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

Any one managed to get the 218 working and can comment on sound quality vs MS200, ms600 and 818v3.
I am particularly interested in any thoughts on sound quality I with legacy speakers.
From my perspective I am interested in whether a 218 into dsp3200 would be better than tidal nto the into MS200 and 3200s for mqa
Thanks for any insight.

Tony

While hardly perfect the RJ45 A/B switch is a good option. There are not issues with both units being controller, volume updates immediately upon next volume press, and the source stays synced when switching from one input of the RJ45 switch to tbe other. There are both RS-232 controlled versions as well as a contact closure version. With the 12v triggers on the Meridian gear, a seamless automated operation can be done using a 12v relay. In the case of a 218 there are no IR remote issues as it can be IP controlled via the App and the two controllers can operate independently.

I have just swapped from Sooloos > MS200 > 3200s to Sooloos > 218 > 3200s. I haven't carried out any A/B comparisons nor have I had my 3200s long, so take this with a pinch of salt, but I didn't notice any huge difference. Bear in mind that my 3200 placement is sub-optimal too.

The main reason I bought the 218 is that it is the only solution I know which can feed the 3200s with Sooloos *and* sound from a computer (we use the computer for watching TV and films so this is important to me).

In case it ever arrives, I will be dissappinted if it's not a significant SQ improvement over the MS200...

I'm assuming that the MQA benefits will be an improvement on non MQA MS200 - anything else for me SQ wise will be a bonus.

Cheers
Tom

Unfortunately, at the same time I substituted it for an MS200 I also changed the speakers from 5200 to 3200. I will say that it spent a brief period as just a Roon endpoint in my multichannel analogue system that had previously had an MS600 and I didn't notice it being any worse. You could argue that it would be difficult to tell owing to it feeding an Arcam AVR550 via analogue though, so I'm no help really. Although if I can eventually get it to work with the IP Control app I will be happier.

I'm hoping it's a significant improvement over my LG to which I've had to use for sound for the last few months, a real pain.

I have tested the 218 with a pair of Genelec G04 (Active speaker). I compared the MS600 with 218 connected to the G04. The 218 is as good as MS600 in my setup.

is there anyone who will take delivery of a 218 in the next couple of days and see if the input works in a 5.1 system connected to a G65 (or other processor)?

218 - AC200 - 5200SEs.

218 SL out into DSPs.
AC200 master out into SL in on 218.

Volume control OK, via MSr or Apps.

No other control.

I can see this working quite similar to a G65.

To clarify,

What other control would I need?

How do you select between switching of my centre, LR and RR and switching to the 218 as the primary control (Sooloos/Tidal/MQA). Do I have to define a source button on the MSR+ that will switch off my g65 and turn on the 218 at the same time, can this be setup in the 218?

I assume the 218 has to be powered constantly to pass through the G65 signal under normal use?

Does the 218 come preloaded with the Sooloos software (controllable through Control:PC to setup Tidal)?

Until I have tried a 218 with a surround controller, I wouldn't want to clarify anything.

We have 818s and now 218s in the field, with Meridian Surround controllers - however this is using AC12s, and some jiggery in the set up. (on another post here)

I know Rick is also looking into this.