Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems The Quasi-Official Meridian CEDIA Q+A Topic.

Cheer! again , John . Will any video elements be transferable over HDMI ?

Very Best

*M*

I know what I look like, and I prefer the anonymity of others not knowing my appearance... Besides, I'm not particularly photogenic

As an FYI, I have the answers back from M and will be formatting for the site. I expect to post in the morning (US Time) before I head off to work.

Best,

Fabulous!

Wow blazing speed communication back from Meridian. That's great.

Thanks John

sounds good

Robert

So that's not you in your AVS avatar?

VK:

Yes, that's me... Kinda scarey, eh?

Preface

Typography conventions:
Major topic areas will be presented in Bold Underline.
Meridian's responses will be presented in italic.
Where I (JK) have added information, it is presented in Bold Italic.

What follows is verbatim from Meridian's return, edited only for the above typographic conventions and in a few spots, for the sequence of text so that M's comments in full are continuous and my comments appear as anciallary information.

Thank you
Meridian enjoys the dialogue with its users and fans and is happy to put the effort into these focused Q&A sessions. We are delighted you all have the interest and commitment to be here and we will do what we can to keep this interesting and to build a strong relationship with genuine users and enthusiasts. Keep the questions coming, we do want to dialogue.

We should all be very grateful to John Kotches, without whom this wouldn`t work. We like and trust John and it`s a pleasure dealing with him, but he is a busy man and this takes a chunk of his time. Thank you John!
JK Sez: The Meridian staff's show schedule is at least as hectic as mine. I do agree that's it's a pleasure dealing with everyone from the staff -- and in building a relationship with them.


Context
Meridian is a strongly user-oriented company which prides itself in making high-performance real-value products and, since we began, has enjoyed and nurtured a friendly and open dialogue with end users. Those of you who have directly encountered our support or service teams will know this to be the case. We are as open as possible on applications of existing products. However, time and again we are chastised here for not disclosing our future plans. Have any of you tried taking this tack with Apple (who keep even their partners in the dark)?

We are a business. We have dealer, distribution, technology and press partners to consider; we also have competitors who hide and post in this forum. For these reasons we dare not always disclose our policy or plans. It grieves us that on occasion our refusal to do so is turned back on us, with quite strong criticisms ranging from ‘uncaring` or ‘stupid` to ‘stubborn` or ‘out of touch`. These seem fairly strange claims on a company that has not only been consistently at the leading edge, but which has consistently delivered extraordinary quality, great support for users and which also successfully predicted the majority of technical trends.

There needs to be moderation to foster useful dialogue. We do give information where we can, but please recognize that sometimes we will not answer and you may not know if it is: because we are reluctant to alert competitors; because we are undecided; maybe we have partners whom we may not discuss; perhaps we may have agreements that prevent discussion; we may even have agreements that prevent revealing whether such agreements even exist!

Caveat: Answers which relate to future offerings or plans are subject to change.


Miscellaneous
Q: Hiker Day II? M were "thinking February/March 2008" and were planning to "announce it around the year end [2007]".
Related Q: How about meeting us early next year? (HH-day 2.0)

A: We are still most interested in having another HH day at the factory. The first HH day was an experiment on both sides but it seemed to go down well.
We found it lively, entertaining and valuable. Last time we were able to preview an exciting product (F80) and the group was able to demonstrate great restraint in not pre-empting our launch. That was a good experience all round. Because of the calendar in our world, mostly dictated by the myriad international shows and events, the best times tend to be early December or February.

In the last meeting we got some useful feedback and we do want to be able to tie the day to something interesting if at all possible. We originally thought it would be fun to showcase the 810 10Mpx video system, but we missed the time slot because the product was a bit late. Right now we are thinking next February. We really do want to have John Kotches and Stacey Spears at this next one and will give plenty of notice. We understand Nick is prepared to deal with organizing for the Hikers...

Q: Can M compile an email database of all customers and send email notices for new sw /new products/newsletters/etc.?
Q: A monthly newsletter on the website (or at least Meridian News, so we do not have to search for it on the media site).

