Meridian Audio 541 User Manual

user guide

Meridian 541 Surround Controller

Sales and service in the UK

Meridian Audio Ltd

Stonehill

Stukeley Meadows

Huntingdon

PE18 6ED

England

Tel [phone]

Fax [phone]

World Wide Web

http://www.meridian.co.uk

Sales and service in the USA

Meridian America Inc

3800 Camp Creek Parkway

Building 2400

Suite 112

Atlanta

GA 30331

Tel [phone]

Fax [phone]

Designed and

manufactured in the UK by

Digital Gramophone and Wireless Ltd

Stonehill

Stukeley Meadows

Huntingdon

PE18 6ED

England

Preface

ii

Manufactured under licenses from Dolby Laboratories Licensing
Corporation. Additionally licensed under Canadian patent
1,037,877. “Dolby”, “Pro Logic”, “AC-3” and the double-D
symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing
Corporation.

Manufactured under license from Trifield Productions Ltd.
Trifield is a trademark of Trifield Productions Ltd.

Copyright © 1995 Digital Gramophone and Wireless Ltd

Boothroyd|Stuart Meridian, Meridian, and Meridian Digital
Theatre are registered trademarks of Meridian Audio Ltd.

Part no: 541/1

This guide was produced by Human-Computer Interface Ltd,
Cambridge, England.

Contents

Introduction 1

Introduces the 541 Surround Controller,
and describes the alternative surround
sound configurations that it supports.

Using the surround
controller 11

The Meridian 500 Series ........................ 2

Sample configurations ........................... 3

The surround sound options .................. 6

Specification and accessories ............... 9

Provides step-by-step instructions for
operating the surround controller, using
either the front panel or the Meridian
System Remote.

Front panel ............................................. 12

Meridian System Remote ...................... 13

Selecting a source ................................. 14

Adjusting the volume ............................. 15

Changing the preset .............................. 16

Changing the display ............................. 17

Recording a source................................ 18

Defining your own
presets 19

Describes how to change the
characteristics of the built-in surround
presets, and create your own presets.

Locking and unlocking the menus ......... 20

Changing the listening position ............. 21

Changing the preset parameters ........... 22

Defining your own presets ..................... 24

Preface

iii

Setting up the surround
controller 27

Preface

iv

Describes how to unpack and install the
surround controller, and gives details of
the video and loudspeaker connections.

Unpacking .............................................. 28

Connecting the surround controller ....... 29

Connecting video ................................... 32

Connecting loudspeakers ...................... 34

Configuring the
surround controller 35

Describes how to configure the surround
controller for the loudspeaker arrangement
you want to use, and set up other options
to suit your system.

Choosing standard settings ................... 36

Specifying information about your

system .................................................... 38

Calibrating the
loudspeakers 41

Explains how to use the surround
controller’s built-in calibration procedure
to set up your system for the best possible
sound.

Using the calibration procedure ............ 42

Setting up sources 45

Explains how to connect sources to the
surround controller, and set them up to
your preferred configuration.

Troubleshooting and
maintenance 55

Connecting sources ............................... 46

Setting up a two-room system .............. 48

Setting up sources ................................. 49

Examples of configuring the sources .... 52

Provides suggested solutions to typical
problems, and gives information about
cleaning and servicing your surround
controller.

Troubleshooting ..................................... 56

Maintenance .......................................... 58

Service and guarantee ........................... 59

Preface

v

Preface

vi

Introduction

The Meridian 541 Surround Controller is unique in providing high quality

surround-sound processing in an audio-visual remote-control preamplifier.

The surround processing provides a range of modes both for home cinema
and music, making the 541 ideal as the heart of a general-purpose hi-fi
system. The 541 also has all the features of a high-performance audio­visual controller. It provides six analogue inputs, together with three video
inputs for home cinema switching. All the features are highly customisable,
with a simple menu interface and on-screen help for setup and calibration.

To get the superb results you should expect from the 541 it is important
that you spend some time setting it up correctly with your system, and this
guide is designed to help you do this as simply as possible.

