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Meridian 861v8 User Manual

Reference digital surround controller
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861 Reference Digital Surround
Controller User Guide

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  • Page 1 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller User Guide...
  • Page 2 Important safety instructions Preface • Read the instructions. To avoid overheating • Keep these instructions. • Leave at least 10cm around the equipment to ensure • Follow all instructions. sufficient ventilation. • Do not use this apparatus near water. • Clean only with a dry cloth.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Locking and unlocking the menus Setting up SpeakerLink Changing the DSP parameters Sinewave sweep test Changing treble, bass, or phase Installing the Meridian Configuration Application Changing the listening position Index Changing the integration of the centre Changing the spaciousness of the sound...
  • Page 4 MHR: this product incorporates copyright protection PE29 6YE technology covered by certain patent applications England and intellectual property of Meridian Audio Ltd. This Tel (01480) 445678 technology is provided for the express purpose of Fax (01480) 445686 securely containing copyright audio within the Meridian System only.

  • Page 5: Introduction

    Introduction Introduction Welcome to the Meridian 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller. This User Guide provides full information about using the surround controller in conjunction with your other equipment, to achieve the superb results you can expect from it.

  • Page 6: The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller

    Unlike conventional analogue systems – which process amplifiers. If you are using the 861 with Meridian DSP signals using electronic circuits based on resistors, Loudspeakers, the signals remain in digital form until capacitors, and inductors –...
  • Page 7 Introduction Processing The Meridian 861 routes all signals – if necessary via a 24-bit A/D converter – into the digital domain for processing in the highly developed Meridian DSP cards. The incoming signals are processed using a variety of proprietary algorithms, and up to eight output signals are generated.

  • Page 8: Dsp Presets And Layouts

    Introduction DSP presets and layouts The 861 provides an extensive range of options for Special presets for two-channel decoding and processing analogue and digital signals materials for multichannel reproduction. Direct uses only the left and right speakers; compare Music on CD or radio this with the effect of surround processing using the other modes.
  • Page 9 The surround controller provides great flexibility in the way in which you use the loudspeakers in your system. With the Meridian Configuration Program you can specify three different speaker layouts, each with a different use of subwoofers and centre speaker:...

  • Page 10: Specifications

    Up to 4 configurable 6-channel analogue inputs. Control signals • 3 trigger outputs, programmable by source. • Meridian Comms and RS232 for control and setup. Controls, etc. Front-panel facia controls for: • Source, DSP, Mute, Volume, and Off. Hinged control panel provides additional switches for: •...

  • Page 11: Using The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller

    Using the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller Using the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller This chapter provides a summary of the functions of the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller to identify the controls which you use to operate the unit. It also provides step-by-step instructions for operating the digital surround controller, using either the front panel or the MSR+.

  • Page 12: Front Panel Keys

    Using the 861 Front panel keys Reference Digital Surround Controller Display Assign Shows the current Copy Assigns the current Calibrate source, DSP Copies a source to DSP preset to the Sets up the preset, and volume current source the tape output loudspeakers Indicators Display...

  • Page 13: Msr+ Keys

    DSP parameters player, or tuner Source keys RADIO DISC TAPE CABLE VCR1 VCR2 GAME Select a source to Switches Power Power turn on from Meridian standby equipment to Page Page Audio Audio Page Page standby Number keys Enter Open Open Slow...

  • Page 14: Switching On And Off

    Press Source (front panel), or select a source by pressing the appropriate source key on the remote; eg CD. If the digital surround controller is part of a Meridian system it will automatically switch on any other unit in the system, such as the 800 Reference DVD/CD Player and Meridian DSP Loudspeakers.

  • Page 15: Selecting A Source

    Selecting a source Using the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller The digital surround controller provides the following 12 sources: CD, Radio, DVD, Aux, Disc, Tape, TV, Cable, Sat, VCR1, VCR2, and Game. The input and DSP preset associated with each source depends on how the digital surround controller has been set up;...

  • Page 16: Adjusting The Volume

    For normal to high level listening you should expect to use volume levels in the range 60 to 90. On a system with analogue outputs the volume on startup can be set using the Meridian Configuration Program. For details see the Meridian Configuration Program Guide , available separately.

  • Page 17: Changing The Dsp Preset

    Changing the DSP preset Using the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller Each source has a set of DSP presets associated with To change the DSP preset it, one for each of the alternative content types: Music • Press DSP (front panel or remote) to step between 2 (2-channel music), Music 6 (multichannel music), the different DSP presets.