A: Meridian suggests using the website to register your products or your interest, which should get you a hard copy of newsletters and access to certain mailings. The website is in a state of flux and we may well have e-versions of the newsletters in the future. Recently Meridian has significantly strengthened and expanded the marketing team and this helps with all levels of communication.

Q: Can (non-confidential) technical info sheets (PDFs) be made available? e.g. Diagnostic codes, etc.

A: Beyond those already available in the download areas, exactly what else is required?


Q: One competitor (Linn) offers a five-year guarantee on all its products in exchange for customers returning their product registration details, isn't about time that Meridian acted similarly?

A: We already extend the warranty when products are registered. The length of our warranty is always under review. Unlike many of our competitors we have long experience in house, we do stand by our products and are able to repair most things made in the last 30 years.

DSP Loudspeakers:

Q: Are there plans to bring the apodizing filters into the DSP8000? Can DSP8000 owners expect a SpeakerLink upgrade?
Q: The "time-aligned" drivers/woofers in the DSP7200, would that be impossible to incorporate for the DSP8k in a software patch?

JK Sez: The DSP8000 has had a running production change replacing the input panel with the new SpeakerLink module. This is evidenced by the appearance of these DSP8000s on the CEDIA show floor.

A: The latest production DSP8000 (with SpeakerLink) has all these improvements. A software update for all DSP loudspeakers is currently targeted for delivery by year`s end, some will be out sooner. This will include all of the software features first introduced in DSP7200. A hardware upgrade to the DSP8000 electronics pack would be very expensive and is not immediately offered to existing owners. The main benefit is the sound lift that comes from balanced drive and an improved FIFO. The software update in any DSP8000 should get around 75% of the performance lift of the latest revision of the DSP8000.

Q: How does M approach the development of DSP speaker firmware changes (like the fairly recent bass crossover change)? Do you listen to the speaker and think you can make it better or do you hit upon a new code approach and decide to test it out?

A: Meridian`s research showed that there was a better way of handling the bass crossover and that it integrated better with our other models. The (controlled) listening tests indicated this change offered sonic improvements and was implemented. This is the case for all changes along these lines and is partly also a result of more DSP resource in recent platforms.

Q: Would a subwoofer with dual drivers (aligned as the DSP8k sides) be beneficial?


A: Yes, if you mean using horizontally-opposed drivers at omni frequencies -- this is always beneficial - Newton`s third law of dynamics implies it.


Q: Would a G68/861 owner benefit soundwise upgrading DSP8k to CAT5?

A: Yes, but it is not (yet?) available and may be very expensive. Please see the previous response with respect to DSP8K upgrades.



iPod, Computer and Networked audio
Q: As the "master of digital", does Meridian aspire to making a digital-in, digital-out, iPod dock? Being subject to the mercy of the iPod's DACs surely compromises highest fidelity.

A: Customers really like the sound of the i80/F80 or i88/AD88, probably because we put so much effort in a clever analogue circuit which gets the most out of the iPod and which also eliminates any confusion over interference from charging. There is much more to iPod docks than sound; our customers especially find the fast aliased UI on F80/AD88 to be outstanding. iPod docks need excellent control features or it all becomes rapidly tedious. Advisory note: even with the analogue output there is a huge difference (using i8x) in the sound quality between lossless and lossy files - if you are building a collection don`t be tempted into using low bit rates.
For the audio, why would we want digital in to a dock? Meridian is certainly not uninterested in getting a digital output from the iPod, but is unwilling to comment.

[i]JK Sez: Of course Apple has managed to confuse everyone about charging



Q: Meridian's view on the best way to connect a high-resolution download on a computer to DSP speakers.

A: The DSP speakers are absolutely perfect partners with any media player, computer or audio link (e.g. airport express) which provides/decodes a lossless digital output. If the player has SPDIF you are good to go. If the output is optical (or analogue) we have the AD221 which was designed for exactly this purpose.
These methods make a direct connection to the speakers - of course you can also connect any media player to an 861, G92, G68, 562, 618, etc.
Alternatively G68 has a USB input which makes it appear as a Meridian ‘sound card` in a PC/Mac.

