Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Meridian 218 Zone Controller Announced!

The 818 also has SL inputs which probably no-one in the whole world has ever used apart from Bob running two 818s in series (and some people trying to integrate with multichannel processors...).

Hi Christofer,

The SL outputs to the speakers can either be "daisy chained" (i.e. uses one SL output from the processor to the master speaker) or in a "home run" configuration (two SL connections _ one to each of the L & R speakers).

I'm sure that the SL imputs on the back of the G65 are individual inputs only.

I've always wondered why the G65 had two SL inputs.

Brian

Given that the 218 is Meridian's new baby of which they seem to be so proud, there seems to be a hell of a lot of FUD associated with it.

C'mon Huntingdon, break the code of silence and tell us how we should be using this thing!

I'd love to hear more on people's impressions of its sonic capability. Take your time though as it does take time. Chris

Yes, you couldn't have put that better_ all of the other inputs on the 218 seem a bit unnecessary if you already have a processor. However, I can see how important the 218 is for it's intended market, so perhaps we'll have to wait a bit more for something that's more suited to our needs.

Brian

Indeed - I feel there will be some promising products coming...! ... we all may just need to be a little more patient.

Both end-user, enthusiast and us dealers!

Let's enjoy what we have now - both products and listening material.

Ian.

Does anyone have the 218 yet?
Somebody must have tried adding it to a surrround setup as described above?

All of the 218s we have supplied to customers, are running 2 channel systems or Arcam AV installations.

Ian.

Which is sort of their intended purpose.

The setup on page 8 of the user guide tells me a lot of bedrooms, libraries and generally everywhere OTHER than the room with the processor will get an upgrade via these units.

My PC and Pi can drive two independent Roon zones - Does anyone know if the 218 can do this?

Cheers
Tom

Don't think so.

I do not have an 218 but do have an 808v6 (which has SL inputs) and they cannot be used as inputs from the 861v8 SL outputs.. The connections that allow for use of multichannel via the 861 and 2 channel via the 808 or 818 (for MQA) that I am aware of are cumbersome.. I do not know anyone who has a 218 so not sure of how that would work but believe it might be similar to the 818 and 806 solutions.

One solution posted in this forum has a phantom source that seems to work but requires 2 remotes.. There is another that requires an A/B switch on the RJ45 cable.. Believe both require having 2 control units..

My solution is to keep the 861 5 channel set up as is.. I then have a separate set up with 808v6 going into an AC12 and then into my 8000SE (retype speakers so CD and Sooloos via the 808v6 use digital input 2).. This allows for 2 channel full MQA (I think but the literature seems to suggest this only takes place via SpeakerLink) and 2 channel CD playback from the 808v6..

It however is hardly perfect.. The 808 and 861 both are set as controllers and this occasionally causes volume synching issues.. It also does not allow me to simply see how the 808v6 would sound as a multi-channel source going through the 861..

I have enjoyed many wonderful years with my Meridian gear and continue to enjoy it.. The current solution - or lack thereof - to integrate 2 channel MQA sources (808v6, 818v3, and possibly now the 218) with a multi channel Meridian processor is disappointing.. I hope simpler answers will be discovered/provided.