News

Meridian Shows 861, G68 and G61R Surround Controllers and 808.3 Signature Reference CD Player (7/2/2010)

ISE 2010

861 V6 REFERENCE DIGITAL SURROUND CONTROLLER

Since its first appearance in 1998, the Meridian 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller has consistently offered the industry’s highest standard in surround processing and system control. Its modular architecture allows each unit to be individually specified and manufactured. Modular architecture also means that as technology standards advance and new features are developed existing 861s can be upgraded – adding new processing features and connectivity - a service that maintains the value of the customer’s original investment.

Now, Meridian Audio is proud to unveil its sixth version of the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller – the 861 V6. This new model incorporates SpeakerLink output connectivity for up to eight channels of Meridian DSP Loudspeakers and an eight-channel MMHR input as standard features. The 861 V6 also includes a number of other connectivity and performance updates, which makes it arguably the most advanced and user friendly high-end Digital Surround Controller available.

At the heart of the ultimate movie system, 861 V6 links all audio sources with flexible switching and control, provides advanced audio processing to ensure all sources deliver the highest quality sounds, and manages the system’s loudspeakers to ensure perfect performance in the chosen listening environment. SpeakerLink output connectivity makes specifying and installing a Meridian Digital Theatre system easier than ever before and at the same time lifts performance to an even higher level. The inclusion of a digital output card (OE14) as part of the 861 V6 core means all 861 V6 Surround Controllers will be available as standard with sufficient output connectivity for a full Meridian Digital Theatre. The Meridian Multi-channel High-Resolution (MMHR) input on the IE44 card allows a simple single-wire connection to be made between 861 V6 and a Meridian HD621. This link functions at up to eight-channels and allows a system combining 861 V6 and HD621 to deliver the full multi-channel experience from Blu-ray Discs with the latest soundtracks.

SpeakerLink inputs on IE44 and optional ID26 cards allow simple high-quality connections to be made between Meridian Sooloos products (e.g. Control 10) and the 861 V6. The SpeakerLink input carries digital audio at up to 96 kHz, 24-bit resolution as well as Meridian Comms. SpeakerLink provides a simpler and more robust method of connection than legacy digital audio and Comms connections, especially over long distances, making installations quicker and more reliable.

The optional ID40 Sooloos Card enables 861 V6 to connect directly to a Sooloos network. It allows the 861 to render audio from the Sooloos system and for control commands sent through the 861 (IR, Comms, and Serial) to be used to control the Sooloos current Play List. 861 V6 can upsample and process (for example using Trifield) the audio stream from Sooloos to enhance sound quality and presentation on a multi-channel system. ID40 Sooloos Card and 861 V6 allow for the highest audio quality integration of Sooloos in to a Meridian Digital Theatre system.

Analogue inputs provided by IA04 offer superior audio performance compared to analogue inputs on older versions of 861. IA04 can be configured to provide up to six stereo inputs or up to two six-channel inputs. This level of performance and flexibility minimises the need for additional analogue input cards to be specified, reducing complexity and 861 configuration prices for many customers.

861 V6 will be offered in three standard 800 Series colours; Graphite, Silver and Black as well as the full range of Meridian Select colour options.

The Meridian 861 V6 Reference Digital Surround Controller is expected to be available in the UK from February 2010 at a suggested retail price of £11,500.00.

G68 SURROUND CONTROLLER

Meridian Audio has announced details of its new G68, a highly specified and flexible Surround Controller featuring many of Meridian’s key technologies plus a comprehensive host of input/output switching and connectivity.

Central to the G68 is a powerful DSP engine made up of five Motorola 56367 devices and one 53671, running at 150MHz and delivering 900 MIPS (million instructions per second). All processing is carried out at high sample rates and with 48-bit precision, ensuring all filtering takes place far beyond the range of human hearing. This DSP engine is also responsible for G68’s comprehensive bass management system which can support up to three separate subwoofers, and for managing up to 60 filters created by Meridian’s Room Correction software.

G68 includes multiple analogue and digital audio input types including; Meridian SmartLink for multi-channel connection to one of Meridian’s advanced DVD Players such as G96, or for connection to a Meridian HD621; USB audio input for direct connection to personal computers or computer based media servers; Toslink optical digital inputs for connection to set-top boxes, etc; configurable multi-channel analogue inputs for connection to multi-channel music sources.

All analogue inputs are processed at 24-bit, 96 kHz resolution. G68 also provides video inputs and switching for up to three component video sources. HDMI audio sources can be connected to G68 via Meridian’s HD621 HDMI Audio Processor and Meridian’s digital multi-channel SmartLink.

Providing up to eight-channels of output for Meridian’s DSP Loudspeakers via SpeakerLink, G68 can control any of Meridian’s most sophisticated multi-channel systems. For customers with traditional power-amplifiers and passive loudspeakers, G68 offers balanced analogue output for up to eight-channels on XLR connectors.

