Meridian Audio 808I, 808 User Manual

808
808i

SIGNATURE
REFERENCE
CD PLAYER

USER GUIDE

Meridian 808/808i Signature Reference

CD Player User Guide

Drive A

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Signature Reference CD Player 808

DVD

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i

PREFACE

Important safety instructions

•

Read the instructions.

•

Keep these instructions.

•

Follow all instructions.

•

Do not use this apparatus near

water.

•

Clean only with a dry cloth.

•

Install only in accordance with

the manufacturer’s instructions.

•

Only use with a Meridian 808/808i

Signature Reference CD Player.

•

Refer all servicing to approved

service personnel.

•

Connection to the mains should

be carried out by a skilled and
suitable qualifi ed person.

Safety warnings

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF
FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT
EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN
OR MOISTURE

•

Do not expose the unit to

dripping or splashing.

•

Do not place any object fi lled

with liquid, such as a vase, on the
unit.

•

Do not place naked fl ame

sources, such as lighted candles,
on the unit.

To avoid overheating

To avoid interference

Do not position the unit:

•

Near strong electrical or

magnetic radiation, such as near
a power amplifi er.

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.

•

Leave at least 10cm around the

equipment to ensure suffi cient
ventilation.

Do not position the unit:

•

In direct sunlight.

•

Near heat sources, such as a

radiator.

•

Directly on top of heat producing

equipment, such as a power
amplifi er.

ii

Contents

Introduction 1

The 808 Signature Reference CD Player 2

Specifi cation 4

Using the 808 Signature
Reference CD Player 5

Front panel keys 6

MSR+ keys 7

Switching on and off 8

Playing a disc 9

Stopping and pausing play 10

Repeat 11

Scanning a disc 12

Programming a selection 13

Changing the absolute phase 15

Changing the front-panel display 16

Using the CD player
preamplifier features 17

Selecting a source 18

Adjusting the system volume 19

Changing the balance 20

Installing the CD player 21

Unpacking 22

Applications 24

Configuring the CD player 29

Choosing a standard setting 30

Setting up sources 32

Glossary 35

Index 37

iii

PREFACE

Copyright and acknowledgements

Sales and service in the UK

Meridian Audio Ltd

Latham Road

Huntingdon

Cambridgeshire

PE29 6YE

England

Tel [phone]

Fax [phone]

World Wide Web – http://www.meridian-audio.com

Designed and manufactured in the UK by

Meridian Audio Ltd

Latham Road

Huntingdon

Cambridgeshire

PE29 6YE

England

Copyright © 1999-2004 Meridian Audio Ltd.

Part no: 808U/1

Sales and service in the USA

Meridian America Inc

8055 Troon Circle

GA30168-7849

Tel [phone]

Fax [phone]

Suite C
Austell

USA

MP3 is a registered trademark of
Thompson Multimedia.
Boothroyd|Stuart Meridian, and
Meridian are registered trademarks
of Meridian Audio Ltd.

iv

This guide was produced by:
Human-Computer Interface Ltd,
http://www.interface.co.uk

Introduction

Welcome to the Meridian 808 Signature Reference CD Player!

This User Guide provides full information about using the CD player in

conjunction with your other equipment, to achieve the superb results

you can expect from it.

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1

INTRODUCTION

The 808 Signature Reference CD Player

The 808 Signature Reference CD Player takes Compact Disc playback to an
entirely new level, with a heritage that includes the multiple award
winning 508 and 800, and two dozen optical disc players from 1984 to the
present day. The 808 is specifi cally designed as a CD-optimised machine,
able to play virtually any CD, from conventional pressings to CD-R, CD-R/W,
and discs of MP3 fi les (64–256kbps). It also plays the CD layer of an SACD
disc.

At the heart of the 808 are fully-integrated electronics and a computer­style CD/DVD-ROM drive. The drive normally operates at standard CD
speed, but is capable of much faster reading, using multiple high-speed
re-reads to ensure accurate recovery of data from even the most diffi cult
disc. This capability alone provides over ten times the error correction of a
conventional CD player.

Digital Signal Processing

Once the digital data stream has been recovered from the disc, powerful
on-board digital signal processing (DSP) with a capability of an impressive
150 MIPS (million instructions per second) up-samples the digital
information from the 16-bit, 44.1kHz signal of conventional CD to a 24-bit
signal with a sample rate of 176.4kHz. This signal is fed to the latest DVD­Audio quality delta-sigma digital to analogue converters to drive the
analogue outputs, while a digital signal at an 88.2kHz sample rate is
supplied to the digital outputs. Upsampling in this way enables fi ltering to
take place far beyond the range of human hearing, as well as offering
other audible benefi ts, right across the audio band, for ultimate
transparency from a CD source.