The DSP speakers all provide excellent de-jittering, upsampling and resolution enhancement so 44/48k files will be rendered at 88/96k 24bit and this process will recover almost all the ills of computer or network playback. In all cases, the volume control should be disabled on the media player/computer to prevent loss of resolution in the transfer: use fixed output on the player and the volume control in the speakers. Since the question is specifically about high-resolution downloads, it is also cool to author DVD-Video (96/24/2ch) or DVD-A (88/96/176/192k) discs and play them back on a trusty player.
Question back: would Hikers be interested in a Meridian USB to S/PDIF bridge?


Q: With Meridian's direct competitor (Linn) currently offering no less than four separate 'digital stream players' (ala Squeezebox), what is the likelihood that Meridian, at long last, will produce a similar hi-end product(s)?

A: This is the second time in one session Linn has been falsely accused of being a legitimate competitor :-) This is all part of a bigger question which we want to defer. Meridian is always looking at future products and has a wide range of technologies both in house and under development. However they cannot discuss specifics about future products. Meridian is always looking at ways to better serve their customers and would hope to do a better job on sound and UI than the ‘competition`.


Q: Could a High-End Audio/Video client work in the marketplace? (2k$-3k$) or are there too many choices out there making this not viable?


A: If the performance is high-end then there is a market because there will always be users who want the very best.
JK sez: $2-3K is not really high-end in the marketplace - that`s an average price point for clients in closed architecture solutions.



800 Series
Q: Any plans for an 800 series radio card?

A: No definitive plans as there has been little interest shown for a radio card outside the UK.


Q: Is it possible to add a standby indicator on the 808.2.

A: A period/dot on the display indicates standby mode. However in checking we see there is a bug which can cause it not to appear. This will get fixed fairly soon.
JK sez: Bob said they were checking this when they got back from the show. Clearly they have checked based on this answer

Q: What is the recommended setup for a stereo system consisting of one 808.2 and a pair of DSP7200 : should one choose upsampled (88.2k) or native rate (44.1k) to be digitally output from the 808.2 ? This is in relation to the optimal usage of apodizing filters in an audio system.

A: Use the default settings. The apodizing process occurs wherever the upsampling happens (as long as the upsampler has that function).
To date this is offered in players and ‘speakers but it will eventually be rolled out through the range - there is a lot of work and testing involved. Everything else being equal, it is best to upsample earlier because the benefits accrue to the downstream processors and the sooner you transition to MHR the lower the jitter in the end. So, in this case upsample in the 808.2 -- especially as it has more DSP dedicated to upsampling.



F80
Q: Are there any plans to bring out a firmware revision for the F80? There are definitely some bugs in the existing firmware - one of the most serious ones (which I have experienced on at least 3 occasions, and other Hikers have referred to) is that the alarm occasionally fails completely - and yes, this is categorically not user-error! There are other enhancements which are more like wish list requests - e.g. the ability to turn off all LED's (so the unit is effectively 'invisible' in a bedroom at night). This would prevent my wife insisting on placing a large bottle in front of the CD drive LED, which is hardly what the acoustic engineers would have intended. I had thought that I would just have to live with these annoyances, but then it occurred to me that they may be solvable by a new release of firmware....? Will the upgrades be field upgrades performed by the local M dealer or will the unit have to be shipped to M?

A: F80 has had several updates in firmware, some relating to core functions, some to regional variations and others relating to iPod. Because of the differing versions, wider demographic and the need for a special cable, the update process normally happens at the dealer. F80 code is not yet available for download on the website although we may post the change log. Currently we are shipping 1.0.6. The process is similar to other products: if you have the cable then WinFup manages the update. If you can`t easily get to your dealer then please write to Technical Support (having first registered your F80) and they MAY be able to help.