The AM/FM RDS radio tuner features 24-bit, 96kHz analogue to digital conversion, and digital signal processing provides an elegant FM stereo blend/width control which allows for unwanted noise to be filtered out from radio reception. The tuner also features DSP-based low pass filters for improved AM reception.

The Meridian G68 Surround Controller is offered in G Series anodised Silver or Black finishes and is expected to be available in the UK from February 2010 at a suggested retail price of £5,000.00.

G61R SURROUND CONTROLLER

The introduction of the new G61R Surround Controller, Meridian’s lowest cost full system controller offers a high value balance between powerful surround controller features and price, enabling many customers to be introduced to the performance and features of a Meridian surround sound system at mid level prices.

Central to the G61R is a powerful DSP engine made up of five Motorola 56367 devices and one 53671, running at 150MHz and delivering 900MIPS (million instructions per second). All processing is carried out at high sample rates and with 48-bit precision, ensuring all filtering takes place far beyond the range of human hearing. This DSP engine is also responsible for G61R’s comprehensive bass management system which can support up to three separate subwoofers, and for managing up to 60 filters created by Meridian’s Room Correction software.

G61R includes multiple analogue and digital audio input types including; Meridian SmartLink for multi-channel connection to one of Meridian’s advanced DVD Players such as G96, or for connection to a Meridian HD621; USB audio input for direct connection to personal computers or computer based media servers; Toslink optical digital inputs for connection to set-top boxes, etc; configurable multi-channel analogue inputs for connection to multi-channel music sources. All analogue inputs are processed at 24-bit, 96 kHz resolution. HDMI audio sources can be connected to G61R via Meridian’s HD621 HDMI Audio Processor and Meridian’s digital multi-channel SmartLink.

Providing up to eight-channels of output for Meridian’s DSP Loudspeakers via SpeakerLink, G61R can control any of Meridian’s most sophisticated multi-channel systems. For customers with traditional power-amplifiers and passive loudspeakers, G61R offers analogue output for up to eight-channels on phono connectors.

The Meridian G61R Surround Controller is offered in G Series anodised Silver or Black finishes and is expected to be available in the UK from February 2010 at a suggested retail price of £3,500.00.

808.3 SIGNATURE REFERENCE CD PLAYER

As part of a series of innovative new product launches to herald 2010, Meridian Audio has announced the introduction of the 808.3 Signature Reference CD Player, an audiophile CD player using a host of Meridian technologies, which collectively deliver the best possible sound quality from CD – the music format with the richest catalogue available. Combined, these features help CDs sound as if replay is at a high-resolution, and can even fix errors in the original recording.

For the past 25-years, Meridian has been making some of the world’s finest audiophile CD players, and since the introduction of the first 808 Signature Reference CD Player in 2004, Bob Stuart and Allen Boothroyd, the company’s founders, have hand-signed each one as testament to their pride in the company’s ongoing achievements in the field of CD audio reproduction.

The third generation of 808 – the 808.3 Signature Reference CD Player – offers CD playback from a new specially built custom CD-ROM based drive, which allows for data recovery and error correction many times better than that employed in standard CD systems. It also offers triple FIFO buffering and, like the 808.2 before it, 808.3 employs Meridian’s proprietary DSP based ‘apodising’ up-sampling system.

All 808.3s benefit from an array of audio inputs – analogue, digital, and a new balanced digital audio SpeakerLink input – as well as a sophisticated volume control. These inputs allow the connection of additional audio sources which can be selected and processed using the same powerful audio enhancing DSP as the internal CD source. This integrated pre-amplifier functionality means that systems built around 808.3 are simpler and easier to use than traditional hi-fi systems with separate pre-amplifiers.

Updates to 808.3’s analogue input card provide superior analogue to digital conversion compared to previous models of 808i/808.2i. This improvement in conversion technology enables superior audio performance for all analogue connected sources making 808.3 a better, more valuable pre-amplifier.

In addition to its standard audio inputs, the 808.3 Signature Reference CD Player features an ID40 Sooloos Card allowing it to be directly connected to the same network as a Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System. When connected the 808.3 is seen as a zone within the system and it renders audio streamed across the network. The same connection allows infra-red control of the Sooloos’s current Play Queue from the supplied MSR+ remote control handset or product front panel, while 808.3’s DSP based audio enhancement tools and triple FIFO buffering system process audio streamed over the Sooloos network, making 808.3 the highest performance network playback device.

At the output, Meridian’s SpeakerLink connection system delivers the highest quality digital signals to Meridian’s DSP Loudspeakers on discrete, low-cost cables with simple connectors. The 808.3 Signature Reference CD Player has new twin SpeakerLink outputs which mean left and right DSP Loudspeakers can both be connected directly to the 808.3, further simplifying wiring structure and making cables even easier to hide.

The 808.3 Signature Reference CD Player will be offered in three standard 800 Series colours; Graphite, Silver and Black as well as the full range of Meridian Select colour options.

The Meridian 808.3 Signature Reference CD Player is expected to be available in the UK from February 2010 at a suggested retail price of £10,000.00.

www.meridian-audio.com