Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Meridian 218 : Set-up tips & tricks etc.

I'd be rather floored thinking the 218 can't act as a perfect simple pass through SpeakerLink device and be perfectly controlled via COMM's through the SpeakerLink input as described in the opening post.

Certainly could pass it through as well as a $10 ABC Switch. Even if it required a $2 relay to do so. No different than the "input" Source "switch" on the DSP Speaker itself.

1) The "problem" going through the 861, besides rumors that doing so degrade/destroy? the MQA signal, is, that the 861 still decrease the volume.

With presets "Direct" and "Music" -3dB, with "Trifield" -6dB and only in "mono" "party mode" there is no volume decrease.

I thought that is done/solved from M a while ago after George puplished his "3dB trick".

The volume attenuation is not visible anymore on the configfile,
it shows "0 dB".

2) It would be a great advantage when M publish the new config Software where a 218 is added so we can "play" what is possible or not.

That would cancel a lot of unnecessary discussion that even can (have) made bad mood about M and his strategy/future.

Why not make a poll on such items so M can/will see what the "basic customer" needs?

I was thinking about that when I made my post above. In theory yes there is no reason an 861 or any preamp can't be configured to pass through encoded MQA, since it's just 16/44.1.

The problem is, it needs to be asynchronous before the Decoder because it fully reclocks it out. If the SPDIF/PCM form of MQA is coming in slightly to fast or slow the Decoder needs to throttle it, and cannot in SPDIF form, Hence Ethernet feed into the 218 for MQA.

Is there any update on the best way to integrate a 218 into a 861v8 5.1 system to get full MQA from front 7200SE?

At the moment all 6 DSP speakers are connected as a home run back to the 861v8 with the left 7200SE set as master. Presume I need to change this so 861v8 speakerlink left goes to 218 and from 218 to 7200SE left and from there to 7200SE right?

What happens if both the 861 and the 218 are trying to send signal to speakers at the same time, seems a recipe for confusion and problems?

Or should we just wait for an MQA card to the 861?

That doesn't help with my existing 218 waiting to be connected...

@Tim_S
You have a pm...

Tim,

Here's what I have done:

I have a G68 with legacy speaker outputs, so I use an AC11, but I believe the concept should be the same.:

Legacy L+R and comms from G68 to AC11
SpeakerLink Master from AC11 to 218
Network in to 218
SpeakerLink out on 218 to left and right front speakers (I use home runs)
Set both G68 and 218 to "Auto"

Works perfectly. Comms seems to work fine. remember, with DSP speakers, volume is done in the speaker itself, so both sending the command hasn't been a problem. I have a feeling the G68 comm is controlling the rear volume and 218 the front.

So, for you it should be:

Connect the master Front SpeakerLink OUT of the 861 to the SpeakerLink IN of the 218
Connect the network input to the 218
Connect your front speakers to the 218, either daisy chain or home run.
Configure 218 for SLS on network and all other inputs SpeakerLink
Set both 861 and 218 to Auto

That should do it. I didn't even have to reprogram my universal (RTI) remote. The 218 doesn't require IR input as the comms comes through SpeakerLink.

Have fun!
John

That appears to work from an audio point of view but not from a Control point of view.

In the above configuration, the centre and surround speakers never get turned on. I've tried both 868 and 218 set to Auto, 218 set to not controller and 868 set to controller and vice versa; but in all three configurations only the main left and right come out of standby regardless of what input I select.

Is this giving you true Trifield when using the 218 as a source i.e Roon or Sooloos?

Cheers
Tom

Tim,

Is there another way to route comms to your other speakers? Sounds like they never get the comms signal. My guess is since I use an AC11 and star config it's send comms everywhere.

Maybe coax/BNC to the center and one of the rear speakers?

John

Tom,

No, Roon and Sooloos will only play stereo. I will be reconnecting my MC200 as a source on my G68 (requires a little programming I haven't done yet) so I can play it as a regular source and get Trifield and room correction, but I'm having so much fun listening to MQA I haven't yet bothered.

My other sources come through just fine in Dolby Digital, etc. as desired.

John