Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Official CES 2010 Announcements (no speculation please)

I sure hope this is not the case and if it is, it doesn't make much sense to me

Most people with SPDIF+Comms DSP's will have the Speaker Cable somehow "ducted" from the Rear of their Processors to the Rear of each of their 6 to 8 speaker locations. They will obviously not wish to rip out that cable or go to the trouble running / ducting new cable

The Topology that makes the most sense to me then would be (using the 861 as an example)

** OE14 Speakerlink out to AC12 at the back of the 861

** The AC12 converts Speakerlink to SPDIF plus Comms for all 6-8 DSP's

** The existing SPDIF + Comms cables can then be used from the Rear of the 861 to each DSP

This would mean the minimum of disruption etc., in the case of people with older DSP's, which is still the highest percentage of Meridian's installed base

Doing it the other way makes no sense to me, i.e.

OE14 Speakerlink output via Cat5 Cable to the Rear of each DSP, where the AC12 converts from Speakerlink to SPDIF + Comms, would require existing DSP users to run new Speakerlink cable.

I feel sure that most here do not want to do that, even if if did bring minor benefits, which even Bob seemed unsure about on HH2 day when I asked him specific question about how much extra benefit Balanced Digital connections brought to the party (A few small percentage points was his very evasive answer)

Ronnie, exactly my thinking.

Of course, if the old IE42 SPDIF Output Card will work happily with the new IE44 Output card, then an AC12 will not be required at all

I somehow have my suspicions though that the IE 44 will only work without the IE42 still being in place

We will see, but those "Devil in the Details" may take a while to find out

AMEN, George

Hi Gianni

I am happy to confirm. The crucial features are:

balanced, which gives a more robust signal with higher output;
cat 5 / 6 / 7 with greater RFI rejection;
carries MHR and comms in a single cable.

There have been various claims by Meridian, and documented here, that SpeakerLink gives superior performance to SPDIF. I don't think anyone has tried an A/B comparison.

Anyone installing cabling now would certainly be wise to at least include runs of cat 6a. Its a cat future.

Although the new G68 & G61 rear panel multi-channel digital inputs still have screening for 6 channel MHR, is it not still conceivable that 8 channel input may be possible using one of the other SPDIF inputs?

I would guess it doesn't matter whether the ac12 sits with the kit or at the speaker. It's unlikely to have flying leads out of it so it's going to be down to the what flying leads you use - a short bit of speakerlink and existing long m/s lead (ac12 at kit) or long speakerlink and short m/s lead. The connectors on the ac12 would be the same for both.

Unfortunately Frank spoke with Meridian yesterday and posted this earlier in this thread:


He has a proper meeting scheduled with them later today, so hopefully he'll have move indepth info to share. But it really does seem strange that 7.1 is considered cutting-edge when a $249 Yamaha supports it. I can maybe see the arguement of lack of catalogue, but not really. I wouldn't have thought it was much engineering effort to add considering they already have 8 channel output, but obviously it wasn't a priority for them.

This would be my preference, with the AC12 being a small unit handling a single 2 channel SpeakerLink --> SPDIF+COMMS conversion. For me I would mount one at the back of the room and pull a CAT6 cable from processor to rear DSP. (or I might star wire the CAT6 and use two AC12 once by each rear DSP)
This way you get the benefit of SpeakerLink over the long run.

Of course, if pulling CAT6 is a problem this small unit(s) could be installed near the processor and utilise the existing SPDIF+COMMS runs.

Regards,
Carl.

Carl
Out of curioity, what benefits do you see accruing from the Balanced Digital Connection that is possible with Speakerlink over Cat5-7??

By that I don't mean in a New Installation but in a Legacy Install with DSP Speakers with typical M+S Cabling already installed (and probably ducted)

I had a lengthy and informative meeting with Ken this morning. He was very forthcoming. Obviously there are things he could not tell me, but there is lots of news.

First of all, I need to make a couple of corrections. The new G61R and the G68 do NOT have apodizing. Secondly, I referred to the 861 as having a motherboard. That is obviously not the case. Purely a mental lapse on my part. It happens.

The only components in the new lineup are the HD621, G08.2, 808.3, G61R, G68, 861V6, and Sooloos Control:10, Ensemble and TwinStore. The only loudspeakers are the DSP420 (now with SpeakerLink), DSP3100, DSP5200, DSP7200 and DSP8000.2. They will come out with a new line of in-wall DSP speakers but Ken could not elaborate on the details or a timetable. Everything else is discontinued.

Meridian is aware that there is a gap for the two channel enthusiast who wants to integrate his music system with television and movies, and it is an area of interest to them. That is all Ken would say on the subject.

The only products with apodizing filters are the HD621, G08.2, 808.2 (discontinued), 808.3, 861V6, DSP5200, DSP7200 and DSP8000.2. Meridian has no present intention of providing apodizing filter upgrades for any prior products. The apodizing filters are different in each of the products owing to differences in architecture and processing power.

There will be no hardware upgrades for the G61R or G68. If you want the new features and other improvements, including new digital clocking circuitry, you need to buy the new models.

The 861V6 is a completely new unit from the ground up. To upgrade your current 861, you will need to replace everything except the case. There is a new backplane, which means all of the new cards are neither hardware nor software compatible with the old cards. The new digital cards also have new DACs.

Meridian is aware that the ID26 is mislabeled DIGITAL OUTPUT. It will be corrected on the shipping version.

They have not decided whether to offer upgrades to existing 808s and 808.2s. I may know something more on that issue that before I leave CES.

New products will ship in February. Meridian is working out the final details re: pricing and timing for upgrades. Announcements will be made in the coming months. They are shooting for early summer to begin upgrades, but that is not fixed.

The G61R and G68 come in black or silver only. The 808.3, 861V6 and DSP loudspeakers come in black as standard. For a 20% upcharge, you can customize them to any of 256 colors.

The AC12 is a small box the size of a 519 or 421. Two fit in a 1U rack space. The AC12 handles two speakers, so if you have a 7.1 DSP system, you will need four of them. They convert SpeakerLink to SPDIF and COMMS. It is an active device, which means you are going to need to plug it in the wall.

There is a new MSR. I have provided a link to a photo I took this morning. There will be new keys for iPod and Sooloos.

If you have any specific questions, I may be able to answer them. Let me know.

New Meridian MSR

If the v6 is a completely new unit why don't they call it the 862 then??
Would make more sense.


Bit gutted about the lack of apodising from the G61r and G68.