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Cogworks Distribution

IP Controlled, MQA enabled controller.

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Meridian 218 Zone Controller

Meridian 218 Powered Zone Controller

The Meridian 218 is a compact, IP-controlled zone controller that serves as the central hub for single-room or multi-zone audio installations built around Meridian’s digital active loudspeaker ecosystem. Far more than a simple source switcher, the 218 combines onboard MQA decoding, high-quality 192kHz digital-to-analogue conversion, Meridian’s proprietary DSP technologies, and full IP controllability within an all-aluminium chassis just 42mm tall — purpose-built for rack-mounting or freestanding placement. It accepts both analogue and digital sources, outputs via Meridian SpeakerLink to DSP loudspeakers or via analogue to conventional amplifiers, and acts as a Roon Tested endpoint — making it the bridge between today’s streaming platforms and Meridian’s all-digital signal path. Part of the award-winning 200 Series, the 218 gives integrators the flexibility to build anything from an intimate two-channel listening room to a fully distributed whole-home Meridian system.

SKU MA-218. Categories , Brand:
Original price was: $3,199.00.Current price is: $1,499.00.

Key Features

  • Full IP control for seamless automation integration — controllable over Ethernet via the Meridian Control app (iOS and Android), third-party automation protocols, or Meridian SpeakerLink, allowing straightforward incorporation into Control4, Crestron, Savant, and other home automation platforms without additional hardware.
  • Onboard MQA decoding — decodes MQA-encoded streams natively, unfolding studio-quality audio and passing it to connected Meridian DSP loudspeakers or external DACs for full-resolution playback as the recording engineer intended.
  • Roon Tested endpoint — profiled by the Roon team for simple setup and reliable daily use, enabling high-resolution network streaming directly to the 218 without a separate streaming source component.
  • Works with Sonos — connects to a Sonos Port or Sonos Connect to bring Meridian sound quality to Sonos-based multi-room systems, allowing music to be streamed from the Sonos app and controlled from anywhere in the home.
  • 192kHz DAC with analogue and digital outputs — dual SpeakerLink (RJ45) outputs feed Meridian DSP loudspeakers directly, a coaxial RCA digital output serves external DACs or processors, and unbalanced stereo analogue outputs drive any conventional power amplifier including Meridian’s own 258 multi-channel amplifier.
  • Coaxial S/PDIF digital input — accepts 24-bit audio at sampling rates from 44.1kHz up to 192kHz, accommodating CD transports, media servers, TV optical-to-coaxial converters, and distributed audio matrix outputs.
  • Meridian True Link, True Time, and Digital Precision — True Link encrypts the digital audio stream over SPDIF connections to minimise clock degradation between Meridian components; True Time applies Meridian’s proprietary apodising filter to eliminate pre-ringing artefacts; Digital Precision maximises the signal-to-noise ratio to preserve the finest musical detail.
  • LipSync delay compensation — adds up to 85 milliseconds of adjustable audio delay to realign sound with video in systems where display processing introduces latency, and can also be used to time-align analogue speaker zones with FFA-enabled Meridian DSP loudspeaker zones in multi-room installations.
  • IR input and configurable trigger output — a 3.5mm IR input accepts signals from external IR receivers such as the Meridian G12, while the 12V trigger output can be configured per source to wake amplifiers, lower screens, or activate other equipment.
  • Compact 200 Series all-aluminium chassis — at just 42mm tall and 560g, the 218 fits into standard AV racks using the optional 1U rack kit (which accommodates two units side by side), or mounts anywhere in the installation with the universal mounting bracket.