Product Information Meridian 800 Series January 1999 Meridian Audio Limited, Stonehill, Stukeley Meadows, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE18 6ED, England Tel: +44 1480 434334 Fax: +44 1480 432948 Web: http://www.meridian-audio.com Meridian 800 Series From the leaders in digital audio – a product pairing for the highest possible performance: flexible, updateable, sophisticated, forward- looking with amazing sound and pictures. Background Meridian’s design philosophy has always combined great looks and a total approach to ergonomics, with a relentless pursuit of the best sound – in particular regarding the tonal and spatial qualities of natural sounds. This philosophy has also established a Meridian tradition which encourages a readiness for new ideas and an unfettered view of audio system architecture. This approach has led to ground-breaking innovations like Active and DSP loudspeakers – as well as earlier, now widely accepted, innovations like the CD Transport. 800 Series The new 800 Series dramatically illustrates the result of this design approach. Here the goal is the highest quality sound, in a future-proof, flexible, upgradeable, open-ended format. The 800 Series provides no-cost- compromise audiophile performance in a handsome large-format presentation. In the 800 Series, important audiophile features are addressed – including the provision of more connections and highly transparent analogue and digital audio and video processing. The Digital Signal Processing used in the 800 Series has a superb pedigree – Meridian is famous for its conversion, resolution enhancement and DSP for audio mastering and production as well as for surround and loudspeakers. The 800 Series construction shows its function: it is built as a card-based Audiophile Digital Computer. All functions are plug-in cards: including control microprocessor, analogue and digital inputs and outputs, DSP processors, video routing and processing, DVD decoders, laser demodulators, tape modules, custom interfaces. The list is always growing. In this way a user can put together just the right functions, and any aspect of the machine’s performance can be altered later – either by downloading new software into its flash memory, or by adding new plug-in cards. In common with other Meridian products, the 800 Series has full remote control and complete inter- operability with 500 Series components, using RS232 and the Meridian Comms connections. The 800 Series will extend external connectivity by providing fast computer interfaces like Firewire, D1 – as well as
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Product Information Meridian 800 Series January 1999
From the leaders indigital audio – a productpairing for the highestpossible performance:flexible, updateable,sophisticated, forward-looking with amazingsound and pictures.
BackgroundMeridian’s design philosophy hasalways combined great looks and atotal approach to ergonomics, with arelentless pursuit of the best sound – inparticular regarding the tonal andspatial qualities of natural sounds.
This philosophy has also establisheda Meridian tradition which encouragesa readiness for new ideas and anunfettered view of audio systemarchitecture. This approach has led toground-breaking innovations like Activeand DSP loudspeakers – as well asearlier, now widely accepted,innovations like the CD Transport.
800 SeriesThe new 800 Series dramaticallyillustrates the result of this designapproach. Here the goal is the highestquality sound, in a future-proof, flexible,upgradeable, open-ended format.
The 800 Series provides no-cost-compromise audiophile performance ina handsome large-format presentation.In the 800 Series, important audiophilefeatures are addressed – including theprovision of more connections andhighly transparent analogue and digitalaudio and video processing.
The Digital Signal Processing used inthe 800 Series has a superb pedigree –Meridian is famous for its conversion,resolution enhancement and DSP foraudio mastering and production as wellas for surround and loudspeakers.
The 800 Series construction showsits function: it is built as a card-basedAudiophile Digital Computer.
All functions are plug-in cards:including control microprocessor,analogue and digital inputs andoutputs, DSP processors, video routingand processing, DVD decoders, laserdemodulators, tape modules, custominterfaces. The list is always growing.
In this way a user can put togetherjust the right functions, and any aspectof the machine’s performance can bealtered later – either by downloadingnew software into its flash memory, orby adding new plug-in cards.
In common with other Meridianproducts, the 800 Series has fullremote control and complete inter-operability with 500 Seriescomponents, using RS232 and theMeridian Comms connections.
The 800 Series will extend externalconnectivity by providing fast computerinterfaces like Firewire, D1 – as well as
Product Information Meridian 800 Series January 1999
Ltd; “DTS” Digital Theatre Systems Inc.; “DVD” DVD Forum.
custom connections that evolveMeridian’s unrivalled Digital Theatre.
