Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Hardware with Roon Application Music streamer with SpeakerLink output (AES)

Here is my poor's man "Meridian 210" SpeakerLink Roon endpoint

This is not only Roon, this can be with Volumio or Moode or any Raspberry OS a simple digital streamer for SpeakerLink Meridian piece of kit like DSP speakers.

AES digital audio hat : 40 euros
Raspberry PI 4 : 70 euros
Alu case : 60 euros
RopieeeXL : free

Works great as my requirements were a SpeakerLink output Roon streamer for my DSP5200, which has only 2 digital inputs, because I use the other SPDIF input for my TV.

I use no other gear, just my DSP5200 with my TV/PS5 and this streamer. I hung the TV and PS5 on the wall, so there is no cable and no HiFi furniture in the center. That's for me the beauty of the DSP Meridian speakers, they are independent functioning units.

My streamer handles Bluetooth too, and with my FLIRC USB infrared dongle I can use my Meridian remote control to control Roon.
It's working with Spotify connect, DLNA, Airplay... And with some more hacking it may work with Tidal connect too.

It's almost like a Meridian 210 all in all.
Sound quality is superb to my ears

Nice project! Did you solder the cable on yourself?

You’ve inspired me make use of both 5200SE inputs with only SPDIF as sources. Is there a guide to making the AES to RJ45 connections? Which wires?

Is this perhaps what you're looking for: SpeakerLink used as Digital Out (XLR or SPDIF) ?

Exactly! Thanks for that link.
Now I also need to be reminded how to switch from SPDIF to SL (and back) using MSR with the 5200SE…

SpeakerLink or SPDIF (D1 or D2) input is setup per source (CD, DVD, RADIO, etc., etc.) in the speakers configuration.

Only MASTER speaker is adjusted as the SLAVE is still connect via SpeakerLink back to the MASTER.

Thanks.

Can I leave the slave (right) speaker with SPDIF and BNC comms, or must I change it to RJ45 input and buy another Ethernet cable?

I prefer the sound of my Allo transport, which happens to output simultaneously via BNC and RCA, to be directly connected to both the the speakers and to the 568.2mm. This way I enjoy Roon’s convolution engine with HAF room correction filters, and deliver MQA to the 5200SE.

Other sources, including discs, TV and Amazon HD, input into 568 which would now connect to the SpeakerLink input instead of me having to switch SPDIF cables when I’m not using Roon. I did not have to go through that with my old Smileys because they had two RCA inputs.

Of course l’d rather run everything through HAF (and Roon), but I haven’t figured out how to do that yet without converting other digital sources to FLAC radio stations with only “CD quality”.

Yes I desoldered the XLR AES socket on the HAT, and soldered to it the RJ45 cable directly.
I will do a cleaner version with a RJ45 socket but I wanted to try it first and see that it's working perfect!
I did follow the link above for wiring AES to SpeakerLink thanks for the diagram!

I just typed the type 2 on my master speaker i believe. Like that all input are set to SPDIF, except CD input which is set to Speakerlink!

So you want to connect the Allo streamer to the SPDIF DSP5200SE, and the 568.2mm to the SL?

I suppose you know you have to convert the SPDIF outputs of 568.2 to AES first?

By the way I use Allo Boos2 as my main source for my headphone setup with a tube amp. I love it’s sound!

Yes, Allo makes great-sounding devices for not much money.

I am looking at a simple SPDIF inline transformer, Canare BCJ-XP-TRB Digital Audio Converter, to provide the 110 ohm AES signal.

Plus, with multiple connections, the 568 is able to feed my analog subwoofer (crossing over at 38 Hz, well below EBA) without destroying MQA signaling information from Roon.