay is very good, but CD and DVD-A is mediocre. However good the SACD is do I want to buy into what I think is a dying format? The DVD-video audio for film effects is very good, but for me failed to communicate the musical content.
Having done the rounds I have decided to give the DVD5 one last go. I do feel very frustrated. This a partially alleviated by Naim, in the person of Adam, and most especially by my dealership, Audio-T, and the support given me by Paul.
Fingers crossed - third time lucky?
Martin.
Mr U,
It's a great shame you've had such trouble with your DVD5 so credit to you for being prepared to give it another go. I don't know if you've posted elsewhere in the A/V room but one question I have is have you installed the latest firmware update??
You can, of course, have the best of both worlds if you want - as I understand it you can buy the Meridian remote by itself and use it to operate your boxes if you like it so much! Last time I checked it cost £85 but you don't have to buy Meridian kit - it apparently will "learn" non-Meridian gear as well!
Cheers,
Jon
PS: Graham
It's a great shame you've had such trouble with your DVD5 so credit to you for being prepared to give it another go. I don't know if you've posted elsewhere in the A/V room but one question I have is have you installed the latest firmware update??
You can, of course, have the best of both worlds if you want - as I understand it you can buy the Meridian remote by itself and use it to operate your boxes if you like it so much! Last time I checked it cost £85 but you don't have to buy Meridian kit - it apparently will "learn" non-Meridian gear as well!
Cheers,
Jon
PS: Graham
HiDefBob said:
Heheh, that's what it's supposed to do.. the LFE that is - I'm surprised you haven't noticed this before, heheh, all part of the fun appeal of 'being there' when a good HT rig struts it's stuff. Urk, perhaps you've been one of those 'flat earth' chaps who previously thought that 2 channel stereo was more than good enough for movies? 
That's good news in a way, as I believe blue-ray is the technically superior medium. Personally I'm really looking forward to Hi-Def picture quality, and a big improvement in basic sound quality with movies, which will undoubtedly come with the new formats.
Best regards
John...
quote:I was watching "Hide & Seek" last evening with DTS 5.1 sound ... in a few places the LFE shock the whole room!
Heheh, that's what it's supposed to do..
the LFE that is - I'm surprised you haven't noticed this before, heheh, all part of the fun appeal of 'being there' when a good HT rig struts it's stuff. Urk, perhaps you've been one of those 'flat earth' chaps who previously thought that 2 channel stereo was more than good enough for movies? quote:It is looking more and more like Blu-Ray is going to win. FOX studio just got on board.
That's good news in a way, as I believe blue-ray is the technically superior medium. Personally I'm really looking forward to Hi-Def picture quality, and a big improvement in basic sound quality with movies, which will undoubtedly come with the new formats.
Best regards
John...
Mr Underhill said:
Not sure on that one. Arguably Hi-Res music aka SACD/DVD-Audio has not so much died, as simply not been a commercial sucess to any degree. Whether the record companies will pull the plug on them is open to conjecture I guess.
Most people seem to be far more easily able to discern differences in picture quality than sound quality, and I think for that reason the masses will likely take to Hi-Def picture more than sound. Especially with the explosion of interest in plasma, LCD, projection etc over the ubiquitious CRT 'telly'
I hope there will not be a standards battle; if there is, like most I will sit it out until the smoke clears as you say.
Once things clear up in that regard, I will invest in the new mediums. Meantime my ES Sony SACD/DVD player does all I could wish for, re current technology, so I'm happy.
Best Regards
John..
quote:I'm just thinking that hi-def music is dying (has died) due to public dis-interest. I wonder if the same might happen with hi-def pictures?
Not sure on that one. Arguably Hi-Res music aka SACD/DVD-Audio has not so much died, as simply not been a commercial sucess to any degree. Whether the record companies will pull the plug on them is open to conjecture I guess.
Most people seem to be far more easily able to discern differences in picture quality than sound quality, and I think for that reason the masses will likely take to Hi-Def picture more than sound. Especially with the explosion of interest in plasma, LCD, projection etc over the ubiquitious CRT 'telly'
I hope there will not be a standards battle; if there is, like most I will sit it out until the smoke clears as you say.
Once things clear up in that regard, I will invest in the new mediums. Meantime my ES Sony SACD/DVD player does all I could wish for, re current technology, so I'm happy.
Best Regards
John..
quote:
Heheh, that's what it's supposed to do..
Best regards
John...
No I have had surround sound for sometime. But I was using a Pioneer DLV-90 to play my DVD's prior to purchasing the DVD5. The Pioneer did not have DTS capability ... only DD. It also had no component out (only "S-Video"!) and no progressive scan! It was a dinosaur!
So, you can imagine how thrilled I am to finally experience the wonderful Picture and Sound quality that is on many of today's DVD's!