If I listen to my 5200SL's (SpeakerLink with EBA on) through MC200 and then swap to 818v2, there is a very noticeable gain... as one would hope.

Within seconds of listening to some 5200SE (via 808v5 ID41) I found there to be a bigger gain than the above comparison... the 5200's do seem to have the biggest 'improvement' in overall sound when moving up to SE spec vs. their larger family members.

I've also listened to (7200.1 + 818v1) vs. (8000.2 + MC200) and again, the speaker upgrade gave the biggest improvement in sound quality.

If you had DSP6000 96/24 vs. DSP5200SE both via 818... (I've not heard this set-up) I'd probably be inclined to put bets on the DSP6000's sounding better/making the most of the 818... tough call though (both have their strengths).

Personally I'm holding out until I can hear MQA through 'core'/MC200 into SE speakers vs. MQA through 818v3 into SE speakers... i.e. how much does the 818v3 upgrade enhance the MQA data? (is this the 'Studio' level we've heard about in the past.)

Some great announcements being made to slowly clear the waters... and get us spending.

Music Room: 818v3, DSP8000SE (SpeakerLink cables), iPad control
Shunyata Denali Power Distributor, fed by SIgma NR V2 + Sigma digital(818) + 2x Alpha NR(DSP8000SE)
Network Acoustics ENO filter + Rubicon Switch(powered by IFI IPower Elite)

Office: Stax SRS2020 via ifi Signature
Spare: DSP5200 + MC200

Running Roon Core on SonicTransporter