For instructions on setting up the unit turn to Setting up the surround
controller, page 27. Once the surround controller has been set up refer to
the next chapter, Using the surround controller, for information about
getting the best results from all your music and film recordings.

The Meridian 500 Series

The Meridian 541 Surround Controller is part of the Meridian 500
series of advanced digital, analogue, and video components
designed to meet the demand for absolute quality, ease of use,
and lasting value.

The flexibility of the Meridian 500 series is such that you can
assemble a system as simple or as complex as you need,
perfectly suited to your requirements, and with the ability to add
to it or change it at a later date should your requirements
change. The 500 Series is also compatible with the existing
Meridian 200 Series and 600 Series components.

Each Meridian 500 Series component is housed in a matching
slim line case. Front panel controls provide access to the most
important functions, and the full range of functions is available
from the Meridian System Remote using a simple and intuitive
control interface.

500 Series communications

The Meridian 500 Series incorporates a sophisticated
communications link, to ensure that any configuration of units
will work together as a fully integrated system.

The 500 Series communications system allows you to control
any combination of units using a single handset, and ensures
that your commands from the handset are interpreted
unambiguously. The communications system also allows you to
extend your hi-fi system into two or three rooms, with the ability
to control the sources in one room from the control unit in
another room.

The following pages show several of the loudspeaker layouts
you can use with the 541 Surround Controller. For more
information about the configuration Type number you select for
each layout see Choosing standard settings, page 36.

Introduction

2

Sample configurations

Three-channel surround system –
Type 3

The ideal starting point for a surround sound system is to add a
centre loudspeaker to the left and right loudspeakers of a
conventional stereo system.

The 541 Surround Controller takes advantage of the additional
loudspeaker to reinforce the central image, and allow the left
and right loudspeakers to be further apart for a wider
soundstage. This gives a more realistic and stable three­dimensional image of the original recorded sound, for
outstanding music and cinema reproduction.

Four-channel surround system –
Type 4

If you are primarily interested in home cinema you may prefer to
extend an existing stereo system by adding a pair of rear
surround loudspeakers, for cinema effects and ambient sounds.

An ideal choice would be a pair of wall mounting or bookshelf
loudspeakers powered by a Meridian 555 Power Amplifier.

Introduction

3

Five-channel surround system –
Type 5

Cinema surround systems –
Type 1 or 2

Introduction

4

Our recommended surround system for music and cinema uses
five loudspeakers, with the main left and right loudspeakers
providing the bass. This gives a very natural sound for music
listening, and a precise three-dimensional image combined with
good bass performance for cinema. An ideal configuration would
include a pair of Meridian M60 Active loudspeakers for the main
left and right loudspeakers and a Meridian M60C Active
Loudspeaker for the centre loudspeaker.

If you also have a mono subwoofer available you can choose to
use this for the Cinema presets, to enhance cinema effects
without affecting the quality of music from your system (Type 6).

If your primary interest is cinema, you can use a mono
subwoofer to enhance the bass performance for both cinema
and music presets.

This is the configuration recommended by Dolby for use with
Pro Logic, and is a good choice if your main left and right
loudspeakers have a poor bass response, or the room is large.

Second room system – Type 7

The 541 Surround Controller has all the features necessary to
set up a two (or three) room hi-fi system. From either room you
can watch and listen to any source playing in the main room, in
addition to any local sources in that room. The Meridian
communications system lets you control the system from either
room.

You set up the second room using Type 7, and the main room
using whichever of the other types is appropriate; eg Type 5.

Introduction

5

The surround sound options

Introduction

6

The 541 Surround Controller provides a sophisticated range of
audio and video control options, and even if you have no
immediate plans for surround sound it is an ideal choice as a
conventional two-channel preamplifier.

However, the 541 Surround Controller really comes into its own
as the heart of a full surround system. It accepts a conventional
two-channel source, such as music on compact disc, or a video
soundtrack, and processes it to create between three and six
separate output channels designed to be fed to an array of
correctly-positioned loudspeakers.

The surround controller provides several signal processing
options, called presets, designed to provide the best results with
a range of different types of music and cinema material. This
section gives information about each of the presets, and gives
recommendations for the preset to choose for different types of
material.

