Gary, I did a test like this directly into the Meridian speaker, bypassing the 861. See the post about four back for those results. Tonight, I'll run it thru a JVC receiver into passive speakers.

I'm pretty sure the down mix is set to 5.1. Should it be 7.1 as you spec'd here? Thoght someone earlier had said 5.1, not sure. I'll try both.

Also for info, there was a Bluray Laura Croft Tomb Raider disk in the Oppo drawer when it came back. I played it for a minute or two while getting set up and don't recall hearing static. Could movie audio tracks behave differently than concerts? The static is most pronounced with high energy, female vocal and orchestral passages.

I'm hoping we'll find a setting and explanation that makes the difference.
JimK

Roon, Technics SL10 turntable, Meridian 218, Jolida tube DAC, Nuforce STA 200 Amp and passive Swallow Acoustics ALS2 speakers