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

They could just release a new HD621 (say with 16 channels out [8 RCA SPDIF]) and use TWO 861's or TWO G65's (or a Mix for that matter 861 for main channels and G65 for Subs and Ceiling).

Daisy Chain them together with a Control Cable (Source and Volume Sync no different than how HD621 is added now).

I think everything would work.

Might even be able to daisy chain the HDMI through two HD621's and each HD621 just needs to know which channels to extract.

When HD621 is paired now with 861 or G65 it doesn't really do all that much. Delay and Level each channel.

HD621 just needs enough MIPs to decode Atmos. That might require higher spec HDMI than it currently supports though.

We could probably do it today with a 16 channel "Clux". And I bet if you linked two 861's with a control cable together they would sync source and Volume.

I am also waiting, ever so patiently, for any news of a new version of the 861 or perhaps a successor. While I would prefer to upgrade my 861v6, I would consider a trade-in if the next step cannot be obtained via upgrade. We also need an upgraded/new HD621 for both video (4K, HDMI 2.0 at a minimum, DHCP 2.2) capabilities and audio "processing".

Even if M could rewrite the software for the 861 to accommodate Atmos and other similar immersive formats, there is still the problem of how to get that to the 861. These new formats are bitstream only. No devices that I am aware of decode Atmos and the like to PCM. Not even all current sources (Kaleidescape, for example) decode to PCM. So perhaps the next HD621 will need to accept bitstream in order to feed the 861. If anyone can figure out how to make it work, M can!

As stated above, M are usually not the first out of the gate when new codecs/processes are developed (other than those they have developed themselves), but we do expect them to be "the best".

Here's hoping for some news early in 2017. Maybe IFA in Berlin?

Wayne

Atmos has 2 versions .
Theater : with multiple overhead drivers and software to place a sound anywhere on the ceiling using one or more drivers .
Home theater : 4 drivers offering little more than emersive surround sound bubble .

Then there is another couple of (expensive) options for home theater . Take a look at trinnov altitude and data sat etc.

To be honest , if I was Meridian , unless I was going to build something that could be leaps and bounds better than them or at least match them with better looks and lower price I wouldn't bother .

The public still haven't decided to go with a 4 channel overhead , and the mass-market manufacturers haven't yet decided if 4-channels is what we will have .
So no real point jumping in that melee .

As long as you have spare outputs (or room to add them) It would be pretty simple to add a 4ch atmos plug-in , as all you need is updated HDMI input and software to decode the info that's allready there in the surround channels

For example , my Emotiva will use the "room 2" stereo pair , and I think the classe sigma will do the same but be limited to 5;1;4 .

There are a few Dozen "Atmos" Bluray disk's out.

Everything decodes to "PCM" somewhere along the line. Only Meridian chose to do it earlier and expose it externally encrypted. But it's still always there.

I agree, but as far as I know the only way to get Atmos into a processor is via bitstream. The HD621 currently only accepts PCM. So M will have to change something if they decide to offer these new immersive codecs. One cannot expect the source manufacturers to have to develop and offer in-player decoding for Meridian when basically no other (current) processor requires it. This type of decoding pretty well has to be in the processor, which in Meridian's case could be a new version of the HD621.

Please correct me if I am off-base with this.

Wayne

It's all been discussed before - see this thread

Thanks for the link.

Wayne

Thanks Clive, I knew it looked familiar!

Yes with the current architecture it seems they would need a HD621 + or successor product to decode to PCM.

It seems to me they need to revisit and update the 861 + HD621.

Rollon the new 871

There are only new card(s) necessary , no need for a new modell,

I was thinking 865

Did we not learn that the back plane was limited to 8 channels? Also the bitstream vs. PCM problem outlined above seems significant.

Backplane of 861 has supposedly been a 32ch design from the start if I remember a senior M officer correctly.

Now what they actually use in their cards might be a different number but they have experimented with height speakers before. And ofcourse the CPU/GPU/DSP/whatever's architecture could use some beefing up to current times..


Regarding HD621 4K/Atmos upgrade. I remember reading a slip of the tounge mentioning an updated version of the HD621 HDMI processor coming summertime in 2017 in a CI magazine/site. I don't know if it was subsequently "corrected" but I can't find it any longer.. But I don't think it was a dream.