So I was wondering.. why is one controller any different in sound quality from another? I've read on various threads over the years the the 568 has a warmer tone than the more clinical G series, but the 861 is more like the 568 but better etc..

But why? I thought the whole point of Meridian was that the digital signal is well protected from change all the way to the speakers? so if that's the case why would any controller be different?

I understand that changes can come in when the signal is processed, so perhaps one processor up-samples in a better manner than another, or maybe one is a bit better at jitter, but how much of a difference is there, and if it's not processing the signal then why would there be any difference?

If a 96/24 stereo SPDIF signal is fed into a AC200/DSP5200 and an 818v3/DSP5200, my reading of this forum would indicate that the latter would sound better, but I don't understand why?

Can anyone explain it?

Lounge: LG 55B6v, Some Denon receiver, Anthony Gallo Reference AV mains, Totem Dreamcatcher centre, SVS PC-4000, AppleTV4K
Office: Audioquest Dragonfly, Cyrus 6DAC, Monitor Audio CPW Gold
Headphones: NuForce HDP, Audeze LCD-2, Sennheiser HD6XX, B&O H6mk2