Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Thread Like Summary - Nuprime-X H16-AES as upgrade for HD621 / UHD722 with Atmos decoding !?

Hello all

I have ordered one of these It should be here hopefully in August...

"The Nuprime-X H16-AES is a high-performance HDMI audio decoder featuring AES3 (AES/EBU) digital audio output for integration with professional audio systems."

Specifications:

Audio Format: PCM, up to 24-bit/96kHz
Dolby TrueHD supports up to 24-bit/96kHz
DTS-HD Master Audio supports up to 24-bit/96kHz
Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Atmos support 24-bit/48kHz

Inputs: 4 x HDMI, HDMI eARC

Outputs: 16 channels AES3 on two DB25 ports (H16 decodes Dolby Atmos up to 9.1.4)

HDMI eARC

Im hoping that with the right DB25 to RJ45 adaptor / cable I can just plug this Nuprime into the MMHR socket on my G65 and replace my HD621....

I went ahead and purchased the Nuprime H16 device and that adapter I mentioned in the post above so that I could plug straight into the MMHR input on my G65.

It did not work. Well, it worked but the channels were all jumbled around. So it was halfway there.

I purchased an RJ45 to DB25 adapter that allowed routing of the cables within it yourself. This proved pretty difficult as it didn't quite line up with the documentation I had from Nuprime, this forum, and Master Google. You also have to get the hot and cold (balanced AES) cables correct or the signal won't process. However, I did get all the channels working (just a 5.1 setup for now).

Not only does the Nuprime replace the HD621, it also replaces many functions of the G65, as well. It provides digital volume control, auto room correction, and device switching. I don't care for the volume control as much as Meridian's. The room correction seems like a light touch. I can hear a difference but it isn't sharp or dramatic. I didn't put much effort into the room correction yet, so I might be able to get something better out of it with some setting changes on the G65. For example, I don't have a subwoofer and that seems to confuse the room correction program.

I am just now starting to setup the device but it always plays a 5.1 signal regardless of the source content. I have tried what I believe to be every setting in the maching but cannot get plain old stereo. Maybe something deep in the manual will have the answer to that. I will say the fake surround processing is very good. The rear channels are barely audible and the center channel does not draw attention to itself. It is far closer to sounding plain jane stereo than it is to something like Trifield.

Picture-wise it passes 4K with HDR perfectly. It also wakes the TV and the source (Apple TV or playstation) when you power on the Nuprime, or the Apple TV or Playstation for that matter. This really helps ease of use.

It tells the sources to pass Dolby atmos, and it has a 1 trillion lumen blue light that turns on when Atmos is detected.

All in all a great device so far. If I can get it to pass simple stereo it will be an easy replacement of the UHD722. As an aside, when I purchased the H16, Nuprime said a new version is coming out soon and I can trade up to the new unit by just paying the difference in price.

Apologies I should of updated this thread sooner as the H16 has been mentioned in another thread.

At this moment with the latest firmware I would only recommend a H16 as a hobbyist/enthusiast product.

At the moment I would not recommend a H16 to replace a HD621/UHD722.

Currently with the latest firmware the LFE channel is around +16dB to + 18dB higher signal level in comparison with other channels!!

This is after a firmware fix for this issue that was caused by the previous firmware that was pulled because of this issue.

I used Discrete to create the DSP I use for Multichannel from H16 which I believe is -10db on LFE compared to Cinema.

I use the Direct mode on my H16 with - 5db on the LFE channel which I think evens it out.

On earlier firmware the H16 would reset it settings on power cycle or standby and it was advised to keep powered on.

This was supposed to be fixed with firmware update and to be fair my H16 has kept its setting with the 2 power cycles I've had to do to H16 since update but other users have said their H16 lost its settings.

Any Meridian owners contemplating a H16 should read and follow the H16 threads on the Nuprime forum.

may I please ask...

Are your speakers still as per your signature, i.e. a 5.1 surround system?

Yes they are.

When playing Dolby Atmos material are the various fly-around and height channels lost, or folded into the 5.1 speakers?

They are folded into the 5.1 sent to the speakers.

Does the Atmos soundtrack sound different from a conventional DD5.1 soundtrack?

Yes it does ...I just ran a quick test with a Dolby Digital Plus with Dolby Atmos music track of James Brown "Superbad" when it's playing Atmos JB's vocals come from above and behind, without Atmos the vocals sound from behind.

With my current connection layout couldn't really compare the Nuprime decoding Atmos verses the Nuprime decoding True HD I will have a futher play tomorrow and run some tests .