Meridian 861 User Manual
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Meridian 861 User Manual

Reference digital surround controller
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R E F E R E N C E
D I G I T A L
S U R R O U N D
C O N T R O L L E R
U S E R
G U I D E

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Summary of Contents for Meridian 861

  • Page 1 8 6 1 R E F E R E N C E D I G I T A L S U R R O U N D C O N T R O L L E R U S E R G U I D E...
  • Page 2 Meridan 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller User Guide Reference Digital Surround Controller 861 Source Mute...

  • Page 3: Important Safety Instructions

    PREFACE Important safety instructions • Read the instructions. To avoid interference • Keep these instructions. Do not position the product: • Follow all instructions. • Do not use this apparatus near • Near strong magnetic radiation, water. such as near a power amplifi er. •...

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    Contents Introduction The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller 2 DSP presets and layouts Overview Typical specifi cation Using the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller Front panel keys MSR+ keys Switching on and off Selecting a source Adjusting the volume Changing the DSP preset...
  • Page 5 DSP presets DSP presets for two-channel material DSP presets for multichannel material Configuring the digital surround controller Choosing a standard setting Calibrating the system Calibration tests Setting up sources Sinewave sweep test Glossary Index...
  • Page 6 Designed and manufactured in the UK by Meridian Audio Ltd Latham Road Huntingdon Cambridgeshire PE29 6YE England Copyright © 1999-2005 Meridian Audio Ltd. Part no: 861U/7 Manufactured under license from Licensing Corporation. Lucasfi lm, THX, Dolby Laboratories Licensing and THX Cinema are registered Corporation (Canadian patent trademarks of Lucasfi...
  • Page 7 PREFACE...

  • Page 8: 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. Reference Digital Surround Controller 861...

  • Page 9: The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller

    DVD, LaserDisc, or digital broadcasting, are already in digital format and do not need to be converted. The signals are then retained in digital form throughout the 861 until they are converted back to analogue form at the analogue outputs, to drive power amplifi...

  • Page 10: Dsp Presets And Layouts

    INTRODUCTION PREFACE DSP presets and layouts The 861 provides an extensive range of options for decoding and processing analogue and digital signals for multichannel reproduction. Music on CD or radio The following DSP presets add a surround dimension to stereo recordings, such as on audio CDs or FM radio.
  • Page 11 INTRODUCTION PREFACE Multichannel movie soundtracks on DVD The following presets are designed for use with multichannel movie soundtracks encoded using Dolby Digital, DTS, or AAC (on some models). Typically these are labelled 5.1 because they provide fi ve full-range channels (three front and two rear) and one LFE (bass effects) channel. Cinema and THX decode the soundtrack to render the original six channels to your speaker layout.

  • Page 12: Overview

    INTRODUCTION PREFACE Overview The architecture of the 861 allows for wide fl exibility – future sources and formats can be handled by upgrading either software or cards. Meridian MHR Smartlink The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller incorporates a unique multichannel link, which allows it to receive an upsampled 6-channel PCM stream from a compatible source, such as the Meridian 800 Reference DVD / CD Player, for the highest possible sound quality.
  • Page 13 12 sources (accessed from the Source key on the front panel or the remote control). In addition to providing high-quality video buffering, the 861 has the ability to give help and system control feedback information in an on-screen display.

  • Page 14: Typical Specifi Cation

    INTRODUCTION PREFACE Typical specification Audio in and out • Up to 12 analogue inputs. User-adjustable sensitivity. Re-nameable legends. • Up to 12 digital inputs. Re-nameable legends. 32 to 96kHz sampling, and up to 24-bit precision. • Digital and analogue tape loops. •...
  • Page 15 INTRODUCTION PREFACE...

  • Page 16: 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 17: Front Panel Keys

    USING THE 861 REFERENCE DIGITAL Front panel keys SURROUND CONTROLLER...

  • Page 18: Msr+ Keys

    USING THE 861 REFERENCE DIGITAL MSR+ keys SURROUND CONTROLLER...

  • Page 19: Switching On And Off

    USING THE 861 REFERENCE DIGITAL Switching on and off SURROUND CONTROLLER When not playing, the digital surround controller should be left in the standby state. This ensures that the components of the digital surround controller operate at maximum effi ciency from the moment you start.

  • Page 20: Selecting A Source

    USING THE 861 REFERENCE DIGITAL Selecting a source 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...

  • Page 21: Adjusting The Volume

    Adjusting the volume SURROUND CONTROLLER The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller adjusts the volume in precise steps of 1dB, where 9dB is equivalent to doubling the loudness. The current volume setting is displayed in dB on the front-panel display, and can be varied in the range 1 to 99dB.

