Meridian Audio G98 User Manual

G98 DVD Audio Transport

G98AH rear panel composite drawing (actual panel layout may differ slightly)

G98 DVD Audio Transport

Video scaling/resolution en­hancement for single, high
quality path to display

DVD-ROM drive reads data
with maximum accuracy

Plays all CD and DVD optical
discs including hybrids

Outline Specications

Formats: DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, DVD-R; Video CD (VCD),

CVCD, MP3; CD Audio (CD-DA), CD-R and hybrids
such as SACD (CD layer only) and CD/DVD-A/V (Dual­Disc).

Audio outputs: G98DH: 3 x digital coax main outputs with MHR

Smart Link, plus 15-pin ‘D’ type connector. 1 x digital
coax auxiliary output. HDMI 2-ch/bitsream audio (and
video)

G98AH: 6-channel analogue output on phonos,

2Vrms, 47Ω impedance, plus digital aux out (Toslink
optical and coax). HDMI 2-ch/bitstream audio (and
video)

Video features: Automatic PAL or NTSC encoding on Composite and

S-Video outputs. NTSC black-level setup adjustable as
0 or 7.5IRE. 16:9 and 4:3 displays supported

On-Screen Display: Switchable custom On-Screen Display allows instant

review of disc status. Screen saver with user timeout
options. Logo screen with PLUGE bars enables set-up
of display device

Panel Display: Multi-character dot-matrix graphic Vacuum Fluores-

cent Display (VFD)

Built-in broadcast-quality circuits deliver the
most advanced, high-quality video available
today.

The video processor includes picture controls,
available via the MSR+ and front-panel display.
For the internal DVD and external video inputs
you can adjust the horizontal and vertical picture
position. In addition, for the video inputs you
can adjust the brightness, contrast, colour, and
hue (NTSC inputs only).

The HDMI output can be connected to a DVI
input if the device supports HDCP copy protec­tion, using a suitable adaptor cable.

Information contained in this data sheet is
correct as far as possible, but Meridian Audio
accepts no liability for errors or omissions.
Trademarks are the property of their respective
owners. Meridian Audio reserves the right to
amend product specications at any time.

Further technical details, images, product
reviews and company history are available from
Meridian Audio or from our web site,
www.meridian-audio.com

©Text & images 2003 Meridian Audio Ltd.

Video Processor: Two composite video inputs, one component input,

three S-Video inputs; composite, S-Video, component
and HDMI outputs (DVI-compatible, HDMI also carries
2-ch audio), outputs all simultaneously active; se­lected video input is converted to all formats at valid
resolutions (except non-interlaced component input
which bypasses processor). Faroudja DCDi® scaling
and de-interlacing technology. HDMI port supports
480p, 576p, 720p, and 1080i. Analogue component
out at 480p and 576p

Controls: Front-panel soft key functions include Play, Stop,

Pause, Previous, Next, plus Home and More keys. Off,
Display and Open/Close buttons. Off gently illumi­nated when off; keys back-illuminated when on

Comms: Full RS232 control and status enables custom integra-

tion or automation. Meridian Comms (2 x DIN plus
BNC)

Trigger: 12v trigger output allows control of power amps, etc

Dimensions: Width: 440mm (17.32in); Depth: 350mm (13.78in)

plus connectors; Height: 90mm (3.54in)

Rack Mounting: Kit available from Meridian authorized dealers

Weight: 9kg (19.8lbs)

Power: Universal supply 100–240V, 50–60Hz, 25W

Meridian Audio Limited

Stonehill, Stukeley Meadows
Huntingdon, Cambridge PE29 6EX
UK
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]

Meridian America Inc

3800 Camp Creek Parkway
Building 2400 Suite 122
Atlanta GA 30331 USA
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]

Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.meridian-audio.com

Meridian’s G Series line of high performance

digital & analogue consumer audio components
feature a stylish cabinet design in traditional
black or a sleek silver nish.

Designed to be either free-standing or rack­mounted, G Series components build on their
predecessors, the multi-award-winning 500 and
our agship 800 Series, and include entirely new
circuitry developed specically for the G Series.

Multi-layer boards reduce system noise and
improve performance. In products which include
video capabilities, broadcast-quality, wide­bandwidth video components are employed for
maximum image integrity.

G Series units are easy to use. Where appropri­ate, a knob is included to control volume. The
positive-action front-panel keys are software­dened: their legends are presented in the
vacuum uorescent display and change
intelligently according to context.

Full installation conguration of many G Series
components is achieved by running a special
setup program on a Windows computer,
connected to the G Series unit via a serial link,
or direct from the front panel.

G Series products also include serial ports for
remote operation and conguration, along with
infra-red sensor input and trigger capabilities,
plus Meridian communications ports. A compre­hensive back-lit learning/programmable remote
is included with products other than ampliers.

Powerful multi-format video
processor with HDMI/DVI

Unique MHR SmartLink con­nects high-resolution digital
signals to Meridian systems

Decodes lm soundtracks,
enabling external upsam­pling to 24/96

Virtually every piece of audio equipment has its
own, characteristic sound. But at Meridian, our
intention is to represent the original acoustic
or studio event as accurately as possible. The
characteristic sound of Meridian, therefore, is
clear: it’s the real thing. We achieve this sound
in many ways, including careful choice of the
right components, the right signal processing,
multi-layer PC boards, the shortest possible
analogue chain, precision digital design and the
lowest jitter. Then there are the little things, like
using gold-plated connectors throughout.

The G98 DVD-Audio transport plays audio CDs,
MP3 CDs, Video CDs, DVD-Video, and DVD­Audio discs. It can decode Dolby Digital, DTS,
MPEG, MP3, and MLP data streams to PCM for
stereo playback. And it can output Dolby Digital,
DTS, and MPEG bitstreams for connection to a
surround controller such as the G68, for which
the G98 is an ideal companion.