While playing, the option of shutting off all displays is possible. When not in use there are regulatory requirements for a small amount of light be on to indicate it is drawing power. The CD drive LED is set to its lowest possible setting to comply with this regulatory requirement but we will consider this further. However this light goes out if you display the time or date in Standby. It is possible to reduce the Standby brightness to a very low level - much lower than the drive LED. Alternatively try something smaller than a bottle?

Q: Is there FIFO buffering on the F80's digital input?

A: There is no FIFO buffering in the F80.

Q: Is there any chance of enabling the F80's digital input to accept 96/24?

A: We could but the playback circuits in F80 run at 48kHz, i.e. we would need to downsample. Optical links tend to be less reliable at 88/96k.

Q: Is the F80 capable of outputting 96/24 (e.g. from the tuner)? If so, could this be done?

A: No. this is limited to 48k 24 bit and it is hard to justify wider bandwidth for DAB, FM or AM.


Q: It would be great to be able to program which MSR+ sources the F80 responded to, in order to use it with a 562 (for instance).

A: This won`t be done. The F80 is designed for ultimate ease of use and adding this capability would significantly complicate setup and works directly against these design goals.

CD Players
Q: I'd like to know why the G08.2 has a slot loading CD mechanism, and why the 808.2 has not been similarly afflicted.

A: All of the G series products are using very high quality slot loading mechanisms originally used in the automotive industry. These mechanisms have exceeded Meridian`s expectations in the G95 so it has been moved into other products including the G08.2. The use of the slot loading drive also fits the aesthetic presentation of the G series and does not fit the aesthetic presentation for the 808.2.



Video Products:

Q: What is the M810 using as a solution for their video processing?

A: The M810 processor contains a proprietary constellation of 5 Marvell QDEO processors and is utilizing completely custom software to drive the 10 Mpx image.


Q: I would like to know how their current relationship with Faroudja/Genesis is, apart from being a supplier of the FLI23xx chip used in the 800 and G-series. Especially since there new flagship M810 projector now has a Qdeo based video processor.

A: Meridian continues to work with both. Marvell are great partners and the relationship with Genesis is as productive as ever.


Formats

Q: Can Bob elaborate on why DVD-A support was dropped? There have been more than small hints that it was a part supply issue.


A: The 800 Reference Player still supports DVD-Audio. Despite our enthusiasm for the format, there has been no significant new content released for some time. Any uncertainties about the future of DVD-Audio (or SACD) have been exacerbated in the HD-DVD/BD war. We decided that on-board resources that were assigned to DVD-Audio playback could be reassigned to other areas that gave real-world customer benefit in the G Series players. Should the tide turn we will happily provide more models that support DVD-Audio.
JK Sez: Parts notwithstanding there is simply no appreciable content that`s been released over the last 3 years.


Q: Can M commit to supporting DVD-A with the 800?

A: The 800 supports DVD-A and we expect that to continue.


Q: Direct track access with DVDAs without display (like tv) necessary?

A: The 808 (Original) was capable of playing DVD-A discs without a screen - this is a unique but really interesting navigator. 808.2 doesn`t support DVD-Audio. Some firmware builds had a menu for invoking this mode in 800 and G9x.

Q: A little more on the M thought process for Bluray:
1. $500 spinners are good enough so we won't bother?
2. G series solution more than good enough for video?
3. Remember that second bay in 800?
Related Q: What, if any, is the time horizon for a Blu-ray player?

A: Meridian is always looking at potential new products and means of advancing the State of the Art for playback -- witness this year major steps forward in both digital audio and video rendering.Were Meridian to make any player it must be the best in terms of picture, sound and integration. Our work with the 810 video system shows severe shortcomings in current BD player offerings. Thanks for the suggestion, we do not discuss timescales on projects that may or may not exist.

Related Q: What, if any, future upgrades will be available for the 800 given that it has a second drive bay?

A: It is unlikely that we will fit a second drive; this feature was removed in version 4.


Surround Processors
Q: What is the difference between 861V4, V5 and V6?

A: The 861v4 is an actual product; 861v5 and 861v6 are virtual products.

