Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming 210 with SpeakerLink to 808v6

Dear all,

First post here. I've purchased a Meridian 210 Streamer and got it up and running on my wifi. I've connected it to my 808 CD player via SpeakerLink cable, and downstream of the 808 I have a pair of 7200SE speakers also connected by SpeakerLink.

Playing back via Roon through a Chromecast connected to a digital input on the 808 works just fine. However when I play music via the 210 streamer, all the controls work fine - it switches to SLS input automatically and from the Roon app I can change the volume, power things up and down, and the displays on the speaker and the 808 are consistent - but no music comes out! It's completely silent.

I've been banging my head against the wall here, it seems like it shouldn't be that hard to make this work, grrrrrr.
Does anyone have any idea what may be wrong?

Neil

It sounds like an input configuration issue to me…

Maybe I am missing something, however, if you are using Roon with an 808v6 why are you not simply using the ID41 input on the 808v6 and avoid the unnecessary step through the 210? Possibly answering my own question in that clearly the 808v6 requires a wired Ethernet connection; one can use a WiFi to Ethernet converter such as an old Apple Airport Express to provide such a connection to the 808v6 if WiFi is your only option.

Otherwise, as per Chris's note above, use the Meridian configuration program to check how the inputs are configured within the 808v6.

John

Have you run MConfig and added the Net configuration so you are using the ID41 in the 808.

Then you select the ID41 in the Roon app as an audio end point.

No idea why you need to use chrome cast to get Roon playing.

The ID41 should blow the 210 out of the water in terms of audio quality

Cheers
Greg

Thanks very much, yes I can't pull a network cable between the NAS (running Roon) and the hifi (about 800ft away elsewhere) hence the wifi.

I'll look up this configuration thing, thanks.

Hi Greg,

Not sure what an ID41 is. Is that the network port on the back of the 808? I looked it up and it seems to be a card of some sort.

Is it real that one actually is using RS-232 and a Windows program to set these things up - is there an alternative? It seems like a trip back to the 80s and my BBC micro

Given the Mac now runs ARM, I can't even run a windows program in VMWare Seems like the fundamental tech stack needs a bit of an upgrade. The reason for me to run the Meridian stack was to just 'enjoy music' without meddling valves and wires and amps - but meddling RS-232s and running Windows and ID41s seems about as complicated

I will perhaps talk to the dealer and ask if they can meddle this for me. Thank you very much everyone for the guidance.

Neil

If you have 808.6 and SE speakers then it doesn’t look like you have an optimal setup.

If you have bought from a dealer, I suggest you go back and revisit the install.

If they have no clue, you either spend some time doing some Googling or probably live with a poorly setup system. Given the investment you have probably made already, I know what I’d do. But may involve some of your time to understand what you have bought.

It SHOULD sound amazing. Like I say, if you're using Roon, dunno why you have a chromecast.

Cheers
Greg

That is a good idea;

I originally purchased the setup to listen to CDs (and vinyl through analogue input). it -does- sound amazing and MQA via the Chromecast is great as well.

I'll go back there and see what I can sort.

Neil

If you connect via the ID41 Ethernet connection, there is a very good chance that you will be able to access Roon using your existing config if set as standard.

You will want to have the ability to run the config program yourself in time, however, worth trying the above connection as that is how the 808v6 is designed to operate with Roon (originally with Sooloos, but Roon uses the same protocol when talking with the ID41).

John

The ID41 is connected to your router, not directly to the NAS

Greg

VMware 12 runs on Apple silicon and there is a free version. I believe it only supports windows 10.

The other issue will be USB to serial device. Keyspan I think was the recommended version.

Personally, I would expect any serious dealer to provide you with the config used to set up your system, just for your peace of mind.

If you were originally just using DSP speakers and the 808.6, that setup will probably just work, so there may be no config required.
But MConfig has a Fetch option, which you could use to see what your baseline is.

I guess the test would be, if you played a CD via 808 and the same album via chromecast/tidal and you think 808 sounds better, you really need to start using the ID41

Greg