Hello from Cyprus!

[Frangos]

Hi all,
Just found out about this forum and joined in the fun!
I live in Cyprus, a little island in the Eastern Mediterranean sea.
I've always loved music since I was a kid - played the mandolin and a little bit of the violin, and later on the clarinet in the school band.
I studied electronics at Imperial College London, where I got involved into Hi Fi. Listened to the Meridian M1s -their first active speakers, and got immediately hooked, though I couldn't afford them, being just a student.
Recently I managed to make my dream come true, and I now have a full Meridian digital system comprising their top of the range equipment, including 861V4 processor, 800V3 DVD player, 808 CD player, with speakers being DSP8000s for front and rears and DSP5000C for centre channel. The system also includes my son's PS3 for HD movies. I am still looking (and waiting!) for the projector choice.

I love listening to all types of music, but for me DVD-A as a medium is unbeatable.

Look forward to talking to you all!

[Mike P.]

Hi Philippos and welcome to the Shack! Glad you could join us.

[avaserfi]

Welcome! This is a great place to be. Have you tried SACDs? You might like those a lot as well.

[Frangos]

Hi!
The truth is that I have not had the chance to listen to SACDs, even though there re many more titles than DVD-A, as I understand. If I am not mistaken, I could play these on the PS3 (60GB version)? I suppose PS3 will give me surround sound through its optical output, as the Meridian equipment still does not support HDMI.
The real shame, for me, is that both these formats seem to be dead. Everybody seems to be much more interested in HD than music.

[avaserfi]

Frangos wrote:

Hi!
The truth is that I have not had the chance to listen to SACDs, even though there re many more titles than DVD-A, as I understand. If I am not mistaken, I could play these on the PS3 (60GB version)? I suppose PS3 will give me surround sound through its optical output, as the Meridian equipment still does not support HDMI.
The real shame, for me, is that both these formats seem to be dead. Everybody seems to be much more interested in HD than music.

The 60GB PS3 can play SACDs, but only through HDMI due to DRM . SACDs have the potential for the same exact audio quality as on DVD-As so you will be in for a real treat when Meridian gets an HDMI unit out .

Both formats are kind of dead in part because of their little war and in part because audio doesn't get the emphasis it should, most people want the quick impress through video.

[mechman]

Welcome to the Shack Philippos!

mech

[Sonnie]

Hello Philippos and welcome to the Shack!

We look forward to having you around.

[ISLAND1000]

Wow! Cyprus . . . . . would you then be a "Cypriot'? Good to have you visiting this website.
This might be off topic but I want to travel to Cyprus, can I stay at your house for free?

[Frangos]

Yes, I guess this makes me a Cypriot, and yes, you are very welcome to come and visit us and stay with us! We might even enjoy a few listening sessions to my system and you could tell me what you think about it.
On the same track, I am looking to visiting the States again soon , so perhaps the hospitality might be reciprocated?!

[ISLAND1000]

Thanks for the offer of hospitality it surely goes likewise to you . . . . . as long as you don't steal all of my fine china and run off with my beautiful wife!
I sure hope you know I'm kidding about that last part.

[Frangos]

I am pretty sure that Helen of Troy doesn't hold a candle to your wife!
All the same, we do not want a repetition of the Iliad, so I'll behave myself when I am over there!

Cheers
Paris .....eeeerr I mean Philippos

[ISLAND1000]

Excellent!

[nova]

Hi Ya Philippos, Welcome to our little slice of the net. Look forward to seeing you around.