  • Page 22: Changing The Dsp Preset

    USING THE 861 REFERENCE DIGITAL Changing the DSP preset SURROUND CONTROLLER Each source has a set of DSP presets associated with it, one for each of the alternative content types: Music 2 (2-channel music), Music 6 (multichannel music), Movie 2 (2-channel movie soundtrack), or Movie 6 (multichannel movie soundtrack).

  • Page 23: Changing The Display

    REFERENCE DIGITAL Changing the display SURROUND CONTROLLER The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller displays information about the current settings on the 20-character front-panel display. In addition, it can display the same information superimposed on a video image. You can adjust the contrast and brightness of the front-panel display for optimum viewing, and choose what information is displayed.
  • Page 24 USING THE 861 REFERENCE DIGITAL To change the displayed information SURROUND CONTROLLER • Press Display (remote or under ProLogic the front panel). Each time you press Display the display will step between the options shown in the following table. Display option...
  • Page 25 USING THE 861 REFERENCE DIGITAL In addition, the following symbols on the front-panel display indicate SURROUND CONTROLLER which of the DSP processing modes are operating, or what the original format was if received via the Meridian MHR Smartlink: Symbol What it means Dolby processing is operating.

  • Page 26: Recording A Source

    REFERENCE DIGITAL Recording a source SURROUND CONTROLLER The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller allows you to copy any of the standard sources to the tape outputs, independently of the source you are listening to. If you are using the digital surround controller in a two-room system, you copy a source to the tape output to make it available to the second room.
  • Page 27 USING THE 861 REFERENCE DIGITAL SURROUND CONTROLLER...

  • Page 28: Customising The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller

    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 29: Locking And Unlocking The Menus

    CUSTOMISING THE 861 PREFACE REFERENCE DIGITAL Locking and unlocking the menus 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.

  • Page 30: Changing The Dsp Parameters

    CUSTOMISING THE 861 PREFACE REFERENCE DIGITAL Changing the DSP parameters SURROUND CONTROLLER Each DSP preset provides a series of parameters that you can vary to customise the behaviour of the preset to your specifi c requirements. For example, most presets provide Balance and Depth parameters to allow you to alter the characteristics of the sound.
  • Page 31 CUSTOMISING THE 861 PREFACE REFERENCE DIGITAL SURROUND CONTROLLER Standard parameters All DSP presets (except Mono, Stereo, and Direct) provide the following standard parameters: Parameter Range Default What it changes Treble* -10dB to +10dB +0.0dB The slope of the frequency response.

  • Page 32: Changing Treble, Bass, Or Phase

    CUSTOMISING THE 861 PREFACE REFERENCE DIGITAL Changing treble, bass, or phase SURROUND CONTROLLER The digital surround controller provides sophisticated treble and bass controls, to allow you to adjust the broad balance of the system to correct for the acoustics of your listening room, or for a misbalanced recording.

  • Page 33: Changing The Listening Position

    SURROUND CONTROLLER A conventional stereo system provides a single balance control, which changes the relative loudness of the two speakers. The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller provides a more sophisticated adjustment which corresponds to moving the listening position to the left or right.
  • Page 34 CUSTOMISING THE 861 PREFACE REFERENCE DIGITAL To change the relative level of the side or rear SURROUND CONTROLLER loudspeakers • Press < or > until the display shows the speakers you want to adjust. Rear +0dB For example: • Use A or V to change the relative level of the speakers, in dB.

  • Page 35: Changing The Integration Of The Centre

    CUSTOMISING THE 861 PREFACE REFERENCE DIGITAL Changing the integration of the SURROUND CONTROLLER centre If you have a centre loudspeaker you can adjust its relative loudness, to provide the best integration of the centre with the main left and right speakers.

  • Page 36: Changing The Spaciousness Of The Sound

    CUSTOMISING THE 861 PREFACE REFERENCE DIGITAL Changing the spaciousness of the SURROUND CONTROLLER sound 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.

  • Page 37: Changing The Lip Sync And On-Screen Display

    CUSTOMISING THE 861 PREFACE REFERENCE DIGITAL Changing the lip sync and on-screen SURROUND CONTROLLER display To adjust the lip sync 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 38: Changing The Dsp Preset For A Source

    CUSTOMISING THE 861 PREFACE REFERENCE DIGITAL Changing the DSP preset for a SURROUND CONTROLLER source 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 Trifi...

  • Page 39: Defi Ning Your Own Presets

    Defining your own presets SURROUND CONTROLLER The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller allows you to modify any of the built-in presets, and save them for future use. You can either save the changes to the built-in preset, or you can create up to 10 presets of your own, with names of your choice, so you can use them alongside the built-in presets.
  • Page 40 CUSTOMISING THE 861 PREFACE REFERENCE DIGITAL If you have an on-screen display it shows: SURROUND CONTROLLER • Press > or < to select the character position you want to edit. • Press A or V to change the character. Each press steps through the sequence A to Z, a to z, 0 to 9, full stop, and blank.
  • Page 41 CUSTOMISING THE 861 PREFACE REFERENCE DIGITAL SURROUND CONTROLLER...

