Given the many options for Atmos\DTS:X setups (5.1.2, 7.2.4, 9.2.4 etc.), I�d be very surprised if next generation 861 is an all or nothing option.
Main system - Sources (Kodi-HTPC, Vero 4k, FireTV, Sat) into Trinnov Altitude 32 (8-16) (+Roon), Trinnov Amplitude 8 amp & Vivid Audio (Giya G3, V1.5) and REL Stentor III speakers. Others: F80 + Raspberry Pi and other Pi systems.
I don't doubt the thinking that Meridian put into sensible product options, it's just that "the time is right" and the motivation seems to be split in the case of MQA vs. object-based audio.
Perhaps not a road-map but a statement of intent along the lines of either:
"Meridian regard object-based audio as a young technology with little commercial content likely to be available in the next 18 months to drive consumer take-up."
or:
"Meridian believe object-based audio is a paradigm shift in AV engineering and are actively pursuing options within its existing product line..."
In the spirit of Spinaltap, I would like to confirm that I am not involved in the corrupt theft of a global sport.
I think many of us would be happy with a low-priced (in Meridian terms!!) 861 upgrade to support MQA and to introduce a few other improvements (e.g. multi-channel audio over USB) but to bundle into it what could possibly be a high-priced (by any standards) upgrade to support Dolby Atmos would be a shame.
I think Classe has made a product Classe Sigma-SSP that seems to fit this description, even promising to provide Atmos and HDMI 2.1, when available. Seems more akin to the G65, seems to check all the boxes. Of course, M could still do their two box thing, which I personally like.
Primary: MD600, MS200 (SpeakerLink to AES), Trinnov ST-2, Ayre V6-xe, Salk SS8 3x LRC. Secondary: MC600 (whole house). Zone one: 568.2, G57, MS200, Spatial Hologram M2SE. Zone 2-6 (Awaiting assignment).
It's nice to hear some speculation about object based audio support. Meridian's position at the front of the line in cutting edge home theater in the 90's was what first drew me in. This slower cycle was just not them 15-20 years ago:
One of the first (if not the first) with Dolby Digital Again with DTS (when everyone else was using the outboard Millennium decoder) A free upgrade for the 561 being the launch vehicle for PL2.
Sure this was all building on the 8 digital channel support already in the 565, but the 565 itself was also cutting edge and ahead of its time. I'm sure EBA and MQA are wonderful, but I'm glad to have some HT excitement even if its purely speculation!
Living room: DSP5000.3 WFH Office: M33 Bedroom: P200ZQ
Meridian supported 3D via a simple HD621 firmware upgrade and that is fine in my book.
861v9 is a multichannel audio processor in the upper echelons and I expect it to stay there while paying for continued upgrades to it.
I don't think you can stop the Immersive/Object based audio train going from the mixing stage (check) to the cinema (check) to BD (new years). Those audio object queues will get left out by processors not being able to decode them and thus will miss more and more important queues and effects that corresponds to onscreen and offcscreen action as times moves on,
I think it's just too flexible technology to not use it from the mixing stage, regardless if you manage to put up two/four DSP3300 in the ceiling or not.
DSP8000SE, DSP7200SEHC, DSP5200SE sides, DSP7200SE rears, 861v8, 210, Sim2 Ultranero 4, Stewart Cinecurve 2.35:1, XEIT CM-5E Anamorphic lens, Dune HD Duo Cinema 8K and Wireworld Platinum 48G HDMI -> UHD722 -> Shunyata Omega Ethernet. Shunyata/Furutech power-cables/filters. SR Master Fuse@861v8. Uptone Etherregen with 10MHz OCXO clock.
There is a lot of speculation about object based audio on film soundtracks for the home. However in spite of the supposition on some writers' part, there is no evidence that a Dolby Atmos cinema mix can be decoded by an Atmos Home decoder. A re-mix will need to be done for home Atmos and at an added expense for the studio. Plus, I would expect the audio payload to be 30-40% larger for an Atmos enabled mix relative to the TrueHD 5.1 or even 7.1 mix of the same film. This makes it less likely for Atmos mixes to appear on regular Blu-Ray discs (unless the studios delete some supplemental material.)
While the barrier to Home Atmos is relatively low for consumers, it remains higher for the studios.
A re-mix will need to be done for home Atmos and at an added expense for the studio.
Sorry but unless I greatly misunderstand object based audio (And I fully concede that this may be the case) but there is no 'mix' as such. There are objects with defined meta-data specifying characteristics such as the objects positional location. It is then up to the decoder/rendered/endpoint whatever you wish to call it to produce the 'mix' during playback.
There simply is nothing to re-mix in the traditional sense. As for the 30-40% added overhead for the meta-data I can't comment but it does sound like an awful lot for things like positional meta-data.
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