Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems What are the audio benefits of the 621?

I am asking thus because I was under the (wrong) impression that I would be able to get 7.1 when using my Bluray and my 861 only to find out now that this is not the case. Will I be able to get the benefit of Dolby or DTS True HD?

Thanks
Ken

That is the whole point of the HD621. To Get the latest codecs into a MHR enabled processor. 568.2mm onwards.

Cheers, Chris

Is there any confirmation on if the HD621 will have coax/toslink inputs? If apodizing filters really are that beneficial, then why wouldn't Meridian add these inputs to the HD621 for non-HDMI sources? Arguably there are more customers who are critical music listeners than film watchers. Wouldn't Meridian want music only/first owners to buy a HD621? The HD621 would be the only way to get access to that technology short of updating the 861/G68/DSPs. I sure won't be complaining if a software update to the G68 provided the filter for free, but I sure am curious about the logic of making the HD621 an HDMI-only device. Maybe we are in store for a surprise at launch?

The whole point (almost) is to get PCM digitally into Meridian processors, the HD621 doesn't decode any new HD formats.

Gee, now I am really lost. What is the benefit to sending PCM to the HD621? Will there be an audible difference than just sending the audio signal by coax from my Bluray to my HD621?

So you are saying that I will still not get to decode Dolby Tru HD and still cannot get 7.1. Can someone please explain the point of getting the HD621?

Thanks,
ken

It's been discussed to death.

The HD621 is basically a 8 channel HDMI to 4 x Coax breakout box. It also applies FIFO and does upsampling. It's rumored it will also apply apodizing filters too. It may be standard practice that anything new that upsamples will now do apodizing from Meridian.

The Player must do ALL the decoding to PCM over HDMI.

Currently Meridian only supports 6 channels input. But the hand full of 7.1 movies synthesize the side channels anyway (similar to how Meridian does).

In regards to Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master HD decode, it is becoming more of a player requirement nowadays rather than processor requirement. BD-Live or BD Profile 2.0 is more or less implying that you do the decode of the lossless formats in the player because they will mix the movieaudio with commentaries etc.

Sony BDP-550 - BD Profile 2.0 player with full DolbyTrueHD/DTS Master HD decode to LPCM.
HDI BD Prime - Network Mediaplyer as well as a full BD Profile 2.0 licensed player with full DolbyTrueHD/DTS Master HD decode to LPCM.

These are the most easily accessible players atm that will utilize the HD621 to its fullest.

I got it. Thanks. Does anyone know if Pioneer's New Elite BDP-09FD will do all of what is needed?
Ken

I believe it does if anything like the european top model Pioneer LX91.

As of right now, the Pioneer BDP-09 player does not decode DTS MA to LPCM. This is promised to come later with a firmware update somewhere this coming spring. I am very interested in this player myself, but until the promised capability becomes reality, I am a little uncomfortable spending this much money, especially with all the upheaval going on at Pioneer right now.

With BD Live etc. it looks like Meridian's cautious bet paid off in not investing the engineering to decode in the processor. Even though it would have been nice, it`s so tightly integrated within the player now it makes sense to decode in the player (even though audio quality wise we may have preferred Meridian have their hand at it). It will be interesting to see how things progress. I also find it interesing how long all these players take to getting all the codecs. You would think their is existing code that would be available along with the license.