The 808 employs a triple buffering system to minimise jitter, and therefore
maximise HF transparency and stereo image precision and stability. This,
and the digital electronics as a whole, are driven by a new design of high­stability clocking system which further reduces jitter and ensures that the
highest level of detail is recovered from a disc. All digital data is accurately
re-clocked.

Multiple power supplies ensure that digital and analogue circuitry are kept
apart and can provide the required power when called upon to do so.

Integrated preamplifi er

The 808i version of the 808 Signature Reference CD Player includes a built­in stereo preamplifi er with the ability to handle six stereo analogue inputs,
three digital coaxial S/PDIF inputs, and two Toslink optical digital inputs,
making it ideal as the heart of a superb stereo system.

2

INTRODUCTION

System integration

The 808 Signature Reference CD Player provides balanced and unbalanced
analogue outputs for connecting to an external power amplifi er or
preamplifi er. Alternatively, it provides coax digital outputs, allowing it to
drive Meridian DSP Loudspeakers directly. The digital outputs support MHR
(Meridian High Resolution) and operate at up to 2 x CD sample rate
(88.2kHz), 24-bit. An auxiliary digital output can be used to connect to a
surround decoder, or feed a second zone.

Meridian Comms sockets (2 x DIN) allow communication with other
Meridian components, while an RS232 interface provides full remote
control capability as well as the ability to confi gure the unit with Meridian’s
innovative Windows-based graphic confi guration application. Three
programmable trigger outputs are provided for direct control of external
devices, for example powering-up amplifi ers, etc.

The Meridian 808 Signature Reference CD Player is supplied with the MSR+
learning/programmable remote control, which not only operates all
Meridian products but also includes an extensive database of third-party
products and the capability to learn commands from existing remotes.

MP3 audio CDs

In addition to playing CD Audio (CD-DA), CD-R, CD-R/W, and DTS-CD format
discs, the 808 Signature Reference CD Player can play CD-ROMs containing
directories of MP3 audio fi les. This provides a convenient way of archiving
record collections to achieve up to 10 times the capacity of a conventional
CD where sound quality is not of primary importance.

MP3 discs can be created from a computer using appropriate MP3 encoding
software and a CD-ROM writer. Generate the MP3 fi les with a data rate of
at least 128Kbits per second. Group the tracks into folders to create
separate albums on the disc. Do not create folders within folders.

Tracks and albums are played in the order in which they are recorded onto
the CD-ROM. Usually this will be in alphabetical order of fi lename.

3

INTRODUCTION

Specification

Drive

•

Internal CD/DVD-ROM drive.

Audio in and out

The 808 is supplied as standard with:

•

2-channel balanced audio output.

•

2-channel unbalanced audio output.

•

2-channel digital coax output with optional MHR encryption at high

rate.

The 808i version also includes:

•

6 2-channel unbalanced analogue inputs. Adjustable sensitivity.

Renameable legends.

•

3 2-channel digital coax inputs. Renameable legends. 32 to 96kHz

sampling and up to 24-bit precision.

•

2 2-channel digital optical inputs. Renameable legends. 32 to 96kHz

sampling and up to 24-bit precision.

Signal processing

The 808 uses Meridian’s proprietary DSP software to provide the following
powerful features:

•

Upsampling.

•

FIFO and error correction.

•

Resolution enhancement.

Controls, etc.

Front-panel facia controls for:

•

Open/Close, Play, Stop, Pause, Previous, Next, and On/Off.

A hinged control panel provides additional controls for:

•

Repeat, Fast Forward/Reverse, Source, Store, Clear, Display, Mute, and

Volume +/-.

Display

•

20-character dot-matrix display with adjustable brightness and contrast.

•

Indicators for Emphasis, Repeat, and Phase.

4

Using the 808 Signature Reference

CD Player

This chapter provides a summary of the functions of the 808 Signature

Reference CD Player to identify the controls which you use to operate

the unit.

It also provides step-by-step instructions for operating the CD player,

using either the front panel or the MSR+.

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5

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PREFACE

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PREFACE

USING THE 808

SIGNATURE REFERENCE

CD PLAYER

Switching on and off

When not playing, the CD player should be left in the standby state. This
uses a minimal amount of electricity, but ensures that the components of
the CD player operate at maximum effi ciency from the moment you start.

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

To switch on from standby

• Press å, *, or > (front panel), or select a source on the remote.

If the CD player is part of a Meridian system it will automatically switch on
any other units in the system, such as the 861 Reference Digital Surround
Controller and Meridian DSP Loudspeakers.

To insert a disc

• Press å (front panel) or Open (remote) to open the tray.

• Place your disc in the tray, label side up.

• Press

å (front panel), Open (remote), or > to close the tray.

To switch to standby

• Press Off.

If you have other Meridian equipment or Meridian DSP Loudspeakers
connected to the CD player these units will also switch to standby.

If a disc is currently playing, switching to standby will stop the disc, and the
disc can safely be left in the unit.

Always remove any disc before moving or shipping the 808.

8