Sorry everyone, i've only just picked up this thread, so bit late on parade.
We had the 808.3 in our demo room last week (sadly it had to go again until ours arrives) and i can give you our thoughts.
I guess there are basically two questions on peoples minds:
1) How good is it as a CD player?
2) Is it better than an 808.2 and by how much?

Well obviously these are difficult broad based questions and as we know there are a huge number of variables in any evaluation of this type. So i'm not going to bother going into all the in-depth stuff at this stage ....anyway we only had it for a few hours..BUT ...WOW it's good...very good!
Definitely a significant step forward from the 808.2, it still has all the amazing detail retrieval and resolution of the .2 but now with noticeably more emotion ....dare i say it sounds rather analogue!

I think Meridian have underplayed (as usual) the improvements in sound quality and concentrated on additional technical merit etc. but make no mistake it's a step forward. How much? is it worth the money? or the upgrade cost? I can't help you with that one because let's face it, as a bunch of components slung together (albeit quite nicely) in a posh case, none of this stuff represents 'good value for money'. It's about what it does to you in terms of enjoyment and only you can decide how much to spend on that.
Anyway ..I WANT ONE !

Just as an aside, we hooked it up to a pair of 5200's (SL model) and i have NEVER heard 52's sound like that before ..stunning.

Get yourselves a demo.

Gerry

Meridian Partner & UK dealer since 200 series.
42 Broadwater road, Worthing, BN14 8AG 02380 228434.
www.phase3southampton.co.uk