Originally Posted by isb
Although the new G68 & G61 rear panel multi-channel digital inputs still have screening for 6 channel MHR, is it not still conceivable that 8 channel input may be possible using one of the other SPDIF inputs?

Unfortunately Frank spoke with Meridian yesterday and posted this earlier in this thread:

Originally Posted by Frank
The G61R and the G68 do not have an MMHR or 4xSPDIF input for 7.1 discrete. The 861 has an MMHR input for connection to the HD621.

He has a proper meeting scheduled with them later today, so hopefully he'll have move indepth info to share. But it really does seem strange that 7.1 is considered cutting-edge when a $249 Yamaha supports it. I can maybe see the arguement of lack of catalogue, but not really. I wouldn't have thought it was much engineering effort to add considering they already have 8 channel output, but obviously it wasn't a priority for them.

Living room: DSP5000.3
WFH Office: M33
Bedroom: P200ZQ