to enquire about this product!Incorporating the advanced technology from Meridian’s popular 808 Signature Reference CD Player, the Meridian 818 Reference Audio Core is a stereo audio controller with a wide range of digital and analogue inputs.
Outputs
The 818 Reference Audio Core provides two Meridian SpeakerLink connectors for simple, straightforward connection to Meridian DSP Loudspeakers via Cat 5 cables.
Alternatively, balanced and unbalanced analogue outputs are provided for connecting to an external power amplifier or preamplifier.
If you are using DSP loudspeakers you can connect
a headphone amplifier, such as the Meridian Prime Headphone Amplifier, to the analogue outputs for headphone listening. A headphone mode is provided to mute the loudspeakers when listening on headphones.
Inputs
On the input side, the 818 Reference Audio Core provides a wide range of possibilities.
The 818 Reference Audio Core provides a network socket to connect directly to a Sooloos network, allowing it to play music from and control a Sooloos Digital Media System.
A SpeakerLink input is provided for connecting to other Meridian sources with SpeakerLink outputs. In addition, two digital coaxial S/PDIF inputs and two Toslink optical digital inputs are provided, for connecting to other digital sources.
A USB B-type connector is provided to allow the 818 Reference Audio Core to be connected to a computer system and used as an external sound card.
Six stereo analogue inputs are provided on gold-plated phono connectors.
Audio processing
The 818 Reference Audio Core features high-quality audio processing. Analogue inputs are converted to digital at 96kHz sampling, and digital inputs accept signals up to 192kHz. High resolution files may be replayed from a Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System or a computer connected to the USB input.
Signals are processed with Meridian’s exclusive apodising filter that ensures maximum audio quality with outputs at 96kHz/24 bit (digital) or 192kHz/24 bit (analogue).
The 818 Reference Audio Core will also decode MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) audio streams. It can extract the finest of details from music and deliver the audio for rendering either to its own analogue outputs, or to an attached DSP loudspeaker system. The front panel display will indicate MQA as will any attached DSP loudspeaker system that can recognise the stream.
When used with analogue loudspeakers the 818 Reference Audio Core can provide tone adjustments as well as balance and volume controls.
When used with Meridian DSP Speakers, the 818 Reference Audio Core provides control of additional audio processing in the speakers, such as treble and bass tone controls and enhanced room boundary equalisation.
System integration
An RS232 interface provides full remote control capability as well as the ability to configure the unit with Meridian’s innovative Windows-based graphic configuration application.
Three programmable trigger outputs are provided for direct control of external devices, for example powering-up amplifiers, etc.
