Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Restaurant at the End of Universe Hitchhikers - Meridian Equipment DVDO Edge Scaler with 4x S/PDIF output! (powerbuy started on 3/27)

James, as long as the RJ45 is just a simple connector with balanced pairs for signal then I will make a RCA to RJ45 box for you guys, no problem

wanted to confirm a few things on this Edge, good news and some bad news

good first, the Edge passes 44.1KHZ, 48KHZ, 88.2KHZ and 96KHZ perfectly via this mod

the bad news, in some cases the unit doesn't want to play nice with no HDMI output connected, in this state some sources devices are told to output 2 channel downmix, this won't due

the solution I am going to provide makes the unit 100% stable and foolproof in any system

those of you familiar with the CLUX and Octava boxes knows that on the HDMI output if you connected something like a JVC RS2, it will read that EDID(which contains 2 channel PCM only) and shutdown the flow of the 8 channel PCM in those units, with my mod and solution this is not a problem

the Edge has a dedicated audio HDMI output, users are going to need to connect a Gefen HDMI detective to this output, what this does is tell the unit to 100% of the time send 8 channel PCM no matter what

what this also accomplishes is you can connect any monitor HDMI device to the video output on the Edge, the reason for this is because the Edge has smart EDID merge capability, even if you connect a JVC RS2 to the video HDMI output on the Edge with the audio only output connected to the Gefen HDMI detective it will merge that EDID with the one from the JVC RS2 and allow 8 channel PCM to flow, this is the best example as the RS2 has a 2 channel PCM EDID

so using the Edge with the Gefen detective makes the unit 100% stable in usage with the SPDIF mod, it allows you to connect any HDMI monitor without regard to its EDID screwing up the audio flow or if you want, you don't need to connect anything at all to the EDGE video output, no sync needed

I am going to provide the Gefen units at my cost, I am negotiating that with distributors as we speak, will be under 100$

sorry guys, but this makes the unit 100% stable, you can do exactly what you want when you want, any HDMI video device or none at all

any questions please be sure and post

you guys are going to love this thing, it passes everything I have tried perfectly including:

Panasonic BD30 DTS Master, TrueHD and PCM tracks
Toshiba A35 DD+, TrueHD and 96KHZ tracks
Oppo 980 SAD via 88.2KHZ

and more

thanks

Somewhat OT, but will your mod to the Oppo BD-83 require that a display be on or the Gefen module be attached the play SACD and DVD-A. Obviously, I don't want to have to turn on my display to play hi-res music discs.

neither the Edge nor the Oppo will require any display to even be connected or be on (if connected) to work 100% perfectly no matter the source at anytime

if they did I wouldn't offer it for sale as that would not be usable to folks

the Edge is going to use the Gefen to make sure it work 100% of the time, the only reason it will work like it does is because of the dedicated audio HDMI output, otherwise this thing would be a waste of peoples time, however because of that we have a very stable and amazing product in the Edge with this SPDIF mod

I was just using it to listen to some 6 channel 96KHZ stuff with nothing connected to the HDMI video output

thanks

Gary

As a retired CA whose limited knowledge of AV matters has been built up over several years of owning Meridian equipment and the excellence of this forum I am trying to get my head round the situation with the performance of the ‘Edge`
What started for me as a simple requirement to access better quality audio from my Sony BDS 350 Bluray player into my G68 has escalated into a somewhat highly technical discussion. My original requirement would have been met by a modified Clux and as I only have need for a single input (Sky HD audio is crap) this was my intention except that nobody seems to offer these any more. Moving up the scale is the Octavia but where can a modified Octavia be purchased? So we eventually come to your modified DVDO Edge which gives additional features but at a significantly increased cost over the alternatives. I`m not sure that I need the video upscaling because my recently purchased Pioneer Kuro 500A is extremely good and I have no idea how much ,if at all, this would be improved by the edge.
What is apparent is that there would now be two extra boxes (the Edge and the Gefen) with the total cost in the region of $1300 about �1000 and this assumes that Customs accept the fact that as Modified/repaired units the duty would be minimal if any. A UPS container with 25 ‘repaired/modified` units might invite suspicion?
Given the present situation I think that I need to consider my options because if the HD621 can be acquired with a powerbuy in the UK saving say 10% this may be a more suitable alternative


