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Meridian 861 Reference Surround Processor (Version 2.5) Meridian has established an unequalled reputation for their technologies for advancing stereo in surround systems. Since its introduction in July 1994, the Meridian 565 became widely recognized as the benchmark processor. The proprietary Meridian DSP redefined expectations for Movie sound and created a paradigm shift for Music listening by enabling immeasurably improved ‘stereo’ with 3 to 8-speaker systems. |
Product/861 Surround Processor
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Meridian’s 565 is rated Class ‘A’ by Stereophile and has received the prestigious EISA award for ‘Home Theatre Decoder of 1995’. Among a total of 12 awards the 565 was voted ‘Home Theatre Decoder of the Year’ by Home Entertainment in 1995, 1996 and 1997. The 861, rated Class ‘AAA’ by Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, inherited the Meridian Surround DSP heritage and added to it more processing, a higher degree of control sophistication and outstanding audio and conversion stages. The 861 also brings the potential for handling more than 8 channels and for decoding future surround formats – in fact the 800 Series Digital Backplane allows processing on up to 64 channels! One potential upgrade is multichannel DSP equalisation for Home Theatre and Music systems. Of course, 861 makes a perfect front end for the ‘Class A’ rated Meridian Digital Theatre™. Movie formats Dolby Digital is the preferred sound format for DVD in NTSC territories. The Dolby Digital decoder built by Meridian is the most powerful on the market and passes the most extreme Bitstream tests. Dolby Digital is also available on NTSC LaserDiscs – to replay these an optional demodulator card is available. MPEG Surround is another audio format for DVD. MPEG audio (2 channel) is also available – including US satellite broadcasts and in computer multimedia. The MPEG decoder provided in 861 is the best sounding so far. In addition to Dolby Digital (AC-3) and MPEG, the 861 decodes DTS. The processor fitted is fully capable of decoding all the DTS formats to be seen on DVD – as well as the DTS now available on LaserDiscs and CDs. The 861 was the first processor in the world to support Dolby's ProLogic II algorithm which is used for 2-channel movie material. This 48-bit implementation offers incredibly natural and clear sound on Dolby Surround movies. Music formats Meridian has developed a Lossless compression system. Meridian Lossless Packing (MLP) has been selected as the mandatory form of lossless coding for the very highest possible sound quality applications on future DVD-Audio. 861 already decodes MLP. Meridian’s 861 uses very carefully crafted processing to get the maximum benefit from high-precision PCM inputs. The 861 will accept up to 96kHz and 24-bit PCM and gives the maximum resolution on these signals. The processor also has the option to perform high-resolution sub-sampling on signals coming in at 88.2kHz or 96kHz. |
Rated Class ‘AAA’ by Stereophile Guide to Home Theater AV processor and system controller Includes the most powerful Dolby Digital decoder on the market Accepts 96kHz 24-bit PCM and can provide a 96kHz digital output (with MHR) Full RS232 control and status Software updateable Modular internal construction facilitates future upgrade Rack-mountable option available
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What makes 861 so special? The single most important feature in all our DSP products – including 861 – is the incredibly high standard we set for sonic performance. An important differentiating feature is that instead of using chips that have ‘burnt-in’ algorithms, Meridian’s signal processing is software based, and therefore can be improved or modified in future. For example, AC-3 itself has progressed a lot since the initial standard was set; the DVD application also brings new requirements. Meridian’s solution will give the customer value in the long run. By taking a software solution to AC-3, DTS and MPEG we are also able to take advantage of some of the more interesting user features like ‘speech levelling’, ‘dynamic-range control’, ‘multi-language’, speaker layouts etc which other decoders may not offer. Most important though is providing improved sound by fitting a highly accurate, 24-bit decoding algorithm right at the heart of the world’s best sounding surround decoder. Crude solutions – like outboard decoders with six analogue outputs, or multiple plug-in third-party decoder cards – can never remotely approach the sound, function or facilities of the Meridian 861 architecture. System integration With all these different formats able to appear at the inputs of a decoder there is room for confusion. However, 861 does not get confused even if MLP, AC-3 or DTS arrives when it was expecting a CD! 861 continually monitors the digital input and automatically loads the correct decoding software for the format, speaker layout and encoding of the incoming signal. You can also store separate user parameters for each source (like LaserDisc) depending on whether the incoming signal is MLP, PCM (ProLogic II decode), AC-3, DTS or MPEG. THX? Naturally! THX Cinema has a huge amount to offer in the 7.1 era. The 861 has all the signal processing in place to comply with THX requirements for Dolby Digital, DTS and MPEG. The front channels carry re-equalisation; the surrounds use a new timbre- match curve and an updated de-correlation technique. Bass management Movie signals have the potential to require a 12dB increase in bass power handling in a system. No only can the LFE (Low-Frequency Effects – i.e. 0.1) channel convey 10dB more bass, but