Meridian 808 or NOT Meridian 808

Optarchie, no one in the US has yet received the AMR players, which are due to ship any day now. The 808 is $13k, the AMR is $8500, so why quibble over a few hundred when you're saving thousands, not to mention the performance. Don't expect the AMR to turn up on the used market any time soon.

Suggest you do a search here. There was a recent listening comparison, involving 5 audiophiles, that included the 808, EMM, APL, and DCS. The 808 did not come out on top. Of course, that's not to say that you would not prefer it. Just suggest you read the posts and gather more information before spending that much money.

Essential audio: I was reffering to the Meridian. This post was about the 808 and if it was a good player or not and I said to try the amr. Please read more carefully before you post

What I get out from a number of threads is that we have either (1) marketing platform; (2) difference in personal taste; (3)sensitivity to peripheral equipment; or (4) hard to find items thus limited reputable reviews and questionable long-term customer service. Basically there are options, for a price, if I want go beyond the Meridian 808. However I would then face the time required to seek out long distance auditions, or the extensive research in matching up compatible equipment, or the uncertainty in future customer services if it's from a small company. I am not an audiophile trader. I would like to buy something, then replace it about 5 years later when the technology has drastically improved.

Optarchie, thanks for clarifying. Have you heard one?