Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Meridian 568... what does it do?

I guess I never really understood what I had when I purchased my 568 years ago. I understand I need a different piece and conversion to 568.2mm to use HDMI. So, then, Does my 568 decode and process DTS-HD master?

What Meridian product can decode the latest HD Audio for home theater? There are a couple 800 series processors along with a separate "box" that can take HDMI inputs, does this mean they can also process and output the latest HD audio or does it output a permutation of HD audio?

So confused

No Meridian processor can decode HD codecs. Right or wrong, it is left to the player. A 568.2mm has the ability to connect an HD621 HDMI processor, which takes the lossless PCM signal via HDMI and sends it to your processor via SmartLink.

So assuming you do have the mm variant, you can add a HD621 and use the HDMI output of your Oppo, into the 568.

I also like the 568 for its balanced outputs, with computer setup as well! Makes for a pretty wizz bang bedroom system!

Hi Thank you for that info. Unfortunately, I do not have the .2mm variety, so I cannot use the HD621. Since I cannot use the HDMI for Audio, I will need to use the single 75 ohm digital connection to my 568. What does my plain-jane 568 do with Dolby HD and DTS HD when connected in 75 ohm digital? Do I get Dolby HD or DTS HD at my speakers?

On the single RCA you will only get standard DD/DTS. Hires Audio is HDMI only.

Hmm... What's the cost to convert my 568 to the .2mm? Anybody know? Maybe I should sell it and buy a used G68 or even an 861? I would like to hear True HD dolby and DTS HD.

I'd love to hear opinions from those who say it's clear (I'm still sorta not clear).

Should I look into conversion to .2mm and purchase the HD621?

Sell my 568 and get G68 + HD621?

Get Older 861 + HD621?

yes, only standard DD/DTS, but�

if I may, I'll add a bit of my own experience here having only recently come over to Meridian gear after owning other pre/pro's for years.

when I upgraded my last Anthem processor and discovered lossless decoding, my jaw dropped. I couldn't believe everything I was hearing, and how my setup was fooling me into thinking it was great before.

Enter the M bug.

I bought an 861 without multi-channel analog input. before getting DSP speakers I was able to (A/B) within reason both processors with the same amps, speakers, etc..

without turning this into a review, there were differences, but they were very subtle and I can say that the lossless Anthem sounded very clean but the Meridian sounded more even, accurate and never left me feeling that I'd stepped back to pre-lossless. I've since moded my Oppo player and feed it a lossless signal and yes it's better, but the differences are not as large as they were in my previous setup.

all this to say that "FOR ME/disclaimer" the hype about how M process the incoming signal is true, They do a lot more with less than most others.
I had purchased 2- 568.2mm's with intentions of feeding them an MHR signal in other rooms but will live without because it's that good.

No point trying to get your 568.1 upgraded to .2mm, pretty sure they can't even do it any more. Still a great processor mind, and if you have any 2.0 setups I'd use it in that.

G68s are cheap relative to the 568.2mm, though I prefer the smaller form factor of the 500 series. Some also say that they sound better.

If you'd like True HD then I'd probably go 568.2mm + HD621 (on a "budget") or straight to 861v4 + HD621 (if looking for cheaper 800 series). Make sure the 800 has the right card in it to take the input from the HD621.

Since you're in the US neither of these is particularly expensive (relative to UK pricing, that is).

A few points worth making:

Remember that a Bluray playing vanilla DD/DTS is not producing the same data stream as a DVD. It may be vanilla DD/DTS but the bitrate is much higher. The difference is extremely marked in my experience (also with my old 568.2). My 568.2 decoding vanilla DD/DTS from Bluray sounded great, and without the crude grain of DVD sound.

The reason M don't decode the lossless DD/DTS formats I have mentioned several times now: these formats are meant to be decoded in the player, and because of decoding flags and metadata which cannot be carried forward by HDMI, can only be 100% accurately decoded in the player. Connecting to another manufacturer's processor by HDMI may sound great, but it won't necessarily be a 100% accurate lossless decode and that it seems Meridian can't accept.

All 861v4 have the inputs to connect to HD621 (multichannel digital in). I'm not sure it would even work without that card, which is in any case in the base configuration.

MRC, really?

For any other manufacturers implementation of lossless audio;
Decoding in the player sounds worse than decoding in the pre/pro but not because it is inherently superior. It sounds better because HDMI is an awful way to transmit audio (just ask Charles Hansen of Ayre for an independent opinion). It is flawed in both the native jitter of the audio stream and the induced jitter from the video clock(s) polluting the audio outputs.

And of course the HD621's dejittering is meant to alleviate that problem, before the signal is further dejittered by the processor.

Well, yet another reason to upgrade: No 12V trigger!

Guys, my Sim2 projector has a 12V trigger, I think it's an RCA jack type. Since I don't have an electric screen, can I rig this up to turn my Krells on and off?

Thank you.