MERIDIAN AUDIO 600 data

t-

For many hi-fi enthusiasts
state-of-the-art digital audro
Meridian

first specialist audio manufacturers to

the

recognise

itself to working at the
audio technology.
stream of highly acclaimed,

products.
superlative but
distinctively styled, to
as the ears.

It is fitting that a British company should enjoy

preeminence

this
know it
Englishman, Alec Reeves, a communications
engineer who conceived
signals robust against the effects of noise,
distortion and interference. ln
patented
waveform as a stream of binary numbers - the
digital encoding and decoding system
known
ahead of available technology.
invention
integrated circuit, it
own. First for low-quality telecommunications
applications where the emphasis
intelligibility,
became cheaper - for high-quality
transmissions.

synonymous. Meridian

are

the benefits

The result has been a

Products which not

which

since digital audio as

was

today

his idea for encoding a continuous

pulse

as

first of the transistor and then the

originally the

code

then - as

around the

and the

of digital and to commit

leadrng edge of digital

prize-winning

only sound

are tastefully and

please

modulation - it was well

gradually

high-speed electronics

the eyes as

it

as a

1938 when he

came

world

name

was

one

much

we

invention
way

But with the

is

making

of

properly

into its

on

of an

of

in recording and
Digital audio

it was not all so straightforward as the

But
advertising
sound forever
reality demanded engineers
ex0enence.

This explains how small, specialist audio
manufacturers - of
preeminent
such an
among discerning
very best.
most
to
But technology
application
track
to
music lover.

enviable reputation for themselves

promising

the science and art of sound

record

place

digital audio at the service of the

replaying analogue signals.

was the answer to their

copywriters made out.

was ihe

example - have been able to carve

Digital

new

is one thing, its skilful

is another. Meridian's unparalleled

proves

promise;

with wide audio

which

Meridian is a

hi-fi

buyers

is

audio

technology ever to come

that it is uniquely endowed

the

most

prayers.

Perfect

to make

who

demand the

exciting,

reoroduction.

it

a

ln 1972 the BBC began using
links
years
digital tape recorder went on sale, and by the
end of the 1970s all the major record
companies
on
Disc; in 1980 it teamed up with Sony to
complete CD's development;
the
players
become a domestic technology.

From that moment, as
recognise,
reoroduction were numbered.
audio engineers had dreamt of circumventing
the
magnetic

feed its FM

to

later

the

were releasing digital

LP. In 1978 Philips

first commercially

went

the days of analogue

noise-

and distortion-inducing

and

transmitter

first LPs recorded using a 14-bit

produced

sale. Digital audio had

on

mechanical

announced

Meridian was

PCM microwave

network. Two

recordings

Compact

and in late

CDs and CD

quick

sound

For

decades
electrica.,

processes

inherent

"1982

to

The 600 Series
that capability.
fidelity

'state
range

good
convenience
equipment. in short, fit to
enthusiast's home.

Recordable
disc
sound
innovation, was
worldwide
its
master recorder by leading British record
companies, together with the Meridian 607
analogue-to-digital converter.
the
Meridian has
remarkable results
is

equipment

of the art' is no ad-man's

of equipment

as

recording medium

quality.

performance

leading

capable.

is

the ultimate

A range of no-compromise

for which the description

which looks every bit as

it

sounds and

features

Compact Disc, CD-R,

Meridian,

one of the

to offer a CD

is that it is now in use as a

British audio

produced

which offers

to the user.

capable of outstanding

Recorder. A

a CD to demonstrate the

which

of

exoression ol

hyperbole. A

genuine

A range of

grace

any music

is

an optical

true to

its reputation for

first

companies

testament to

ln

cooperation

magazine Hi-Fi News,

new

this

technology

high

with

professionals

Audio
commonly eyed one another
Audiophiles have suspected
of being more concerned with traditional
equipment virtues of robustness and reliability

with achieving the very best

than
professionals

enthusiasts
sound
well-designed equipment.

of exaggerating differences in

quality

and hiJi enthusiasts have

with

distrust.

professionals

the

sound

have suspected the hi{i
between

competing

items

pro

quality;

of

Meridian, by addressing the demands of both
professional

one of the
divide.