In addition to selecting built-in presets, the 541 Surround
Controller allows you to create your own presets based on the
standard ones. For example, you may want to add more delay to
the rear loudspeakers to create a more spacious sound. You can
store your modified preset with a name of your choice, and
recall it for use at a later date.

For more information see Defining your own presets, page 24.

The 541 Surround Controller provides two categories of presets:
cinema and music, and these are described in the following
sections.

Cinema presets

The surround controller provides three alternative presets
designed for decoding TV, film, video, and LaserDisc sound
tracks.

The cinema presets are designed to bring videos, LaserDiscs,
and TV broadcasts alive with fully-involving sound and special
effects. They include Dolby Pro Logic, and a custom Meridian
Cinema mode better suited to home listening.

Use this preset For this material

Pro Logic Dolby Surround encoded video and

LaserDisc soundtracks, films on
television, many television
programmes, and some radio
broadcasts and music.

Cinema Dolby Surround encoded material.

Mono Mono recordings and video

soundtracks.

Use the ProLogic and Cinema presets for film soundtracks, television programmes, and music encoded using the Dolby Surround encoding system. Such materials are usually identified by a Dolby Surround logo on the packaging.

Pro Logic separates out the vocals and supplies these to the
centre loudspeaker, to give a clear soundtrack aligned with the
video image. Background sounds and music are distributed
across the three front loudspeakers, to give a clear three­dimensional image, and effects are steered in the left-right and
front-back directions, for maximum impact.

The Cinema preset changes the balance of the sound for home listening.

The Mono preset is designed for reproducing mono material, such as old black and white films, through a centre loudspeaker so that any high frequency hiss or clicks are centrally localised.

Introduction

7

Music presets

The 541 Surround Controller provides two alternative presets
designed to enhance traditional stereo recordings and
broadcasts.

The music presets, Music and Trifield, are designed to give new
life to conventional stereo recordings and broadcasts. They
integrate a centre channel, and add ambience, to take
advantage of the additional loudspeakers in a surround system.

In addition, a Stereo preset is provided for comparison with the surround options:

Use this preset For this material

Each of the music presets can be used for reproducing material
originally designed for a conventional stereo pair of
loudspeakers, and the choice of which to choose largely
depends on your own personal preferences.

Music uses special processing techniques to give a wider, more spacious sound, especially suitable for orchestral music.

Trifield gives a precise spatial image, suitable for all types of music, and is ideal for solo instrument or vocal music where a wider image may seem unnatural.

Both presets use the same procedure to extract the surround
component of the original recording, which is delivered to the
rear surround loudspeakers.

Introduction

8

Music Recordings and broadcasts intended

for normal stereo reproduction.

Trifield Recordings and broadcasts intended

for normal stereo reproduction.

Stereo For comparison, or binaural/transaural

material.

Stereo is provided for comparison with the other presets, and uses just the main left and right loudspeakers for traditional two­channel reproduction.

Specification and accessories

Specification

Audio inputs 6 analogue inputs. User-adjustable

sensitivity. Re-nameable legends.

Optional LP module for MM or MC.

Audio outputs Left, Right, Centre, Subwoofer,

Surround Left and Right. Outputs for
power amplifiers or active
loudspeakers up to 3.5 Vrms.

Two analogue tape outputs for tape
recording or second/third room.
Independent control of tape copy.

Signal processing 2-channel preamp preset: Stereo.

Music presets: Music and Trifield.

Cinema presets: ProLogic and Cinema.

Built-in, user-bypassable high-quality
crossovers on the Left, Right, Centre,
and Subwoofer outputs for accurate
integration of a subwoofer with your
loudspeakers.

Specification

Video connections 3 composite video inputs.

1 composite video out to monitor.

1 composite video tape loop for VCR
or second room.

1 trigger control output (12V) for
switching amplifiers, screens, etc.

3 SCART (Peritel) sockets for VCR, LD,
and TV, with function select.

On-screen display (OSD) for volume,
source, menu adjustments, setup and
calibration.

Controls Source, Tape Copy, Preset, Mute,

Display, Volume Up/Down, Off.