The 800 Series 19” (450mm) cabinetis of double-skinned construction forcomplete immunity from sound-damaging RF radiation. The heavy castfront panel houses a highly visibledisplay and provides the mostcommonly required controls on thefront face. A hinged switch panelprovides keys to access more of theunit’s functions.
In common with other Meridiancomponents, the top and display
window uses 4mm plate glass for alasting finish and mechanical damping.
The 800 Series will appeal to a verywide audience – it offers uniqueperformance for the audiophile orvideophile, it brings PC connectivity formultimedia and a degree of flexibilitythat will be welcomed by professionaland semi-pro recording engineers.
Sound qualityThe 800 Series also embodies the verylatest developments in digital audio.
Meridian, who are famous for theirsmooth-sounding digital-audio
components, have made a majorbreakthrough with a radical de-jitteringsystem. Both 800 and 861 carry a newproprietary DSP and RAM-based de-jittering sub-system that allows theseproducts to be not only the mostimmune to input-signal quality – butalso to be, by far, the sweetest andmost open sounding that Meridian havebuilt to date (and that is no meanclaim).
Meridian’s latest digital-audio systemoperates with many adjustableparameters and for inputs with between32kHz and 96kHz sampling rates.
Card Details
Each 800 Series product is factory fittedwith a motherboard, a highly sophisticatedpower supply and some cards.Typical cards are listed below; many canbe fitted in multiples.
General cardsMay be fitted to 800 and 861
C000Control computer card: complete withFlash memory, RS232, 3 triggeroutputs and Meridian Comms.
IA00Analogue input card: 6 pairs analogueinput on phono. Very high quality 24-bitA/D conversion.
IA20Analogue input extension: adds 3 pairsof unbalanced input on phono.
IA30/IA35Analogue input extension: addscapability for MC/MM pickup on phono.IA40Multichannel analogue input. Feed intwo 6-channel sources or 6 pairs ofunbalanced input on phono.
ID12Digital input card: 5 SPDIF/IEC1937cable inputs (32k–96kHz), 2 TOSLINKoptical inputs. Two digital outputs;bypass and Tape/2-room. This cardcontains a DSP de-jittering system.
Meridian – who 12 yearsago introduced high-endCD – still makes the veryfinest players.Meridian are now proud toannounce a new referenceand a new paradigm: The800 Reference CD Machine
DescriptionMeridian was the first high-endcompany to make a CD player. Since1983, they have maintained steadyprogress in CD technology – evolvingadvanced techniques in playbackservos, control software, conversion,resolution enhancement, digitalinterfaces, multiple PLL systems – all inthe pursuit of better sound.Meridian’s CD players have remainedconsistently at the forefront, winningcountless industry awards and givinginestimable enjoyment to their owners.
The 800 Reference CD Machine isMeridian’s ultimate statement on CDplayback – and it is a key to a future-proof system. We needed a CD playerarchitecture that allowed us to enjoyand invest in current sound systemswithout fear of disenfranchisement asnew sources arrive.
Since CD was introduced, many newcoding schemes have arrived. Lossy-compression like AC-3, MPEG Audioand DTS have become significant toour customers. Meridian is alsojustifiably proud that Meridian LosslessPacking (MLP) was selected from theworld stage as the coding method to beused in the future on DVD.
The 800 Reference CD Machinecompletes 14 years of earnest work onde-jittering CD playback and answers(for the first time) the paradox thatalthough data can be recovered exactlybit-for-bit, mechanical and connectionfactors still lead to audible differencesin players.
In the 800 Reference CD Machine,the audio data is read asynchronouslyin blocks using high-speed, high-integrity CD ROM drives. This data ischecked for integrity, corrected andtriple buffered to ensure that the audiooutput timing is independent of thedrives for the first time. AnotherMeridian ‘first’ is using the powerfulDSP in 800 to enhance the playback ofCDs so that the converters or MeridianDSP speakers can render the audioeven more accurately by producing ahigh-resolution 88.2kHz 24bit signal.
The 800 Reference CD Machine canalso be configured as a ‘preamp’. Anyof the 800 Series input cards can befitted, to make an 800 the centre of anunequalled 2-channel playback system.The 800 can be used with a pair ofMeridian DSP speakers, or the DSPcan provide variable outputs to feed apower amplifier.
