Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 861 version identification

Can anyone tell me what is the easiest way to identify the age and preferably version of an 861? Does it read out on the display when the unit is turned on like the 500 series?
Thanks much.

There are a few ways to determine the 861 version.

Software Version / Serial Number

If you have access to the processor and can connect it to power you can press the "Display" button while it is in standby. The display will cycle through different pages of information that includes the version number and serial number. The serial number might provide some information although not conclusive since serial numbers are not changed when upgrading the electronics.

Chassis / Cards

If you only have access to photos it can be a little trickier because you can have an old chassis (round gold buttons behind front panel ) that has upgraded electronics. The input and output cards are a little more reliable than the actual chassis but are not definitive since the input cards are shared across a few versions. The digital input card for v1 and v2 is the IE16 and has two fiber optic inputs. The v3 and v4 will have the IE42 and has multichannel digital inputs. The v6 and v8 will have the IE44 and has multichannel digital inputs as well as MMHR and SpeakerLink (looks like a RJ45 ethernet port).

If you share a list of the cards we can help you narrow it down for you.

Nick

Along with a photo of the open front panel and the back panel. Stand off card retention screws and as mentioned above round gold button denote very early versions. These could still be brought up the version 4.

Thanks so much. Always get good info quickly here!

So... looking at used units, although you just said a v3 could be updated to v4 it seems there is a jump in money between those versions, is that correct? Prior, I was thinking the v3 was end of line and could not be updated beyond and that was the reason for the jump in desirability.

Is there a prior discussion re: changelog between versions, upgrade paths and what cards are interchangeable?

Last question, maybe this one deserves a new thread. I've run a 568 for a long time. My biggest complaint is that it doesn't give the option to send low end from the center channel to the L/R, it must go to the sub. i.e. I'd prefer a setup where I run my L/R full range, my center small sending everything below the cutoff to the L/R. Then send anything below a second cutoff from the L/R to the sub in addition to LFE. This because both I can hear the sub augmenting the center channel and the center channel sounds different than the L/R. Is this possible with the 861 and it's newer setup software?

Thanks so much.

Check out Duncan's Meridian Info on the 861. It is pretty comprehensive on the different models and functions. The jump from v3 to v4 includes additional processing power to handle Meridian Room Correction and also supports the ID40 card for Sooloos or Roon streaming. It is possible to upgrade hardware from a 861v1 -> 861v4. Parts may be hard to find and it may be cost prohibitive so finding a v4 would be your best option. v6 and v8 models are out there but could demand 5-7 times the money. You cannot upgrade from a v4 to anything later, or at least it is not supported.

The 861v4 does allow for routing of center channel bass to the main speakers if you have the front speakers set to large, center set to small, subwoofer set to LFE and Front Subwoofer mode set to LFE Only. I have not experimented with this much since I have all my speakers set to small and use DIRECT mode when I want to send a full frequency signal to my mains for 2 channel listening.

Happy hunting,

Nick

Wow, pictures and everything. Thanks much.

Begs the question, did I set the 568 improperly without the visual representation of the new software. It seems that setting L/R to large means there can be no sub augmentation of the lowest registers. I had an Arcam prior and thought that I could do this but thinking it through now, I'm wondering if my memory is faulty.

I always thought there should be two crossover points because only the highest end systems have an identical center channel. Even very good systems have space compromises on the center channel making them sound different and often bass deficient. Two crossover points would allow setting L/R large, center small. You could send for example center channel info below 40k to the L/R, and send anything below 20 from the L/R to the sub in addition to LFE. I don't know if there is a brand out there that does this. The 861 has a second crossover labelled LFE, I'm not sure why you'd want to change that as LFE by definition is a sub channel.

Last question, you mentioned the "ID40 card for Sooloos or Roon". I was under the impression you need the ID41 card for Roon, am I wrong?

Thank you much.

Both the ID40 and ID41 work with Roon, the later has better RF noise rejection characteristic.

This is slightly tongue-in-cheek but sending any addition bass to my 6ks would result in military response.

There are some processors such as Trinnov where you can have crossovers for each discrete channel.