  • Page 18: Changing The Display

    If the Diagnostic display option has been selected, additional diagnostic displays are included; refer to You can change the contrast between 0 and 15. the Meridian Web site at www.meridian-audio.com for To change the brightness details. In addition, the following symbols on the front-panel •...

  • Page 19: Customising The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller

    Customising the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller Customising the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller In addition to being able to change the source, volume, and DSP preset, the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller provides a sophisticated range of more advanced adjustments for each DSP preset, to allow you to tailor the sound.

  • Page 20: Locking And Unlocking The Menus

    Customising the 861 Locking and unlocking the menus Reference Digital Surround Controller To simplify the normal operation of the digital surround controller, and to protect the settings from accidental changes, you can lock the menus so that the DSP parameters cannot be accessed. The only parameters available with the menus locked are Brightness and Contrast.

  • Page 21: Changing The Dsp Parameters

    +0.0dB The bass response. Phase* + or - The absolute phase. Axis -2 to +3 The vertical balance (only available with Meridian DSP loudspeakers). Balance <10 to 10> <0> The L-R balance. HS Out?* Y or N Select Y for high-rate audio, upsampled if necessary. Select N for standard-rate audio, downsampled if necessary.
  • Page 22 Customising the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller To change a DSP parameter • Make sure the menus are unlocked; see To unlock the menus , page 16. • Press > or < (remote or under the front panel) until the display shows the name of the parameter you want to change.

  • Page 23: Changing Treble, Bass, Or Phase

    • Press > or < until the display shows the current phase. If you have a Meridian DSP Loudspeaker the Treble and Bass settings apply to all DSP presets. For example: Phase To change the treble •...

  • Page 24: Changing The Listening Position

    This option is 0 corresponds to the axis of the treble unit. Usually a only available with Meridian DSP loudspeakers. listener will be below that position, so we recommend You can also change the level of the centre, side, and settings of -1 or -2.

  • Page 25: Changing The Integration Of The Centre

    Changing the integration of the centre Customising the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller If you have a centre loudspeaker you can adjust its You can change the depth between -2.5ms, which relative loudness, to provide the best integration of the corresponds to moving the centre speaker 0.75m centre with the main left and right speakers.

  • Page 26: Changing The Spaciousness Of The Sound

    Customising the 861 Changing the spaciousness of the sound Reference Digital Surround Controller You can adjust the spaciousness of the sound by altering the delay on the rear and side channels. Note: These adjustments are not available for the Direct, Stereo, or Mono presets. To change the relative delay of the rear or side speakers •...

  • Page 27: Speakerlink Controls

    Connect to the DSP loudspeakers via the SpeakerLink connection. For example: • Enable the SpeakerLink controls using the Meridian Press A or V to choose between On or Off. Configuration Application (see Installing the Meridian Configuration Application, page 57), or via the SpeakerLink menu (see Setting up SpeakerLink , page 55).

  • Page 28: Changing The Lipsync

    To adjust the LipSync The LipSync parameter is a feature originated by Meridian that allows you to adjust the delay between the sound and the video image by up to 50ms, or up to 85ms if Meridian Room Correction is not being used.

  • Page 29: Changing The Dsp Preset For A Source

    Changing the DSP preset for a source Customising the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller Each source has an appropriate DSP preset associated with it for each music format. For example, for a standard stereo (PCM) signal the CD source uses Trifield and the TV source uses TV Logic.

  • Page 30: Defining Your Own Presets

    Customising the 861 Defining your own presets Reference Digital Surround Controller The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller allows • A flashing cursor shows the letter you are editing: you to modify any of the built-in presets, and save them for future use. Store •ser 1 You can either save the changes to the built-in preset,...

  • Page 31: Dsp Presets

    DSP Presets DSP presets This chapter gives technical information about each of the DSP presets built in to the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller, including information about which preset you should select for different types of material. It also gives details of the special DSP parameters available for each preset.

