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

Thanks for the replies. It's interesting that the 5200 SE speakers do display MQA 192k when playing Hotel California via Tidal through Roon. I guess it does have to be MQA content for a display reading above 96kHz.

That said, I still wonder what is actually happening in the DACs though. The 5200 SE datasheet says the input samples on a range between 32-96kHz. Seems to me the final output after all the connections and processing up or down is 96 kHz tops. But I could be wrong...if the display on the speakers is indeed the final sample rate somehow.

On another note.....today is the first day I have enjoyed MQA in my own home on the 218. Sample rates aside, d@mn does it sound it good! I was using an AC200....the 218 replaced it. Non MQA material is a push...but the MQA stuff sounds superb.

I can also vouch for the analog inputs. I dropped the needle on an Alison Krauss (Windy City) record. Clear Audio Concept / Ortofon Black / Tube Box DS / is my analog rig. I A/B compared it to the same album via Roon/Tidal. I needed to compensate for volume levels with about 8 clicks higher on the analog input to match ethernet input volumes. Holy cow the record sounded awesome. Every bit as nice as digital, but just a little more rounded with the tubey goodness of the Tube Box DS. Records DO SOUND BETTER than through the AC 200. Said another way, the analog input implementation is excellent.

I am very happy with this little 218. For the money it's hard to beat.

No, the display on the speakers is the sample rate of the MQA master.

In short, the 2x rate "MQA Core" is "rendered" in the speakers. Part of this must involve extracting any hierarchically-encapsulated timing information, and up-sampling with this information. What this implies for a 192k original sample rate MQA file is that 96k goes to the speakers and the original 192k samples are reconstructed (de-convolved) from the 96k non-Shannon sample values. Further up-sampling to match the stream to capabilities of the DAC is a likely further part of this "rendering" process. The final thing to do is apply the filtering needed for the DAC-specific correction.

Well you did ask... (Section 4 of this paper)

I wish it passed through 4x rate PCM, but I guess it's just not got the umph (or product marketing decision) to do the MQA-style encapsulation (which is the only way that the 818 can be getting 192k PCM into SE loudspeakers). That aside, yes, it's a really nice unit.

Can you specify which version of 861, v4 or v6?

The ID40 card was in 861v6.

That makes more sense to me

I was just wondering what direct competitors there were for a 218 outside of a Meridian system. Just what Roon and MQA compatible network streaming DAC Preamps are out there ?

Bluesound probably have something.

Is there no information on the MQA website?

I would just buy a Rasberry Pi and then you can stick whatever USB DAC you want on it.

I am running a second system with an Explorer 2 plugged in, total cost £150. Sounds better than the Auralic Aries at £1500 and the MS600 at a grand, which both sounded better than the Bluesound Node 2. That is what I bought originally.

861v8 finally getting MQA cards this year makes me warm inside, even if it's from a rumor!

Of course MCH MQA will be a joy, but things take time.

2ch MQA unfold into Trifield will make my day!

Hey everyone,

Grateful for advice: I have a zone 2 on my F80 and wondering about putting a 218 there to play back MQA. Some questions:

1) The MQA playback from 218>F80 is limited to 96K?

2) Would anything in the F80's design negate or otherwise limit the benefits of MQA heard on it from a 218?

3) Given the F80 is a legacy product (that I still love very much), if I were to consider a replacement for it to be fed by the 218, what would you guys recommend, one box to book end speakers are viable for the space (master bedroom).

Thanks /bt

As a one-box solution, I suggest the Yamaha TSX-B235D