Normally "HD" players (that support lossless audio, no compression) only allow analog output. To protect making high quality digital copies.

In the Meridian world, that's bad, because they convert everything back to digital and later back to analog. For everyconversion you lose a little quality.

Then came HDMI which can transmit HD sound digitally and securely.

Today many midfi receivers can receive "HD" player's lossless audio digitally over HDMI.

Meridian could not quicky adopt this because of their digital speakers (which support encryption) probably were not immediately approved. And Meridian felt HDMI was not stable. They are due out for anouncement come CES (we hope) for a Meridian style solution.

Players with analog output could always be modified to tap the digital going to the DACs.

The Clux is a box that sits on the HDMI and receives HD digital audio securely and outputs analog just like a player can. Very popular for PS3's which don't and cannot have 6 channels of analog out like many players can.

Like a player the Clux can be modified to tap the digital going to the DACs.

Connect that to a Meridian processor (same way you connect Meridian DVDA player). And you remove 2 analog converions and access to lossless audio.

Bottom line is higher quality sound.

- Fiddler (IMHO)

If you think listening to music is fun, try learning an instrument.
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