Meridian Audio 565 User Manual
installation guide
Meridian 565 Digital Surround Processor
Sales and service in the UK
Meridian Audio Ltd
Stonehill
Stukeley Meadows
Cambs
PE18 6ED
England
Tel␣ ␣ (01480) 52144
Fax␣ ␣ (01480) 459934
World Wide Web
http://www.meridian-audio.com
Part no: 565I/3
Sales and service in the USA
Meridian America Inc
3800 Camp Creek Parkway
Building 2400
Suite 122
Atlanta
GA 30331
Tel␣ ␣ (404) 344 7111
Fax␣ ␣ (404) 346 7111
Designed and
manufactured in the UK by
Digital Gramophone and Wireless Ltd
Stonehill
Stukeley Meadows
Cambs
PE18 6ED
England
Preface
ii
Copyright © 1995–1998 Digital Gramophone and Wireless Ltd.
Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing
Corporation (Canadian patent 1,037,877), Lucasfilm Ltd. (US patents
5,043,970; 5,189,703; 5,222,059), Trifield Productions Ltd, and Nimbus
Records Ltd.
Dolby, Pro Logic, AC-3, and the double-D symbol are trademarks of
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Lucasfilm, THX, and THX
Cinema are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd. DTS is a registered
trademark of Digital Theatre Systems Inc. MPEG is a registered
trademark of the MPEG organisation. Ambisonic is a registered
trademark of Nimbus Records Ltd. Trifield is a trademark of Trifield
Productions Ltd. LaserDisc is a trademark of Pioneer Electric Corp.
Boothroyd|Stuart Meridian, Meridian, Meridian Digital Theatre, MLP, and
LipSync are registered trademarks of Meridian Audio Ltd.
This guide was produced by Human-Computer Interface Ltd, Cambridge,
England.
Contents
Introduction 1
Introduces the digital surround processor,
and gives guidelines and suggested
layouts to help you plan your surround
system.
Planning a system..................................2
Planning sources...................................6
Setting up the digital
surround processor 7
Describes how to unpack and install the
digital surround processor, and gives
details of the video and speaker
connections.
Unpacking..............................................8
Connecting the digital surround
processor...............................................9
Connecting video...................................12
Connecting speakers.............................13
Connecting sources...............................15
Connecting to other Meridian
equipment..............................................18
Configuring the digital
surround processor 19
Describes how to configure the digital
surround processor for the speaker
arrangement you want to use.
Choosing standard settings...................20
Specifying the speaker layout................22
Speaker layouts.....................................24
Setting up the speaker outputs.............28
Preface
iii
Calibrating the system33
Explains how to use the digital surround
processor’s built-in calibration procedure
and test signals to set up your system for
the best possible sound.
Using the calibration procedure............34
Calibration tests.....................................36
Test signals............................................44
Setting up sources 45
Explains how to set up the sources
connected to your digital surround
processor and configure them to suit your
other equipment.
Standard source settings.......................46
Examples of configuring the
sources..................................................50
Troubleshooting 53
Provides suggested solutions to typical
problems.
General operating problems..................54
Audio problems......................................55
Video problems......................................58
Index......................................................59
Preface
iv
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 result is a system that produces impressively realistic and
exciting reproduction of music and cinema sound with support for all the
current two-channel and multi-channel audio formats. These include PCM,
Dolby Digital (AC-3), DTS, and MPEG, as well as support for several
proprietary processing modes. MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing) format is
also available as an optional extra.
This Installation Guide explains how to set up the digital surround
processor to give the best results with a wide variety of different system
configurations. Once you have set up the 565, or if it has been set up for
you by your dealer, refer to the Meridian 565 Digital Surround Processor
User Guide for information about using the 565, and getting superb results
from all your music and cinema recordings.
Introduction
1
Planning a system
Introduction
2
Before unpacking and setting up your digital surround processor
it is worth spending a little time planning how to set up the
speakers, and the other components of your hi-fi system, so that
they will give the best results when used in conjunction with the
565.
The digital surround processor can be configured to work with a
wide range of different speaker layouts. These include
combinations of a centre speaker, up to four surround speakers,
and up to three subwoofers, with the main left and right
speakers.