Q: Can you ask re any plans for improving MRC please? Just generally interested in where they could take it and benefits we could see.

A: Thank you for the interest. MRC is a superb technology which keeps bringing awards. We always have things in development - we will announce any improvements.


Q: Would incorporating apodizing filters benefit upsampling in all Meridian products?

A: See previous response re: DSP 8000 speakers.

Q: Can M provide the choice to have mono bass (all Speaker get the same info) down from a certain selectable frequency (eg below 55 Hz). That will help a lot with room modes.

A: Assuming all speakers are configured as ‘large` and no subwoofer is present, this feature is already present for LFE content from Movies. For Music, doing so is a bad idea. Mono-ing the bass will disrupt the natural presentation of music and destroy the illusion of the recording venue. The real world needs low-frequency stereo cues to keep the illusion of ‘being there` intact. (That`s a ‘No`).


Q: How does Meridian intend the USB input in the new G68AXD and XXD variants to be used? Is the USB input limited to 16/44?


A: Meridian provides the device code which makes the G6x products appear as a generic USB loudspeaker. It is limited to 1x rates (i.e. 44.1 or 48K sampling frequencies). No 2x or greater inputs are currently supported.

Q: Will the 568.2 v2.5 beta firmware ever be made official?

A: At the time of posting we were unable to fully confirm this, but will do so soon.


Q: Will the 568.2 v2.5 beta firmware get a fix for the lipsync/MHR-breaking bug that Bob was concerned about when asked in the CEDIA 2006 Q&A session?

A: The answer is that we are not aware of a firmware bug, but want you to write to Tech Support and give full details including serial number because there may be a hardware tweak needed.
JK sez: Bob said literally “Oops” on this one.


Q: Will a USB for optical input card swap be offered for existing G68 users?

A: It is an interesting question which is coming up for the first time here. Meridian will consider the possibility and advise accordingly.


Q: What about an 861 USB card?


A: Such an option won`t be offered for the 861v4. Feature sets of virtual processors can`t be discussed :- ) !

Q: How long might owners of recently replaced products - G61 (not G61R), G91, G98 - expect software updates? Even recently, whilst dealers unloaded their demo stock, the main Meridian website made no mention of the G61R, G92 and G96 replacements. Even now, there is no mention of the G61R and there are plenty of references in the web brochure to the replaced products.

A: All of the aforementioned products come from a similar microcontroller code base (G6x and G9x are respective trees) and fixes should propagate across as they are made available. Meridian has no intent of abandoning these products while the core platforms are in production or active development. Also, the Meridian website is in the midst of an overhaul and these shortcomings should be addressed in conjunction with the completion of that project. Mention or not of a product on the website is not quite accidental, but reading significance into omissions is unwise.



Q: Could Meridian comment on the G68 Optical Input firmware change and the general problem some folks have with Pops,Clicks,Slow Locks, and Hangs from reasonably quality sources (like a SlimDevices Transport with ripped DTS CD's that are Legal). The problem is more commonly on Sat/Cab TV Boxes (e.g. SKY). But even with Poor Digital Source enabled problems persist, while some other processors (e.g. Denon) DON'T have these issues with like sources.

A: Bingo! You scored two oxymorons in one question (‘legal rips` and ‘quality` sources that ‘break` streams).

Seriously though, Skybox has been problematic and there is a patch for G6x that seems to fix it which may well resolve matters for you. Once again, contact Tech Support. We will report back soon on when/if this will trigger a version.

Note, for DTS-CDs we recommend using the flag. Right click on the processor (GUI), and select “Properties” from the pull-down menu. There is an option for DTS-Delay - check it and set it to yes. This will parse the stream and determine if it is DTS and decode. It will however slightly delay initial CD playback as well.


Q: I would also be keen to know if 861 will ever be able to handle more than 8 analog outputs. I use side and rear channels, but would be interested in multiple sub outputs as well.

A: Still a possibility - the internal architecture supports 8 in 12 out. However the demand for greater than 8 channel support is not very strong.

