Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 818v3 vs. Trinnov Altitude 32

I am currently testing an 818v3 with DSP8000(U)SE streaming from Roon’s ROCK.

The 818v3 clearly beats my 218 for any source material including MQA, it sounds marvellous, it’s precise and depth/imaging the best I have had at home... but how does it compare to Trinnov for 2-channel... anyone thoughts?

Obviously the built in room correction for Trinnov is good... but I can use filters in Roon also except for my Oppo input...

In a well treated room, I bet 818.3 will sound better than the ALT32, the EBA does part of job what ALT32 will do to the DSPs.

I was on Roon/861 and am now on Roon/Alt32 and can say that Alt32 hands down beats the M.

Many will disagree. So it is ultimately to the person investing to take that leap of faith (and $)

At least in my room the 818.3 sounds better than the Alt16.

Just to to clarify the OP was asking about the 818v3- did you mean 861 or 818v3? There is a big difference.

My bad.

I did mean 861v6 bit that is clearly not relevant to OP's query

No worries! 818v3 is really something special

Thanks all for your replies. I chose to buy the 818v3, it’s absolutely astonishing.
It’s clearly superior to anything else I have tried, then I may go for the Trinnov for surround...

I'm considering whether my next upgrade is speakers or audio controller.

I was hoping you could tell me a little more about the differences between the 818v3 and 218. Do you feel the 818v3 is worth 7,200 pounds more than the 800 pound 218?

It all depends on how you plan to use the 218 or 818v3...

You need very good speakers to be able to hear the difference. In comparison tests using DSP5200SE's, the differences (even on MQA material) are minimal. I think you would need to use 7200SE's or 8000SE's to really benefit from the 818v3 in the digital domain.

If you're using analogue, then the difference is far more pronounced. The 818v3 supports balanced connections to the power amplifier, where the 218 only has unbalanced phonos. The 818v3's analogue outputs are very hard to better, the UltraDAC would be better but even more ££££...

I use my 818v3 into a Meridian 557 (via balanced), driving an old pair of tweaked Musical Fidelity MC2's in my office and it sounds sublime!

You need to evaluate both units and let your ears decide.

Cheers,

Steve

I swapped out an 818v2 for an 818v3 feeding DSP33s and the difference when streaming from Sooloos/TIDAL and the interweb was, to my ears, obvious and not subtle.

The A2D in the 818v3 is very good too.

It’s mainly for streaming Tidal through Roon. Jedburgh says the 818v3 is clearly superior to the 218 and I was hoping he could elaborate.

I’ve heard the 3200’s, 5200’s and 7200’s in a side by side comparison a couple of times and always amazed at how good the 3200’s sound especially against the 5200’s. In fact, for many recordings i actually prefer the 3200’s over the 5200’s.

I think that for smaller rooms or at lower volume levels the combined high/mid range driver of the 3200’s produces a smoother sound over the 5200’s. Only when the room is large enough, the volume load enough or the recording complex enough do the 5200’s and 7200’s begin to pull away...

My dealer only has speakers and 200 series components so I’m not sure where I could personally compare the 218 to 818v3.