The Meridian CD Recorder is a

Its

supreme

with

used
being
professional
and even corrects
digital
professional
this the
access times
digital tape can take many
desired

professional

for

products

With
A/D

converter
control unit,
both the studio and the home.

and domestic users, has become

very few companies to

prime

sound

the

its

only attraction.

subcode standards used by

fact

that

point

Meridian is raising standards in

quality,

607 A/D

input

and output

for inconsistencies in

and domestic

the

CD-R

measured

you

and

success.

like the

and the 601 DSP-equipped

especially when

converter,

lt

also caters

requirements,

equipment.

medium

in seconds, whereas

minutes

have

a complete

Recorder,

CD

cross the

example.

is far from

for

the

Add

offers

to wind to a

recipe

the 607

to

Meridian 602 CD Transport
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interactions. The

player

CD

with

the 602

the 606

or

603 ConLrol

format

from

D/A

units, or the D600.

is

it remains the choice of those who demand

and

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606 D/A Gonverter

demodulating and error correcrng tl-e signal f ro.n a

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chips,

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with Meridian's

provide

waveform. For

and Bitsiream

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in

true differential

proprietary

a sound

quality

this the 606

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which is

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iffi 3'D6000 digital speakers.

607 A/D Gonverter

conversion, like

:a

seoarate

.,

.ecording

.,,-e^

-achine,

^g

.,c-

join

.vrll

digital-to-analogue conversion, can be

standard only in a circuit which is

from

other circuit elements. So for the very highest sound

analogue signals on to Meridian's

you

need

to bypass the on-board A/D converters

professional

those

preamplifier

quality.

recording

In addition the 607 can be used
play

to

ru

lust

vv4

as

ro

digital

truly state-

physically

Recorder or a digital

CD

engineers who

with

have

and

a607.

already

analogue signal sources through

Heridian
:s

a'c^ a-c','aried source of musical and other entertainment, FN/l radro is unmatched. lt is

eO4

FM

Tuner

also capable,

ca'::-a'.,.',^e.concertsarebroadcastlive.o[anextremelyhighsoundquality Buttoconveythefrisson

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decodes

and

lVldl'lu?r

first-class

FM

the

ouqr rrrrv ar ru ,. o,otiOn

radio tuner. That feeling of being there - be it the Albert Hall

signal then

provides.

it is

converted

pfesets

make

State-of{he-art

into

digital code

OpefatiOn

analogue

quiCk

circuitry captures,

for feeding

and

Simple.

to D6O0

or the

D6000

or

Meridian

6O3 Gontrol Unit

This is Meridian's
well as analogue inputs

active loudspeakers
converter will
speakers. Four
optical, two electrical - which,
converted to analogue

Four

analogue inputs
be adapted to
pickup
provided

Meridian

cartridge. Remote, 64-step

by a high

60l

Meridian ftrst
equipment
DSP to another hiJi

At its

simplest the 601 is a no-compromise.
analogue inputs
the balanced input on ihe
amplifier). But
powerful

on-board
processing
601 is thc first nreamolifier

world to

employ digitally-realised
equalisation of the
only is RIAA

top analogue-output

feeding

and

in a single-room or multi-room

allow the 603 to be used with Meridian

digital inputs are

provided

after de-jittering,

by differential Bitstream

are also available, one

accept signals from either

control of volume is

quality,

DSP

demonstrated the

performance

FET-controlled

Gontrol Unit

power

in the D600

component, the

and two analogue outputs,

power

605

in

even

analogue mode the

digital signal

makes its

mark, for the

in the

phono

input. Nol

equalisation,
standardised since the early 1960s,
offered

but also the
incompatible
prior

to that.