Q: What is the likelihood of Meridian producing something like a G71 - that is, an enhanced G95 in a G68 case? The reason for desiring this evolution of the G95 is because of the G95's inherent limited features/processing capabilities. For me, this would be the ultimate 'home-cinema in a box' - a combined G68/G55/G96. In my eyes, such a device (G71) would have: Up to 7.1 'digital' amplified channels at 150 watts, on board Bluray, FM/DAB, Room Correction, all the standard processing capabilities of a G68.

A: There are too many different-speed technology-trajectories in this one box and its cost would be such that the inevitable compromises might make for an uncomfortable position. While it is technically possible to implement, it is not one being given much consideration at the moment. In general combination products work best if they are single domain (audio or video) or use mature technologies.


Q: (Are there) Any plans to support 8 speaker Ambisonics?

A: We do have customers who enjoy 8ch Ambisonics already through using two (or more) of our surround processors (565 and G61). When/if we enable 8 main channels this will be considered.

Q: Would a multichannel 6 or 8 PCM channel USB 2.0 Audio driver be possible for the current '08 generation G68? (Video servers are becoming more common and this would allow them to fire up a G68 as complete platform for multichannel media).

A: What sources are you using that can provide a multi-channel USB output, or where that would be a best choice? We are not aware that USB has been approved for copy-managed multi-channel audio over USB. HDMI, analog and Display Port are the currently (or imminently) available solutions. In any case the current USB input on G6x is limited to 2 channels.

Power Amplifiers

Q: What is the efficiency output rating of the 'digital' amplification in the G95? That is, if the stated output is 100w per channel, what is its real-world output?

JK sez: Output power is 100w; power consumption is about 110wpc at 100w output.
A: John`s information is accurate - the rated output power is the real-world output power. Because of the high efficiency nature of the digital modules the draw barely exceeds the output.



HDMI
Before dealing with any questions on this topic we would like to re-present some credentials and then some viewpoints.

Formats, Lemons, Cabbages and Kings
Meridian has always been a strong advocate of digital audio processing and transmission. We thoroughly understand all the pros, cons, ins and outs at a technical level. Between 1990 and 2002 we were the only company in the market providing digitally-connected loudspeakers and we made the first all-digital surround processor. None of this was an accident. It comes from deep understanding of and passion for audio, combined with a strong determination to get THE BEST RESULT. Our position on high resolution is well known -- but for those who are unsure, please download Bob`s AES paper ‘Coding for High-Resolution Audio Systems`, March 2004: http://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=12986

Meridian is also the only high end company to contribute technology to new formats: specifically MLP with DVD-A, HD-DVD and BD. We also have the kind of close relationship with labels, studios, content providers and their trade associations that comes from working together. Our expertise is regularly requested by implementers and in audio production tools or distribution methods.

Just to introduce some perspective, in the past we have been very early with key developments where we felt the road was obvious (e.g. first audiophile CD player, first high-end DVD player, first high-end DVD-A player, early adopter of HDMI for video, very early to put scaling in players, first digital surround processor, unique surround modes and features that were then copied by all, first processor with Room Correction), the list is long and it forms a part of the picture and reflects our culture.

Along this same path we have been periodically criticized for not ‘doing`: cassette, DCC, MiniDisc, HDCD, SACD, HD-DVD. We say, not a bad score!

When we don`t do something (ever or immediately) it isn`t because we don`t care, can`t or won`t. Meridian keeps its customers` medium-term interests very much in mind before engaging in upgrade activities that may prove frivolous. We also refuse to compromise sound and picture quality unless there is no other way.

So it is with HDMI. We think we were the first high-end company to demonstrate this interface, but as soon as the audio spec started to evolve and we entered another format war we could see caution was needed. For most of 2007 our fans were asking about HDMI audio and specifically about whether we would a) add new decoders to the surround processors and b) about capabilities of the players. We still won`t answer these questions definitively yet since this is a moving feast. However we would like to point out that, unlike in HD-DVD where they were mandatory, the lossless codecs are optional in BD. This is a crucial difference, yet the expectation in the market still seems to be for feature sets that support a dead format (partially fuelled by other manufacturers who tooled up for HD-DVD support). http://www.blu-ray.com/faq/#bluray_audio_codecs

In 2006/7 the pressure was for HDMI 1.1/1.2 to play back DVD-A and SACD from lesser players (than G or 800). We said we wanted to wait, we were right. Had we sold you that it would need upgrading again.

