Theta vs EAD vs Meridian (1 Viewer)

[Chris Bone]

Which pre/pro do you feel is best for 100% HT?

Theta Casablanca 2
EAD Theatermaster 8000 Pro
Meridian 861
Lexicon MC 12

 

[Mark Austin]

I'm partial to the Lexicon and Meridian, but I'm sure all of them would do a nice job. You're really getting into an issue of personal tastes that only you can answer. What I like may not be what you like.

 

[Chris Bone]

Thanks Mark,

I am looking for a great pre/pro to match up with
my active M & K theater system.

 

[Scott Oliver]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of those.
Personally, I would lean to the Theta and Meridian, but good lord all 4 would be absolutley amazing. I would lean to the above two because of their future proofing and flexibility and those are two very important features to me, especially at this price level.

 

[ling_w]

For HT, I don't think absolute sound quality is a necessarily. Features is probably what sells when it comes to HT oriented processor.

If it is for music, whether 2ch, multi-channel or synthesized multi-channel from 2ch source, then it is completely different game. Then, I think Meridian wins hands down.

 

[Paul_R_M]

Much depends on what you are looking for in the controller. If you are music oriented, then the Meridian would be my first choice. It has the most sophisticated 2ch to multi channel music algorithms, and has displayed the ability to deal with DVD-Audio discs in the digital domain.

For the emphasis on home cinema applications, I would add the Lexicon to the mix.

 

[Ken Stokes]

This thread is just further proof of the need to audition all of these for yourself. Both the Meridian and Lexicon are the best at digital manipulation of sound but I would think that would be best suited for HT. I've heard all of the units mentioned and for my money the Theta is a clear step above in music performance.

Good Luck
Ken

 

[Chris Bone]

Thanks for the great input. Another question I have is in regard to the Theta and Lexicon. One touts "Circle Surround" while the other has "Logic7". Are these to roads to the same destination or are there big differences?

 

[Ken Stokes]

I think most agree that as a DSP Logic7 is superior to Circle Surround. Logic7 has long been the driving force behind the Lex sales. When it comes to pure sound I just think the Theta comes out on top. It really depends on what you are looking for, none of these units is going to disappoint. You can only get direction in threads like these, it would be a great error to trust others opinions with this decision. You are looking at some of the best processors in the world, you owe it to yourself to spend some time with each. In the end you will find the one that makes you smile, that is really what this is all about
Good Luck
Ken

 

[Ches Campbell]

I have been in love with Meridian since the first time I sat in my uncle's theater. I was in awe at what I heard. He had a complete meridian system )speakers, pre/pro, dvd...). TO me Meridian is the ultimate audio brand. SO that would be my choice. Theta would come second.
:ater

 

[ling_w]

Meridian's Trifield is superior to both Logic 7 and Circle Surround when it comes to 2ch music synthesis to multi-channel.

Plus, it decoeds Ambisonic, a coding/decoding format that is light years ahead of the straight-forward DD/DTS.

 

[Holger]

@ling_w,


i have no experience with meridian surroundprocessors so far, but i always like to learn somthing new. i own a lex mc-1 and i'm very happy with it. for two channel music playback i prefer *music logic* instead of *logic 7* it just gives you more room to fit with personal tastes. on movie-playback i always use *logic7*, to me it is far superior to dolby ex or dts es.

you mentioned the *triefield* programm for surroundplayback with two channel sources. is meridian also capable to give you 7.1 (not 6.1 i'm talking about stereo rears) from 2channel sources as well from 5.1 sources?

i would be interessted if you ever made a direct comparison between lexicon and meridian and if so, why you like the meridian logarithems better.



regards, holger

 

[Holger]

@ling_w,



sorry for the misspelling. somehow the spell check din't work correctly.


regards, holger

 

[ling_w]

