News

Meridian Introduces Surround DVD Receiver System (27/12/2006)

Stand M108, Integrated Systems Europe 2007

G95 includes DVD-Audio/Video, CD and receiver functionality with powerful on-board amps

Meridian Audio, one of Britain's leading manufacturers of high-end audio/video home entertainment systems , is showing a new surround DVD receiver system, the G95. The G95 is the most powerful and versatile member of the company's award-winning G Series family introduced to date, including a full 5.1 DVD-Audio/Video Surround Receiver with both stereo and surround modes, a robust slot-loading DVD drive and five gutsy built-in 100W digital power amplifiers - significantly higher than comparable systems - to drive your choice of passive loudspeakers, plus a line-level output for an active subwoofer. It plays audio CDs, MP3 CDs, Video CDs, DVD-Video, and DVD-Audio discs including the DVD side of DualDisc hybrids and offers on-board decoding of Dolby Digital, DTS, MPEG, MP3, and MLP data streams for stereo and multichannel playback. Stereo and multichannel digital audio outputs are also available via HDMI at up to 192kHz.

The G95 also includes comprehensive preamplifier functionality with multiple analogue and digital inputs including two coax digital inputs, two optical digital inputs, and three analogue input pairs. Digital signal processing is included to upsample stereo decoded streams, or decode surround bitstreams from external sources. A high-quality FM/AM tuner with RDS/RDBS (G95 model), or a DAB/FM tuner (G95-DAB) is also included.

The G95 includes five channels of powerful, compact and innovative new Class D digital power amplifiers, which offer exceptional power output - 100W per channel into 4½ - while remaining cool even at full output. The power amplifiers have been specially optimized for cool running, including the use of audiophile capacitors and other components, and offer a level of audio quality that is the equal of other Meridian systems. The outputs are fitted with heavy-duty gold-plated power output terminals.

In addition, a complete set of six analogue line-level outputs is included to drive external power amplifiers and speakers, and an active subwoofer such as the Meridian SW1600 or SW5500. Thus the G95 is truly a complete stereo or surround system in a box: just add an active sub and the conventional passive loudspeakers (and optionally amplifiers) of your choice!

At the heart of the player side of the G95 is a robust, high-speed, slot-loading DVD-ROM drive. The G95 employs a triple buffering system to minimize jitter, maximizing HF transparency, sound stage precision and stability. The result of this sophisticated approach is that the player delivers ultra-low jitter, with sound and picture quality second only to that of Meridian's 800 Reference DVD/CD Player.

Two tuner options are available: AM/FM and DAB/FM. The AM (LF/MF) capability includes a DSP-based low-pass filter and a whistle filter for improved reception. FM (VHF stereo Band II) reception with RDS/RDBS is provided in all models. Digital signal processing provides a sophisticated FM stereo blend/width control, which allows you to minimize noise on a received signal. Alternatively, a version is available with FM and DAB Digital Radio. The tuner includes its own 96kHz, 24-bit A/D stage.

The G95 includes upsampling in stereo mode, which allows digital filters to be placed far beyond the range of human hearing, as well as offering other audible benefits right across the audio band, including improved transient response. All processing is at 48-bit precision. These features result in a more open, transparent sound, tighter bass, and a generally more 'musical' sound overall.

To drive the power amplifier modules and analogue line-level outputs, signals are upsampled to 24-bit, 176.4/192kHz for digital to analogue conversion - DACs can offer better performance at higher sampling rates. Up to 88.2/96kHz multichannel or 192kHz in stereo is delivered as the digital audio component of the HDMI output, at 24-bit word length, or a bitstream output.

In addition, the G95 incorporates custom digital surround decoding with 150 MIPS of DSP power to allow full 5.1 surround performance. The built-in surround processing system decodes 5.1 MLP (DVD-Audio), Dolby Digital or DTS soundtracks from DVD-A or DVD-V discs, and Dolby Digital or DTS data streams fed into the external digital inputs. It will also synthesize a full surround image from 2-channel soundtracks on audio CDs, DVD-A or DVD-V discs, or from the external two-channel digital or analogue inputs, by extracting latent surround information in the recording.

On the video side, advanced video circuit designs, matched-phase video filters, and a broadcast-quality video encoder are employed to deliver low-noise images of outstanding color depth up to full-specification High Definition 1080p resolution. The G95 includes a unique broadcast-quality, high-resolution video processor/scaler which combines both Meridian and Faroudja DCDi(r) technology, delivering the most advanced, high-quality video available today. The processor can simultaneously provide composite and S-video outputs, plus progressive component video and up to 1080p full-spec High Definition on an HDMI output. The processor can receive two composite, three S-video, and interlaced component video inputs, and convert between the formats, or to the HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) standard, to provide a single video output for all the video sources in your system.

The video processor includes picture adjustment controls, available via the MSR+ and front-panel display. These include Contrast, Black Level (Brightness) and Saturation. For the internal DVD and external video inputs you can adjust the horizontal/vertical picture position. In addition, the black level, contrast, colour, and hue (NTSC) are adjustable on the video inputs. A bypass function allows progressive or high definition component video to be routed directly to the component output only.

The HDMI port supports a wide range of high quality digital video options including 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p, the highest video resolution available in the consumer industry - the same resolution as the best current HD sources. Analogue component out is available at 480p and 576p (plus 1080i pass-through). The HDMI output can be connected to a DVI input if the device supports HDCP copy protection, using a suitable adaptor cable.

To avoid potential degradation of High Definition signals caused by switching video signals inside the unit, the G95 includes a single HDMI video/audio output with HDCP. For environments where it is required to switch multiple HDMI-based sources (such as a High Definition PVR) to a single display, the G95 directly supports the Meridian HDMax 421 four-into-one HDMI switch box, which permits source selection on the G95 to switch HDMI inputs seamlessly via the 421.

The G95 will be available in Q1 of 2007.

www.meridian-audio.com