Meridian 565.71 preamp?

[BostonMark]

As probably most of us here, I have constant upgradeitis when it comes to my system.

I have searched the threads first, and looked for specific reviews, and found little.

I have been thinking of getting a pre owned Meridian 565.71 pre amp. It has inputs for my SACD/DVD Audio player, as well as digital inputs and it handles Dolby and DTS. It is 'only' 1500 which for me is a lot of money. So then, my question is? Are these high end pre amps truly worth it or am I just buying Emperor's new clothes? I had purchased a Meridian 506.24 CD player, and I really felt like I could hear a difference, more depth and detail in my CDs (almost like SACD). However after reading so many threads, I sometimes wonder whether I really hear a difference or I just think I do, because my brain and ears want to justify my purchase. My friends all love the way my system sounds, and know it sounds better than theirs, but can't really hear the small differences with each upgrade. My system is in my signature. I know one thing I will need with it is a Multi channel Power amp, I have been thinking Rotel.

My name is Mark ..... and I am an audio holic

 

[Nick250]

As probably most of us here, I have constant upgradeitis when it comes to my system.

I have searched the threads first, and looked for specific reviews, and found little.

I have been thinking of getting a pre owned Meridian 565.71 pre amp. It has inputs for my SACD/DVD Audio player, as well as digital inputs and it handles Dolby and DTS. It is 'only' 1500 which for me is a lot of money. So then, my question is? Are these high end pre amps truly worth it or am I just buying Emperor's new clothes? I had purchased a Meridian 506.24 CD player, and I really felt like I could hear a difference, more depth and detail in my CDs (almost like SACD). However after reading so many threads, I sometimes wonder whether I really hear a difference or I just think I do, because my brain and ears want to justify my purchase. My friends all love the way my system sounds, and know it sounds better than theirs, but can't really hear the small differences with each upgrade. My system is in my signature. I know one thing I will need with it is a Multi channel Power amp, I have been thinking Rotel.

My name is Mark ..... and I am an audio holic

Mark, upgrade those danged Polk mains speakers! They are the weakest link in the system by far. The pre pro is not even worth considering until you get yourself some better main speakers. PSB, Paradigm, Ascend, Axiom the list goes on.

The usual disclaimer (but I am right on this one): IMHO, YMMV yadda yadda.

Regards, Nick

 

[BostonMark]

speakers

My goal on the speakers is to eventually replace them with B&Ws 603 series (since I can't really afford the 800s quite yet), although I am definitely keeping my Velodyne sub!

 

[Nick250]

My goal on the speakers is to eventually replace them with B&Ws 603 series (since I can't really afford the 800s quite yet), although I am definitely keeping my Velodyne sub!

Well take that Meridian money and tuck it away in your speaker fund. You will be glad you did down the road, I promise.

Nick

 

[BostonMark]

Could you be specific?

Mark, upgrade those danged Polk mains speakers! They are the weakest link in the system by far. The pre pro is not even worth considering until you get yourself some better main speakers. PSB, Paradigm, Ascend, Axiom the list goes on.

The usual disclaimer (but I am right on this one): IMHO, YMMV yadda yadda.

Regards, Nick

I do come to this site to seek other's opinions, a collective sampling of opinions helps a lot. However, I do have this to ask. Specificically, what are the drawbacks you find with Polk Audio that you believe the speakers you have named overcome? (i.e. to much bass response, not enough bass response, too bright, harsh?, not bright enough? lack of midrange? too muddy, imaging, soundstage, sensitivity, accuracy? ) Opinions without details just don't give me the sort of information I need. I appreciate your opinion, it just makes more sense to have it with specific details than in a void.

I also really would still like a response from someone on the Meridian, since the particular item is not going to be there forever. To purchase it new, would cost three times as much.

 

[furrycute]

What kind of a setup do you have? Stereo or multichannel?

In my old stereo system, adding a relatively inexpensive preamp helped a lot in the bass department. Before purchasing the preamp, I was hooking up the CD player directly to the amp (the CD player has volume controls).

I have never played with Meridian preamps before. But I have heard that Meridian uses propriatery connections. Before you make the purchase, make sure that the preamp has standard RCA connections in addition to any propriatery connections, so later on you can use the preamp with non Meridian branded components.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have been thinking of getting a pre owned Meridian 565.71 pre amp. It has inputs for my SACD/DVD Audio player, as well as digital inputs and it handles Dolby and DTS. It is 'only' 1500 which for me is a lot of money. So then, my question is? Are these high end pre amps truly worth it or am I just buying Emperor's new clothes?

You named it correctly, Emperor's new clothes
Depending on flexibility, you can get excellent receivers for less, Yam 2600 or Denon equivalents, and you also have amps in them, even if you happen to add external ones in the future.


However after reading so many threads, I sometimes wonder whether I really hear a difference or I just think I do, because my brain and ears want to justify my purchase.


Yes, that is the most likely outcome.

My friends all love the way my system sounds, and know it sounds better than theirs, but can't really hear the small differences with each upgrade.

Well, it is really not a fair comparison for your friends either as the two systems are in a different acoustic space and, most likely have different speakers that sound different. But, humans tend to be impressed and look for changes, hence, the 'sounds different' feedback.



I know one thing I will need with it is a Multi channel Power amp, I have been thinking Rotel.

Or, Behringer A500 for a lot less?

 

[shadow]

Speakers, room placement and treatment are most important, but a Meridian pre/pro is a superior alternative to mass market receivers by a substantial margin. Tri field processing is a wonderful mode for music enjoyment, but a high quality front end always reveals flaws in your speakers. You need to listen to other alternatives to the Polks and decide whether some other alternative speaker is better than yours.