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

Hi,

I need to extract the full HD audio from 4K sources (e.g PS4, SkyQ, Netflix) into my HD621 and then into the G61R.

I can use a Vertex 2, but I don't need the HDMI switching capability, or I can use something like the Marmitek Audio ExtractorMarmitek Audio Extractor, but does anyone know whether I could simply connect HDMI1 eARC on the TV, to the HD621 and get the TV to pass uncompressed audio?

i.e the TV is acting like the Marmitek

Or am I being dim and you can't use a TV input with eARC to pass back audio from another source on HDMI2 (like the PS4)?

The HD621 will not work with ARC nor eARC - looks as though the Marmitek might well do the trick, however, I have no experience using a Marmitek. If you can extract to PCM carried on HD blank video then feed to the HD621, the HD621 will take it from there.

Thanks. I think I'm getting myself confused.

When I say eARC, what I mean is the TV/extractor uses its eARC channel to pass uncompressed audio, over HDMI, into the HD621, so that I get the highest quality audio from 4K sources.

e.g. TV eARC -> Marmitek -> HDMI Audio -> HD621 -> G61R

My question really is, do audio return channels on HDMI always pass audio out on that port, even if the TV is on another source?

I think all sources need to be ARC or eARC compatible and the HD621 is neither.

Maybe you should take a look at the new Vertex2, but I don't have this device in use myself: 4K Vertex2 18Gbps
https://www.hdfury.com/product/4k-vertex2-18gbps/

Best regards,
Andi

The Vertex2 was on my list of devices if I decided to keep my 861v4 based digital theatre. But I opted for an easy life and bought the matching (top-of-the-range) soundbar to go with my Samsung QLED. No regrets.

@Viruskiller

So a top-notch soundbar was almost as good as your old multi £ Meridian (of which I believe I might have a bit of!)?

That's interesting. I've never heard a really good modern soundbar in the home.

d.

I didn't quite say that. I wanted to simplify my system and I wanted something non-intrusive in my new living room. Two 6ks, a 5500HC, two 33s, an 861v4, and an HD621, with all of the associated cabling etc. that were previously in a dedicated basement cave weren't going to cut it in the new room.

In short, the soundbar is very good indeed, excellent even! It has clarity, it goes loud, and it goes loud with clarity; and the sub is quite superb. It does Atmos (invariably in a limited way) and the sound is immersive and fun. 7.4.1 channels with one bar, two wireless surrounds, and a wireless sub. It's impressive. Mid-Fi and Hi-Fi manufacturers should be worried at what the majors are now producing. IMO Meridian did the right thing by switching to the CI market and working with the likes of LG rather than attempting to compete with them.

Does it beat the Meridian digital theatre for SQ? Of course not, but it's scarily good enough, and it wins in every other way.

Good to know. I've been using the G95 I bought off you with some Meridian panel speakers and while the physical wall space is more than a soundbar I enjoy the fact that it takes up no floor space at all...

d.

Your PS4 can produce 6 channel LPCM, but I haven't found a device that plays Netflix and decodes the DD+ to LPCM. (I found one, but its the Oppo 203 with a vanity board and you can't buy either of those anymore). I'm pretty certain the G61R doesn't decode DD+ (my 861v8 doesn't). It will decode DD.

So unless you have a device that decodes DD+ into LPCM (and if you do, please share), then you might as well just use SDPIF straight into the G61.

For my PS4, I had some luck with the Vertex 2, but it would blank every fifteen minutes or so when using 4k HDR. Without HDR it was solid. But the HDR makes a huge difference, so I gave up and bought a UHD722 and it's been great.

I’ll report back, as the Sony XH95 seems to have an array of digital output options for multichannel audio, so if I get UHD on its internal Netflix App, and tweak the digital out settings in the Tv and feed optical straight into G61, what should I be looking for in the diagnostic display on the G61?

Through optical you’ll only get Dolby Digital no True HD or Atmos.