  • Page 42: 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 43: Dsp Presets For Two-Channel Material

    DSP PRESETS PREFACE DSP presets for two-channel material The digital surround controller provides several signal processing options for two-channel material. The Music DSP presets are designed for use with music from sources such as CD, radio, or two channel DVD-A: •...
  • Page 44 DSP PRESETS PREFACE Music and Trifi eld DSP preset parameters Parameter Options What it changes Centre Flat, EQ1–3 The timbre of the centre loudspeaker. Width† 0–1.5 The width of the image. Surr. Rear Surr. Rear, Surr. Side, Surr. Switches the surround signal between the side and rear speakers.
  • Page 45 DSP PRESETS PREFACE Super Super synthesises a signal from a conventional stereo recording or broadcast so that it can be decoded using the Ambisonic decoder. The result is especially effective for two particular types of recordings: • Those using true coincident microphone techniques. •...
  • Page 46 DSP PRESETS PREFACE PLII Music DSP preset parameters Parameter Options What it changes Steered All Steered Rear, Steered Which of the four surround channels are Side, Steered All generated by steering. Width 0 to 7 The centre spread, where 0 is full centre and 7 is full left and right.
  • Page 47 DSP PRESETS PREFACE PLIIx Movie and PLIIx THX DSP preset parameters Parameter Options What it changes Surrounds Rear, Side, All Which of the four surround channels are generated by steering. Pro Logic Off, On On selects an emulation of the original Pro Logic decoding.

  • Page 48: Dsp Presets For Multichannel Material

    Multichannel audio signals can come from either encoded data streams (such as Dolby Digital) or as discrete channels from a DVD player. If you are using Meridian SmartLink then all formats will reach the 861 as discrete channels. With suitable loudspeakers the 861 can upsample these to provide a more enjoyable surround experience.
  • Page 49 DSP PRESETS PREFACE Discrete and Cinema DSP preset parameters Parameter Options What it changes 2+2+2* Off, 5.1, Side, 7.1 Allows you to specify how DVD Audio channels 3+4 should be interpreted: Off ignores them, 5.1 and 7.1 use them for centre and LFE, Side uses them for the side speakers, 7.1 adds side speakers to 5.1.
  • Page 50 DSP PRESETS PREFACE THX Ultra2 Cinema and THX Music use a THX proprietary process called advanced speaker array to provide a mix of ambient and directional surround sounds using four surround speakers. Optimum performance of THX Ultra2 Cinema and THX Music is produced when the two rear speakers are placed close together behind the listening position.
  • Page 51 DSP PRESETS PREFACE The Compress parameter allows you to set one of the following options: Option Description Compress off No compression. Quiet boost Provides a moderate amount of bottom-up compression. This raises quiet sounds above the background noise, which is ideal for demonstration and quiet listening.

  • Page 52: Configuring The Digital Surround Controller

    Configuring the digital surround controller This chapter explains how to set up the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller for most standard confi gurations of loudspeakers and sources using just the front-panel controls and MSR+. For complete control over all aspects of the digital surround controller’s confi...

  • Page 53: Choosing A Standard Setting

    CONTROLLER The digital surround controller provides six standard settings, called Types, which confi gure all aspects of the 861 into the most commonly needed confi gurations. In addition, any User Types you create using the Meridian Confi guration program are also available.
  • Page 54 CONFIGURING THE DIGITAL SURROUND • Hold down the A key on the front CONTROLLER Type in... 3 panel until the display shows: • Keep holding down the A key for a further three seconds. Type- please wait. The display will show: If you have an on-screen display it shows: Then after a short delay the display shows the current Type.
  • Page 55 • Switch on again to use the standard settings you have selected. 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 56: Calibrating The System

    CONTROLLER To help you to set up your installation to give the best possible sound with any particular combination of associated equipment, the 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller includes a built-in calibration procedure. This calibration procedure uses test signals to present a series of sounds, which you use to adjust certain aspects of the system to their optimum settings.
  • Page 57 CONFIGURING THE DIGITAL SURROUND Calibration CONTROLLER The display shows: If you have an on-screen display it shows: After a few seconds the display Left Level +0.0dB shows: For more detailed information about this and the other calibration tests see the following sections. To move between the calibration tests •...