Two versions of the G98 are available, the
G98AH with analogue outputs, and the G98DH
with digital interfacing, though both have basic
digital outputs in addition. The G98AH and
G98DH provide xed-level multichannel or two­channel audio outputs. They are designed for
use with a surround controller with multichannel
analogue (G98AH) or digital (G98DH) inputs.
Alternatively, either model can be connected to
a pair of DSP loudspeakers to create a complete
high-quality two-channel DVD system.

The G98AH and G98DH include a powerful
video processor and scaler incorporating both

G98DS v3.1 • 4.11.03 RE

G98 DVD Audio Transport G98 DVD Audio Transport

G98 (above) with G68

The G98DH DVD Transport is an ideal source for, and with the G68 Digital Surround Controller forms
the basis of, a stunning Meridian Digital Theatre system. The units are shown here connected to a
pair of Meridian’s top-of-the-line DSP8000 speakers for left and right, coupled with a pair of DSP420
in-walls for the surrounds (not to scale) and a DSP5500HC for the centre front channel. Any kind
of video display device can be supported, whether composite, S-Video, Component (progressive or
interlaced) or even the latest interfaces such as HDMI or DVI. Different video inputs are converted to
all formats, so there is only need for one display connection.

Meridian and Faroudja DCDi® technology, which
can simultaneously provide composite and
S-video outputs, plus progressive component
video and up to 1080i on an HDMI audio/video
interface. They provide two composite video,
one component video and three S-video inputs,
all of which can be routed to any of the video
outputs with appropriate scaling.

At the heart of the G98 is a high-speed comput­er-style DVD-ROM drive – the best type of drive
to use to ensure accurate data recovery from all

types of disc, while providing a stable platform
that can be updated in the future, if necessary,
to keep pace with new requirements.

In addition to regular CDs (including MP3 CD­ROMS) and DVDs, the player can also play most
hybrid varieties. The G98 can handle both DVD­Video and DVD-Audio discs, decoding Dolby
Digital, DTS or MLP data streams and extracting
or downmixing them to stereo if required.

The drive normally operates at standard speed;
however it is capable of recovering data a great
deal faster when required, enabling it to make
successive attempts to recover accurate data
from a problem disc. Because of this, the drive
can perfectly recover the data from nearly all
discs.

Unlike other players that use a mechanical
approach to try to lower jitter by minimising
drive vibration, the G98 employs a triple buffer­ing system to minimise jitter, maximizing HF
transparency and sound stage imaging precision
and stability. The result of this sophisticated
effort is that the players deliver ultra-low jitter,
with sound and picture quality second only to
Meridian’s 800 Reference DVD/CD Player.

The digital electronics as a whole are driven by
a new design of high-stability 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 separate.

In this analogue alternative to the system shown opposite, the G98AH and an analogue-out G68
are augmented with the G55 5 x 100W multichannel power amplier. The amplier will drive any
conventional passive analogue loudspeakers. Once again, the video output from the G98 can be
selected from any of the available formats, be it composite, S-Video, component (interlaced or pro­gressive) or an emerging interface standard such as HDMI/DVI. The G98’s powerful video processor
drives all these outputs irrespective of the input format. There are three composite and three S-Video
inputs to the unit and broadcast-quality components deliver the highest possible picture quality in
any format.

In addition, an on-screen display (OSD) allows
you to congure specic settings individually.

The player employs Flash ROM memory for the
operating system, so software updates can be
downloaded from the Internet and installed via
a PC connected to the serial port on the back
panel. The serial port also allows full remote
control and conguration of the unit.

The G98DH provides three principal S/PDIF
coax outputs designated L/R, L/R Surround, and
C/LFE. These typically connect to Meridian pro­cessors, or feed a stereo signal to a pair of DSP
loudspeakers. If congured for MHR SmartLink
they, or the adjacent combined 15-way D-type
connector, carry high-sample rate encrypted
data from DVD discs for the highest delity of
decoding and reproduction. The SmartLink also
informs a downstream Meridian processor of
the signal source, so that it can switch process­ing modes automatically.

The G98AH provides six channels of analogue
output. These feature true 24-bit DACs that
operate at sample rates up to 192kHz for the
maximum possible audio quality.

All models provide an additional S/PDIF digital
output which delivers a stereo downmix or
bitstream signal.

On the video side, advanced video circuit de­signs, matched phase video lters, and a broad­cast-quality video encoder are employed to
deliver low-noise images of outstanding colour
depth and resolution. Separate ultra-low jitter
master video and audio oscillators allow picture
and sound to be independently optimized,
ensuring that the G98 delivers breathtakingly
clear pictures.

The G98’s unique high-resolution video
processor/scaler can receive composite, S-video,
and interlaced component, and convert be­tween the formats, or to the high-density mul­timedia interface (HDMI) standard, to provide a
single video output for all the video sources in
the system. A bypass function allows progressive
or high denition component video to be routed
directly to the component output only.

The HDMI port supports a wide range of high
quality digital video options including 480p,
576p, 720p, and 1080i. A unique feature of
HDMI is that it is able to ‘handshake’ between
the source and the display to nd the highest
quality format. Analogue component out is
available at 480p and 576p.

The HDMI interface also carries high-resolution
digital audio, either two channels of PCM at up
to 96kHz or a 5.1 encoded bitstream.

The G98 DVD player includes a comprehensive
front-panel user interface which allows access to
all the features of the unit, including congura­tion. The player can be reset to a standard Type
which congures all the required settings as
appropriate for a particular application.

G98DH rear panel composite drawing (actual panel layout may differ slightly)