Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems G68J and HD621

I own a G68J and want to listen to Dolby True HD titles without replacing my G68J. I know that I could get a Bluray player with internal Dolby True HD processing and feed it to the multi analogue inputs on my G68J. Let's call that the default set up.

In what way would my Dolby True HD listening be improved over my default set up if I were to introduce a HD621? I assume the HD621 does not decode Dolby True HD internally?

Sorry if this is asking a stupid question. I am trying to figure out whether I should order a HD621.

Many thanks

Digital path all the way from the disc without the D>A and A>D conversion, so better sound quality.

Cheers

George

The HD621 takes the digital audio stream from HDMI and makes it available to the digital multi-channel inputs on your G68J. There is no digital to analog conversion in the player and no analog to digital conversion in the G68. The extra D/A and A/D steps contain pitfalls (rounding errors, jitter, etc.) which can degrade the signal. The A/D conversion in the G68 is of high quality; however, the A/D conversion in most Blu-ray players is not. The sound is only as good as its weakest link - in this case DAC in the player. Whether you can hear the difference is of course the question. I am inclined to believe you can. I think most would agree that avoiding the extra D/A and A/D conversions is the route to go for the highest quality audio. Nevertheless, the cost of the HD621 in relation to the G68J is somewhat high, so you have to make the call as to its ultimate value to you.

Thank you Frank.

So my G68J will be fed digital multichanel audio stripped out from the HDMI output of my chosen Bluray player. If I understand you correctly, it's basically an all digtal equivalent of connecting a Bluray player's analogue multichannel out to my G68J's analogue multichannel in?

That's a very clear and helpful answer and I would consider that avoiding the two conversions you speak of makes a HD621 a worthwhile purchase.

One follow up question, bearing in mind that my G68J does not decode/process Dolby True HD. Does my Bluray player need to have any special capability (e.g. onboard decoding) to allow me to hear Dolby True HD audio through a HD621/G68J processor combo?

Is the only requirement that the Bluray player I use must have an HDMI output, which they all do, allowing me to use a Playstation, for example, as my source.

The HD621 only processes (as far as we can tell) PCM, so your blu-ray player MUST decode ALL audio formats to PCM and pass this over HDMI to the HD621...

Mark

The Blu-ray player must be able to output LCPM audio over HDMI rather than bitstreaming it. I think most if not all players can do so, but it's best to inquire about a specific player to make absolutely sure. The Sony S550 and Panasonic DB35K and BD55K do output LCPM over HDMI.

Many thanks Frank and Mark_H. I will order a HD621 and am excited to give this a try. The Denon DVD 3800 DB's specs say that it outputs 8ch PCM over HDMI so it looks like an ideal machine to use with a HD621/G68j combo.

Please keep in mind that the DVD-3800BDCI is only 1.1 compliant. It does not do BD-Live. In all other respects it is a top-notch player, and is among the best upscaling SD-DVD players available.

Don't forget Mark's Power Buy. I'm considering it.

PB Link?

@shuffleboard:

You need a player that internally decodes everything (DD+, DTS HD, TrueHD, etc.) and have the following options:

1) Buy a player with 5.1 analogue outputs to connect directly to the G68.

Advantages: Cheap; simple.
Disadvantage: Extra D2A and A2D conversions; music bass management layout applied.

2) Buy a player in the States, ship it directly to Shawn Fogg for a 3x (or 4x) SPDIF modification (or buy a 3x SPDIF card from Shawn and manage the modification yourself). You can then connect it digitally to one of the two G68 multichannel digital inputs.

Advantages: Cheaper than HD621 solution.
Disadvantages: Logistical nightmare if you want a Region B player; music layout applied; higher jitter?

3) Buy a player. Buy a modified CLUX11SA (or Octava) from Shawn Fogg. Connect player to CLUX and CLUX 3x SPDIF output to the G68.

Advantages: Cheaper than HD621 solution (and works with G68 FIFO buffers), CLUX will work with more than your Blu-Ray player.
Disadvantages: Undoubtedly a higher jitter solution (though will you hear the difference with FIFO in the G68 and DSP speakers?); music layout applied.

4) Buy a player and the HD621.
Advantages: Lowest jitter solution, proper Meridian support and integration.
Disadvantage: Cost.

Also add automatic switching between 2 Channel and MultiChannel presets using MetaData. Not huge but comes under "better integration".