e i d u g r e s u Meridian 565 Digital Surround Processor
Sales and service in the UK Meridian Audio Ltd Stonehill Stukeley Meadows Sales and service in the USA Cambs PE18 6ED Meridian America Inc England 3800 Camp Creek Parkway Building 2400 Tel (01480) 52144 Fax Suite 122 (01480) 459934 Atlanta GA 30331 World Wide Web http://www.meridian-audio.com Stonehill Tel␣ ␣ (404) 344 7111 Cambs Fax␣ ␣ (404) 346 7111 PE18 6ED Copyright © 1995–8 Digital Gramophone and Wireless Ltd.
Contents Introduction 1 Introduces the digital surround processor sound configurations that it supports. Using the digital surround processor The Meridian 500 Series ........................ 2 Provides step-by-step instructions for Sample configurations ........................... 3 operating the digital surround processor, Specification and accessories ............... 7 using either the front panel or the Meridian DSP presets ........................................... 9 System Remote.
DSP presets 33 Gives technical information about each of the DSP presets, with details of the special parameters available for each one. Service and guarantee 45 Logic DSP presets ................................. 34 Gives information about servicing your Music DSP presets ................................ 37 digital surround processor. 5.1 Movie DSP presets .......................... 42 Glossary ................................................. 47 Preface Index ....................................
Introduction The Meridian 565 Digital Surround Processor is unique in being the first completely digital surround-sound processor, and it defines the standard for both music and cinema performance. To achieve this we have combined the latest techniques in high-precision analogue electronics and digital signal processing with a careful analysis of all types of recorded music.
The Meridian 500 Series The 565 Digital Surround Processor is part of the Meridian 500 500 Series communications Series of advanced digital, analogue, and video components designed to meet the demand for absolute quality, ease of use, The Meridian 500 Series includes a sophisticated and lasting value. communications link, to ensure that any configuration of units will work together as a fully integrated system.
Sample configurations Three-channel stereo system Five-channel surround system M60 M60 M60 M60 M60C M60C 565 565 556 The first step you can take in exploring the benefits of surround The next step in creating a surround system for cinema and sound is to add a centre speaker to the left and right speakers of music reproduction is to add a pair of rear channel surround a conventional stereo system.
THX system Meridian Analogue Theatre M60C M60 M60 M60 M60 M2500 M60C 565 556 555 Introduction 556 4 565 A THX system is designed to recreate the original cinema sound The ultimate analogue surround system consists of two pairs of in your home. It uses a mono subwoofer to enhance the bass Meridian M60 Active Loudspeakers, in conjunction with a from the main left and right speakers. Meridian M60C Active Loudspeaker.
Meridian Digital Theatre™ Meridian Digital Theatre using DSP6000 Digital Loudspeakers DSP6000C DSP6000 DSP6000 DSP6000 DSP5000 DSP6000 DSP5000 DSP5000 DSP5000 DSP5000C M2500 565 565 The ultimate Meridian Digital Theatre uses a 565 in conjunction provides audiophile-quality surround sound for music and film. with four or six DSP6000 Digital Loudspeakers and a DSP6000C Two pairs of DSP5000 Digital Loudspeakers are complemented Digital Centre Loudspeaker.
A complete multimedia surround system DSP5000 DSP5000C An AC-3 LaserDisc system DSP5000 LaserDisc RF Optical 519 565 Optical Video recorder The digital surround processor can be upgraded to provide fully LaserDisc digital decoding of 5.1 channel AC-3 sources, to give the highest-possible sound quality available, combined with 504 comprehensive support for the flexible AC-3 decoding options and user features.
Specification and accessories Specification Precision Digital input-output up to 22 bits. Internal precision maintained using 24- Digital inputs compatible. Analogue input and 48-bit arithmetic. Cable inputs: 75Ω. IEC958 and data Analogue outputs between 0 and 3.5V rms. Output and data compatible. impedance 47Ω. Input signal for full digital level: 2Vrms. Digital/analogue conversion: eight Input impedance: 12kΩ. 18-bit Delta-Sigma converters.
Available accessories PCM, 7.1, and MLP versions The following accessories are available from your dealer: The 565 Digital Surround Processor is available in two versions; a PCM version, which decodes Stereo, Trifield, Ambisonic, and ❍ Meridian System Remote. Dolby Surround materials, and a 7.1 version, which also ❍ Power cord Europe. supports Dolby Digital (AC-3), DTS, and MPEG. Support for MLP ❍ Power cord Canada and USA. (Meridian Lossless Packing) format is also available as an optional extra.
DSP presets The digital surround processor provides an extremely Multi-channel digital sources comprehensive range of options for decoding both analogue and digital audio signals and processing them for multi-channel The 565 Digital Surround Processor supports the three reproduction.