In summary, this HDMI audio discussion is really, at core about BD, because you can usually get a better audio stream from a DVD-V player or a set-top box in another way. Remember that the origin and practice of HDMI is very much about driving the nice speakers inside TVs. Yes, there is the legacy requirement to play back SACD and DVD-A, but these are not big factors. The next big question is: ‘Will BD really succeed?` By the way, we think probably yes but Hollywood thinks they won`t know until Q2 2009.

BD 2.0 and beyond do not require the advanced or lossless codecs in the players, but the active content requires mixing in the player and this implies on-board decoding. A player maker therefore has two choices: fit the decoders or not. They need to fit them today for higher-performance machines. However, because these formats are not mandatory, once the first flush of excitement and special audiophile and test discs are out, we may never see a compelling reason for studios to spend all the extra money double-mastering each release, or to expend a big percentage of disc space on the optional codecs. For music there is plenty of room for PCM and movies just are not made in 96 kHz. That leaves music videos and, once again, there is more than enough room for PCM. Why are we making this point? Because the cost to our customer of providing early upgrades and features makes it wasteful and capricious if these features turn out to be potentially orphan (e.g. as in the past with PCM on DVD-A, MPEG audio on DVD-V, 4 channel on CD, just to name a few). If it all turns out to be needed then GREAT, we have exciting content and we will do it better than anyone else.

So it is also with 7.1. Yes, there will be some discs, but Hollywood releases movies in 5.1 and the cost of going back to remix just for BD is very high. Naturally we can provide 8ch inputs -- after all, our platform supports it, but we might also wait and see if it is a real-world requirement before engaging on an expensive upgrade program. We can have fine equipment, but the content is King. SACD and DVD-A battled and iPod won. Now we have BD vs Download vs On-demand and the audio game is different again. Our cupboards are littered with test discs for format features that never got used. It will be interesting to see what happens with VC1 and lossless in BD, just as it was with Watermarking and PCM in DVD-A.


Doing it Right

We have said it before, but let`s go one more time. We do not like the implications for audio performance, video performance or for upgrade trajectories for audio and video that are implied in putting an HDMI repeater in a surround processor. As long as we let digital video transmission (or even worse video processing) into the audio processor, or if it becomes hard-bonded to the video playback ground, the sound MUST and DOES suffer.

We have demonstrated these effects of video on audio enough times. We can also show the reverse. Great sound and picture are what we do, and the BEST architecture is to separate audio and video at the earliest point in the chain and to keep video out of anything that handles either the last de-jitter or any analogue audio I/O.

When audio must arrive over HDMI we hope to offer a solution which is better, cheaper and friendlier to both new and existing customers.
Meridian has already clearly demonstrated (in 800 and G9x) the benefits of decoding in the player.


Now your HDMI questions
Q: Can the HDMax 421 and 121 handle/switch/forward HDMI 1.3a/b signals?

A: Yes providing the cables are good and not too long.
JK Sez: I am using the 421 with 20m cables -- one is a "traditional" HDMI cable, one uses a cat 5 extender. The HDMax 421 is the only switcher (and I've tried quite a few) that actually works cleanly with all sources.

Q: Are there plans to introduce direct HDMI inputs to existing processors (861 / G6x) via an upgrade program, similar to 861s various versions and the 568 ? 568.2?

A: We prefer not to discuss exact plans just yet. Bear with us just a little longer.

Q: Are there plans to include discrete 7.1 inputs to the 861 and G6x platforms?

A: The final decision on whether to implement such a feature may be dependent on how much content is released with discrete 7.1 mixes. See our preamble.

