Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems ‘Something is coming’ vs 861v4/ID40

I’d go with the 218. Digital into that from the 568. Din to SpeakerLink cross over cable between the two for control and analogue out of the 218 into your amp. I’ve got a similar set up, just got to plumb in the comms. I’ll be doing it in a week or so when I get home. I can let you know how it goes. MQA from the 218 directly into my old tag McLaren mono’s and Ruark floor standers sounds great. You’ll have the best part of two and a half grand to spend on other stuff.

Ahh- I've just read your other post - I thought you meant mine was the wrong post (and you think you're not very clever!)

Hi Tom,

Perhaps I wasn’t clear, but yes I did mean for the 218 to go between the 568 and the power amp ... but as Struttmaster suggests!

I’ve ammended my original post.

Brian

Why would you add a pre-amp to a pre-amp?

Because the Prime with PSU offers MQA up to 192 kHz and USB input for his MacMini with Roonserver. Furthermore, Stereo could sound even better than Stereo via the 568.2 MM (That's at least my experience: the Pre-AMP function of my G91A is amazingly enough by far not as good as my Prime/PSU combo).

Nice.

Niek,

I’m not much of a headphone user, so I’d never have thought of using the Prime.

Question: How does it work? When you are using your G91(or the 568 of the thread) for surround, does the L & R audio simply pass thru the Prime (i.e. can the Prime be turned off) to the power amp or do you need to have the Prime turned on with the volume set at some pre-selected level.

Brian

Some 2 channel Pre-Amps have a “Home Theater Bypass” for “proper” hook up between an Amp and a preamp. As far as I know the prime has no such bypass. So when using G91A you are going through two preamp stages. And knowing Meridian, their input on prime converts it to digital. So you go through extra A/D and D/A.

So yeah if you “A/B” G91A to Prime in that setup of course prime will win because you put the G91A at a disadvantage. I’m sure it will work and for movies probably not a big deal. But it’s generally not a good idea.

If prime has a true home theater bypass (i.e. a input to output relay or switch to shunt input to output) I stand corrected.

Hi,

I use the G91A only for CD, DVD, TV, DVR and Radio as an analogue source. I have set the volume of the G91A on fixed. The analogue output of the G91A goes into the Prime.
The USB input of the Prime is connected to my MacMini which serves as a RoonServer and my MC200 serves as a back up for Roon and as a NAS for Roon. Sooloos works fine too.
And last but least: It sounds incredible good on my headphones as well as through my NAP 200 End-Amplifier into my Guru speakers. (much better than my previous stereo pair of DSP5000 24/96!!!)

It works for me, so I don't see any reason to opt for a 218 or 'something coming'.

P.S.: I have compared the sound of the G91A versus the Prime/PSU (i.e. working independently). And no what comes in as analogue on the Prime stays analogue in the Prime. The Prime/PSU combo is by far the better Pre-AMP (for Analogue and for USB Digital).

Thanks all for your insights!

Regards,
Bob

Hi Bob, the problem here is that there is no straight right / wrong answer only a list of options each with its own set of compromises. That said, I feel there is an important question that's not been explored ... Do you want the best Roon sound or the best multi-channel Roon sound? Put another way ... what does "best" mean for you?


Best* multi-channel Roon sound (from a 2 channel source)
The analogue outputs of the 861v4/ID40/LPSU combination will yield better AQ than the 568.2MM.
Also consider 861v6/ID40, 861v6/ID4I, 861v6/ID41/LPSU, 861v8/ID41 (if you can stretch the budget).
Considerations: Until Roon can decode MQA (not announced but is widely anticipated) this setup is limited undecoded MQA.

Best* multi-channel Roon sound (from a multi-channel source)
Oppo UDP-203 / UDP-205.
Considerations: Whilst Roon Ready, this Oppo does not presently support multi-channel or MQA decoding connecting to Roon via its LAN port, however via USB it does. Which is a crying shame.

Best* 2-channel Roon sound
Select a Roon Ready DAC of your choice (one that decodes MQA, if that's important to you).
The Meridian 218 is one choice and it has pass though mode so you could also feed it from your 568.2mm when watching movies.
When used this way the 568 would typically be used just for movies.
Considerations: Would you be happy with music in its 2-channel pure form or is Trifield important to you (at the expense of MQA)?

* Assuming a certain budget.

My advice fwiw I'd focus on getting Roon setup first, if you want MQA decoding now add a 218 between the 568 and the G55 power-amp's Left/Right channels.
- Pass-though when using the 568.2mm for multi-channel.
- LAN input when using Roon for 2 channel.

Regards,
Carl

Hi Carl,

Thanks for your questions!

My choices are getting clearer while thinking about the answers.
Trifield is important to me so full blown MQA is out of the question I think?

So (immenent) Roon MQA hi-res first unfold from Tidal (24/96 max) combined with 861v4/ID40/LPSU seems like the best of both worlds for me and my budget.

Or am I missing something?

Best regards,
Bob