Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Meridian 818

Well you inspired me. I finally got my 818 and decided to connect it to my 861v6 in my main listening room. I am not good at articulating subtleties of how things sound but now that I have been listening to the 861 818 combo via the ID41 for a few hours I have to agree that it is significantly superior!

I still have the ID40 in my 861 but my dealer helped me figure out a config so that I could use either card. No doubt the ID41 is superior. My only problem now is how to use the 818 as an extra zone in a room far away from my main listening room. It just seems too extravegent to have both those units for just one zone. Will have to do a very long run of coax to a two channel amp in another room.....which comes with problems.

Glad you like the 818 into the 861! Truly the best Sooloos sound!

You might not believe it but I am actually contemplating getting an MS600 for a two channel set up in the room in which I originally wanted to use the 818. Thus I can use the 861/818 combo in my main listening room. I guess I belong with the group of audio nuts on this site.

Hi Jack D and Mwiebelhaus,

I'm getting my 818 shortly. Exactly how did you connect it to your 861? Was it as shown in the 818 manual, or did you use another method?

All accounts so far point to a significant improvement; can't wait.

Roy

The best way to connect the 818 to the 861v6 is via SpeakerLink. I would recommend the SpeakerLink cable Meridian sells for the job.

It is in the manual, page 26. Yes, use the SL cable. Don't forget to update your M config program to the latest version so you can add the 818 to your MSL file. You will upload the configuration to both the 861 and 818. Your Sooloos core will see both ID40 and ID41 cards so you will have two zones in the same room from which to choose.

Thanks gents,

I installed the latest cofig program and added the 818 to my system. Something that confuses me though; The program has connected the 861v6, 818 and HD621 with the old comms cable, as well as the SpeakerLink. I thought the latest Meridian kit used the new SpeakerLink connection for comms as well as the signal, or have I misunderstood. Also does the 818 replace the MC200 or do I need to keep that in group.

Thanks,

Roy

A Speakerlink cable has the comms in it. No need for a separate comms cable. You still need the MC200.

One connection between 818 and 861v6 SL to SL. Don't forget in your MSL to create two Sooloos sources. One connected to the 861v6 and one to the 818 via network connection and, of course, make sure they are assigned different sources, like aux (default) and, say, CD.

The ID40 and ID41 are audio endpoints so, as mentioned, you still need the MC200 as the core.