Q: We've waited at least four years for an HDMI solution which could have been delivered (licensing aside) for LPCM using HDMI v1.1 chips. However, Meridian has told us repeatedly that it doesn't want to release an interim solution which might require customers to update more than once. So is the external box a complete and final HDMI audio solution from a *hardware* perspective? If not, I can accept that market requirements change, but please can Meridian provide some indication of what form a final solution will take, when one is likely, and what it is likely to cost?

A: Nothing is ever final but this area is starting to clarify/mature. We think our preamble answers many of these points when taken together with other postings in this forum.

It is overly generous to say that the combination of formats and HDMI spec has been (and remains) a moving target. Only very recently has it become possible to decode all formats within a player. It is just not possible to comment on the capabilities of unannounced products. Meridian appreciates that their customers have been patient during the format war. Meridian feels that it will meet or exceed the needs and expectations of their customers. Until the time is right, details of any such product will be scant from the company.

Q: Further, if the solution does not provide bitstream decoding support, please would Meridian state whether or not it plans to offer this at a later date? If there isn't bitstream decoding support initially, will the box/processor combo support this with firmware updates or are processor hardware upgrades also on the cards? (Personally, I would tend to agree with Meridian that decoding should really be done in the player).

A: Thank you, please see our preamble.
JK Sez: And here we are full circle... When HDMI 1.1 was launching Dolby (and I think DTS) indicated that the preferred path was to decode in the players and send the PCM output to the receiver.

Q: In summary, with other high-end manufacturers shouting loudly about their HDMI solutions, now is the time for communicating a "basic" upgrade roadmap to existing and potential Meridian customers. Why would anyone invest in Meridian processors if this basic information is not available?

A: You would invest in Meridian processors because we provide the finest sound quality and rendering feature set. There will be a way to feed HDMI audio into the processors, details are not releasable. To pick a lesser processor at this point would be regrettable especially if it contained an HDMI video repeater or processor - that is, by our way of thinking, ‘mid-end`.

You come to us for the best and because the company is fun; let us make the architectural choices.

Caution: Please be aware that many players on the market are very badly behaved when it comes to HDMI-audio implementation so don`t make a move now unless you need to.

Q: What is the audio latency from HDMI in to MHR out?

A: Somewhere between four and five years and then adjustable over many ms.

Meridian fully expects to end 2008 in the same spectacular fashion that it started (when it released 808.2 and the DSP7200 loudspeaker).

John, many thanks as always for your effort here.

Very exciting times ahead it seems... if I read it corrctly my 10 year old DSP 5500s will be getting apodizing filters and time alignment upgrades. Incredible! [edit]Actually, rereading, perhaps not apodizing in the speakers - but then I read the 7200 docs and it suggests it has apodizing built in so now I'm confused [/edit]

One question which could have been asked (perhaps it has) is whether Meridian will be licensing the apodizing filter to other manufacturers. I assume they will.

The HDMI box answers were predictable but the insights were very useful and I do love the final answer

The comments on lossless codecs going forward are a bit worrying; will studios dump lossless and take the easy approach? Come back HD-DVD all is forgiven! At least the war forced both sides to up their ante, while it lasted. It's incredibly depressing to think once we finally get digital access to the lossless streams they will simply fade away...

Mark

Lots to think about, but two comments:

1) Getting apodizing filters in our speakers (hopefully DSP33s too) will be great - a vindication of staying with Meridian - but these filters are useless if you have a non-808.2 source or have upsampled in your processor. What will sound better? Upsampling in the processor and Trifield applied at hi-res, or HS=No in the processor and apodizing upsampling in the speakers. Should we *not* upsample audio decoded in a Meridian DVD player?

EDIT: I might just start taking bets on apodizing upgrades in the processors by the end of the year...

2) I think Bob was referring to lossless codecs disappearing. If I read it right, the cost of putting a lossless PCM m/channel soundtrack on the BRD is not great. It's cheaper for the studios too; Dolby and DTS lose out (and possibly Meridian if it still has a royalty stream from MLP/TrueHD). Ditching even lossless PCM would be truly awful.