This story is from Home Cinema Choice. It seems Meridian can build 800.3 machines when it's necessary... They didn't mention it when I chatted with them at the show.
http://www.homecinemachoice.com/news/frame.html?http://www.homecinemachoice.com/cgi-bin/displaynews.php?id=1564

Seriously discerning thieves made Meridian's life more than a little difficult for this year's Bristol Show, as the following verbatim press release proves...

"It was a case of 'The Show Must Go On' for Meridian on the Thursday preceding the annual Sound & Vision Show, held at Bristol's Marriott Hotel. For when Meridian's Technical Sales Engineer Des Ford arrived at the gates of Meridian's Huntingdon HQ at just before 8 am on the 21st February, he was in for a bit of a shock to say the least. Des had been expecting to step into the driver's seat of the company van crammed with almost �180,000 worth of Meridian equipment, together with show stands, display boards, point-of-sale material and literature - and drive down to Bristol to set-up the Meridian room at the Bristol Show. But this was not to be. There was no van to be seen!

'I made a few enquiries,' says Des, 'But it soon became obvious that the van had been stolen contents and all.' This caused a dilemma of no mean proportions for the company - but as Des himself remarked, 'The Show Must Go On!' And it did. Invoking almost the spirit of The Blitz, Meridian's production staff and engineers, starting mainly from scratch, manufactured a complete package to take to the Bristol Show. Meanwhile, Des and his colleagues went to find another van.

Sales staff and all factory and warehouse staff rallied round, producing literature and display material and miraculously - between 8 and 12 noon - no less than two 800 Series DVD-Audio Players, one 861 Surround Sound Controller, three DSP 8000 loudspeakers, four DSP5500 loudspeakers, along with all the ancillary speakers and electronics required, were manufactured and ready for Bristol. 'It was touch and go at times but we got there.' said a relieved Des Ford. Not to mention a more than concerned Bob Stuart, Meridian's Chairman. 'When all is said and done it is a great credit to all involved for us to have made this extraordinary turn-around in such a short length of time.' he concluded."