Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Does 562V do any processing on digital?

I've just inserted a 562V in my system to act as a digital input mux to my DAC (then connected balanced to G02/G57/Kef Reference 201's).

However, on first listening the sound doesn't appear so clear, or the base so tight.

Assuming that it really doesn't sound so good there appear to be four options:

1) The cheapy digital cable I'm using to connect my source to the 562V is making it worse. (Answer borrow high-end cable from hi-fi shop to find out if it makes any difference.)

2) The 562V is introducing more jitter than my source, and this is making the sound worse. (Not sure how to fix this without spending $$ on re-clocking.)

3) The 562V is doing something to the digits other than straight muxing. (No idea how to prove this.)

4) It doesn't sound worse, my brain is just making me think it does. (Answer get a ptient audiophile friend, not wife, to help with some blind testing.)

Does anyone have any idea on point 3 in particular?

Apart from converting the TOS inputs I don't believe the 562v modifies the digital signal in any way. I do remember a recent thread where the suggestion was that the 562v did back to back conversion of analogue inputs (ie A-D -> D-a), whereas the 562v2/v3 did propper pass through - I think.

Dare I say it, but perhaps you should have gone for the 518 which would also have cleaned up any jitter. I know you require 2x TOS inputs, but it might have been an idea to upgrade one of those source at the same time.

Try some descent interconnect first, though, and do let us know how you get on.


[This message has been edited by mortod (edited 01-21-2005).]

I would also be surprised if it does any processing, but it's good to have a second opinion - the Meridian documentation, at least on this product, is pretty vague.

I'm not using any of the analogue inputs at all, so I'm not worried about that.

I'll try some better cables, and one of my audiophile friends has volunteered to come and help with some blind testing in a couple of weeks time, so this should help to eliminate some of the other possibilities.

Im not 100% sure, but im not entirely convinced that the 562/562v will pass through a full 24 bit word length - they predate 96/24. I don't think that full 24 bit words were passed until the 562v2/v3's were introduced. I could be wrong and I am sure it would be easy for someone to test using a diagnostic display on one of the processors.

-Ian

I also think that the 562V only handles 16-bit audio there is no mention of 24-bit in anything I've read on it.

This isn't a problem for me, since my main source is effectively a straightforward CD transport, which just provides the 16-bits you get on a CD with no processing.

I guess it's possible that some of my other sources (Freeview, DVD & DAB) are putting out 24 bit detail, but I doubt it, and I'm not so worried about these anyway.