MPEG Surround MPEG Surround is the preferred audio format for DVD in PAL territories, and along with Dolby Digital is a contender as the standard for music and performance videos on DVD worldwide. In addition, it is widely available in US satellite broadcasts.
TV Logic TV Logic provides user-adjustable steering, and is recommended for use with TV broadcasts that are not surround encoded, where Pro Logic may give reduced intelligibility.
Trifield Trifield uses a different processing technique to give a stable, three-dimensional image, with the ability to adjust the width of the image. Because of its precision we recommend this option for solo, chamber, or vocal music. Super Stereo Super Stereo provides a form of Ambisonic decoding suitable for material that is not specially encoded. We recommend this option for multi-miked or multi-tracked music, such as rock music.
Using the digital surround processor This chapter provides a summary of the functions of the digital surround processor to identify the controls which you use to operate the unit. processor, using either the front panel or the Meridian System Remote.
Front panel 1 Source Selects the source. 2 Store Changes the DSP preset Display selected for a source. 3 Display Changes the information displayed on the front panel. Using the digital surround processor BOOTHROYD STUART 565 Digital Source Store Display Digital Surround Processor < V A 65 > Off 4 < (menu left) Selects the previous DSP parameter. 5 V (menu down) Decreases the currentlydisplayed parameter. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 A (menu up) Increases the currentlydisplayed parameter.
Switching on and off When not playing, the digital surround processor should be left To switch to standby in the standby state. This uses a negligible amount of electricity, but ensures that the components of the digital surround ● Press Off on the front panel or the remote. processor operate at maximum efficiency from the moment you start. .
Selecting a source To select a source ● Press Source (front panel) until the display shows the source you require, or press the appropriate source key on the remote; eg CD. The display shows the source and volume setting.
Adjusting the volume The digital surround processor adjusts the volume in precise To mute the sound steps of 1dB, where 9dB is equivalent to doubling the loudness. The current volume setting is displayed in dB on the front panel ● Press Mute (remote). display, and can be varied in the range 1 to 99dB.
Changing the DSP preset Each source has a set of DSP presets associated with it, one for You will be able to choose any of the predefined DSP presets, or each of the alternative audio formats: two-channel (PCM), Dolby any user-defined presets you have stored. Digital, DTS, MPEG, and MLP. The following table gives the sequence of DSP presets for each When you choose a source an appropriate DSP preset is audio format, followed where appropriate by the abbreviated selected for the incoming audio format.
Changing the display The digital surround processor displays information about the Display option Example current settings on the twelve-character front panel display. In addition, it can display the same information superimposed on a video image. For more information about setting up the onscreen display refer to the Meridian 565 Digital Surround Processor Installation Guide. To change the display Music 65 Music -22 Radio 65 DSP preset and volume DSP preset and THX gain Source and volume 3/2.
20 Using the digital surround processor
Customising the digital surround processor In addition to being able to change the source, volume, and DSP preset, advanced adjustments for each DSP preset, to allow you to tailor the sound. This chapter explains how to change these parameters, and gives detailed instructions for adjusting the parameters that are common to most of the DSP presets. For information about the parameters specific to individual presets see DSP presets, page 33.
Locking and unlocking the menus To simplify the normal operation of the digital surround processor, and to protect the settings from accidental changes, you can lock the menus so that the parameters cannot be accessed. To display or change the DSP presets, or to define your own Customising the digital surround processor presets, you first need to unlock the digital surround processor 22 menus. To lock the menus ● Press Off to put the 565 in standby. .
Changing the DSP parameters Each DSP preset provides a series of parameters that you can To change a DSP parameter vary to customise the behaviour of the preset to your specific requirements. For example, most presets provide Balance and Depth parameters which alter the characteristics of the sound.
Customising the digital surround processor Standard parameters 24 Parameter Range Default What it changes Treble * † -10dB to +10dB +0dB The slope of the frequency response. Bass * † -5dB to +5dB +0dB The bass response. Phase * + or - + The phase of all loudspeakers. Balance <10 to 10> <0> The L-R balance. Centre -3dB to +3dB +0dB The level of the centre. Depth -2.5ms to +5ms +0.0 The relative delay of the centre. Rear -30dB to +10dB +0dB The relative level of the rears.
Changing treble, bass, or phase The digital surround processor provides sophisticated treble and ● Press A or V to change the treble. bass controls, to allow you to adjust the broad balance of the system to correct for the acoustics of your listening room, or for The treble control tilts the frequency of the response over the a misbalanced recording. entire frequency range to make the sound brighter or dimmer. It can be adjusted between ±10dB in 0.5dB steps.
Changing the listening position A conventional stereo system provides a single balance control, Note that this adjustment is not available for the Mono or which changes the relative loudness of the two speakers. The Academy presets. 565 Digital Surround Processor provides a more sophisticated to the left or right.