the potential exists for that to happen as well as full bass level in the other five channels. Although the Dolby Digital, DTS and MPEG encoders limit the total bass level to +15dB, the resulting bass energy can still be incredibly demanding for even the very best systems – and equally important – may be disastrous for other, less capable, speakers. The Meridian 861 incorporates a very sophisticated series of bass protection schemes for Digital Surround formats. The user can control the overall amount of LFE added in. In addition, the 861 has a bass limiting function (adjusted in Setup) which limits the total amount of bass passed to the system. As well as the overall bass protection, the 861 can monitor all speaker outputs. A sophisticated DSP function determines how hard each individual speaker is working and compares that to a capacity rating given for each speaker when the system is installed. If the signal demands more bass than a speaker can supply a proprietary, psycho-acoustically optimised limiting-filter momentarily and elegantly reduces the load on that speaker. This unique protection method means you can get the most out of all the speakers in the room without any fear of damage or unpleasant overload noises. |
Use 861 with: MSR Remote
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Sound quality The 861 embodies the very latest developments in digital audio. Meridian, who are famous for their smooth-sounding digital-audio components, have made a major breakthrough with a memory-based de-jittering system that allows it to be relatively immune to input-signal quality – and to be, by far, the sweetest and most open sounding controller that Meridian has built to date. 861 Overview The architecture of 861 allows for wide flexibility – future sources and formats can be handled by upgrading either software or cards. Inputs The 861 is a full-system controller preamp that provides seamless control of up to 12 analogue or digital audio, and up to 12 video sources. The Tape cards provide additional internal A/D and D/A converters to give full support for both tape recorders and extensive 2 and 3-zone multiroom capability (analogue or digital formats). By providing digital as well as analogue inputs the 861 can give radically higher sound quality for sources that are originally digital – like CD, LaserDisc, Digital Radio and DVD. As well as accepting 2-channel digital audio, the 861 will handle SPDIF-encoded Dolby Digital, DTS, MLP or MPEG from sources like DVD, Satellite and LaserDisc. In the latest Version 3 we have also added high resolution multichannel digital and analogue input options. Processing The Meridian 861 routes all signals – if necessary – via a 24-bit Delta-Sigma A/D converters into the digital domain for processing in the highly developed Meridian 24- and 48-bit DSP cards. This processing engine can consist of between 2 and 10 modular processor cards, each housing 1 or 2 ultra-fast 24-bit processors with high-speed cache memory. In each DSP core, the incoming signals are processed using a variety of proprietary algorithms and up to 16 output signals are generated. These output signals can be used to feed a number of speaker layouts, ranging from 2-speaker to 9-speaker stereo with up to 8 subwoofers (with adjustable crossover parameters). The on-board algorithms include Meridian’s own highly transparent Dolby Pro Logic, Pro Logic II, Discrete, Dolby Digital, MPEG Surround, DTS, THX extensions, TV Logic and a variety of award-winning music programs including Trifield and Ambisonics. |
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Outputs The 8+ outputs can be provided as digital signals to feed Meridian DSP Loudspeakers, or as variable analogue outputs using a proprietary on-board 24-bit resolution conversion method – or as a mixture of both. Video control and OSD The Meridian 861 provides broadcast-grade video switching options for monitors, projectors and video tape routing. The comprehensive setup and customising facilities allow the user to link any video and audio combinations to the 12 Sources (accessed from Source switching on the front panel or the remote control). In addition to providing high-quality video amplification, the 861 has the ability to give ‘help’ and ‘system control’ feedback information in an On-Screen Display. Video formats supported include Composite, S, Component and RGB. Card Details Each 861 is factory fitted with a motherboard, a highly sophisticated power supply and a selection of 800 series cards, the total number of these being dependant on the combination being installed – see the 861 order form for more information. |
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Technical Specification The following list illustrates the capability of the design. Refer to the Price List for standard combinations. Audio in and out: Up to 12 analogue inputs. User-adjustable sensitivity. Up to 12 digital inputs with re-nameable legends, all 32 to 96kHz sampling and up to 24-bit precision. Digital and analogue tape loops Independent copy and 2-room+ capability 2 to 8 digital outputs DSP: 800 uses Meridian’s proprietary DSP software to provide the following powerful Modes; MLP (Meridian Lossless), ProLogic, ProLogic II, THX, TVLogic, Dolby Digital (AC-3), DTS Coherent Surround, MPEG Audio and MPEG Surround, Music, Trifield, Ambisonics, SuperStereo, Controls: Front-panel fascia controls for; Source, DSP, Mute, Volume and Off. Hinged control panel provides additional switches for; Copy, Parameter menus, Display, Setup, Display Display: 20-character dot matrix display with adjustable brightness and contrast. Lights for Lock and Emphasis.
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