Display 12-character dot-matrix display giving

full source, volume and menu
information.

Lights for Pro Logic and Trifield.

Introduction

9

Available accessories

The following accessories are available from your dealer:

❍Phono modules: 515 (MC) and 516 (MM).

Meridian Audio reserves the right to amend product
specifications at any time.

Introduction

10

Using the surround controller

This chapter provides a visual summary of the functions of the 541

Surround Controller in order to identify the controls which you will use to
operate the unit.

It also describes how to use the Meridian System Remote in conjunction
with the surround controller.

Front panel

Display

1 Source

Selects the source.

2 Copy

Copies a selected source
to the tape output.

3 Preset

Changes the preset.

BOOTHROYD STUART

Surround Controller

Using the surround controller

12

541

ProLogic 65

CopySource DisplayPreset Mute Off

2345678

1

4 Mute

Mutes the sound.

5 Display

Changes the information
displayed on the front
panel.

6 V (Decrease)

Decreases the volume.

7 A (Increase)

Increases the volume.

8 Off

Switches to standby.

Meridian System Remote

1 2

48579

6

3

1 Source selection keys

Selects the source.

2 Source control keys

Control the source functions.

3 Off

Switches to Standby.

4 Function shift

Used to access additional
functions.

5 Numeric keys

For entering track numbers
and radio presets.

6 Store, Clear

For defining custom presets.

7 Menu keys

For customising the 541.

8 Display

Changes the information
displayed on the front panel.

Using the surround controller

9 Volume keys

Change the volume.

13

Selecting a source

During normal use the surround controller should be left in the
Standby state. This uses a negligible amount of electricity and is
completely safe, but ensures that the components of the
surround controller operate at maximum efficiency from the
moment you start.

If you are not going to use the surround controller for several
days you should switch the unit completely off at the rear panel,
and disconnect it from the AC power supply.

To switch on from Standby

● Press Source (front panel), or select a source by pressing the

appropriate source key on the remote: eg CD.

If the 541 Surround Controller is part of a Meridian system, it will
automatically switch on any other unit in the system, such as the
CD player.

To select a source

● Press Source (front panel) until the display shows the source

you require, or press the appropriate source key on the

Using the surround controller

remote; eg CD.

The display shows the source,
and volume setting; for example:

Then after a short delay the display shows the preset associated
with that source.

For example:

By default the following 6 sources are available:

CD, Radio, TV, Tape1 (or LP), VCR1, and LDisc.

The input and preset associated with each source depends on
how the surround controller has been set up; see Setting up the
surround controller, page 27.

CD 65

Music 65

To switch to Standby

● Press Off on the front panel or

the remote. The display will show:

If you have other Meridian 500 series equipment connected to
the surround controller using the comms lead, these units will
also switch to standby.

.

14

Adjusting the volume

The 541 Surround Controller adjusts the volume in precise steps
of 1 dB, where 9 dB 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 99 dB.

When you first connect power to the surround controller the
volume is set to 65, which is similar to the mid-way position of
the rotary volume control on a conventional preamplifier. For
normal to high level listening you should expect volume levels in
the range 60 to 90.

To change the volume

● Press A or V (front panel), or the red A or V keys on the

remote.

As you adjust the volume setting the display will show the
current volume level.

For example:

Music 70

To mute the sound

● Press Mute.

Mute

The display will show:

To restore the sound

● Press Mute again.

Alternatively the sound will be restored if you adjust the volume.

Using the surround controller

15

Changing the preset

Each source has a preset associated with it, and when you
select a source its default preset will automatically be selected.

Once you have selected a source you can change the preset;
so, for example, if the default preset associated with the CD
source is Music, you may wish to select the Trifield preset
instead.

You can also change the default preset associated with the
source; See To change a source preset, page 52.

To change the preset

● Press Preset (front panel), or • (remote) to step between the

different presets.

You will be able to choose any of the following predefined
presets:

Music, Trifield, Stereo, ProLogic, Cinema, Mono.

You will also be able to choose any user-defined presets you
have stored.

Using the surround controller

16