800 Reference CD Machine Specification highlights January 1999
The following list illustrates thecapability of the design. Refer to thePrice List for standard combinations.
Drives• Up to 2 internal ATAPI• CDROM tray, caddy or multiple-
loading changers
Audio in and out• Up to 11 analogue inputs. User-
adjustable sensitivity. Re-nameable legends.
• Up to 11 digital inputs. Re-nameable legends. 32 to 96kHzsampling and up to 24-bitprecision.
• Digital and analogue tape loops• Independent copy and 2-room+
capability• 2 to 8 digital outputs• 2 to 8 analogue outputs
Signal processing800 uses Meridian’s proprietary DSPsoftware to provide the followingpowerful Modes.• Error Correction• Resolution Enhancement• Optional up and downsampling• High-resolution Digital Gain
Control.
Controls, etc.Front-panel facia controls for:• Play, Stop, Pause, Previous, Next
and Off.Hinged control panel providesadditional switches for:• Open, Source, Copy• Menus, setup• Display, Mute, Volume
Display• 20-character dot-matrix display:
adjustable brightness and contrast• Lights for DVD and CD, Drive A/B,
Repeat.
Above: An example DVD Drive and additional controls behind the flap.
The 800 card construction.
Product Information 800 Reference DVD Player January 1999
Meridian define a newhigh-end category andperformance leadership:Reference DVD
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BackgroundMeridian’s 800 Reference DVD Playeris an extension of the 800 ReferenceCD Machine – Meridian’s absolutestatement on CD playback.
The 800 DVD includes an 800 CDMachine, but extends the capability toprovide the finest DVD playbackpossible. This combination – of the verybest playback for CD and DVD makethe 800 very special indeed.
The Meridian 800 is also one of thefirst DVD players to attain the THXrequirements for DVD.
A selected DVD ROM drive extractsdata from CD, CD-V or DVD.Specialised cards manipulate anddecode the DVD data and prepare thevideo. This architecture ensures notonly the highest absolute quality andflexibility, but also a high degree offuture-proofness for both audio andvideo disc playback.
Like the 800 Reference CD Machine,the 800 DVD can also be used as a‘preamp’– allowing it to replace 2-channel front-ends with one flexiblecomponent.
DVD VideoDVD Video is an exciting new format.Although it looks like a CD, informationcan be stored on more than one layer,and the track pitch and pit-size aresmaller. This increase in informationdensity allows a DVD to hold between 7and 24 times the data of a CD.
This amount of data allows manyapplications: DVD Video is the first. Byusing high-quality MPEG2 videocompression with Dolby Digital, orMPEG audio sound formats, one DVDdisc can hold a whole motion picture.
This is the first opportunity forvideophiles to obtain picture qualityclose to the original formats –bypassing all the degradations ofanalogue storage; and in 800,bypassing the degradations ofanalogue video interchange.
DVD Video also brings exciting newaudio formats, including: Dolby DigitalAC-3, MPEG Surround, MPEGExtended for 7.1 channel movie sound,MPEG Audio and DTS for movies,music and performance videos, andlast but not least – extended digitalformats including MLP and 96kHz or88.2kHz 24bit PCM.
800 Reference DVD Machine Specification Highlights January 1999
800 DVDThe 800 is Meridian’s definitivestatement on the current and futurequality of the new DVD medium.
The digital video circuits provide thehighest quality picture in a variety offormats.
The digital audio processing providesthe ultimate in resolution enhancementand low jitter. 800 DVD makes aperfect front-end to the Meridian 861Reference Surround Processor –although it can also be configured as aplayer and even as a preamplifier in itsown right.The Meridian 800 is fully compatiblewith other components in the Meridian800 and 500 Series; it comes with aDVD version of the Meridian SystemRemote, and inter-operates as part of aMeridian Digital Theatre.
High-End DVD?Through the lifetime of CD, Meridianhave been able to build the bestplayers that provided better and bettersound with each successive generationand with continually improving discrecording and mastering techniques.
Important milestones were theidentification and near-eradication ofplayer design problems including jitter,mechanical feedback, servo instability,playability, converter linearity andinterface design.
Bob Stuart, Meridian’s chief designerand Chairman of the AcousticRenaissance for Audio, has beenheavily involved in the evolution of theaudio formats for DVD – in fact MLP(Meridian Lossless Packing) has beenselected as the definitive codingsystem for the DVD-Audio format (dueout late 1999).
