Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems G68XX Heritage?

Is the G-series platform more akin to the 8 series or 5 series, or an amalgamation of both?

They are each unique in some ways and the same in many ways.

I believe (although some beg to differ) the processing is nearly the same betweem 568.2mm (especially with beta 2.5), G68 and 861v4 (right down to the flaws).

861v4 allows customization and Meridian's best DACs. G68 and 568 do not.

For DSP Speakers I find no difference but others do (perhaps with younger, better trained ears do).

The biggested difference in 568.2mm is not enough MIPS to run MRC. But otherwise very similar.

The G Series is more aligned to the 800v4 series than the older 500 it replaced.

It has a similar card based setup except in G series the config is fixed and cannot be changed or upgraded.

The G & 800v4 have the same amount of processing power - 5x DSP chips and below is a prime example showing 2 of the DSP chips (there are 2 of these boards in both units) - Very similar:-

G61/68 DSP board:


800V4 DSP board:


This shows the modular construction of the G6x Series (this being the G61R with only 10 card slots, the G68 has 15)


Where as the 568.2mm is a mixture of boards including ones from the 565

Great post Duncs (I thought I was seeing double ). It's amazing how similar those cards are. I'd like to see a 861v6 DSP board. Some differences are probably only from buss layout differences. But Even though the layout etc. is very different in 568 (because there is no buss), I don't think the 568 DSP "logic" is all that different. I'll bet 568.2mm DSP board looks a lot like a DSP card in an 861v3 (or possibly 861v2). 568 DSP firmware is only a couple revs behind G68.

George,

According to the v6 datasheet the 'processing/DSP and Comms cards are unchanged from the previous version of 861' but they do go on to say that is can handle 'between 2 (default) and 10 processor cards'.

They even have the same part numbers CO00, CD20 & EF20.

Which leads on to the question of why a v4 couldn't be upgraded to a v6. It looks like only the I/O cards where changed.

Duncs

Interesting that 861v6 can handle more processing cards (even if only on paper).

I didn't realize G61 was a buss either. I always suspect it was more like a 568 with a few big boards.

Dollars and cents....

M has been moving towards a smaller number of supported configurations for a number of years now (look at what happened to the 800 and G68). 861v6 is a "new start" which is important given the shift of support to the dealers. From a private conversation with a Hiker who opened his v6 a few months ago, it seemed likely that a card swap would have been possible.

And I'm sure that M was able to charge a lot more for a discounted new box than an upgrade.

I thought there was meant to have been a new bus which made all this impossible. Or has that claim disappeared like smoke?

I have no doubt a V6 has newer better DAC boards and the optional ID40 card. But there has been questions on the V4 vs V6 for some time and it's value. Meridian certainly has the right to "re-release" a 861v4 with firmware that supports Apodizing, Fixed Trifield Width, ID40 and better DACs.

Keep in mind (as I had the same private discussion with someone who opened his V6). It can be the same PHYSICAL buss but still be completely different electrically or speed. It can be terminated differently to support different speeds and could be layed out differently. So until someone decides to plug in a ID40 and load V6 firmware (when ever available) on their v4 we won't know if the "buss" is really different or not.

Physically the 861V4 buss is as solid as it gets and that may be a good thing for the 861v6.

I have said for years an 861v4 is identical processing as G68. The photo's are not proof but there is enough info between firmware revs, bugs, features, photos to clearly see that there is lots of evidence they are. The only possible differences is Jitter and DACs. If you have DSP speakers, that tosses any differences in DACs. I doubt jitter is all that different and the FIFO's in DSP speakers should normalize most of those differences if those differences even exist. Even the power regulation on those boards are the same.

861 gave you flexibility. Which is still true today. Their best DACs and now their best interface, ID40. And latest features first (Working Trifield Width )

Meridian has always been extremely expensive. Nothing new there.

Just like the Processor FIFO's are supposed to level out all Sources???

I think recent evaluations have shown that not to be the case........

Therefore, if the Jitter levels vary between the various Meridian Processors, then those differences will likely be audible, despite the DSP FIFO's

I doubt the jitter is that different in the first place.