Changing the integration of the centre If you have a centre loudspeaker you can adjust its relative loudness, to provide the best integration of the centre with the To change the relative delay of the centre speaker main left and right speakers. ● Press > or < until the display shows You can also adjust the relative delay of the centre speaker to Depth +0.0 the current centre depth; for example: give the best perspective between the three front speakers.
Changing the spaciousness of the sound You can adjust the spaciousness of the sound by altering the The Dolby Digital, Music, Trifield, and Ambisonic presets delay on the rear and side channels. allow you to vary these delays down to 0ms. Note that these adjustments are not available for the Direct, Customising the digital surround processor Stereo, Mono, or Academy presets.
Changing the lip sync and on-screen display To adjust the lip sync To change the position of the on-screen display The LipSync parameter is a unique feature of the digital For each DSP preset you can specify the position of the between the sound and the video image by up to one video on-screen display (OSD), or blank the on-screen display frame. altogether.
Changing the DSP preset for a source Each source has an appropriate DSP preset associated with it for each music format. For example, for a standard stereo (PCM) ● Press A or V until the display shows the new DSP preset you want to store. signal the CD source uses Trifield and the TV source uses TV Trifield Logic. For example: This section explains how to change the DSP preset associated ● Press Store to save the new association. Customising the digital surround processor with any source.
Defining your own presets The 565 Digital Surround Processor allows you to design up to 16 DSP presets of your own and save them permanently, with Football For example: names of your choice, so you can use them alongside the built-in DSP presets. ● Press Store. To save the preset settings The settings are stored in the new or existing preset you selected. page 22. You can now edit the name of the preset if you wish.
● When you have entered the name you want to use press If you have an on-screen display it shows: Store. Stored The display shows: Customising the digital surround processor To clear a user-defined preset 32 ● Make sure the menus are unlocked; see To unlock the menus, page 22. ● Press > or < until the DSP preset associated with the current ● Press > or < to select the character position you want to edit. source is displayed. ● Press A or V to select the preset you want to clear.
DSP presets This chapter gives technical information about each of the DSP presets built in to the digital surround processor. It explains the processing performed by each DSP preset, and gives details of the types of material you should use with each preset. It also gives details of the special DSP parameters available for each preset.
Logic DSP presets The digital surround processor provides five DSP presets Pro Logic specifically designed for reproducing stereo film soundtracks. Three of these presets, Pro Logic, THX Cinema, and TV Logic, Dolby Surround is an encoding system based on a phase- are designed for Dolby Surround encoded material. Most films, amplitude matrix whose output can be decoded by a very and many TV programmes and series, are encoded using Dolby simple passive matrix.
THX Cinema THX can also be used with the 5.1 Movie DSP presets; see Dolby Digital THX, DTS THX, and MPEG THX, page 42. The THX Cinema DSP preset provides Pro Logic decoding, by Lucasfilm Ltd.
TV Logic DSP preset parameters If there is a centre speaker, the combined or selected signal is played only through this to centrally localise high-frequency hiss Parameter Options Roll Off, Low, Med, High What it changes The degree of leftright steering. Yaw Off, Low, Med, High The degree of front- and clicks. The Academy DSP preset includes an equalisation (recommended by Lucasfilm Ltd) to correct for a high-frequency balance in some old mono films. rear steering.
Music DSP presets The digital surround processor provides seven alternative music Music DSP presets designed for the reproduction of well recorded material, originally intended for replay over a traditional stereo The Music DSP preset extracts the mono and surround pair of loudspeakers. components of the original recording.
This gives a significant improvement over traditional stereo, which converts the differences between the microphone signals Music and Trifield DSP preset parameters into amplitude differences in the speaker signals. This version of the Trifield algorithm is virtually impossible to implement without digital signal processing. Parameter Options What it changes Centre Flat, EQ1–3 The timbre of the centre loudspeaker.
Ambisonic recording space whether you are at the exact central seat or well off to one side. The Ambisonic DSP preset is designed for replaying material encoded in UHJ format, the two-channel stereo-compatible Of all the signal-processing options, Ambisonic is the one that encoding found on Ambisonically-recorded discs and requires the greatest attention to speaker choice and broadcasts. This material is specifically encoded for surround positioning.
Ambisonic and Super Stereo DSP preset parameters Music Logic Music Logic is a music DSP preset with user-adjustable Parameter Options What it changes Width * 0 to 1 The width of the image. Position † A, C, E, G, I, K, M The seating position; the steering, designed to provide an exciting experience with many types of studio-produced music. Music Logic DSP preset parameters letters are like rows in a hall.