Holger,
Meridian's trifield is mostly a front channel re-synthesis mode, as opposed to surround systhesis.
The way human perceive sound is by loudness differential (ILD) and time differential (ITD) between the 2 ears. But in normal 2ch recording, the only ITD we hear are with the 2 speakers. Recording engineers creates the soundstage by varying the loudness between the L&R speaker, so we visualize this image across the front by only one method of our ability to peceive sound.
What Trifield does is it grabs the L&R signal, creats a center channel out of it, pass it through a freq modifier based on human pinnae model in which off axis sound is produced on axis.
With the LCR signal, it then pass the signals through a phase shuffler, in which ITD information is synthesized out of the ILD information on the recording.
Of course, Trifield also does some ambiance extraction and send those to the surround speakers. So it does 5.1, 7.1.
You could see the patent on it here:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-P...S=PN/5,594,800
Here is a comparison btw Trifield, Music 7, Circle surround, among others.
http://www.studio-sound.com/archive/...echnology.html
Here is what they had to say:
On Trifield
Of all the processors tested, the Meridian 565 probably showed the best ability to retain focus and stability in the front image.
On MusicLogic
The Lexicon DC-1 algorithms preserved the width of the front image very well, but there was a slight reduction in focus and stability on most items
Here is Stereophile's opinion on it:
http://www.stereophile.com/printarchives.cgi?201
With some quotes from it:
Trifield, however, offered seductive tradeoffs that ultimately made it my default listening mode for normal two-channel sources---including CDs, LPs, and radio.
Trifield gave the voice a presence and a solidity I had not heard before, but did so without making the voice any louder, or upsetting the subtle balance between the voice and the rest of the ensemble. I tried the switchover from Direct to Trifield with many solo voice/instrument and combo discs, and the results were consistently successful.
With Trifield, there also seemed to be more going on within the ensembles on orchestral and opera recordings. The listening window was cleaner, the instruments just a bit closer, although the width of the window was a bit narrower compared with Direct. The soundstage was also quite stable, with none of the contraction and expansion that often accompanies dynamic changes in volume.
In its two-channel modes, the 861 gave me as good an experience as I have obtained from each source, and the enhancements of Trifield were even a step beyond.
I think Secret's has a whole bunch of comments on Trifield.
The real interesting surround format is actually Ambisonic, but that is another topic. Invented by the same person, Michael Gerzon.

 

[Lewis Besze]

Plus, it decoeds Ambisonic, a coding/decoding format that is light years ahead of the straight-forward DD/DTS

Ok,so who does release any recordings using ambisonic,besides Naxos,what genre?

 

[Philip Brandes]

Here is a comparison btw Trifield, Music 7, Circle surround, among others.
http://www.studio-sound.com/archive...technology.html
Here is what they had to say:
On Trifield
Of all the processors tested, the Meridian 565 probably showed the best ability to retain focus and stability in the front image.
On MusicLogic
The Lexicon DC-1 algorithms preserved the width of the front image very well, but there was a slight reduction in focus and stability on most items

Given that this undated comparison is between the DC-1 and 565, it must have been written circa 1996-1997. Logic 7/Music Logic went through two subsequent major evolutions even on the DC-1 platform, and in the MC-12 has been entirely re-written to take advantage of the exponentially more powerful DSP SHARC processors, with all processing at 96/24--and it sounds significantly different.
This "comparison" you cite is worse than useless--it is downright misleading. Both Trifield and Logic 7 have their strengths, but there is no substitute for first-hand evaluation.
Cheers,
Philip Brandes

 

[ling_w]

Lewis,

This "comparison" you cite is worse than useless--it is downright misleading. Both Trifield and Logic 7 have their strengths, but there is no substitute for first-hand evaluation.

I've heard both. The basic thing Trifield is doing is making the frontal soundstage better, it involves no steering or gain riding. Its main goal is ITD modifier based on ILD information.

 

[Keir H]

Hey no votes for the EAD series of processors? They are not too shabby with music either as I have heard they are a music oriented company. I have not heard heard the 8000 Pro, but what I have heard of the older Signature, I am sure it can hold it's own to Meridian, Theta ect..having heard alll of them. Even my Encore competes well within the 90% scope of what you'll hear with any of them using the same system and straight stereo/DD/dts... of course, IMO.
All in all, I think someone has already mentioned,if you are one of the lucky few to have this choice, you cannot simply go "wrong" with any of them. Just enjoy.

 

[Lewis Besze]

Ambisonic is a movement.

....and what does that mean?