The story begins in 1971 when Graham, a longstanding client of Martins Hi-Fi and ourselves, purchased his first system while studying at sixth form in Newcastle.
With limited income and funds, Graham saved up enough money to purchase a Thorens TD150 turntable and a Leak Delta 30 Amplifier. The amplifier cost a heady £48.00, which meant there was not enough budget to purchase a pair of speakers. Koss Pro 4AA headphones were used (uncomfortably) until a pair of second-hand B&W DM4s with stands became available.
The first big upgrade came when Graham started his first teaching job in the early 80’s. The legendary A&R A60 was added (Martins Hi-Fi have mentioned that they helped bankroll A&R, paying upfront for their first A60 order to help A&R buy the components to build the products. A fact John Dawson declined to verify when I asked him, preferring to leave the notion to urban myth). The matching tuner was added, followed by a speaker upgrade to a pair of the Arcam TWO’s.
Let the second upgrade commence
The second upgrade coincided with a new teaching post at Barnard Castle. The Arcam Delta range was purchased, including the offboard DAC – The Black Box One, where Graham remembers to this day the difference in sound he heard during the in-store demonstration by Lintones in Newcastle.
Graham moved to Ely in 1990 and lived in the same village as Scott Campbell (Arcam Legend). Soon after the move, he upgraded to the new Arcam FMJ range. The new system included a Pre Amp, Power amp combination, and a new CD Player with the latest Ring DAC fitted (an Arcam and DCS collaboration).
At this point in time, concerts were being produced on DVD, so naturally, Graham wanted to explore this new concept for multi-channel music, with the side benefit of being able to enjoy movies too.
The system was upgraded to adopt Multichannel Audio with an Arcam Processor and a Chord Electronics 5-Channel Power Amplifier. The speakers had been upgraded to Spendor Audio SP2/2, and then a pair of Spendor STs.
Queue the coffee, some Stillpoints Ultra SSs and the next upgrades
This brings us to January 2015 in Norwich, Martins Hi-Fi to be exact. Graham is a self-confessed coffee addict, so over a decent filter coffee and an enjoyable chat about Hi-Fi, a plan to test out some Stillpoints Ultra SS feet underneath the Pre-amp/Processor was hatched. We had ideas for bigger boxes as well, but Graham was taking the train so the Stillpoints were the best option for this visit.
The Ultra SS Stillpoints were an immediate hit with Graham, instantly bringing more resolution to his system. Additional Stillpoints were quickly added, followed by a plan to upgrade the system from the ground up.
Before long, the Chord Electronics, Arcam and Spendor Loudspeakers were replaced with a Meridian Audio Active System and Sooloos Audio streaming. The Meridian DSP-5200 and later DSP-5200SE Loudspeakers were chosen as front left and right, with the matching centre, surrounds and subwoofer installed for Movies and Multi-Channel Music.
The Meridian Sooloos was ‘upgraded’ to Roon. At the same time, a DCS Network Bridge was added to separate the music and movie audio paths (remember the Ring DAC).
The Surround sound processor was upgraded to the Flagship Meridian 861v8, completing the system for a while.
Time inevitably moves on, and Graham’s retirement date approached. Once again, plans were hatched to make further upgrades to the system. To coincide with Graham’s newfound freedom, upgrades were ordered. We did not hold back!
The DCS network bridge was upgraded to the DCS Vivaldi Upsampler and Vivaldi Clock. Stillpoints were added to all major components, power cables and interconnects were upgraded to Entreq, and Entreq grounding was added. We also added room treatment in the form of Acoustica Applicata. This proved to be the most telling upgrade. It finally allowed us to hear exactly what the system was doing. It was quite remarkable.
The last major upgrade was planned – the new Meridian DSP-9 loudspeakers were ordered at a pre-launch event at Martins Hi-Fi, one of the very first pairs sold in the world!
Because the DSP-9 Loudspeakers are so different and much more dynamic than the DSP-5200SE, we needed to re-adjust the Acoustica Applicata. The Acoustica Applicata room map tells us where to put the devices, but the final calibration can only be done by ear. We allowed enough time for the system to run in, and then Fraser and I booked a date to go and tweak the system.
The current system
This brings us up to 2024, and to our latest visit – The current system:
Graham’s system combines both Hi-Fi and home cinema.
Movies are taken care of by an Oppo 205 4k HDR player, still regarded as one of the best disc spinners. The screen is a professionally calibrated high-specification LG panel. The surround processor is the Meridian 861v8, although not Atmos, still has sonic ability beyond most new processors. The center channel, surround and subwoofer are all Meridian DSP Active, so by design offer excellent sonic integration.
The two-channel music is taken care of with an Innuos Statement Server, which contains a superb high-resolution classical music library. This is connected via Network to a DCS Vivaldi Upsampler and Vivaldi Clock. The Vivaldi Upsampler is connected directly to the DSP-9, completely bypassing the Meridian 861v8, and shortening the signal path for stereo music reproduction.
