Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 861v8 driving three Ultra Dacs

I’ve been using an Ultra DAC fed by the front L/R SpeakerLink output of my 861v8 successfully for around three years. The Ultra DAC deals with all front L/R output from the 861, all stereo digital sources are fed directly into the Ultra DAC, my turntable is connected to the 861.

I’m close to purchasing a further two Ultra Dacs to deal with the C/Sub and SL/SR channels, it is impossible to find any advice or reference to a setup like this outside of this site, so does anyone out there have any comments regarding possible issues with synching etc?

For reference the 861 thinks it is outputting SpeakerLink to DSP speakers to achieve the correct level, this was a tip I got on this forum after struggling to match the Ultra output level to the 861 levels.

Thanks
Colin

What is the advantage of using the Ultra DAC instead of analog OA18 output cards in the 861?

The Ultra Dacs are much better than the DACs in the 861 and also three Ultra Dacs look fantastic sitting under the 861 in a Rack of Silence, in fact I might get another one for 7.1

That sounds like it would be a remarkable system. I haven’t heard of anyone with such a setup - maybe one of the Meridian partners has and could comment.

This will work fine for one - the Ultra will just look like a master speaker to the 861 to all intents and purposes, provided it's in variable mode, of course!

As soon as you add another one you're into the joyous world of whether more than one master speaker is a good/bad/terrible idea.

You also get into the physical world of the SpeakerLink connection and particularly how comms are arranged within it. SpeakerLink does not support more than one master and expects that master to return slave comms which are then distributed to all the other sockets on the controller as just "comms". The output to the other Ultras will be indeterminate.

So the expectation is that synchronisation of volume control changes will be an issue (the multiple master problem) and that you'll need some custom SpeakerLink, bridging to comms return from the "master", or use 5C cables to get comms to the other 2 Ultras.

Julian

Do you have any pictures?

The Ultra DAC has traditional 5pin comms connectors so try using C5 cables to daisy chain the comms from the 861 to the Ultra Dacs. Set the 861 as the controller and the Ultras as not controller and variable volume.

That sounds INSANE and I mean that in the best way, lol. I'm jealous

Sounds like you just need to use the R/L output Ultra DAC as the Master, and use the "slave" for the Center/LFE and Surround pair Ultra DACs from the 861. Or use the 861 as the controller and use the comms connector and daisy chain the Ultras like Bruce said. Either or probably works fine and I bet sounds incredible.

I do wonder though. Since you are using Speakerlink, can you report if the Center Image lift functionality works on your setup now? I've wondered if that DSP is done in the DSP speakers itself or merely confined to the SL output function. Since all that's doing is mixing a bit of the center into the mains to lift the image up, something the 861 has plenty of processing power to do. That's really the ONLY feature I wish I had on my 861 until I got a new Media Cabinet made to fit a very large matching horizontal center with a 15" woofer I recently bought.

I will say though, the DAC in the 861v8 is criminally underrated but that OA18 output card with those big gold capacitors for us non-M speaker guys is extremely good. Do not sleep on the 861v8 analog stage, the XLR outs in the 861v8 with the LPSU has FAR and away the QUIETEST and clearest sounding analog output stage of any high-end pre-pro I've ever used and it's not even close.

This is compared to other 5 figure TOTL pre-pros of their day, like the Bryston SP3 (full discrete Class A analog stage), JBL Synthesis SDP-40HD (Lexicon MC-12HDBEQ) and the Accuphase VX-700. None of them as quiet nor had the clarity of the 861v8.

When you have 100dB efficient speakers with commercial cinema/PA style compression drivers in them, they reveal any source flaw or analog stage as far as black background, lack of hiss at idle ruthlessly. With proper gain/voltage matched into extremely quiet Bryston amplification only the 861v8 had zero hiss at the MLP, to the point that I have to put my ears against the drivers to barely hear it. That was a remarkable achievement by Meridian. Something very few surround pres, regardless of reported S/N specs can accomplish. Which I have since learned, most companies embellish by a lot or don't even report anymore.

When I first got into HiFi in my teens the first decent pair of speakers I got over 20 years ago were B&W 686s with the matching HTM center driven by a hand-me-down Marantz SR. "Entry" level B&W, but when you're 17-18 it's a big deal. I did the whole inefficient, dynamic, cone/dome speakers for awhile well into my 20s before I got into horns. Magnolia at Best Buy always had B&Ws with Mac amps. A very nice pairing indeed. Plenty of juice and current for those thirsty B&W 800s.

Congrats on the Ultra DAC rig. I still maintain, if you aren't doing Atmos. The 861v8 is still the best channel based surround processor there is for both Music and Theater use. For music and legacy film decoding especially as the new stuff is way over indexed on immersive playback of new content. Even Trinnov gives you the same 3 basic listening modes of a $500 Denon which is pathetic. Amazing for modern cinema, but misses the boat on music programs for those of us that care about both and and only have 1 main rig.

Six.

The issue is not getting 500 comms to the ultra DACs, it’s doing that while not creating loops. You can’t unplug comms in SpeakerLink. Loops in comms are not advisable.

Probably a Din from your existing DAC to the second one is what you need. That should then connect through to the third on the SpeakerLink connections. Use the slave sockets on the processor for these two.

Only if that doesn’t work add another Din between DACs 2 and 3.

Yes! Please post pictures.