Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems G68 vs 861v6 for digital I/O

Maybe the DAC and other analog features are better inside the 861v6 vs the G68. So maybe the 861v6 will sound better for analog I/O.

But if the path is completely digital (HD621 -> pre/pro -> DSP5200), what benefit does the 861v6 have over the G68?

Maybe apodizing? But apodizing is already available in the HD621 and/or the DSP5200.

One of the benefits that the 861v6 has over the G68 is 7.1 vs 5.1.

The 861 also has speakerlink. But I would call that more of a feature than a benefit.

What else?

Axle,

I have assumed you're discussing a Non SpeakerLink G68.

Regards,
Carl

Carl, I am not sure what you mean by non speaker. But I did notice that you have edited the versions.

The 861v6 enables apodizing of SPDIF sources, without having to resort in converting SPDIF to HDMI, with is inherently jittery, just to get it into the HD621.

Upsampling as early as possible helps to minimise jitter; which is why upsampling and apodizing in the DSP speakers does not yield as good a result.

861v6 has been re-designed to push jitter down to even low levels.

861v6 supports 7.1 input from the HD621.

861v6 supports the ID40 decoder code for use with Sooloos systems.


Regards,
Carl

Thanks Carl. If you have an HD621 then shouldn't upsampling and jitter attenuation be taken care of just as soon and just as good as the 861v6?

My recollection is that, given the choice, Meridian suggests going directly via SPDIF to a processor rather than via HDMI to the HD621 then to the processor via SPDIF.

"Just as good"...I suppose only Meridian can answer that question.

Frank, You hit on exactly what I am getting at. The objective is to upsample and retime jitter-free. What difference does it make if this happens in the HD621 or the 861v6? The only answer that I can come up with is that the 861v6 has lower jitter. But I have not seen anything to back that up.

The difference in price between a new 861 v6 and a G68XXV is not insignificant. Is it worth going with an 861 over the G68? I voted with my wallet and said yes it is for me. On the other hand if the G68 supported 7.1, for me the choice flops to the G68. My 861 is still 2 weeks away, in the mean time I'm listening to great 5.1 on my G68.

I was faced with the same quandary when deciding to "trade-up" from TMA equipment : the assumption I made was that the 861v6 is simply state-of-the-art in all respects compared to it's brethren & the competition. Even the smaller form of the G-series forces compromises that ought not to be a constraint in the 861 series, topology & technology are other factors.
If my assumption was wrong, then I'll be one very unhappy bunny !

Each to his own I suppose, but I'm surprised that discrete 7.1 digital input was worth $10,000 to you. The main benefit of the 861v6 *should* be sound quality in both analogue and digital sytems as a result of the best in-component jitter management Meridian has achieved to date (and apodizing if your digital sources don't already do it).