Naturally
four

digital

electrical inputs; two high-speed
analogue and digital inputs
example, octave
subtlety;

properly

a
and treble loss
processing provides
necessary to

various

equalisations in use

inputs

and outputs are also

can be

DSP-processed

and speaker equalisation offer tonal adlustment of unprecedented

realised loudness control obviates

low listening levels;

at

the controlled inter-channel

prevent'in

head imaging.

the

preamplifier,

them either to a

capable

power

system.

of accepting digital as

amplifier or to analogue

Addition

of a 607

A/D

diqital active

-

high-speed

two

are
converters.
which

an

of

MM

can

or MC

amplifier stage

of digital

D6000

and

preamplifier,

audiophile

one

provided

processing

signal

to transform hi-fi

digital loudspeakers. Now it

with

equally astonishing results.

which

of

quality

-

preamplifier

is balanced

high-speed

two

wiih five

(for

use with

ootical and

brings

optical and two electrical outputs - and both

in a variety of ways For

bass

and headphone

crosstalk

All these facilities
remote

control, and of course the 601 is multi-room
compatible. Professional users will be
601 too

because of

are accessible via the fulljunctron

attracted to the

its

ability to accept, route, monitor
and control a variety of analogue and digital sources
consistently

The DSP-equipped
powerful,

and conveniently.

is

601

uniquely

adaptable - uniquely Meridian.

unique: uniquely

J

:^

.

,,-Jc,

Meridian

6O5

15O watt

Power Amplifier
Meridian's early reputation among

audiophiles

was

established by

its

amplifiers, and the 605 continues that
tradition.
that

place

anywhere,

lt is

Meridian

among

at any

the best

makes and takes its
the

power

very fihest

price.

amplifier

available

With

an output of i50W

ohms, the monoblock

you

as

are ever

likely

crude muscle-amp

per

channel into B

605

has

as

much

to need. But this is no

-

high on impact, low on

power

subtlety. lts class AB output stage has a large
standrng current, so that at the low

levels which

listening

predominate

during normal

it operates substantially in class A
Crossover effects are banished,
a smooth but lucid sound

quality

entire dynamic range, whatever

partnering

of the
your

choice of

Sound

quality

loudspeakers and whatever

listening level.

is further enhanced if
the 605's balanced input facility, which
driven

from

the balanced outputs of the 601

power

guaranteeing

across

the

the sensitivity

you

use

can be

and 603 control units.

SOUqCE CONVERTER

A oT D fuD oT D A

Conventional hi-li layout. Long signal

SOURCE

CONTROL

AorD AorD

ANA-OGIJI POWER

CONTROL AIV1P

OUTPUT

path

with

many connections

Meridian

Active Loudspeakers

the company s foundation

Since
Mendian has

been an ardent
active loudspeaker. lt not
technical advantages

but also lends itself

only offers significant

in 1977,

promoter

of the

use in multi-room hi-fi installations.
In

a conventional,
output of the
overlapping

network comprised of inductors,
and resistors, according
speaker's
signal
reduces
spurious

drive

power,

the ability of the amplifier to damp

motion

In an active speaker,
unit has its own, directly-connected
amplifier. Frequency
earlier in the circuit
well

as obviating the failings of a

passive

power

frequency

loudspeaker

amplifier is

bands by a

divided into

crossover

capacitors

needs

to the

units. This network

introduces

distortions and

squanders

of the drive unit diaphragms.

by contrast, each drive

power

performed

division

by active

is
filters,

which

passive

the

of the

crossover are much more versatile.
Equalisation of frequency response

and time
alignment of the drive units can be more
and accurately achieved, and the
loudspeaker's
without recourse to a laroe-volume

bass

response

can

be extended

soeaker

cabinet.
The result is not merely

speaker but one

which

of a conventional

is

amplifier

required,

not

a better sounding

also reduces

hi-fi

system. A

nor is there

the clutter

power

any

of thick, ugly speaker cabling.

to

as

easily

need

Meridian digital active

-

path

unified control ol sound

hi-fi layout. Short, direct,

digital signal

These familiar benefits
loudspeaker are
600 Series models, Meridian has

of the active

persuasive

enough. But in the

advanced the

argument an exciting stage further.

