Meridian 218 Zone Controller

The Meridian 218 is the hub at the centre of a distributed Meridian audio system — a 1U zone controller combining digital and analogue inputs and outputs, Sooloos music management, MQA decoding, and SpeakerLink outputs to drive Meridian DSP loudspeakers. In a multi-room installation, a 218 in each zone gives each room its own source selection, volume control, and digital processing, with everything managed from Meridian's control ecosystem.

It is the correct pairing for DSP3200 and DSP3300 installations where multi-room is the goal, and a natural fit for any room in a larger system using Meridian DSP loudspeakers. See the full Meridian range we stock.

What It Does

The 218 takes digital and analogue sources and processes them for output — via SpeakerLink to Meridian DSP loudspeakers, or via analogue outputs to third-party amplifiers or powered speakers. Its key processing features:

MQA decoding — unfolds MQA masters for studio-quality audio quality where source material is available via Tidal or compatible services.

Sooloos integration — connects to Meridian's Sooloos music management platform, giving the zone access to CD-ripped libraries and TIDAL streaming in high resolution.

Apodising filter — Meridian's proprietary filter that eliminates pre-ringing artefacts from digital recordings, applied to both legacy and new material.

Upsampling — doubles the incoming sample rate to extract finer detail from the source signal.

Lip-sync delay — adjustable audio delay to align sound with video in home cinema applications where the 218 feeds a theatre zone.

IP and IR control — integrates with third-party control systems (Crestron, Control4, and others) and with Meridian power amplifiers, enabling full system management from a single interface.

The 218 mounts in a rack, on a shelf, or on a wall — the 1U form factor fits neatly within standard rack infrastructure in professional or residential installations.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The 218 is for anyone building a distributed Meridian system — from a single room with DSP loudspeakers to a whole-home multi-zone installation. It works equally well in a two-channel room with a pair of DSP3200s and in a cinema room where it handles zone control alongside the 251 or a more complex Meridian processor. For rooms where onboard amplification is needed rather than DSP loudspeakers, the 251 adds two amplifier channels to the same platform.

Buying from Martin's Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has a long-standing relationship with Meridian and extensive experience designing and installing distributed Meridian systems. We can advise on zone architecture, SpeakerLink routing, and integration with third-party control platforms.

Contact Dave or Chris at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martin's page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.

Contact: info@martinshifi.co.uk | 01603 627010 | WhatsApp: 07554 687137 | 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY