Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming MiniDSP U-DIO8 Multichannel USB to 4x SPDIF Interface

Ok so, my MiniDSP U-DIO8 has arrived.

I used some adaptors as the UDIO snake has BNC connectors



I then plugged the UDIO-8 into the MD1 (digital SPDIF multichannel) input of the G61R. Using the Meridian Config Program I created a generic multichannel digital source and in the software connected it to the MD1 input. I set the default DSP to Discrete.

I also created a virtual two channel (stereo) source using the D1 input (front left/right of the MD1 input). This allows the UDIO-8 to be used as a stereo source (using just channels 1 and 2). It also allows Meridian 2 channel music DSP (eg Trifield) to be used. the Multichannel MD1 input will accept two channel audio but because it's a multi input, only multichannel surround sound DSP presets are available (eg, Cinema). Hope that makes sense?

Initial findings:

It's DTS/AC3 transparent, in other words it can pass a DTS or AC3 encoded signal to a Meridian Processor (in my case G61R) which will then automatically sense and decode the DTS or AC3 stream using the Meridian DSP engine. The DTS/AC3 signal is accessed using the Virtual 2 channel input. DTS/AC3 sensing and decoding is not available directly from the MD1 input.

The Meridian G61R correctly routes 4 channel audio (quadraphonic)!!!! What I mean by this is that in 5.1 channel audio, channels 3 and 4 are the center and LFE channels. In 4 channel audio, channels 3 and 4 are Rear Left and Rear Right channels.

The Meridian G61R correctly senses when there are only 4 channels being sent into the MD1 input and correctly routes channels 3 and 4 to RL and RR. I've confirmed this using a 4.0 channel identification test track. I must say, I was very pleasantly shocked it does this, this capability is not mentioned anywhere in the G61R instruction manual. I'm really looking forward to listening to the Chicago Quadio Boxset (Which I have as 4 channel FLAC files) as well as my extensive collection of other 4 channel material

Am I maybe the first person to discover that the Meridian Multi-digial inputs correctly route discrete 4 channel audio?

B-Format Decoding Yep, using a B-Format test track I can confirm the Meridian G61R can decode 1st Order B-Format files played using the B-Format music player. More experimentation needed for other B-Format types. The "Ambisonic" setting is not automatically chosen, but it's easy to manually select it. The 'row' option is not available (unlike with 2 channel UHJ material)


As an aside, I should note that setting up the U-DIO8 requires some knowledge of setting up soundcards and routing audio in Windows, as well as creating MD inputs and virtual inputs in the Medidian Config software. I use Foobar2000 as my main audio player. Once the output settings are set correctly, it works perfectly. I can't speak for other audio players though. I suspect it's just as straightforward due to windows seeing the U-DIO8 as a multichannel audio device (once the drivers are installed of course).

One thing I really find confusing is that on the Meridian Config Software, on the 'products' page which gives a visual diagram of all the sources and connection, virtual sources are not shown. Which is really not at all helpful.

Ali.

I've used it with JRiver and with Roon.

Thanks Kal.

I have a further finding. Playing 2 channel DTS encoded material into the Multi Digital input results in the G61R correctly identifying it as a DTS stream and automatically selecting the DTS decoding DSP. Using a DTS channel identification test reveals that the 2 channel DTS is decoded correctly. This is not mentioned in the user manual, so I consider it a 'hidden feature'. When playing DTS encoded material, as well as the automatically selected DTS decode DSP, both 'Cinema' and 'THX' and 'Discrete' settings are available. 'Cinema' and 'Discrete' (with default settings) appear to treat the DTS stream identically to the DTS setting and have no additional effect, THX appears to add some 'air' or 'width' to the soundstage, but in all these settings, the DTS stream is still correctly decoded.

Oh, just to clarify one point in my previous post regarding how the G61R routes channels 3 and 4 to the rear speakers with 4 channel audio. The G61R Manual says the 2+2+2 setting:As I say, this is incorrect. With four channel material (from a non Meridian source), 3&4 are sent to RR & RL even when the 2+2+2 setting is set to 'off'. (I don't have side speakers so am unable to test what happens with a 7.1 layout).

I don't have an HD621 or UHD722 so I am unable to test if these features are available using them. Also, I only have a G61R but it wouldn't surprise me if other G or 800 series surround processors also support these 'hidden' features.

Ali.

Thanks for posting this stuff Ali - please keep it coming.

How difficult was it getting the BNC to RCA converters in place? There is not a lot of room between the MD1 connectors.

Glad you've found my findings useful!

Not bad. No there's very little room but just enough. I admit, it is a tight fit and the connectors are just touching each other but it's not deforming the phono sockets at all.



The cable coming out of the U-DIO8 is quite heavy, especially with 8 BNC sockets hanging off the end, so the cable may do with being tied up to something to take the weight off the phono sockets.

Ali.

Hello Ali,

My new miniDSP U-D08 is working wonderfully connected to a C61R Multichannel MD1 input, but I can't get the configuration program to also implement a virtual stereo source so that I can use Triffield. How exactly did you accomplish that? Should I create a "Phantom"?

Please walk me through it. Thanks.

Hi ODC

If Mconfig will allow you to use D1 as the input for a "new" source, then you're good to go. Set it for a different button on the MSR+ than the one you use for the MiniDSP.

Cheers

George

Hi George.

Yes, I have created a "new" source with a different button on the MSR+, but can't seem to connect it to D1. Mconfig apparently won't allow it once the multichannel connection is established.

-Unless I'm doing something wrong, which is why I'd like Ali to explain...

Just a thought, if you unlink the mini DSP from the G61 in Mconfig, then create a new source with D1, will it then let you reconnect the mini DSP using MC1?

Cheers

George

Nope. It removes the D1 connection when MD1 is enabled.