"I had a G08 feeding DSP 7200s but realised I got nowhere near the sound quality I had heard at Bristol. Now with an 808i.2 the sound has been transformed, as you would hope given the investment! But the 8081.2 has added better upsampling and resolution enhancement, apodizing, better FIFOs, better power supplies, balanced digital output via SpeakerLink and also MHR (and probably some other things I have forgotten to mention or am ignorant of). At present, I don't think servers can do this."

I think your experience says more about the difference between the 808.2 and the G08. As was pointed out, you are changing a lot more than simply source functionality.

My experience has definitely been that there is a very significant difference between disc transports. But the best I've heard through my system is definitely in using newer technologies. I've never heard an 808 in my system, but I have no reason to believe that it or any other transport would provide more accurate sound. I say this based on hearing a multitude of high end systems with high end spinners.

I also have concerns that while Meridian can make music sound more pleasurable, it isn't necessarily purist. Often I go back to settings where my processor is doing nothing more than providing D/A and pre-amplification. No upsampling or room correction. On the very best CDs this sounds significantly better in my opinion.

Is it possible to feed a server directly into your 7200s? If so, you should try it out and compare it. Make sure that someone else is switching sources for you though. If you have even an inkling of which source you are playing, your mind could bias your opinion.

Last edited by George Mills; 2009-01-23 18:17. Reason: Split