Rod

Rod, this solution is for those that want video processing and what I consider the best solution for SPDIF short of the HD621, cost wise there is no comparison correct? the HD621 is retail of 3k right? this solution gives you perfect SPDIF and video processing/scaling

the Edge scaler does more than just upscaling, for those that have never owned a video processor I know this is hard to picture

I ship all orders individually so they go thru customers individually, as I said before, you will pay very little if any customers duties, trust me on that

if we get over 20 units on this sale and by the looks of it at around 13 hands before I even start it, that will be easily met and the price for the unit with Gefen and overseas shipping will be around 1200$ US

the Gefen box is about the size of a deck of cards and and will have a short 1 foot cable connected between it and the Edge audio only HDMI output, this enables the unit to be 100% stable and 8 channel PCM data always flowing, no matter if you have or don't have a HDMI display connected

look for a hands on from one of you guys soon, I picked one member to get a early sample before the powerbuy starts

thanks

Actually this is incorrect with respect to the Octava. They changed the EDID behavior on our request and the unit will always indicate 8 channel capability, even if the display is only 2 channel.

Gary

The costs are closer than you think. In the UK the price of the HD621 is about �1463 which is less than $2000 if a 10% discount could be obtained (say �1317) this would be about $1800. I await the comments from the early sample before making a decision

Rod

true we are getting quite close to an all Meridian solution with the pound against the dollar and export prices.who knows maybe the final price might change yet again.
my thoughts jonathan

Now I have always loved what a video processor can add to the mix, I have had loads from the early Quadscans, original Lumagens, and then the Crystalio and Crystalio II, more so for the extra detail that they can pull from a source more than their deinterlacing and scaling.

However I get why many feel this is getting quite pricey, for a lot of people it was a cheaper alternative to the HD621, however, in the UK we are now getting right up there again.

I personally would prefer to keep an HD421 in my system to do all the switching and then go out to the screen via a clux or octava, this keeps the system nice and neat from a usability point of view, press DVD on the M remote and you get the image and sound switching together.
I know a video processor will improve my Pioneer 500M a great deal, especially with SD material, but if I could have an Octava for $600 with the mod I would prefer that over the Edge.

Can you give us a price for a modded Octava??

everyone was quiet happy with the 1199$ price I announced this would be at, then I dropped it down to 1049$ with the 20+ powerbuy, so after the Gefen is added to the mix you are still looking at 1149$, for overseas shipping around 1225$ total, again no customs duties will be due

I am looking into other products and devices that would lower the price and replace the Gefen but I doubt that happening, I am still working on the Gefen price as well so we may be looking at something lower than 1149$ + shipping

if people are not happy with the 1150$ price let me know, post your thoughts

I have said all along that I would mod any and all devices out there, no problem, after Shawn stopped modifying I am pretty much it save for a few other guys or DIY, prices go up and labor on these types of items is intense, requiring skill and lots of time

also my understanding of the Octava is that it must have a HDMI sync on the other end, the Edge will not require this, so you can do as you please with it

so the Octava would stack up like this roughly

Octava 4x2 modified 950$ (including HDMI device on one output) + shipping overseas
Edge modified 1150$ + overseas shipping
HD621 around 2000$ yes?

the Edge gives you 75% of what the DVDO VP50pro has and as a bonus you get perfect 4 x SPDIF output, you also get 2 more HDMI over the Octava

I don't see how you could do much better

thanks

my order still stands,let me know when all is sorted
jonathan

all I want is for everyone to be happy with all aspects, so please say anything you want or ask anything, it will not offend me

I will also see about getting the shipping down to 50$ for overseas buyers, so we may be looking at 1175$ shipped on the 20+ price if a few things work out

thanks