  • Page 32: Dsp Presets For Two-Channel Material

    The mono element is equalised using a proprietary Surr. All and rear speakers. Meridian technique to match the tone colour of the R Filter Off, 1kHz, The cutoff of high centre speaker, and to compensate for the fact that the...
  • Page 33 DSP Presets Ambisonic surround sound is quite unlike conventional Ambisonics and Super DSP preset stereo. A special microphone can be used to capture parameters the sound of the original performance in all three dimensions, allowing a recording to be made in a Parameter Options What it changes...
  • Page 34 Steered Side, surround channels are compared with the original Pro Logic decoding. Steered All generated by steering. Meridian’s implementation of Pro Logic IIx uses proprietary code based on 48-bit precision to give Width 0 to 7 The centre spread, outstanding clarity.
  • Page 35 DSP Presets PLIIx Movie and PLIIx THX DSP preset If Party? is set to No, the combined or selected signal is played only through the centre speaker, or the left parameters and right speakers if there is no centre, to centrally localise high-frequency hiss and clicks.

  • Page 36: Dsp Presets For Multichannel Material

    Discrete and Cinema DSP preset encoded data streams (such as Dolby Digital) or as parameters discrete channels from a DVD player. If you are using Meridian SmartLink then all formats will reach the 861 Parameter Options What it changes as discrete channels. With suitable loudspeakers the 2+2+2* Off, 5.1,...
  • Page 37 DSP Presets performance of THX Ultra2 Cinema and THX Music is produced when the two rear speakers are placed As with the PLIIx THX DSP preset, THX re-equalises close together behind the listening position. THX Ultra2 the signals to suit domestic listening conditions, and Cinema is recommended for movie soundtracks that applies frequency-response correction and decorrelation are not Dolby Surround EX encoded, and THX Music is...
  • Page 38 DSP Presets Using dynamic range control Dialogue Normalisation display If the input format is Dolby Digital, the 5.1 Movie DSP Dolby Digital audio streams include Dialogue presets provide an additional Compress parameter Normalisation and Mix levels, to specify the to allow you to take advantage of the dynamic range recommended listening level of the soundtrack.

  • Page 39: Installing The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller

    Installing the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller Installing the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller This chapter explains how to install the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller. It describes what you should find when you unpack the product, and how you should connect it to the other equipment in the system.

  • Page 40: Unpacking

    • MSR+ remote control with batteries, manual, and connections on a standard 861. Note that your unit spare key caps. may include optional cards to provide additional inputs • Meridian Comms lead. and/or outputs: • Power cord. • This manual.
  • Page 41 Installing the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller Standard and optional cards The following diagram shows the cards supplied as standard to the 861, and the optional cards (shown in brackets): (OA18) (OA18) IA04 OE34 + IE44 CO00 (IA04) (ID41) ID29 (OA08) (OA08) Analogue inputs –...
  • Page 42 SL1 and SL2 The SpeakerLink output of right-hand column. a Meridian source with a SpeakerLink output Digital inputs – IE44 Sooloos connections – ID41 (optional) Use this input To connect to this...

  • Page 43: Applications

    Digital coax leads Meridian Comms lead You can connect up to six digital coax sources to the If the source is a Meridian product, connect together 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller. the COMMS sockets using the Comms lead provided. •...
  • Page 44 Connect the DIGITAL output from the 808 to the SpeakerLink input on the digital surround controller, using a Meridian SpeakerLink lead. To connect to a Meridian HD621 HDMI Audio Processor 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller HD621 HDMI Audio Processor MERIDIAN...
  • Page 45 Installing the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller To connect to a source with analogue multichannel outputs (eg SACD player) SACD player 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller ANALOGUE OUT A1-A6 DIGITAL DIGITAL Phono leads Digital leads The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller provides You can then select the source corresponding to the two sets of 6 analogue inputs, called A1-A6 and B1- multichannel input for playing surround material, and...
  • Page 46 On a Macintosh, OS X 10.4 or later is recommended. work as expected, but for highest quality you should Appropriate drivers will be installed automatically when set it to maximum and use the Meridian volume control you connect for the first time. in the 861 instead.
  • Page 47 861 to one of each of the remaining pairs of speakers, using a Meridian SpeakerLink lead. • Link each pair of speakers together with a Meridian SpeakerLink lead, out of the first speaker and into the second speaker, as shown in the diagram.
  • Page 48 This is an alternative to the “daisy chain” wiring The speakers should then be configured appropriately configuration shown opposite. as Master and Slaves, and Left, Right, Centre, Surround; see Meridian DSP Loudspeaker User Guide • Connect the appropriate SpeakerLink output on the for more details.
  • Page 49 Installing the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller To connect to other Meridian G Series or 800 Series equipment 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller G Series, 500 Series, or 800 Series unit MERIDIAN MERIDIAN COMMS COMMS Meridian Comms lead In a system of Meridian products, one of the products All the other units will be configured as non-controllers.
  • Page 50 Installing the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller...

