Meridian Audio 204 Owners manual

MERIDIAN

Boothroyd I Stuart Ltd

13

Clifton
Huntingdon
Cambs. PE18
England

Tel

(0)

Telex

32577

Fax

(0)

204

Road

7EJ

480

52144

(MERIDN)

480 459934

USER MANUAL

Boothroyd I Stuart Ltd. Copyright 3 July
Author,

Rik

Bean

1991

(c)

CONTENTS

1

Introduction,

2

About this manual,

2.1

Conventions used

3

About the 200-Series,

4

Unpacking your

5

Accessories,

6

Installing your

6.1

General precautions,

6.2

Connections,

6.3

If

you have a

6.4

207

or

208

6.5

201

and a

6.6

Using D600 Loudspeakers,

6.7

No

other

6.8

Antenna connection,

7

Siting,

8

Setting up the

8.1

Checking,

8.2

8.3

8.4

9

9.1

9.2

9.3

10.1

10.2

10.3

10.4

10.5

10.6

11

11.1
12

12.1

12.2

12.3

If

If there is a problem,

Standby,

Starting up the

Incorrect display,
Turning the tuner

The Display key,

10

Tuning the

Presets,

Search tuning,
Storing preset frequencies,
Setting the tuning threshold,
To vary the tuning threshold,
Step tuning,

Setting the clock,

To

Using the

Setting the timer,
Setting the timer condition,
Using a

2

all is well,

set the correct time,

the timer,

12.4

Controlling other equipment,

13

Other features,

13.1

Automatic station selection on power up,

13.2

Changing the default display, 6

13.3

Time display in Standby mode,

13.4

Signal strength display, 6

13.5

Centre-tuning indicator,

14

Memory facilities,

1

1

in

the manual,

204

tuner,

1

204

Tuner,

2

2

201

Preamplifier,

as your preamplifier,

Meridian,

Meridian

3

3

3

CD Player,

equipment,

2

204,3

3

204,3

3

off,

3

3

204,3

3

3

4

5

5

204

as a timer,

5

Meridian

5

Compact Disc Player with

6

6

1

6

5

2

4

5

2

4

4

1

5

2

2

6

2

2

1

6

15

15.1

15.2

15.3

15.4
16

16.1

16.2
17

17.1

17.2
18
19

20

20.1

20.2
21

22

23
24

25

Problems,

6

Dealing with power disturbances,
Dealing with memory disturbances,
Resetting the

Persistent problems,

Using the 209 Remote control,

Bringing the system out
Selecting a different preset,

Using

204

Exiting standby,
Selecting a different preset,

Getting the best from your
Cleaning,
Help,

8

No

sound,

Keys not working,

Maintenance & Service,
Radio interference,

Guarantee,
A

quick operating guide,

Specification,

with

7

8

8

201,6

D600s,7
7

8

10

7

8

of

standby,

7

7

8

9

204,7

6

6

7

7

1

Introduction

The

Meridian

of advanced high fidelity equipment. Used with
other components
music lover much more than just very high quality
FM radio.

The 204 is a sophisticated device.

this manual has been divided into sections cover-

ing each group of operations.
read through the whole manual before using your

204 for the first time, particularly if you are using
with other 200-Series components. However, for
those of you who are familiar with high fidelity
equipment and who cannot wait to get the tuner
working, we have also provided a ‘quick guide’.

In purchasing a
acquired an advanced piece of equipment which
will continue to bring you listening pleasure for
many years. This manual will enable you to get
the most from

2

About

This manual deals with the day-to-day operation of
the 204. Once you become familiar with
find that you do not need to refer to these instruc­tions very often.

In any manual of this nature, some technical
terms must be used. We will explain these when

we first introduce them.

2.1

Conventions used in the manual

A

number in the range 201-220 refers to a com­ponent
equipment, unless otherwise indicated, for exam­ple ‘the socket marked

Whenever a key name is printed
typeface,
When a series of key strokes are required, for ex­ample press
key names will be separated by a hyphen, that is

Mode/Store - Timer.

bold type, it indicates that the course of action is
not required at present, for example

change the display, press Display’ means you can

do this, but

tion currently being discussed.

Text between square brackets indicates the

appearance of the display on the front of the 204,
another 200-Series product or on the
audio loudspeakers. For instance,
information displayed by the 204 when
to preset 23 and the preset-number display is se­lected.

When we refer to a default setting, we mean
the one that will be selected
change

204,

the default display is frequency.

204 Tuner is part of the 200-Series

in

the range,

Meridian

it.

this

manual

in

the

Meridian

it

means that you should press this key.

Mode/Store

it

is not essential as part of the opera-

it.

For example, when you first set up your

200-Series range of audio

201

’.

then press

If

the key name is not

it

can offer the

As

a result,

You

are advised to

204 Tuner, you have

it,

you will

in

Timer,

‘if

you want to

D600

[P.

231

it

is tuned

if

you do nothing to

bold

the

in

digital

is the

3

About the 200-Series

The

Meridian

ment is probably the most sophisticated family of
hi-fi products currently available.

veloped to operate at a variety of levels, from

simple installations to a whole-house music­management system. The range of components
in the 200-Series ensure that a
will satisfy the needs of any user.

it

The 204 Tuner features fully-synthesised
tuning. Its circuitry has been carefully optimised to
provide the highest
broadcast

Despite its high performance, each piece of
equipment in the 200-Series has been designed
for ease of use, with microprocessor control being

applied throughout the range to simplify opera­tion. We have also paid great attention to the ap­pearance of the units, and much care has been
taken in the selection of the materials used, to

ensure that your
will look as good

4

Unpacking your 204 Tuner

On opening the carton, you should have found the
following parts:

. Meridian

Powercord

w

Network lead (204-201) labelled ‘Q-Lead’

.