The following pages show some of the speaker layouts
particularly recommended for use with the digital surround
processor. For more information about these and the other
layout options see Specifying the speaker layout, page 22.
When you are playing a 5.1 source the digital surround
processor will choose the appropriate decoding for the layout
you are using.
Three-channel surround system
(Layout G or L, No Surrounds)
Adding a centre speaker is the most significant step you can
take to upgrade a two-speaker system, whether you are using
the system for cinema, music, or a combination of the two. It
reinforces the central image, and allows the left and right
speakers to be further apart for a wider soundstage. This gives a
more realistic and stable three-dimensional image of the original
recorded sound, for outstanding music and cinema
reproduction.
The centre speaker needs to be of equivalent quality, and tonally
matched, to the main left and right speakers. It should also have
good power handling as it regularly plays louder than the left
and right speakers. The ideal position is at the same height as
the left and right speakers, and above the TV in a home cinema
system.
Four-channel surround system
(Layout M, 2 Surrounds)
Five-channel surround system
(Layout G, 2 Surrounds)
If you are primarily interested in home cinema you may prefer to
extend an existing stereo system by adding a pair of rear
surround speakers, for cinema effects and ambient sounds.
For cinema the surround speakers do not take a huge strain, so
small units can be used such as in-wall or bookshelf-mounted
speakers. For 5.1 or Ambisonic reproduction, the rear speakers
should be capable of reproducing the full frequency range, and
should ideally be the same as the front speakers.
Our recommended surround system for music and cinema uses
five speakers, with the main left and right speakers 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.
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 (Layout
AG). This is a good compromise if your primary interest is music,
and you want the benefit of enhanced bass performance for films.
Alternatively, you can choose to use the subwoofer for the Dolby
Digital LFE channel; see To select a 5.1 LFE subwoofer,
page 27.
Introduction
3
THX system (Layout A)
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 and THX for
use with Pro Logic, and is a good choice if you want to enhance
the bass from the main left and right speakers, or your room is
large.
Seven-channel surround system
(Layout G, 4 Surrounds)
The digital surround processor allows you to add side surround
speakers, to enhance the effect of the rear surrounds in home
cinema reproduction. This gives a more realistic portrayal of
special effects, such as a plane flying overhead from front to
back.
For music reproduction, and in particular music using Ambisonic
encoding, the side surrounds allow an even more faithful
recreation of the original sound field.
The side surround speakers should be positioned on the side
walls level with the listening position.
Introduction
4
If your main speakers have a limited bass response you can
benefit from a mono subwoofer (Layout A, 4 Surrounds).
Surround system with full-range
speakers (Layout L)
Using the 565 with Meridian DSP
Loudspeakers
Meridian systems will often contain two or more units that can
be controlled by the Meridian System Remote infra-red remote
control. The Meridian 500 Series avoids conflicts in such a
situation by designating one of the units as the controller for the
system, and making all the other units receive their instructions
from the controller via a special communications cable.
A system designed for very serious music listening should use
five or seven full-range speakers, with good bass performance,
to recreate the original low frequency ambience and give the
correct energy balance at low frequencies.
A recommended configuration, for the ultimate in music and
cinema surround sound, consists of two Meridian DSP6000
Digital Loudspeakers, a DSP6000C Digital Centre Loudspeaker,
and four DSP5000 or DSP5500 Digital Loudspeakers.
If your surround installation includes one or more Meridian DSP
Loudspeakers, such as the DSP5000, DSP5500, or DSP6000,
we recommend you make one of the digital speakers the
controller for the system. This way you will be able to give
commands to all the 500 Series units connected to the system
simply by pointing the Meridian System Remote at the specified
speaker. Generally you would choose the speaker that has the
best infra-red path from the listening position, typically the
centre speaker.
Introduction
5
Planning sources
The 565 provides three audio inputs: analogue, digital-cable,
and digital-optical. These inputs will allow you to set up a
surround system with the following sources, without the need for
an additional preamplifier:
❍CD or DVD connected to the digital-cable input.
❍TV connected to the analogue input.
❍LaserDisc, connected to the digital-optical input.
