Meridian 861 as a Pre-amp??

Works for me but I have only digital sources.

I used to have an Audio Research Ref2 Mk2 and now have the 861.

For pure two channel, either digital or analog sources, the Ref2 sounded quite a bit better. (If Ref2 were 100% the 861 was 90%.)

However, I now use the 861's Trifield mode to generate three fronts and four surrounds from two channel digital sources. If the Ref2 was 100% then Trifield is 110%. This hinges on getting everything properly "dialed in"; it's harder to dial in a multichannel setup than a two channel setup.

Not in the same league as the AR REF3 which I am very familiar with. I compared it to a VTL 7.5 in the same system. VTL smoked it'. Never heard the MBL stuff. Surrround processors have improved BUT, for two channel with a stand along player, everyone that I have used gets smoked. Theta makes a robot controled analog pre-amp that I use called a Six Shooter. Works great. However, I would not recommend Theta to anyone right now. New company has made no committment to current owners and you'd be taking a HUGE risk. I already own the stuff so can't lose anymore than I have already. The Six Shooter and Theta CB3 combo does give you the best of both worlds. Still, the VTL 7.5 beat the Six Shooter too , IMO when I tried them all in a friends system. Just for two channel analog and not doing multi-channel? No brainer, Audio Research Ref3.

Ref3 is in another league. Not that the 861 is bad when it comes to 2-channel music, but I think it's well worth it to put down the money for the Ref3 in addition to the 861 if you want the best from a combined HT/2-channel system.

You're probably aware, but just in case you are not, the 861 does an A to D conversion on all analog inputs, and then a D to A (if you are not using Meridian speakers). Although Meridian does this very well, there are extra conversion steps, and you are depending on the quality of Meridian's A to D and D to A. That wouldn't be the case with a typical two channel rig.

You can also configure the 861 as a 2 channel analog preamp. Most people I believe do not get this option. I didn't.
Ken

Assuming you have analog sources, this is true. BTW, the other issue is that Meridian offers different A/D and D/A boards of differing capabilities.

Gee whiz. Can you explain how this can be done as all the central control mechanisms are digital?

Uhm... nope, you can't.

I got my 861, fully balanced, no internal video switching...its OK...but having gone through and Ayre K5ex, tried the Audio Research LS26 and Ref 3, ended up with a VTL 6.5...all analog preamps were clearly superior to the 861...wish it wasn't so...but its true....on the other hand as a HT processor....it is clearly the best.
John

hi Bil I am also looking for a hi end preamp/proc. I just called Meridian in England that confirmed me that 861 will never get an hdmi card that means that you must get a switcher for all your DVD
at the moment I am waiting for the new proc from mark Levinson
thierry

What is the ETA for the Levinson?

It is hdmi 1.1 correct? So all you need is a blu player that decodes and streams the new codecs? This unit really looks like the next benchmark to me.

Is anyone considering this new Krell as an option to the Levinson?

Please do tell us your impressions.

Really? That's not what I heard from Bob Stuart when we spoke at CES.

Ugh, opinions masquerading as facts!

Is quite simple for me - if you have digital sources, the 861 is world-class. If you have analog sources, look elsewhere (VTL 7.5 is superb).

Kal, how do you determine the DACs you currently have and what level of performance capability they are in the hierarchy of DACs offered for the 861? Thanks.

Unless you use vinyl and want to have a pure analog path to your speakers, then a current model 861 with a cheap transport for digital media is an excellent setup IMO. You don't even need an expensive transport for your digital media, since the 861 has memory cache which will buffer and reclock the digital stream... I don't think you can do any better digitally for two channel.

I do wonder if the original poster has confused an HDMI switching card with an HDMI input card. They are likely 2 different animals.

Cheers,

They only ship one "grade" of DAC in the particular generation of the product.

The 861v4 uses Analog Devices AD1852s (I think they're 1852s). They also have standardized their entire D/A lineup with this same DAC for all devices with an analog output.. ie loudspeakers CD players, Surround Processors.

Cheers,

Phew! I nearly wet myself...

i think Kal meant "capabilities" just as written, rather than qualities.

There was another poster, perhaps in another thread, that said the 861 wasn't getting an HDMI input.

As Kal has said, the information we're getting from M is that they are in fact working on an HDMI solution.

Bingo!

What is an analog source?

Any idea how far out they are? This year, next?

No, I don't. Strictly from a market standpoint I would think that they have to have something out this year. However, I don't work for them and I don't set their timelines.

Best,