Meridian 561 A/V Preamplifier
Meridian 561 A/V Preamplifier
USER REVIEWS
[Jan 15, 2004]
mark doyle
AudioPhile
Strength:
Sound, sound, sound, Programming it on the computer and crossover points.
Weakness:
Right! This is one very good sounding 2 channel and 5 channel player! I bought this to see how much I was missing on the music side of it and I was missing everything. I was using a Denon 3803 pre outs to my amps and I figured it sounded good but I thought I was missing something (sound quailty). The 561 is amazing sounding even on a $300 dvd player. It is so easy programming it on the computer and the soundstage just blew me away! I will be a Meridian owner for life! Similar Products Used: Denon, Proceed, Anthem, B&K. |
[Jun 30, 2003]
labi
AudioPhile
Strength:
music is awesome. minimalist piece
Weakness:
tricky to set up, not user friendly UNBELIEVABLE i bpought this product while auditioning a Rotel pro/amp. I still bought the Rotel Amp. The Meridian with the Rotel sounded more musical through M&K than my Arcam/Spendor. In home theatre it was breathtaking. I found it very life like. Im the meridian surround sound mode it was different. i am a 2 ch enthusiast, and i still enjoyed the music in Trifield mode. Best of all free upgrades from meridian. The Krell i listened to required you to pay for future upgrades. i listened to many procesors this was better if not equal for movies, for music it blew them out of the water. Similar Products Used: Rotel Krell Sunfire Denon pioneer (All home theatre) |
[Nov 25, 1999]
Hanz
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Maybe it's faceplate.
Weakness:
Everything but it's faceplate. I really tried to like this product. I really did. I had it and the DC-2 in my home for a week, and I wanted to like it better than the Lexicon, but I just could not. The Lex just revealed so much more than the Meridian. It was clearer, more dynamic, and warm. Simply put, the Lex won hands down. Sure the 561 is a good unit, but it just is not good enough. Before you buy it at least check out the DC-2 or the MC-1, they both outshine this unit. Similar Products Used: DC-2 Lexicon |
[Nov 26, 1999]
james
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Excellent setup flexibility and sound quality.
Weakness:
Cost I have had my 561 for close to a year and have no regrets choosing this unit. Although I didn't compare the 561 against processors from Lexicon the 561 sounded better then Proceed's AVP and Theta's Casanova IMO. I would still rate these other units highly. The biggest difference between the 561 and the other processors was a perceived smoothness and refinement in the 561 over the others while still retaining dynamics, extension, and detail. While everyone is entitled to their opinion the previous post of 2 stars is totally unfounded. I doubt very much that the DC-2 betters the 561's performance, but will concede that it may be a better value overall. Similar Products Used: Proceed AVP, Theta Casanova |
[Jan 09, 2002]
Mitch Lasky
Audiophile
Strength:
multi-channel audio, pc setup, alternative music modes (trifield, ambisonic, etc.)
Weakness:
audible popping when syncing to digital signal, remote The 561 is a terrific surround controller. It excels at decoding film soundtracks (Dolby Digital & DTS). Its greatest strength is its subtlety and refinement -- rather than providing "gee whiz" sonic splash the 561 gets the balance of music, dialog and effects just right. As a result, it greatly enhances the emotional impact of films without calling undue attention to itself. Similar Products Used: Lexicon, Proceed, Classe |
[Mar 06, 1999]
George G Mills
an Audio Enthusiast
Sorry for the duplicate review, things are behaving a bit strange. |
[Mar 06, 1999]
George Mills
an Audio Enthusiast
Reference System: |
[Jul 20, 1999]
Daniele
an Audiophile
As the other folks i wanted a Pre-dac-processor that sounded well with Music, both Stereo and Multichannel, and the 561 was the answer.I don't want to repeat what George & Thomas have already said about the functional flexibility of 561, but i want to spend some words on Meridian : The difference 'til now from the other company as EAD - Proceed - Lexicon is that Meridian don't 'scream' upgradable they really give to this word a real sense.I can't forget, looking at the past that the 565 is the only processor made 5 years ago that still is ready for the new format that has came.. if i compare to Proceed PAV user that were 'forced' to buy another product (PDSD costing serious money) or the 2 realese (different) of the EAD TM series (i cant still understand why...), i just can say that Meridian is a more serious company. |
[Jul 25, 1999]
Bryant Trew
an Audiophile
Just buy one. I've not heard another processor that is as natural and 3 dimensional as the 561. With soundtracks you begin to realise that those aren't just soundtracks, there is an actual symphony in the background. On Super Speedway, the race cars move seamlessly in and out, left and right, round and round. With Music, Trifield kills stereo playback. You won't want to use plain old stereo ever again. Resolution is again, the best I have heard. Low level sounds that couldn't be heard, or were obscured on my previous unit, come to life on the 561. |
[Jan 03, 2001]
Mario
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Computer setup, sound, and flexiblity
Weakness:
No balanced output I tried all the different units in this price range and simply put this is the most natural real sounding processor of the bunch. I still think that you need a true two channel pre-amp because the unit digitizes all signals, but it still is very good in two channel. Definitly give it a try you will be pleasently suprised. Similar Products Used: Lex. MC-1 Krell HTS, Theta Casanova, EAD Ovation |