Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Is the 861 a dead end?

Your right, I forgot HD621 doesn't actually decode anything and the player has to be set to output PCM.

Yeah Meridian would have to get back into Decoding business which the HD621 helped them avoid.

Yep, that's a mentioning of an updated HD621 being released this year but I think it might be another article mentioning summertime, not sure though.

Very interesting fellas.

I have just inserted an Oppo 203 into my system for its decoding of high res movie audio (Dolby TruHD/ DTS MA) and it is giving me spectacular 7.1 results. So if anyone is needing an external decoder for these and formats below, this is a workable solution. While the cost of the player isn't the least expensive thing out there, its not horribly expensive, especially by Meridian standards.

Still, I would sure love to see an updated HD621 that can decode.

As it is, I understand the HD621 and 4k don't get along so at a minimum I would imagine they will have to update the HD621 to accommodate 4K.

That Oppo player looks nice. I use the Philips myself and it decodes everything to PCM fine, 4K etc. Kind of like it, because it only has 2 HDMI outs, one for Audio. It does not even have a Toslink output. It's already down to $229.00. Only wish it had discrete IR codes for On and Off.

I wasn't aware of the Philips player! Great find! But just to be sure, does the Philips have an HDMI input?

In my case I have a first world problem of being caught between two proprietary systems. A Meridian system with DSP speakers which wants everything decoded to PCM before it hits the HD621 and a Kaleidescape system which cannot decode the high res audio formats to PCM- it can decode the core audio. I've been waiting many years for someone to invent some kind of decoder box. I've looked to Bluray players with HDMI inputs but due to a chipset limitation they could not accept the high res formats for decoding. This new Oppo 203 player is the first one I've found which can do this. It accepts the full signal from my Kaleidescape over HDMI and then splits the signal for video out- which I use as pass through- and audio which I tell it to output LPCM and it is decoding. I'm very very happy with the result. Its the sonic version of going from a nice computer monitor to one with a higher pixel density. Or more specifically I think there is greater refinement to the sound so while the dynamic range might not have increased it sure sounds like it has and there is more life and "air" to the sound.

It might be worth mentioning that the new Oppo 203 has an HDMI input (that Jerry is presumably sending his K-scape system into), the Oppo can accept the HD audio formats, dedode to PCM, and send it to HD621->Meridian. This is an acceptable solution for Kscape/Meridian owners for now, the HD621 needs a 4K+HDR(?) replacement. Possibly the 861 as well.

Ironically enough, the Oppo 203 is marketed as a primarily as a spinning disk player, plays CD, DVD-A, SACD, DVD, BD, BD-UHD. But the HDMI input allows it also to be fed a streaming video source, such as a Kscape or Dune streamer, or something like that.

These days, I copy disks first, before I listen (and definitely don't use the car stereo CD player (if it even exists!). I mostly stream.

I'm looking forward to a 4K migration eventually, 4K projector, 4K HD621 replacement, 861 upgrade (perhaps), only the 4K TV's are cheap! Hopefully not new HDMI cables in the ceiling!

That's cool the oppos has that HDMI input. No, the Phillips does not.

Thats exactly right. I'm looking forward to 4K also but right now it doesn't make sense for me. As an aside the Oppo 203 seems like a well made and very nice spinner.

But does the Oppo not have two HDMI outputs like the older models? You can send one to the HD621 and one direct to your screen or display for 4k. Would the HD621 then strip out the audio and send to the 861 even if it is a UHD signal?

Yes the Oppo has 2 HDMI outputs:

1- "Main"
2- "Audio Only"

Yes- I am sending the Main to my projector- via my Radiance video processor. The Audio Only is going right into my HD621. The 203 is decoding the soundtracks to LPCM and sending it out to the HD621.

I believe you are asking about the newer HDMI standard for 4k- is it 2.0 or 2.2? The question is whether the Oppo is using a lower level HDMI standard like 1.4 that would be compatible to the HD621, which would allow the HD621 to work properly- as I understand it the HD621 doesn't work with the 2.0 or 2.2 HDMI or whatever the HDCP version is. Is that what you are asking? I don't know the answer. I think this is a question you might want to pose directly to Oppo.

I can only give you my own guess- my guess is since I'm using the input with HD and not 4K then it is likely using the older HDCP/ HDMI settings, and I would guess the output would contain them.

I wonder if it might be possible to find a device that could strip the EDID info, which might help it work with the HD621.

I would also imagine that someday (soon?) Meridian will have to come out with a HD621 device that works with the newer standards. An editorial comment is as a luxury company, Meridian shouldn't shift the burden of figuring this stuff out to its clients and installers.

http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-udp-203/

{adding to this a little while later}
I poked around their website and this might be of interest:

http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-udp-203/blu-ray-udp-203-Features.aspx

So it appears if you have a 4K device or HDMI 2.0+ device, and if the output of that device is a format that is newer than what the HD621 can handle, the 203 can also help you by bringing the audio "down" to HDMI 1.4. As an aside it might be worth while to see what you think about the Oppos decoding to LPCM. If memory serves, most DTS MA and Dolby TruHD on Bluray are 48khz- and I think the HD621 can upsample to 96??

I wondered what devices this could cover. Kaleidescape 4K? No it has a 1.4 HDMI out for audio. Apple TV? No, its not 4K yet and is 1.4 also. Roku 4K? It seems that would qualify. Maybe other streaming devices?

Meridian seems to be in a very difficult situation, maybe even a crisis.

Financially very poor numbers in 2014/2015 (except extraordinary income, probably sale of MQA), not saying anything about key technology will be supported in flagship processor. For how long, 2-3 years.

On top of that, launching a state of the art version of MQA not compatible in the last 20 year product strategy.

What do the M sales rep. say when a potential customer enter the store and say: "May I see your best MQA solution?"

Of course Meridian customers are confused.


/ Frode