This manual

If

any

of

your dealer immediately.

retain the packing as
unit maximum protection whilst
though

designed to be robust, they should obviously be
well protected when they are being transported.

5

Accessories

The following accessories are available from your

dealer:

. Meridian

.

Network lead (204-206) labelled ‘A-Lead’

.

Network lead (204-208) labelled ‘B-Lead’

.

Network lead (204-201) labelled ‘P-Lead’

.

Power cord (Europe)
Power cord (USA & Canada)

In

case of difficulty, they can also be ordered

directly from the factory, the address of which can

be

found

Please note that you can only use the 209
Remote control unit with your 204 Tuner if you
also have either a 201 Preamplifier or a

206, 207 or 208 Compact Disc player in your sys­tem.

200-Series of high fidelity equip-

It

has been de-

Meridian

quality

FM

radio signals.

Meridian

in

years to come as

204

FM

Tuner

these items are missing, please contact

dI

200-Series components have been

209 Remote control unit

on

the front of this manual.

of sound available from

200-Series equipment

We

suggest that you

it

is designed to offer the

in

system

it

does now.

transit, AI-

Meridian

204

Page

1

6

Installing your

204

Tuner

6.1 General precautions

Before carrying out any installation, you should
first ensure that the tuner is marked with the cor­rect voltage for your local AC supply. If this is not
the case, do not proceed with these instructions,
but contact your dealer instead.

As a general rule, you should not make any
connections to the tuner, or to any other com­ponent in your system, whilst the AC power supp-

ly is connected and switched on.

6.2 Connections

You will need to connect the 204 Tuner to your

amplifier with a twin-screened audio cable or a
pair of single-screened audio cables. These can
have a considerable effect on the quality of the
sound, and we advise you to seek your dealer’s
advice on the best type for your system.

The connections you make will depend on

other components in your system.

6.3

If

you have a

.

Connect the sockets marked ‘Output’ on the
rear of the 204 to the Radio input on the rear of
the 201.

.

Connect the socket marked ‘201 ’ on the rear
the tuner to the socket marked ‘200 COMMS’

on the rear

Lead supplied with the 204.

201

Preamplifier

of

the Preamplifier using the

of

Q-

6.4 207 or 208 as your preamplifier

.

Connect the sockets marked ‘Output’ on the

rear of the 204 to the input sockets marked
‘Line’ on the rear of the Compact Disc Player.

.

Connect the socket marked ‘CD’ on the rear of
the 204 to the socket marked ‘200 COMMS’ on
the rear of the Compact Disc Player using the

B-Lead (208) or P-Lead (207) supplied with the

Compact Disc player.

ONLY use the Q-Lead between the tuner and the
preamplifier, never between the tuner and the

Compact Disc player.

6.5 201 and a Meridian

.

Connect the sockets marked ‘Output’ on the
rear of the 204 to the Radio input on the rear of

the 201.

.

Connect the socket marked ‘201’ on the rear of

the Tuner to the socket marked ‘200 COMMS’

on the rear of the Preamplifier using the
Lead supplied with the 204

.

Connect the socket marked ‘CD’ on the rear of
the 204 to the socket marked ‘200 COMMS’ on
the rear of the Compact Disc Player using the
A-Lead (206), B-Lead (208) or P-Lead (207)
supplied with the Compact Disc player.

ONLY use the Q-Lead between the tuner and the
preamplifier, never between the tuner and the
Compact Disc player.

CD

Player

Q-

6.6 Using D600 Loudspeakers

Connect the sockets marked ‘Output’ on the
tuner to either an analogue input on the D600s,
the Radio input on the 201, or the Line input on
a 207 or 208 Compact Disc Player.

Connect the socket marked ‘CD’ on the 204 to
the M-Lead supplied with the D6OOs. Follow
the instructions in the D600 manual.

The

D600s

should consult your manual before deciding

which input to use. If you have any doubts, your

dealer will

6.7

No

Connect the sockets marked ‘Output’
of the 204 to an appropriate input on your
amplifier. You should consult the manufacturer’s
manual to determine which input to use, but
generally

DO NOT, under any circumstances, connect

anything to the sockets marked ‘201/2’ or ‘CD’ on

the rear of the tuner.

are fully-programmable and you

be

able to help you.

other Meridian equipment

OF

it

will

be

labelled ‘Tuner’ or ‘Line’.

the rear

6.8 Antenna connection

In

all

cases, a suitable VHF antenna or VHF cable

signal must be connected to the socket marked

‘RF input’ on the rear of the tuner. You are advised

to use a high-quality, low-loss co-axial cable.

Cables which have a solid screen will give supe­rior performance.

Please note that the antenna must be intended

for unbalanced (i.e. coaxial) connection. Antennas

intended for, or connected with ribbon cable are
unsuitable. If your antenna uses a ribbon cable

then ask your dealer for

it

reconnected. Ribbon cables are not accept-

ing
ably proof against RF interference.

Please refer to the section on VHF reception

for more specific advice.

7

Siting

The 204 should not be placed on top of a power

it

amplifier, but

Preamplifier or

You should avoid sites where:

.

it would be subjected to direct sunlight
it is near a heat source, for example a central
heating radiator

.

it

could be subjected to strong radiation, for ex-

ample very close to a television

.

connecting cables may be subject to inter-

f

e re nce

Try to keep all power cables and network leads
away from signal cables, which includes audio,
antenna and loudspeaker cables. Some time
spent carefully laying out the cables will repay you
with the best performance later.

can be stacked on either the 201

a

Meridian

.

a

balun or consider hav-

Compact Disc Player.

204

Page

2