Hi Fred

Whilst the 818 is billed as the finest Sooloos end point, I think it will probably have a markedly different character to your Audio Research LS26. If you still enjoy vinyl (and I'm assuming that you probably do with such a preamp in an analogue rig?) or any other analogue sources, be aware that the 818 will digitise every input before converting back to analogue for the outputs. The quality of Meridian's conversion is extremely good, but if you seek the last ounce of performance from your system, there may be some degree of compromise. I haven't heard the 818 (I use an 861v4 and a mid range vinyl set up, which is great), but perhaps VinceHoffman can chime in here, as he's used a high end vinyl rig into a Meridian system, having previously owned tube gear.

I think this is one circumstance where a home demo in your own system is even more crucial that would normally be the case when adding the 818 to an existing DSP loudspeaker system.

Cheers

George