MPEG Music MPEG Music is a special version of the MPEG preset designed for listening to MPEG encoded music CDs. Stereo and Direct The Stereo preset passes the left and right input signals directly to the left and right main speakers. Any mono or front left and right subwoofers continue to be used. With the Direct preset only the left and right main speakers are used. There are no special DSP preset parameters.
5.1 Movie DSP presets The discrete digital formats can encode up to eight separate MPEG channels, which can be decoded to provide separate signals to the eight speakers in a surround configuration. MPEG surround is the preferred audio format for DVD in PAL territories. Dolby Digital Dolby Digital is a totally digital format capable of encoding five Dolby Digital THX, DTS THX, and MPEG THX full frequency-range channels, together with one restricted frequency-range channel used for extreme bass.
5.1 Movie DSP preset parameters Using dynamic range control Parameter Options Because Dolby Digital is a digital format it allows dynamic range Surr. Rear Surr. Rear, Surr. Side, Switches the surround Surr. All What it changes signal between the side and rear speakers. LFE 0 to -30dB The relative level of the LFE bass channel. Max SPL * 105 to 120dB SPL The peak-level limit for an control without the distortion involved in analogue methods.
Using peak-level limiting The Max SPL or Limit parameters allow you to set up peak-level limiting for bass signals, and the setting applies to all the discrete digital DSP presets. If your loudspeaker layout includes one or more subwoofers the parameter is named Max SPL, and it sets the peak-level limit for the LFE channel. If your loudspeaker layout contains no subwoofer the parameter is named Limit, and it sets the peak-level limit of the bass signal added to the main loudspeakers.
Service and guarantee Service and guarantee 45
Service Guarantee The Meridian 500 Series of hi-fi components have been carefully The 565 Digital Surround Processor is guaranteed against designed to give years of untroubled service. There are no user- defects in material and workmanship for 2 years from the date of serviceable parts inside the case, nor do the units require any purchase. form of maintenance.
Glossary Absolute phase Controller DTS A control which changes the phase of the The product in a Meridian system that Digital Theatre Systems originally signals to all the speakers. uses the infra-red signals from the remote produced digital audio tracks for motion to control the system. The controller is pictures. A version of this format adapted normally chosen automatically, but the for consumer video and audio products is installer can override this. referred to as DTS Entertainment.
Layout Limit Mono sub Refers to a particular arrangement of A DSP parameter that sets the peak-level A subwoofer which handles all the bass for speakers and subwoofers. You can select limit of the bass signal added to the main the system. A THX standard subwoofer different layouts for the cinema, music, loudspeakers. has a crossover at 80Hz. Max SPL Mono surrounds A DSP parameter that sets the peak-level Surrounds which have a common signal limit for the LFE channel. steered to them.
OSD Source Surround On-Screen Display, which the 565 can An input to the system, such as CD or TV. A sound reproducing system with more superimpose on a composite video signal The Meridian 500 and 800 Series provide than two loudspeakers, and usually with to give information about the state of the 12 named sources, corresponding to the speakers behind or to the side of the system, and to help during configuration. names of the 12 source keys on the MSR. listener.
Type A standard configuration of the digital surround processor. Selecting a Type resets any configuration and calibration Glossary changes.
Index A D Defining your own presets 31 DSP parameters (continued) AC-3 LaserDisc system 6 Depth (DSP parameter) Limit 43, 44 Academy DSP preset Digital DSP preset 9, 42 LipSync 24, 29 dynamic range control 43 Max SPL 43, 44 Ambisonic DSP preset 11, 39 Direct DSP preset Mono Rear 35, 36, 40 Audio formats Display OSD 24, 29 Dolby Digital 9, 18 changing 19 Phase 24, 25 DTS 9, 18 options 19 Position 40 MLP AC-3 encoding 9 12, 36 Accessories 8 18, 37 24, 27 12, 41 Dolby Digital DSP p
DSP presets (continued) DTS THX DSP preset defining Dynamic range control 43 5.
Meridian Lossless Packing 10, 41 MLP DSP preset Mono DSP preset R 10, 41 12, 36 changing DSP preset associated with 30 selecting 16 35, 36, 40 changing the relative delay MPEG DSP preset 42 changing the relative level MPEG Music DSP preset 10, 41 Restoring the sound MPEG Surround encoding 10 Roll (DSP parameter) Spaciousness of the sound, 28 changing 28 26 Specification 7 17 Standard DSP parameters 23 36, 40 Standby 10, 42 S S Delay (DSP parameter) 24, 28 switching on from 15 Multi
U V UHJ format 39 Unlocking the menus 22 adjusting User-defined presets 31 editing the name Volume muting 17 17 31 Using the digital surround W Width (DSP parameter) Y Yaw (DSP parameter) 38, 40 Index processor 13 54 36, 40
