808 Upgrade
 

I have finally decided to go ahead with the upgrade of my 808v3 to v6. I initially skipped the v3 to v5 update that others including Jerry and Chuck spoke so highly of. This is what is included:

808v3 to 808v6 Upgrade Kit
- IE58 Card (Notes 1, 2, 3)
- 0A25 Card (Note 4)
- 808v6 Back Panel
- OE38 Card
- ID41 Card
- PSU Upgrade Kit

Notes
1. New built-in MQA decoder fully supports Master Quality Authentication (MQA) encoded music playback, guaranteeing a studio master quality experience.

2. New SPDIF receiver enables USB and RCA inputs to receive up to 192kHz digital audio.

3. New DSP chip offers lip-sync control, DSD playback via DSD-over-PCM (DoP) and MQA rendering capability for analogue outputs. The analogue outputs also feature Bass, Treble and Balance.

4. New analogue output card features an upgraded circuit with filtering that broadens the bandwidth, and maximises the potential of high resolution music.

Parts have been ordered and I will be sending the unit next week so the upgrade and burn-in can be completed so that I can have it back when we return from Europe.

Looking forward to your listening impressions

Jim,
Nice! I really like the way Meridian designs with future upgrades in mind. The idea of trading and selling perfectly good components just to get a couple of new gizmos inside the same box just doesn't make sense in the digital audio age. Too bad more audio manufacturers are not following their lead. Look forward to reading your report when it returns.

Enjoy the new dimension your audio collection is now going to reveal. It was the most satisfying upgrade I have ever done. The detail in CD reproduction brought out by the 808v6 really is astonishing, I am really looking forward to you thoughts. Robert Harley of TAS also gave it praise. Enjoy!
Greg

Greg
Thanks. I am getting ready to pack it up and send it out early next week. I believe he now has most of the parts required for the upgrade and that should allow him to finish and burn it in and test it before having it back to me when I return from Europe. Everyone I have spoke to indicate the v5 and v6 upgrades are well worth it even without considering MQA capabilities in the v6.

Jim, Look forward to hearing your impressions! Enjoy your trip to Europe. Lisa and I are going on a cruise July in Europe (Italy, Greece, and Turkey).

Chuck
The unit is in transit and should arrive where it will be upgraded on Thursday. I will have it delivered to my neighbor a day or two prior to our return so I can get it up and running right away.

The Italy, Greece and Turkey is a fun cruise. Santorini is beautiful. Let's have dinner after you get back.

Back from vacation and the 808 is now back in my system and upgraded to v6. First impression is very positive. Since my upgrade also includes those improvements that others received in version 5 it is hard for me to separate the two. Initially I can say the bottom end has more weight, there appears to be better definition between instruments and a bit more forward soundstage.

I only have a few MQA tracks and none of the music was familiar so my MQA impressions will have to wait.