Meridian 808.3


TAS (Robert Harley) raves about the 808.3, saying it lacks all glare and steely timbres. Is it that good? The 808.2 got a mixed reaction around here, so is the new one that much better? I don't see much talk about it here or anywhere else.
TAS seems to praise it higher than the (higher priced) EMM XDS1 (on redbook, of course, since the Meridian has no SACD).
Has anyone compared it to a current EMM CDSA-SE?
Thanks in advance.
rgs92
I own the 808.2. It and the remote have so many quirks. I have no idea if all these quirks have been addressed.
Quirks: The remote doesn't work as well as it first did. I now have to push 3/5/6 different button to get the blue light to respond and make changes. (It AIN'T the batteries)
Then the unit will loose its lock on any digital input and has to be re-booted for some reason. I hate to think about sending this back to France for repairs. Just thought one should be aware of these gremlins within the 808.2.
My 808.3 is much better then previous model which I also owned.Very fast,vary well balanced.
Well, they will probably be used for around $10K or less soon.
(They are about $12-13K now.)
An Accuphase 75V was going used for $8K 10 years ago,
and that was a so-so player. (I sold mine.) So if the Meridian is really as good as TAS claims (which I doubt considering the lack of attention around here), it would be worth it.
The EMM SE separates (to my ears IMHO) I would say are worth every penny at the $9K they sell for used.
Re: (Vermeal: "Hire a band")

Oh-oh, looks like my wife found me out here on Audiogon.
Listen Honey, if this is you, I promise not to use all of
Mr. Whiskers' fresh litter for my speaker stands again.
love and kisses :-)