Using a Digital Control Unit
For greatest flexibility, and optimal performance, the 565 should
be used in conjunction with the Meridian 562 or 562V Digital
Control Unit. In this case all the source selection and switching
is performed by the Digital Control Unit. The 562 and 562V
Digital Control Units provide an on-board analogue to digital
converter, allowing up to seven analogue sources to be
connected to the 565, each with adjustable sensitivity,
combined with up to seven digital sources to provide a pure
digital feed to the 565.
Using an analogue preamplifier
Alternatively, the 565 can be used in conjunction with an
analogue preamplifier, such as the 501 or 501V Control Unit,
connected to the 565 analogue input. In this case digital
sources, such as a LaserDisc or CD, should be connected
directly to the appropriate 565 digital inputs. The 501 and 501V
Control Units allow up to six analogue sources to be connected
to the 565, each with adjustable sensitivity.
Using a LaserDisc player
Some early LaserDiscs are recorded with analogue soundtracks,
or provide different information on the analogue and digital
soundtracks, so to take advantage of these you will need to
connect a LaserDisc player to both a digital and an analogue
input.
If you have a 7.1 version of the 565 you can take advantage of Dolby Digital LaserDiscs by connecting the LaserDisc player to the 565 via a 519 Demodulator; see To connect to a 519 Demodulator, page 15.
Introduction
6
Setting up the digital surround processor
This chapter explains how to install the digital surround processor. It
describes what you should find when you unpack the processor, how you
should connect it to your other audio equipment and speakers, and the
siting constraints.
Before you begin installation you should ensure that your digital surround
processor is the correct voltage for you local AC supply. If it is not, do not
try to install the unit, and contact your dealer.
You should not make any connections to the digital surround processor,
or to any other component in your system, while the AC power supply is
connected and switched on.
Setting up the digital surround processor
7
Unpacking
The digital surround processor comes in a box containing the
following components:
❍Meridian 565 Digital Surround Processor.
❍Power cord.
❍500 Series communications lead.
❍Digital-audio cable.
❍This manual.
❍The Meridian 565 Digital Surround Processor User Guide.
If any of these items are missing please contact your dealer. We
suggest that you retain the packing in case you need to
transport the unit.
To position the digital surround
processor
Do not place the digital surround processor:
❍In direct sunlight.
❍Near heat sources, such as a radiator.
❍Directly on top of heat producing equipment, such as a power
amplifier.
Setting up the digital surround processor
❍Near strong magnetic radiation, such as a near a power
amplifier.
❍Near to a television, or where connecting cables may be
subject to or cause interference.
To avoid overheating ensure that air can flow through the
cooling slots on the base and rear panel.
Radio interference
FCC Warning: This equipment generates and can radiate radio
frequency energy and if not installed and used correctly in
accordance with our instructions may cause interference to
radio communications or radio and television reception. It has
been type-tested and complies with the limits set out in Subpart
J, Part 15 of FCC rules for a Class B computing device. These
limits are intended to provide reasonable protection against
such interference in home installations.
EEC: This product has been designed and type-tested to
comply with the limits set out in EN55013 and EN55020.
8
Connecting the digital surround processor
Rear panel
RS232
connection
OFF
RS232
COMMS
Comms
DIGITAL
IN
DIGITAL
BYPASS
Digital
input
REAR-L SIDE-L/SUB
7
8
REAR-R SIDE-R/SUB
IN
Optical
input
Analogue
outputs 5 – 8
Video connections
The table opposite gives details of the two video connections.
To take advantage of the on-screen display both these
connections must be made.
S-Lead
connections
5
6
REARS
7 – 8OPTICAL
S-LEADS
SIDES
CENTRE
/SUB
MAIN
/SUB
5 – 6 3 – 4 1 – 2
CENTRE MAIN-L
3
4
C-VIDEODIGITAL OUTPUTS
Digital
outputs
Analogue
outputs 1 – 4
1
2
SUB MAIN-R
OUT
IN
Composite video
connections
L
R
ANALOGUE
INPUT
Analogue
inputs
Setting up the digital surround processor
Use this connection To connect to this
C-VIDEO IN The composite video output
from a video recorder or
LaserDisc player, 562V, or 501V.
C-VIDEO OUT The composite video input of a
television or monitor.