It should therefore be no surprise thatMeridian’s design team has brought thefull benefit of their experience to DVD.
But there is more: Meridian alsobrought important psychoacoustic andpsycho-visual insights to this design.As a result the 800 DVD is able to offersound and picture quality that is secondto none. It offers the kind of featuresneeded to exploit DVD in a high-endhome theatre and to interface withstate-of-the-art digital surroundprocessors (like the Meridian 861) andwith projection systems.
Picture QualityThe pictures on DVD Video are storedusing a high quality compressionsystem called MPEG2. MPEG2 has aflexible data rate; this allows more datato be used for some scenes thanothers. Complex motions and texturescan be conveyed accurately withoutusing an unnecessarily high data rateon simpler material.
Consequently, the encoders (thatmake MPEG2 streams from the originalfilm) will be able to improve continuallyover the years – a situation somewhatanalogous to CD, where recordingequipment has steadily improved.
Because the picture is stored asdigital video, it has some remarkablequalities – including high bandwidth,low noise, very low frame and line jitterand the potential for deeply saturatedcolours.
To recover this quality requires asuperb MPEG decoder and immaculatecare in de-jittering and processing theresulting video.
The 800 DVD offers a number ofvideo output options. The standardoutput card contains a video encoder ofthe highest studio-grade quality. Thiscard provides NTSC and PAL. Videoconversion and amplification of thehighest quality provides options forRGB, Component, S and Compositeformats.
Meridian successfully pioneeredaudio systems in which the signal iskept in the digital domain from thesource, through Digital SurroundDecoders to DSP Loudspeakers. TheMeridian 800 Reference DVD Playerfollows that example by keeping thevideo information in the digital domainuntil the last minute.
Sound QualityDVD provides a huge number ofoptions for audio. The 800 allowsunrivalled playback of all the mandatoryDVD sound formats: MPEG, DolbyDigital (AC-3) and PCM at 48 or 96kHzwith up to 24bit precision.
DVD has the potential to provide thehighest sound quality, but we would bemistaken to ignore the very realimportance of CD in the coming years.
So, like the 800 CD Machine, the 800Reference DVD Machine takes aradical new approach to playing both
CD and DVD discs. The 800 reads theaudio and video data asynchronously inblocks using high-speed, high-integrityDVD ROM drives. This data is checkedfor integrity, corrected and triplebuffered to ensure that the audio outputtiming is independent of the drives, andthat the picture has incredible stability.
Another Meridian ‘first’ is using thepowerful DSP in 800 to enhance theplayback of CDs so that the convertersor Meridian DSP speakers can renderthe audio even more accurately byproducing a high-resolution 88.2kHz24bit signal.
Normally we would expect the 800 tobe connected to a Meridian 861Reference Surround Controller so thatthe full benefit of surround sound onmovies and music can be enjoyed.
The 800 Reference DVD Machinecan also be configured as a stand-alone ‘preamp’. Any of the 800 Seriesinput cards can be fitted, to make an800 the centre of an unequalled 2-channel A-V playback system. The 800can be used with a pair of MeridianDSP speakers, or the on-board DSPcan provide variable outputs to feed apower amplifier.
The future …The architecture of the 800 ensuresthat all functional parts of the machinecan be upgraded, improved, added toor swapped out. In this way we set upnot only the best opportunity to stayahead of changes to the DVDspecification, or new formats that maycome along, but we retain themaximum flexibility to improveperformance through future changes tosoftware or hardware.
This architecture allows ourcustomers to enjoy and invest in thebest audio/video systems now.
Setup and adjustment are madeusing a supplied computer program.Since all the decoding algorithms are invideo and audio DSP, the 800 can bere-programmed in the future to improveor extend its capabilities. Softwareupdates are available on Meridian’swebsite.
800 Reference DVD Machine Specification Highlights January 1999
The following list illustrates thecapability of the design. Refer to thePrice List for standard combinations.
Formats• DVD Video• CD Audio (Red Book)• CD Video (White Book)
Drives• One internal (supplied) ATAPI 2
DVD ROM drive.• Second drive bay for future
expansion.