Our approach
Power:
Mains cables to all major components were upgraded. Entreq Apollo Infinity Power for all the 2- 2-channel components and the DSP-52SE HC center channel. The 861v8 and Oppo were connected with the previous TelluriumQ Black power cables.
To get enough sockets, a PS Audio PS15 was installed for all the low-current products – the DSP speakers being connected directly to wall sockets.
Interconnects:
Entreq Apollo RJ45 network cables from Innuos to DCS Chord Sarum Speakerlink and digital cables for the DSP Loudspeakers throughout.
Mechanical energy control:
Two Quadraspire racks were needed to house all the boxes. Everything is on display so we made sure to be neat. We left enough height between the shelves to fit Stillpoints Ultra SSs under all the major components. Stillpoints were also fitted to the DSP-9s.
System grounding:
Four individual Entreq Olympus 10T Ground Boxes were tucked neatly behind the screen. These combined with Olympus Eartha cables were connected to different parts of the system:
Box 1 – connected to a spare RJ45 socket on the EE Network Switch
Box 2 – connected to a spare RJ45 Speakerlink socket on the 861v8
Box 3 – connected to a spare Coax Digital Socket on the DCS Vivaldi Upsampler Box 4 – connected to the Innuos Statement via the USB socket.
Room treatment:
It is a big system in a modest room, so we had to try and tame the beast. The speakers have to go where they are, within +/- 100mm. There is no wall space and limited floor space.
We worked the space to install two Acoustica Applicata Daad 4 devices behind the loudspeakers, and then for music listening, a single Acoustica Applicata Halifax was positioned directly in front of the screen.
It is moved to the side for movies but carefully marked to go back to the same spot each time. We also noted the length of the tuning tube and the angle of the tuning paddle during our system calibration/tune-up. The DSP-9s are so much more dynamic than the DSP 5200SEs they replaced.
We had some serious work to do, but boy was it worth it, what a system!
How does the current system sound?
Movies sound holographic. Incredibly dynamic at any volume level. The system is able to draw you in with a wonderful 3-D sound field. It is delicate, precise and as smooth as silk one second, then instantly able to be hard and aggressive the next. Vocals are always intelligible, and never lost in the mix.
Music: The DSP-9s audibly disappear, leaving music floating in the room. From full-scale organ recitals to quartets, the system just keeps playing music. Very capable and engaging, both Fraser and I agree it is the best-sounding Meridian system we have ever heard!
A stand-out piece Graham introduced us to while visiting was ‘Overture on Hebrew Themes, Op.34 (Guy Yehuda, Yvonne Lam, Suren Bagratuni & Eric Zuber)’
The instruments combine to play in a breathtaking display of musicianship and technical ability. The recording and mastering is brilliant! This piece of music played on Graham’s system is very special indeed.
Between Two Worlds CD review – https://classicalcandor.blogspot.com/2024/06/between-two worlds-cd-review.html
Listen to Between Two Worlds on QoBuz – https://open.qobuz.com/album/is2g6zc10kfhc
Listen to Between Two Worlds on Tidal – https://tidal.com/browse/album/352877292?u
More about Graham
Graham is exceptionally well qualified in the field of Music. He studied music from an early age, continuing this passion through his school and university years, into a career teaching music at some very prestigious schools – here’s a quick rundown for reference:
• A music scholar at Oakham School.
• Studied the Joint Course at Manchester University in parallel with the Royal Northern College of Music.
• Became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.
• Spent a postgraduate year at Cambridge University before starting his teaching career.
• Assistant Director of Music and Organist at Denstone College.
• DoM at Barnard Castle School 1983.
• Head of Music at King’s Ely 1990.
• Assistant Organist in Ely Cathedral (Kings Ely School Chapel).
• Given recitals or accompanied visiting choirs in Ripon, Durham, Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford, Bristol, Lichfield and Portsmouth Cathedrals as well as York Minster.
Graham’s understanding and love of classical music is on a level beyond obsessive, I write this in the kindest possible way. A frequent concertgoer who does not need a second invitation to hear live music. He looks forward each year to the proms as a cricket fan does the Ashes. His classical music collection is exemplary and very well-researched.
Graham’s system, more than 50 years in the making, is a combination of products which have been carefully chosen and fitted together with the utmost care and attention to detail. Without the addition of Stillpoints, Acoustica Applicata, Chord, and Entreq, the overall performance would still be great but not exceptional.
Being able to control such a powerful system in a modest-sized room is not easy. However, using the principles of LTNF (Lowering The Noise Floor), we have succeeded in delivering a superb sounding system.
We are as proud of our contribution to this system, as Graham is delighted every time he listens.
