Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Cinema / Discrete / 10dB - definitive answers required!

Are you sure?

Scenario: A G98AH decodes a DD5.1 movie soundtrack.

Q. Does it add the 10dB to the LFE channel?
A. It must because there is no guarantee it will be used with a Meridian processor.

Q. Does the G98AH decode differently to a G98DH?
A. I think this is unlikely.

Q. If the G98DH adds +10dB to LFE on decoding, does Cinema also add +10dB?
A. Of course not. That would be wrong.

Q. Do all multi-channel analogue DVD players put out LFE which is deficient by 10dB?
A. I don't think so.

Q. If a G98DH puts out multi-channel MHR, it knows that it is connected to a Meridian processor. In this case, does it decide not add the 10dB, and the MHR metadata (Movie6) signals to the processor that the "Cinema" DSP should add the 10dB instead?
A. I think this is unlikely. It's just too complicated.

IMO, all DVD(A) players should put out the LFE channel at the correct level, based on a flag in the DD soundtrack. Taking this further, the decoder part of the G68/861 should do the same.

But here's the kicker: Listening to a DVDA today (via m/channel analogue), there does appear to be a difference between "Discrete" and "Cinema". Not quite sure what.

Edit: Unless it is standard practice for players to put out LFE at -10dB and for processors to add 10dB, but this feels wrong to me.

Edit2: My intuition tells me that "Discrete" must do nothing to the sub channel, because the processor has no idea of the origin of the analogue signal. Why this is displayed at -10dB, I'm not sure.