Audio inputs• Up to 11 analogue inputs. User-
adjustable sensitivity.• Up to 11 digital inputs. Re-
nameable legends. 32 to 96kHzsampling and up to 24-bitprecision.
• Re-nameable legends.• Digital and analogue tape loops• Up to two internal drives connected
for source and control.
Audio outputs• Independent copy and 2-room+
capability.
• Second room can receive raw ordecoded audio streams.
• 2 digital outputs each on SPDIFand AES/EBU
• Option for simultaneous digitaloutputs at different sample rates(e.g. 96kHz and 48kHzsimultaneously from DVD or 88.2and 44.1kHz from CD.
• Option for simultaneous output ofDolby Digital compressed streamfor a decoder like 861 and adecoded version for a secondzone.
• 2 analogue outputs on both phonoand XLR (balanced). Analogueconversion always at the maximumresolution of 24 bits.
Audio Signal processing800 uses Meridian’s proprietary DSPsoftware to provide the followingpowerful Modes.• On-board decoding for Dolby
Digital and MPEG Audio.• Error Correction.• Resolution Enhancement.• Up and downsampling• High-resolution Digital Gain
Control.
Video in and out• Optional cards provide selectable
inputs for composite or S input inNTSC or PAL format.
• Outputs in composite, S-video,component or RGB.
Video Signal processing• Software-based video decoding for
MPEG1 and MPEG2 video.• Digital video backplane for future
video processing enhancements.
Controls, etc.Front-panel fascia controls for:• Play, Stop, Pause, Previous, Next
and Off.Hinged control panel providesadditional switches for:• Drive switching, Source, Copy• DVD menus• Display, Mute, Volume
Display• 20-character dot-matrix display:
adjustable brightness and contrast.• Lights for CD, DVD, Drive A/B and
Repeat.
Card Details
Each 800 is factory fitted with amother board that has sections forboth digital audio and digital video, ahighly sophisticated power supply andsome cards (see picture above).Many of the cards are common to the800 Series – for details see the 800Series literature.The cards particular to 800 DVDinclude the following:
DV00DVD control computer card:complete with Flash memory,RS232.
DV01Video DSP card for DVD streamdecoding, MPEG video, MPEGaudio and Dolby Digital decoding.
VE00Video encoder option. GeneratesNTSC or PAL in composite, S-videoor Component formats. Wide videobandwidth, low noise and extendedblack-level feature.
ID16Digital input card: 5 SPDIF/IEC1937cable inputs, 2 TOSLINK opticalinputs (32–96kHz). Two digitaloutputs; bypass and Tape/2-room.
OE20Digital output card: 2SPDIF/IEC1937 outputs on phono,2 on AES/EBU (32k–96kHz).Contains ultra-low-jitter masteroscillators.
OA20Analogue output card: 2 ultra-highquality outputs on both phono andXLR (balanced). Effectiveresolution: 24 bit and 96kHz.
861 inherits all Meridian’ssurround DSP technologyand adds to it the highestdegree of controlsophistication, more optionsand higher performanceanalogue and conversionstages.
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BackgroundMeridian have established anunequaled reputation for theirtechnologies for advancing stereo insurround systems.
Since its introduction in July 1994,the Meridian 565 became widelyrecognized as the benchmarkprocessor. The proprietary MeridianDSP redefined expectations for Moviesound and created a paradigm shift forMusic listening by enablingimmeasurably improved ‘stereo’ with 3to 8-speaker systems.
Meridian’s 565 is rated Class ‘A’ byStereophile and has received theprestigious EISA award for ‘HomeTheatre Decoder of 1995’. Among atotal of 12 awards, the 565 was voted‘Home Theatre Decoder of the Year’ byHome Entertainment in both 1995,1996 and 1997.
The 861, rated Class ‘AAA’ byStereophile Guide to Home Theaterinherited the Meridian Surround DSPheritage and added to it moreprocessing, a higher degree of controlsophistication and outstanding audioand conversion stages.
The 861 also brings the potential forhandling more than 8 channels and fordecoding future surround formats – infact the 800 Series Digital Backplaneallows processing on up to 64channels!
Another important upgrade soon tobe available, is the addition ofmultichannel DSP equalisation forHome Theatre and Music systems.
Of course, 861 makes a perfect frontend for the ‘Class A’ rated MeridianDigital Theatre™.
