Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming ID41 card issue resolved

For those of you that wondered whether I ever resolved my streaming issues with the 818v3 - I'm very glad to say this is now fixed.

After a little over two frustrating years of my 818 ID41 crashing increasingly frequently - originally every day, but by the end it was every 20 minutes, I can now say (following the ID41's replacement), it has been working perfectly for a week and a half without issues (and, while it might be my imagination, it seems to sound better too). A huge shout out to Sevenoaks for supporting me in the two trips back to Cambridge, followed by a return trip to Reading getting the unit working.

While I'm a little pained it took so long to get fixed, I am so very delighted it is now working.


PS I would hasten to add that, in many cases, it's likely to be the network causing the issues, so please don't jump to the automatic conclusion that this means all Roon/Sooloos issues are related to the ID41 card. My experience does seem a very rare occurrence, albeit one that hasn't made me a very happy customer over the past couple of years.

Great you got sorted. I am actually not surprised that you perceive an improved SQ with a fully functioning unit. I have had similar experience with a repair that resulted in perceived better SQ. In theory, it shouldn't have made a difference but it did. And quite a significant difference too.

My theory is either:

1) the malfunction of a part can have an impact on the performance of a system. And when that malfunction is rectified the impact on other parts of the system is resolved. Think of a misbehaving ID41 that was emitting more noise than usual or actually directly polluting a signal caused by a dodgy cap, chip or resister. Fix that and we can easily understand how that may result in better SQ.

My example was an intermittent volume change in one of my DSP. Ultimately resolved at HQ. SQ on return was significantly better. I actually had to ask whether something more fundamental was changed they were so much better. No expectation bias here. I was not upgrading or trying to justify a purchase or testing a new gadget. I was not expecting any change other than the issue being fixed.

2) the listener is so damn happy that it is working that the joy translates psychologically into a better listening experience.

Or both 1) and 2)

PS
agree that network issue are 99% of the issues in most user cases.

Yes, I had similar thoughts. A faulty card could potentially cause problems downstream, I’m also equally ecstatic that the processor is now working

Congratulation

Good to hear. My plan is for my 861v8/ID41 and MD600 to last me for the rest of my time here on planet earth.

I bought a quite reasonably priced spare MD600, but the 861 is it. Been thinking about sending the latter to Marc K. for a ‘health check’, just cannot bear to part with it for the requisite six weeks or so.