Dear all,

I have been using a 218 as a roon streamer for a year now and I like the device a lot. Recently I went to a friend of a friend with an immense high end system. Martin logan E2 and MSB DAC. We tested the MSB DAC being fed by USB directly from a mac with roon and compared the same DAC being fed by the SPDIF of the 218 as roon endpoint. The difference was large and made me think about the 218. The MSB DAC directly fed with USB was much better.

Considering a 818v3, I was looking at the 218 where there is a cheap switch mode power supply (cosel TUHS 5F) which could be improved. This power supply was removed and replaced for a external linear PSU Farad super 3. Straight after connecting the difference it made to the sound was remarkable. The soundstage became more realistic and much deeper. There was more detail as well. I can't switch back to the original but to form an idea, I switched back the 12V adapter of the MS200 and the step back is not subtle. I don't know how it would compare to a 818v3 as I don't have one..

A recommended upgrade!

With standard PSU:
https://www.meridianunplugged.com/ubbthreads/gallery/16/full/3499.jpg


Upgraded PSU:
https://www.meridianunplugged.com/ubbthreads/gallery/16/full/3500.jpg
https://www.meridianunplugged.com/ubbthreads/gallery/16/full/3502.jpg
https://www.meridianunplugged.com/ubbthreads/gallery/16/full/3501.jpg

Last edited by Mimesis; 2020-10-09 16:26.
Main: DSP8000SE< 218 < Farad Super3 TMCB < PS Audio P10. Room correction: Focus Fidelity.
Second: Fostex Fe206NV2 < Audio innovations 500 valve amp < Wiim Pro +
Study: DSP33 < Reviver < MS200
Server: ROCK + Tidal on NUC, fiber on 2x cisco 2960, HD-Plex LPS.
Gone: DSP7200SEu, DSW, DSP5500mkI & DSP5000mkI, 508.20, 210