Movie formatsDolby Digital is the preferred soundformat for DVD in NTSC territories. TheDolby Digital decoder built by Meridianis the most powerful on the market andpasses the most extreme bitstreamtests.
Dolby Digital is also available onNTSC LaserDiscs – to replay these anoptional demodulator card is available.
MPEG Surround is another audioformat for DVD. MPEG audio (2channel) is also available – includingUS satellite broadcasts and incomputer multimedia. The MPEGdecoder provided in 861 is the best-sounding so far.
In addition to Dolby Digital (AC-3) andMPEG, the 861 decodes DTS. Theprocessor fitted is fully capable ofdecoding all the DTS formats to beseen on DVD – as well as the DTS nowavailable on LaserDiscs and CDs.
Music formatsMeridian has developed a lossless
compression system. MeridianLossless Packing (MLP) has beenselected as the mandatory form oflossless coding for the very highestpossible sound quality applications onfuture DVD-Audio. 861 alreadydecodes MLP.
Meridian’s 861 uses very carefullycrafted processing to get the maximumbenefit from high-precision PCM inputsThe 861 will accept up to 96kHz and24-bit PCM and gives the maximumresolution on these signals.
The processor also has the option toperform high-resolution sub-samplingon signals coming in at 88.2kHz or96kHz.
What is special 861?The single most important feature in allour DSP products – including 861 – isthe incredibly high standard we set forsonic performance.
An important differentiating feature isthat instead of using chips that have‘burnt-in’ algorithms, Meridian’s signalprocessing is software based, andtherefore can be improved or modifiedin future. For example, AC-3 itself hasprogressed a lot since the initialstandard was set; the DVD applicationalso brings new requirements.Meridian’s solution will give thecustomer value in the long run.
By taking a software solution to AC-3,DTS and MPEG we are also able totake advantage of some of the moreinteresting user features like ‘speechleveling’, ‘dynamic-range control’,‘multi-language’, speaker layouts etc.which other decoders may not offer.
Most important though is providingimproved sound by fitting a highlyaccurate, 24-bit decoding algorithmright at the heart of the world’s bestsounding surround decoder. Crudesolutions – like outboard decoders withsix analogue outputs, or multiple plug-in third-party decoder cards – cannever remotely approach the sound,function or facilities of the Meridian 861architecture.
System integrationWith all these different formats able toappear at the inputs of a decoder thereis room for confusion.
However, 861 does not get confusedeven if MLP, AC-3 or DTS arrives whenit was expecting a CD!
861 continually monitors the digitalinput and automatically loads thecorrect decoding software for theformat, speaker layout and encoding ofthe incoming signal.
You can also store separate userparameters for each source (likeLaserDisc) depending on whether theincoming signal is MLP, PCM (ProLogic decode), AC-3, DTS or MPEG.
THX? Naturally!THX Cinema has a huge amount tooffer in the 7.1 era. The 861 has all thesignal processing in place to complywith THX requirements for DolbyDigital, DTS and MPEG. The front
channels carry re-equalisation; thesurrounds use a new timbre-matchcurve and an updated de-correlationtechnique.
Bass managementMovie signals have the potential torequire a 12dB increase in bass powerhandling in a system. Not only can theLFE (Low-Frequency Effects – i.e. 0.1)channel convey 10dB more bass, butthe potential exists for that to happenas well as full bass level in the otherfive channels.
Although the Dolby Digital, DTS andMPEG encoders limit the total basslevel to +15dB, the resulting bassenergy can still be incrediblydemanding for even the very bestsystems – and equally important – maybe disastrous for other, less capable,speakers.
The Meridian 861 incorporates a verysophisticated series of bass protectionschemes for Digital Surround formats.
The user can control the overallamount of LFE added in. In addition,the 861 has a bass limiting function(adjusted in Setup) which limits thetotal amount of bass passed to thesystem.
As well as the overall bass protection,the 861 can monitor all speakeroutputs. A sophisticated DSP functiondetermines how hard each individualspeaker is working and compares thatto a capacity rating given for eachspeaker when the system is installed. Ifthe signal demands more bass than aspeaker can supply a proprietary,psycho-acoustically optimised limiting-filter momentarily and elegantlyreduces the load on that speaker. Thisunique protection method means youcan get the most out of all the speakersin the room without any fear of damageor unpleasant overload noises.