  • Page 51: Configuring The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller

    For complete control over all aspects of the digital surround controller’s configuration, or to take advantage of Room Correction, it is recommended that you set up the unit using the Meridian Configuration Program; for more information see Installing the Meridian Configuration...

  • Page 52: Choosing A Standard Setting

    Switch on again to use the standard settings you Selecting a Type will clear any configuration and have selected. calibration changes you have made, or any DSP presets you have defined. It does not reset any Room correction profiles stored to the 861 using the Meridian Configuration program.
  • Page 53 Surround Controller Setting up the digital surround controller with other Meridian equipment If you are using the 861 with other Meridian equipment, such as the 800 Reference DVD/CD Player, you should set up the Comms with the following automatic setup procedure: •...

  • Page 54: Calibrating The System

    Configuring the 861 Calibrating the system Reference Digital Surround Controller To help you to set up your installation to give the To start the calibration procedure best possible sound with any particular combination • Put the digital surround controller into standby by of associated equipment, the 861 Reference Digital pressing Off (front panel or remote).

  • Page 55: Calibration Tests

    Calibration tests Configuring the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller Levels Before setting up the speaker outputs you need to measure the distance, in feet and inches, to each These tests allow you to adjust the output level to speaker from the listening position: each speaker individually, and it follows the general guidelines from Dolby Laboratories and Lucasfilm Ltd.
  • Page 56 Configuring the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller Fine tuning For example: Left Size These tests allow you to fine-tune the phase and delay • Press > or < to move between each of the speakers of each speaker when used in conjunction with other under test.

  • Page 57: Setting Up Sources

    Setting up sources Configuring the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller This section explains how to use Gain/Sub mode to Radio 2.0V In For example: set up the sources connected to the digital surround controller, and configure them to suit your other •...
  • Page 58 Configuring the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller For THX loudspeaker systems you should leave the crossover setting at 80Hz. 80Hz is also the recommended setting for all movie listening. You may prefer, however, to lower the crossover frequency for music if your main speakers have good bass handling down to, say, 50Hz.

  • Page 59: Setting Up Speakerlink

    Surround Controller The SpeakerLink outputs provide control information to DSP loudspeakers along with the digital audio. If you have configured the 861 via the Meridian Configuration Application (see Installing the Meridian Configuration Application , page 57) then you may have access to extra menus available in the DSP presets;...

  • Page 60: Sinewave Sweep Test

    Configuring the 861 Sinewave sweep test Reference Digital Surround Controller The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller includes To change the volume a sinewave signal test, to help you set the subwoofer • Use the volume keys in the usual way. crossover frequencies, or check for room resonances.

  • Page 61: Installing The Meridian Configuration Application

    User guide ME, XP, Vista, or Windows 7. • 10Mbytes of free disk space. You can download an electronic copy of the Meridian • A 9-pin serial port or suitable serial adaptor (such as Configuration Program Guide in Acrobat format from USB-Serial, PC Card, etc).
  • Page 62 Configuring the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller...

  • Page 63: Index

    Ambisonics 28, 33 balanced outputs 36, 37 to DSP loudspeakers 43, 44 assigning to a source 25 Bass (DSP parameter) 17, 19 to Meridian G Series, 500 Series, changing 13 bass, changing 19 or 800 Series equipment 45 Cinema 32...
  • Page 64 Meridian DSP loudspeakers, PLIIx Music (DSP preset) 30 connecting to 43, 44 PLIIx THX (DSP preset) 30 HD621 HDMI Audio Processor 40 Meridian System Remote keys 9 presets HS Out? (DSP parameter) 17 Mix level 34 defining 26 MMHR multichannel input 38, 40...
  • Page 65 Index Rear (DSP parameter) 17, 20 speaker layouts 5 2+2+2 (DSP parameters) 32 rear speakers 5.1 Movie 32 Types 48 changing the relative delay 22 Logic 28 changing the relative level 20 Music 28 resetting the configuration 48 SpeakerLink 38, 43, 44 UHJ format 28 R Filter (DSP parameter) 28, 29, 32 connecting with 43, 44...
  • Page 66 Index...

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