Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Official Octava HDSA71 with 4x SPDIF mod

How reliable is the auto source sensing on the Octava? I assume that if more than one active source is connected to the unit at any one time it switches to the most recently activated source?

It's a feature the HD621 should have!

Cliff

Only if it is defeatable or can read my mind. I generally switch on several sources and the cable box is always on.

Kal

Are the IR commands repeated on the RS232 or do you have to have Shawn's Universal Translator to have the Octava talk to the processor?

I did some testing, and indeed it switches to the device you turn on. It does not matter on which port it is connected, so there does not seem to be a priority based on port number.

In case the cable box is always on, the Octava will just switch to whatever player you turn on (BD, HD-DVD, PS3) and will switch back to the cable box when you turn your player off. Works for me ...

I am not sure if the IR commands are repeated on the RS232, but if this is the case you will need the Translator anyway to convert it into a command the Meridian will understand.
Personally I was more thinking of using this the other way around, so let the M processor talk to the Octava to switch to a certain port.

Not for me. I don't usually turn anything off; I just switch sources.

Kal

Thanks evdberg. Sounds like it works well - at least for those of us who use our sources more frugally

Cliff

If you use a programmable remote, you can also use a macro to send the Meridian code and Octava code with the same key.

I do not use a programmable remote because I change stuff too frequently to bother with reprogramming. Mind you, I am not complaining about my archaic ways; I was just pointing out that auto-selection is not useful to all.

Kal

Can we get a more exact quote than my guess?

Hello,

Can you advise how much better lossless sounds than the downmixed coax/toslink output on other Blurays? Have you only had a chance to test out Curse of the Golden Flower?

Thanks

Lossless audio sounds definitely better than lossy DD or DTS, but how much differs per title. We also played The Incredible Hulk, and the scene in the bottle factory sounds awesome. You can just feel the room, it is like you are actually there. I also played the intros of The Rock and Speed, and the music score is also improved. In general I would say the sound is more coherent, the highs are very clear, the low is very tight: overall the sound is more natural. Personally I do not find the difference that big, let's say that the Meridian decoders do a mighty fine job decoding DD and DTS. But I do prefer the lossless formats for the above mentioned reasons, and I won't switch back anymore ...