Sound qualityThe 861 embodies the very latestdevelopments in digital audio.
Meridian, who are famous for theirsmooth-sounding digital-audiocomponents, have made a majorbreakthrough with a memory-based de-jittering system that allows it to berelatively immune to input-signal quality– and to be, by far, the sweetest andmost open sounding controller thatMeridian has built to date.
861 OverviewThe architecture of 861 allows for wideflexibility – future sources and formatscan be handled by upgrading eithersoftware or cards.
InputsThe 861 is a full-system controllerpreamp that provides seamless controlof up to 12 analogue or digital audio,and up to 12 video sources. The Tapecards provide additional internal 20-bitA/D and D/A converters to give fullsupport for both tape recorders andextensive 2 and 3-zone multiroomcapability (analogue or digital formats).
By providing digital as well asanalogue inputs the 861 can giveradically higher sound quality forsources that are originally digital – likeCD, LaserDisc, Digital Radio and DVD.
As well as accepting 2-channel digitalaudio, the 861 will handle SPDIF-encoded Dolby Digital, DTS, MLP orMPEG from sources like DVD, Satelliteand LaserDisc.
ProcessingThe Meridian 861 routes all signals – ifnecessary – via a 24-bit Delta-SigmaA/D converter into the digital domain forprocessing in the highly developedMeridian 24-bit DSP cards.
This processing engine can consist ofbetween 2 and 10 modular processorcards, each housing 1 or 2 ultra-fast24-bit processors with high-speedcache memory. In each DSP core, theincoming signals are processed using avariety of proprietary algorithms and upto 16 output signals are generated.These output signals can be used tofeed a number of speaker layouts,ranging from 2-speaker to 9-speakerstereo with up to 8 subwoofers (withadjustable crossover parameters).
The on-board algorithms includeMeridian’s own highly transparentDolby Pro Logic and Dolby Digital,MPEG Surround, DTS, THXextensions, TV Logic and a variety ofaward-winning music programsincluding Trifield and Ambisonics.
Room CorrectionThe powerful architecture of 861 allowsmore processing to be added at a laterstage.
Meridian will soon release an upgradeto 861 that uses very high precisionprocessing to correct for roomacoustics.
In any playback system the room isan important – maybe the finalcomponent. The Room Correctionfeature of 861 adds yet another majorstep towards realism.
OutputsThe 8+ outputs can be provided asdigital signals to feed Meridian DSP
Loudspeakers, or as variable analogueoutputs using a proprietary on-board24-bit resolution conversion method –or as a mixture of both.
Video control and OSDThe Meridian 861 provides broadcast-grade video switching options formonitors, projectors and video taperouting. The comprehensive setup andcustomising facilities allow the user tolink any video and audio combinationsto the 12 Sources (accessed from
Source switching on the front panel orthe remote control).
In addition to providing high-qualityvideo amplification, the 861 has theability to give help and system controlfeedback information in an On-ScreenDisplay.
Video formats supported includeComposite, S, Component and RGB.
861 Basic Details
The following list illustrates thecapability of the design. Refer to thePrice List for standard combinations.
Audio in and out• Up to 12 analogue inputs. User-
adjustable sensitivity.• Up to 12 digital inputs. Re-
nameable legends. 32 to 96kHzsampling and up to 24-bitprecision.
• Re-nameable legends.• Digital and analogue tape loops• Independent copy and 2-room+
capability• 2 to 8 digital outputs• 2 to 8 analogue outputs
Signal processing800 uses Meridian’s proprietary DSPsoftware to provide the followingpowerful Modes.• MLP (Meridian Lossless)• Pro Logic• THX• TVLogic• Dolby Digital (AC-3)• DTS Coherent Surround• MPEG Audio and MPEG Surround• Music• Trifield• Ambisonics• SuperStereo• MusicLogic
Controls, etc.Front-panel fascia controls for:• Source, DSP, Mute, Volume and
Ltd; “DTS” Digital Theatre Systems Inc.; “DVD” DVD Forum.
Meridian Setup ProgramThe example screen shot below illustrates the custom program that Meridian have developed to allow easy setup andmaintenance of 800 Series configurations.