With

the advent

the active loudspeaker

processing

signal
performed

and so

immune

possible,

open

possibilities

up
achieve using analogue
for multi-room installations,
through which

The first
new

product

approach to
design was
of the very f irst
to

made

be

Now

equipped with
Bitstream
continues to offer
blend of

performance
convenience features. In
its optical
inputs it has
remote volume
be

connected directly to line-level

analogue source components

of domestic digital

concept

within the

in

the digital domain. As

speaker, crossover f iltering and

from additional

this would

allow a new freedom

for signal

circuitry. lt would, in

in which

user commands

of this revolutionary

active speaker

Meridian

the

D6OO, one

digital loudspeakers

anywhere in the world.

latest

the

D/A converters, it

an unrivalled

and

addition

and electrical digital

an analogue input with

control, so that it

noise and distortion

control which would be difficult

are communicated to remote

or to
analogue-distribution mu lti-room
sysrems.

audio,

a significant step further. By incorporating

Meridian

saw the opportunity

to advance

digital

equalisation could

well as keeping the audio

-

as

and accuracy in crossover

signal in digital form

far

along the signal

design and

or impossible

addition, be an important

a digital active speaker

could act as

development

the condurl

system components.

to

can

be

path

to

-

as

Meridian's
loudspeaker, the

D6000,
strengths. A technical tour
unmatched by
manufacturer worldwide,
represents
loudspeakers. A four-driver,
amplifier. three-way,
design, it incorporates

second digital

phenomenal

builds on the D600's

de

any other hi{i

it

the ultimate in

active

split-cabinet

all the

force

four-

acoustical expertise Meridian has
amassed in 15
speaker manufacture, added
which

are all the sound
convenience
be connected directly to the
output of any Meridian
component,
the 601, or as
distribution multi-room
However
music

making will astound

years

of active

quality

benefits of DSP. lt

source

to the digital output

part

of

a digital-

system.

you

use the D60oo, its

to

and

can

digital

of

you.

/,..

:,.4.:::')

NO

Type

0ul

Diqital

Signal

(DSP)

Processing
Preamplifier
Control

602

CD Transporl

603

Control
digital inputs

605 Power Amplifier

Digita

606

(D/A)

607

Analogue
(A/D)

D600

Digita or Analogue
lnput
Loudspeakers

D6000 DSP

Loudspeaker

MERIDIAN
14 Clifton Road,

Telephone

+44

(0)480

Fax

+44

Telex
l\leridian

design
'l\,4eridian'

(l\4ERlDN)

32577

Audi0 Ltd

and specificat 0n 0{

s a registered

and

Unit

unit with

Analogue

to

Converter

Digital

to

Converter

Active

Digita Input

AUDIO LTD
Huntington,

-

-

(0)480

434334

-

459934

reserve the right

Trademark

Purpose
Audiophi

e Preamplif ier

with

analogue and drgita

input

and output.

Audiophi

e

Quality CD

Transport.

Ana

ogue output
un t lo drive
or active speaker
High
preamp

High
power

to

Audiophile

Used to connect

Tfansport
anal00ue systems.

High
for digital recording
convert
lor
speakers.

Digita
active loudspeaker.
Very high
sysrem.

Exceptional
act
Crossover
digita domain

Cambridgeshire PE18 7EJ,

pr0ducts

their

power

qua

ity

D/A with

faciiities.

power,

monoblock

amplifrer for

passive

loudspeakers.

D/A Converter

DAT

or

quality

A/D Converter

analogue source

output to digital

0r anaiOgue rnput

quality

quality

ve loudspeaker.

performed

by

t0 amend lhe

at all times.

lVeridian

0f

Audi0 Ltd.

contro

amps

systems

output

CD

etc to

or to

only

2.5 way

3-way

in

DSP.

Fngland

Fealures
DSP

available on a I

gurable

C0nf
DSP Programs
Headphone

0ctave equa iser
Speaker
L0u0ness
LP

archive equalisation

Hafler surr0und
pr0grams.

Up0radable

gh

H

stability mounted

Fast resp0nse

processor

Twin

jittered

De
Powerfu

lV croprocessor
Ana

ogue and digital inputs.

64 step

discrete FET v0lume

PLL lock range from

l50W into
bias f0f low

therma overload

Crystal PLL with
between 32kHz 44.1 kHz 48kHz.
6 separate regulaied

Selectable input
Selectable 15ps

44.1 kHz

or 48kHz samp ing frequency.

Bitstream

pot,ver

3 x

65W

Volume

bass

Configurable inputs.

