Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Restaurant at the End of Universe Hitchhikers - Meridian Equipment AC12 alternative

Looking at the photos from Duncan's site there appears to be no ICs or other active components in the audio chain. The lack of a power supply for the AC12 is also another clue. Looking at the top of the PCB, the silver box on the far right of the photo will almost certainly be an impedance matching transformer and the square black component next to it could be a choke.

As you realised in a later post, the 'cold' XLR terminal in those XLR-phono adapters from Maplin is just connected to ground, so they are not true balanced-unbalanced converters. However they will work for short distances in this application. In fact, you don't need the XLR connectors at all - just solder the phono plug/socket straight to the RJ45 connector. Much less than �15!
For a properly balanced solution you could expect to spend upwards of �40 in parts.

Interesting idea of using the processor Speakerlink out for audio only and using the standard comms connectors. However if you then run an S/M lead to the speakers you are losing the benefits of the balanced nature of Speakerlink, i.e. lower jitter due to better noise rejection.

That's a very useful snapshot of a typical user, thanks for the info.
According to Wikipedia, 10m is the maximum distance for SPDIF. With an active solution 100m should be achievable.

T42

I cannot see many people needing >10M so if you're think "mass-market" and keeping cost down stick with passive and think about expanding to an active solution to flog to those with money to consider buying the original AC12.

I keep wondering about a 511 eqivalent box, in terms of parts and labour probably not that much more expensive? For most people; buy it once and expand into it? But then dismiss the idea that if the basic 2 channel box is good and sensibly priced we'd just buy 2 or 3 (or 4?)

Richard

t42: i believe we discussed this solution last year. if you could devise converters to go from non SL center and then out to SL left/right speakers w/ zero performance loss then i'm in.

I agree, 10m should be adequate for most situations. I may consider designing a second solution for longer cable runs, but it really depends on the demand.

As for cost, I've no idea yet. It depends on the final solution chosen and the grade of components used. For example a Neutrik RJ45 connector in a rugged shell could easily be an order of magnitude more expensive than a simple pcb mount connector. Although cases with a number of pre-cut Neutrik D-series holes can be bought off the shelf, whereas a bespoke case may need to be specified and manufactured if using a number of connectors with different dimensions.
I come from a pro-audio background, so I would typically use slightly more 'industrial' style connectors (e.g the Neutrik D-series) than one might typically find in consumer audio. The sort than even bass players can't break...

My intention was to develop a product capable of supporting 2-channels of audio only, as people are likely to have a mixture of SL and non-SL speakers at any given time. They can therefore buy the required number of adapters for their setup. A significant proportion of the cost will be connectors, transformers (if going for a passive solution) and labour, all of which will increase as audio channels are added.

Just to clarify, are you looking for a more cost effective solution than the AC12, or is the AC12 unable to do what you want?

And we discussed this last year..........over many many posts.

I told you that this is not possible because SpeakerLink has only 2 channels and, in this case, these two channels are for the Center and Sub. There is no other audio on this cable to split out to the Front / Left speakers. The Front / Left speakers must be fed from the Front Left/Right output from the processor.

SPDIF ....... = 2 channel
SpeakerLink = 2 channel
MMHR ...... = 8 channel (only available HD621 to 861v6)

Regards,
Carl

So what is the SL solution such that I can use LR DSP8k.2 (SLs) and 5200HC (non-SLs) via G68?

I want to run flat CAT6 for my setup.

Is your G68 a SL or Non-SL version?

Reading your previous posts again, I shall assume:

G68 (coax output)
8000.2 (SpeakerLink and coax inputs)
5200HC (only coax inputs)

Without converters (and running coax)
G68 ----SPDIF+COMMS----> 8000.2
G68 ----SPDIF+COMMS----> 5200HC

With converters (so you can run CAT5)
G68 --SPDIF+COMMS--> AC11 --CAT5--> 8000.2
G68 --SPDIF+COMMS--> " "" " --CAT5--> AC12 --> 5200HC

I guess you want to run CAT5 now to future proof your music/HT room.
However, I think you would be better running CAT5 AND Coax in one hit.
Then use the most suitable cable for the equipment you have connected to it at that time.

It is better in both cost and performance to avoid AC11 & AC12 (or DIY versions) where possible and only use them when you have to convert from one format to another.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Carl

Without going too off-topic...
Carl is right - there is no way to transmit Centre, Left and Right (and Sub) channels over a single SpeakerLink connection.

If you really wanted to run just one Cat6 cable from the G68 to the 5200HC and you didn't need the RS232 portion of SpeakerLink, you could use the RS232 twisted pair to transmit the second pair of audio channels. A 'mutant' SpeakerLink if you will. HOWEVER, this would require bespoke adapters at either end of the Cat6 cable (as it's no longer true Speakerlink) and would not be very future proof, e.g. if you upgrade to a SL centre you would need a completely different adapter at the speaker end.

Thanks Carl and t42. Next purchase is the 7200hc plus t42's kustom adaptor for the NON-SL g68!

The best option (for me) would be a cable to every speaker from the preamp.
That makes sense for my background as Computer Network specialist. Bus = shared, star = dedicated.

The AC-12 are a bit overpriced, so i settled for 2 only for my 4 backs, but i much would like to not use too many meters of those silly old din plug wired cables.

What are the US, UK and other countries list price for the AC-12's?


So what do Hikers think their risk/reward thresholds for 3rd party vs. OEM on an AC-12 solution would have to be ? At what price do you feel it starts to makes sense or is there no price that would have you consider a 3rd party alternative?

I'm at the juncture of having to make a decision/purchase to convert my legacy speakers over from my v4 to v6 so I will most likely miss out on any alternative. as others here have said, and I concur having to account for the
" extra" cost, complexity & implementation is " a drag" and new additions to my collection of external "crutches" enhancements ( AC12, HD621, 519 )!

Sorry about the little rant, just had to slip that in


Best,

J