Davinci - Thanks for asking this question. I was thinking of putting it in the forum but somehow did not consider myself to be qualified enough to compare and provide an opinion.
I am very poor in reviewing things but since you have asked, I will try to compare them.
Yes I have both and they are doing great job in their own right. Meridian looks and feel superior than HRT aesthetically and on paper. It can handle upto 192Khz resolution while HRT upto 96khz. Both has separate output for speakers and headphones.
As far as sound quality is concerned, initially it was very difficult for me to judge the performance because both are detailed, good in instrument separation and clarity.
I found HRT to be little brighter, upfront and more detailed as compared to Meridian. HRT in some recordings, sometimes feel harsh to my ears so I can say it throws out the kind of input you put into it. So it is not meant for bad recordings or poor mp3 files. But good recordings really shine through it.
Meridian on the other hand has slightly less details and bass but it has warm, balanced and addictive sound. I never felt to keep the volume down when Meridian is playing. Also, I never felt to switch it off when I listen through Meridian. It is great for extended hours listening.
I think if you have a brighter amp or speakers, Meridian will suit better and if amp and speaker had warm sound signature, HRT will bring out greater details.
Honestly, I could not determine much difference in 192khz and 96 kHz files playing on both of them.
So the big question is which one I like more. Though answer to this question is quite difficult but strangely I like HRT more due to its more detailed presentation. Please note that I do not consider myself an audiophile and these are only my personal observation on my very humble set-up. Results might be different to someone in different set-up.
Hope I was able to describe the minor differences.
.