3 x B

tstream D/A converters.

power

4

x 75W

Bass,

treble, ax s, loudness,
a1d ba arce d I
4

character display f0r

outputs.

input

and 0utput

for:

compensat

on

compensation

c0mpeusat 0n

decoding

avaiiable with all

programs.

drawer system.

Hal

efiect Philips'

control.

digita

output.

Reed

Solomon err0f

control.

32kHz

80hms. IVOSFET

d stOrti0n short

protection.

aLrt0matic frequency

power

sensitivity.

-

pre-emphasis.

50ps

D/A conve(ers.

and treble contro .

per

amplifiers

per

amps

speaker.

perfo'ned

ir d

system c0ntr0l.

c0ntr0l.

to

output with high

circuit, DC, and

supplies.

crossover, v0lume

0pti0ns.

CD[/.

c0rrection.

48kHz.

selection

speaker

giLar

oorair.

Inputs
Dig

tal

4

Coax cable

2 High

speed optical

Anal0gue
4 Line

evel
1 Phono/lVC/l\4lV
Meridian

comms,

optical

and cable.

N4el dian

comms

optical

and cab e.

Analogue
3 line

evel

1 Phono |\/C/Mll
Dlgita

2 Coax cable

, Hinh cnaad ^nii^t

lVer

dian comms,

optical and

cab e.

Unbalanced
550mV sensitjvity

Balanced 1.6V
sensitivity XLR/Cannon

Digital

2 Coax

cable

2 High

speed optical

Anal0gue
A. Low

650mV
sensitivity
A. High 2V

sensitivity

B. Direct 2.4V

(no pre

sensitivity

pmnhecic

nntinnl

Anal0gue
2 balanced

0r via dedicaied remote

unbalanced.

ground.

1 technical

Digital

2

Coax cable

gh

1 H

speed opticai

lVlerid an comms.
Digital

2 Coax

cable v a dedicated

2

High speed 0ptical

l\4eridran

comms opticai
ano cao e
Slave comms optical
and cable.

pr0ducts

600 Series
display window

The

standard size of 600Series

All nputs

D600

Loudspeakers

D6000 Loudspeakers

come n a hard

g0 d plated

and

and outputs are 0n

are available in B

are avai ab e in Black

Controls
Source, DSP, Display,

lVute,

Volume.
Full funciion remote
lnc

uded.

Sensitivity

coftrol of al

inputs.

Open, Piay,

Stop, Pause,

Next, Prev

ous.

programm

Full track
features.
209 System remoie
included.

Source,
lVute,

Volume.

Beselable

lnput

se ection

Absolute

lnput

selection A

ing

Samp
Pre emphasis

System

and speaker

(incl!ded).

cOntr0l

System and

(inc

c0ntr0l

control
units s 100 H

g0

plated

d

control

Copy, D

sp ay,

overload lrip

phase

B

or

frequency

cOntr0l Digital

speaker c0ntr0l

remote

uded).

anodised

b ack a uminium

str tches.

x320 Wx325 D

RC,A/phon0

ack Ash Veneer

P ano Laquer

0utputs
Dig

tal

2

Coax cable

control

2 High
Analogue

4

Urbalanced RCA/Phono

2

Balanced
Headphone
lVeridian
an0

caote.

Dig ital

2

Hlqh speed

ng

1

Coax cable
l\ileridian
opt ca

Anar0gue
Balanced
variall

e output.
Unbalanced f
JVeridian
anc]

cao e.

plated

Go

d
accept 4mm
bare w re.

Duai

terminais for

b wiIng.
Analogue

Fixed

output.

Dig ital
2

Coax cable

2 High

speed optica

1

C0ax

cable

l\lerid

an comms

Slave

comms.

Digital
I Coax

cable
IVeridian
and

cable
Slave comms
cao

e

Ana

0gue
Connection
nead

unit.

case with

mm

c0nnectors unless

or Rosewood

finlsh

on

speed optlca

Cannon/XLR

socket

comms,

optical

optical

comms,

and cab e.

and

unbalanced

ixed output.

comms,

optrca

termlnals

plugs

or

unbalanced

comms

optical

optical and

t0 speaker

glass

(607mq

i60W)

OtheMise

stated.

type veneer.

y.