  • Page 58: Calibration Tests

    CONFIGURING THE DIGITAL SURROUND Calibration tests CONTROLLER Levels These tests allow you to adjust the output level to each speaker individually, and it follows the general guidelines from Dolby Laboratories and Lucasfi lm Ltd. A Sound Pressure Level (SPL) meter can be useful at this stage;...
  • Page 59 CONFIGURING THE DIGITAL SURROUND Distance CONTROLLER These tests allow you to adjust the delay of each of the speakers in the layout to time-align the system so that sounds are coincident when they arrive at the listening position. Before setting up the speaker outputs you need to measure the distance, in feet and inches, to each speaker from the listening position: Centre Left...
  • Page 60 CONFIGURING THE DIGITAL SURROUND Repeat this for each of the speakers in your layout. CONTROLLER • Press > or Store to proceed to the next calibration stage. Fine tuning These tests allow you to fi ne-tune the phase and delay of each speaker when used in conjunction with other speakers on the layout.
  • Page 61 Speaker size These tests allow you to determine the bass handling capability of large analogue speakers and subwoofers. Once set, the 861 will limit the bass level to protect the speakers from potential damage. In each test the display shows the speaker being tested and the current size value chosen for the speaker.

  • Page 62: Setting Up Sources

    CONFIGURING THE DIGITAL SURROUND Setting up sources CONTROLLER This section explains how to use Gain/Sub mode to set up the sources connected to the digital surround controller, and confi gure them to suit your other equipment. You can also adjust the subwoofer crossover frequency to suit the subwoofers in your system.
  • Page 63 CONFIGURING THE DIGITAL SURROUND You can select between sensitivities of 0.5V (most sensitive), 1.0V, 2.0V, or CONTROLLER 2.5V (least sensitive). If the sensitivity is set too high the input will clip the loudest passages. Radio 0.5V In Clip The display shows, for example: In this case reduce the sensitivity.

  • Page 64: Sinewave Sweep Test

    DIGITAL SURROUND Sinewave sweep test CONTROLLER The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller includes a sinewave signal test, to help you set the subwoofer crossover frequencies, or check for room resonances. • Select a PCM source; eg an analogue source or CD.
  • Page 65 CONFIGURING THE DIGITAL SURROUND To select other test signals CONTROLLER • Press < or > (remote or under the front panel) until the display shows the current signal. Sine For example: • Press A or V to choose between the following test signals: Display Description A sinewave.

  • Page 66: Glossary

    Glossary Reference Digital Surround Controller 861 Source Mute...
  • Page 67 GLOSSARY PREFACE Absolute phase A control which changes the phase of the signals to all the speakers. AC-3 An alternative name for the Dolby Digital format. Ambisonic A music encoding and decoding system designed to re-create the original soundfi eld using an array of loudspeakers. Aspect ratio The overall shape of the speaker layout.
  • Page 68 Menus The fl exible system for choosing options and confi guring settings in Meridian products. On the 861 the menus are controlled by the <, >, A, and V keys under the front panel or on the MSR.
  • Page 69 Pulse Code Modulation, the method used to encode music digitally, as used on audio CDs. Preset A DSP decoding option in the 861. You can create user-defi ned presets based on the built-in presets, and with specifi c parameter values; see Defi ning your own presets, page 32...
  • Page 70 The larger the SNR the better the quality. Source An input to the system, such as CD or TV. The 861 Reference Digital Surround Controller provides 12 sources, corresponding to 12 source keys on the MSR+. You can choose the name displayed for each source, and the input used for it.
  • Page 71 GLOSSARY PREFACE Type A standard confi guration of the digital surround controller. Selecting a Type resets any confi guration and calibration changes to either a factory default, or a stored set of user settings.

  • Page 72: Index

    Index Academy (DSP parameter) 40 Depth (DSP parameter) 24, 28 accessories, Tape card 19 Dialogue Normalisation 44 Ambisonics (DSP preset) 37, 43 Digital signal processing 2 analogue sources, adjusting Dimension (DSP parameter) 39 sensitivity 55 Direct (DSP preset) 39 axis, changing 26 Discrete (DSP preset) 41 Axis (DSP parameter) 24 display...
  • Page 73 DSP presets (continued) Trifi eld 36 on-screen display 17 two-channel 36 position 17, 30 user-defi ning 32 OSD (DSP parameter) 30 dynamic range control 43 Panorama (DSP parameter) 39 front panel keys 10 Party? (DSP parameter) 40 phase, changing 25 Phase (calibration test) 53 Gain/Sub mode 55 Phase (DSP parameter) 24, 25...
  • Page 74 sources 13 THX level 51 adjusting sensitivity of analogue 55 THX Music (DSP preset) 42 assigning DSP presets 31 THX Surround EX (DSP preset) 42 default DSP preset 15 THX Ultra2 Cinema (DSP preset) 42 recording 19 time-aligning the system 52 selecting 13 treble, changing 25 setting up 55...

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