Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems HD621 video issues and multi-source question

I don’t have experience of the Roku 2 device, however, have you configured your HD621 to force the type of audio output you want from the Roku? If not, suggest you do that as a test as that way you will be in control of what is selected rather than leaving it to the inbuilt priority as set by someone else.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll play around a bit more. I suspect it comes down to limitations on the Roku. I also have a PS4 Pro which supports video streaming apps so that is another option to consider.

Hi yes, that is correct.

But perhaps the Roku can support bitstream audio, like DD/DTS which will give you a full 5.1 audio experience for movies.

I would still prefer Multi channel PCM output, since then you can also enjoy lossless DTS-HD MA and Dolby True HD audio..

I would suggest you check our Roku audio settings again perhaps..

The Roku can do bitstream atmos, but the HD621 can't. It can do DD+ but the HD621 can't. At best the HD621 can do DD 640kb/s, i.e. MP3 quality. Or LPCM. But the Roku wont decode to LPCM. I have heard that a 4K Apple TV can be configured to decode DD+ bitstreams to LPCM, but I have never tried it. And the HD621 can't do 4k. Very frustrating.

I was able to get 5.1 from Netflix on the PS4 Pro. It looks like Disney Plus is 5.1 Atmos for some movies but obviously not supported with my equipment, so I get only 2-channel there as well...

As Jamie said it is frustrating (and disappointing).

So what is frustrating, the 99 dollar widget that doesn't give you advanced configuration options, or the HD621 not being able to do things it was never intended to do such as decode bitstream or pass 4k?
How many TV's that were made ten years ago do any of the new things today's TV's do? Just asking.

It's frustrating that my 861v8 can't decode DD+, because then I could use the $99 widget with the optical out. I could use the Sony 4k player with a separate HDMI out for audio, and the HD621 will accept it, but again the 861v8 wont know what to do with the DD+.
DD+ and TrueHD predate the HD621 and the 861v8. I might understand if a common TV brand can't decode HDR10+ yet, but an audiophile digital processor with updatable firmware and considerable investment can't decode audio protocols that were years old at launch and over a decade old now? I've got receivers in my basement older than my 861 that can decode DD+ and TrueHD.

So specifically it's frustrating that the $20,000 widget doesn't do a thing that a $200 receiver (from the same time period) can do. Especially when one of those things (TrueHD) was invented by same company.

I have literally never had a problem with audio formats until I got a Meridian. Now, I think the sound quality, when I get it decoded through my Oppo, makes it worth it.

But it is still frustrating. It can be "worth it" and "frustrating" at the same time.

Jaimie - you may know all this. M took HDMI out as bad for sound, before more than 1(G91) or 2 models had it for like a year. They did not abandon HDMI rather made it a 2 box affair for logical audiophile reasons for the 861. The chips in the HD621 decode Dolby TruHD and DTS hidef to PCM and pass to the 861. Dolby truHD is DVDAudio modified a little by Rhonda, ex Meridian at Dolby who did it in the first place. Sony bought the codec for present and future refinement.

Basically M has decided not to put up the licensing fees to go Atmos, rather to push in wall DSPs etc. to the install market and focus on 2 channel. This has all been complicated by The Roon spin-off affecting the ability to move forward as originally planned. They never anticipated a hi Rez digital signal would ever be allowed out a processor unencrypted. MQA has put encryption sauce back in since the technical advantage of MHR vs analog was diminished. Unfortunately MQA is no longer in house so we adapt to them vs them optimizing for Meridian.

The HD621 doesn't decode any bitstream; it only accepts PCM in stereo or multi-channel formats. Unfortunately. Vanilla DD/DTS decoding would have been extremely useful.

Nor DD+, TrueHD, DTS beyond basic DTS. It doesn't decode any of that. If it did, I wouldn't be frustrated. So I'd be fine if they put it in a separate box. Their $3000 HDMI box would be a great place to put decoding of all the latest formats. Could even live without Atmos.