9
Audio inputs
Audio outputs
The following table gives details of the three audio inputs:
Use this input To connect to this
ANALOGUE INPUT An analogue source such as a TV, L and R video recorder, radio tuner, or
DIGITAL IN A digital source, such as the 562 or
OPTICAL IN A digital-optical source, such as a
Setting up the digital surround processor
10
analogue preamplifier.
562V Digital Control Unit, or a CD
player.
LaserDisc player, the 519
Demodulator, or a CD player with no
digital-cable output.
The following table gives details of the analogue and digital
outputs:
Use this output To connect to this
MAIN 1-2 Main left and right speakers. CENTRE/SUB 3-4 Centre speaker and centre or mono
subwoofer.
SIDES/SUB 5-6 Left and right subwoofers, or side left
and side right surround speakers.
REARS 7-8 Left and right rear surround speakers.
To use a Meridian DSP Loudspeaker in a particular position
connect it to the appropriate digital output.
To use an analogue speaker, in conjunction with a suitable
power amplifier, connect the input of the power amplifier to the
appropriate analogue output.
You specify whether you are using the digital or analogue output
for each channel in the Speaker Set configuration option; see
Setting up the speaker outputs, page 28. Note that you should
always leave the unused analogue or digital output for each
channel unconnected.
The analogue connections should be made using high-quality
screened cable, taking care to connect the left and right
channels correctly.
Communications connections
The following table gives details of the communications
connections:
Use this connection To connect to this
COMMS Other Meridian 500 Series
equipment, and the master
digital speaker.
Setting up the digital surround processor
The digital connections should be made with high-quality 75Ω
screened cable. Suitable cables are available from Meridian. We
do not recommend using analogue audio cables, which do not
have adequate shielding or the correct impedance, or cables
intended for UHF applications, as these do not provide
adequate shielding in the 1–30MHz region.
Optical connections should be made using a suitable optical
fibre supplied by your dealer.
S-LEADS To distribute the S-lead
connections from the master
digital speaker to other slave
digital speakers.
RS232 connection
The RS232 connection is for future expansion, to allow the 565
to be interfaced to a computer. Contact your dealer for more
information.
11
Connecting video
On-screen display
MONITOR
IN
Television
565 Digital Surround Processor
OUT
C-VIDEO
If your surround system includes a television the 565 can add a
text overlay to the video signal, to provide additional information
about its operation in the form of a textual on-screen display
(OSD). In normal operation this repeats the information provided
on the 565 front panel display. During calibration the on-screen
display provides additional guidelines to help you perform the
calibration sequence.
The on-screen display automatically locks to an NTSC, PAL, or
SECAM signal, and requires an input signal to operate. The
video circuits in the 565 are of broadcast quality, and passing
Setting up the digital surround processor
the video signal through the digital surround processor will not
affect its quality.
12
LaserDisc
VIDEO OUT
IN
Video lead
Connecting speakers
To connect to Meridian DSP
Loudspeakers (eg DSP5000)
DSP5000C
Centre (master)
INPUT
COMMS
OUTPUT
DIGITAL
OUTPUT
1
DIGITAL
INPUTS
M5 lead
2
DSP5000 – Main R DSP5000 – Main L
DIGITAL INPUTS
21
DIGITAL
OUTPUT
● Use the comms part of an M5 lead to connect one of the
COMMS sockets on the 565 to the digital speaker you have
chosen as the master (typically the centre speaker).
● Use the audio part of the M5 lead to connect the digital
speaker to the appropriate 565 digital output.
565 Digital Surround Processor
S5 lead (digital unused)
COMMS
OUTPUT INPUT
DIGITAL INPUTS
S5 lead
S-LEADS
DIGITAL OUTPUTSCOMMS
21
OUTPUT
DIGITAL
S5 lead
COMMS
OUTPUT INPUT
● If your system includes more than two Meridian DSP
Loudspeakers, use an S5 lead to bring back the COMMS
output from the master digital speaker, and connect it to one
of the S-LEAD sockets on the 565.
● Link all the other digital speakers together using S5 leads, as
shown in the illustration. The other S-LEAD sockets on the
back of the 565 can be used to distribute the comms to each
slave speaker.
Use the duplicate sockets on each digital speaker to link the
speakers together in pairs, corresponding to the pairs of
channels on the digital outputs.
To connect to Meridian Active
Loudspeakers
● Connect the appropriate outputs from the digital surround
processor to the speaker inputs, using screened audio cable.
Setting up the digital surround processor
13
To connect to a 556 or 557 Stereo
SUB
565 Digital Surround Processor Subwoofer
Audio lead
DIRECT
INPUT
CROSSOVER
INPUT
Power Amplifier or other power
amplifier
To connect an M2500 Active
Subwoofer
565 Digital Surround Processor
MAIN-L
MAIN-R
● Connect the appropriate outputs from the digital surround
processor to the power amplifier line inputs, using screened
audio cable.
● Connect the speaker outputs from the power amplifier to
suitable speakers.
Setting up the digital surround processor
14
556 Stereo Power Amplifier
INPUTINPUT
Audio lead
● Connect the SUB output from the digital surround processor
to the subwoofer’s line level input.
The digital surround processor provides very high-quality
crossovers for the subwoofer. For best results you should
remove or disable any crossover in the subwoofer, and set the
digital surround processor to Sub Narrow. If you cannot bypass
the subwoofer crossover set it to its highest setting (eg 200Hz),
or set the digital surround processor to Sub Wide to switch off
the digital surround processor’s crossover. For more information
see Setting up the speaker outputs, page␣ 28.
If you are using an M2500 use the L+ input and configure it for
Bypass and Maximum gain; refer to the M2500 user guide for
more information.
Connecting sources
To use the digital surround processor
as a preamplifier
You can connect one analogue, one digital, and one optical
source to the 565 without needing a separate preamplifier.
508•24 24-Bit CD Player
DIGITAL
OUT
565 Digital Surround Processor
Digital
lead
DIGITALINOPTICAL
IN
LaserDisc player
Optical
lead
OPTICAL
OUT
● Connect the analogue source to the 565 ANALOGUE INPUT
using a standard phono cable.
● Connect the digital source to the 565 DIGITAL IN socket,
using a high-quality digital phono cable.
504 FM Tuner
ANALOGUE
INPUT
OUTPUT
Audio
lead
To connect to a 519 Demodulator
565 Digital Surround Processor
OPTICAL
INPUT
519 Demodulator
OPTICAL
OPTICAL
OUTPUT
INPUTRFINPUT
Optical cable
● Connect the RF output from the LaserDisc player to the 519
RF input.
● Connect the optical output from the LaserDisc player to the
519 optical input.
● Connect the 519 output to the 565 OPTICAL IN using an
optical cable.
If you are using the 565 with a 562/562V Digital Control Unit
connect the 519 to the 562/562V optical input, instead of to
the 565.
LaserDisc
RF
OUTPUT
RF
cable
OPTICAL
OUTPUT
Optical
cable
Setting up the digital surround processor
● Connect the optical source to the 565 OPTICAL IN, using an
optical cable.
15
To connect to a 562 or 562V Digital
Control Unit
To connect to a 501 or 501V Control
Unit or other preamplifier
565 Digital Surround Processor
DIGITAL
IN
Digital lead
● Connect the main digital output of the 562 or 562V to the 565
DIGITAL IN, using high-quality 75Ω screened cable.
● Connect all the analogue and digital sources you want to use
to the appropriate inputs of the 562 or 562V.
● Configure the 562 to Type 1.
● Configure each 562 or 562V source as required; refer to the
562/562V User Guide for more information.
● Configure the 565 to a 562 Type option; see 565 standard
settings, page 21.
Setting up the digital surround processor
16
562 Digital Control Unit
DIGITAL
OUT MAIN
Up to 8 analogue, 5 digital,
and 2 optical sources.
565 Digital Surround Processor
ANALOGUE
DIGITALINOPTICAL
Digital input
eg CD player
IN
Optical input
eg LaserDisc
INPUT
501 Control Unit
MAIN OUT
AUDIO INPUTS
Up to 6 analogue
inputs
● Connect the main analogue output of the preamplifier to the
565 ANALOGUE INPUT, using high-quality screened cable.
● Connect analogue sources to the preamplifier.
● In addition, connect any digital and optical source directly to
the 565.
For example, if your CD player provides both an analogue output
and digital output, you will get better performance by connecting
the digital output directly to the 565.
● If you are using a 501/501V configure it to Type 1 and set the
volume control option to Fout (fixed output).
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