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HD621
HDMI Audio Processor
User Guide
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HD621 HDMI Audio Processor User Guide
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Important safety instructions
Read these instructions.
Keep these instructions.
Heed all warnings.
Follow all instructions.
Do not use this apparatus near water.
Clean only with a dry cloth.
Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers,
stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type
plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A
grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The
wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided
plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of
the obsolete outlet.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at
plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the
apparatus.
Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long
periods of time.
Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required
when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply
cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen
into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture,
does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO
NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
This apparatus has been designed with Class 1 construction and must be
connected to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing connection
(the third grounding pin).
This apparatus uses a single-pole power switch. As a result it is not isolated
from AC mains power when switched off at the rear panel. The apparatus
may be isolated from mains power either by unplugging the power
connector from the rear of the unit, or by unplugging the connector at the
opposing end of the power cord or cable from its supply outlet. As a result,
either or both of these connectors should remain accessible
Safety warnings
Do not expose the unit to dripping or splashing.
Do not place any object filled with liquid, such as a vase, on the unit.
Do not place naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, on the unit.
To avoid overheating leave at least 10cm around the equipment to ensure
sufficient ventilation.
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Do not position the unit in direct sunlight, near heat sources such as a
radiator, or directly on top of heat producing equipment, such as a power
amplifier.
To avoid interference do not position the unit near strong electrical or
magnetic radiation, such as near a power amplifier.
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.
Dolby, Dolby Digital, and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby
Laboratories Licensing Corporation. DTS is a registered trademark of
Digital Theatre Systems Inc. HDMI, the HDMI logo, and High-Definition
Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI
Licensing LLC. Boothroyd|Stuart Meridian, Meridian, and Meridian Digital
Theatre are registered trademarks of Meridian Audio Ltd.
MHR: This product incorporates patented copyright protection technology
and intellectual property of Meridian Audio Ltd. This technology is provided
for the express purpose of securely containing copyright audio within
the Meridian System only. Reverse engineering or circumvention of this
protection is strictly prohibited.
The HD621 incorporates High-Definition Multimedia
Interface (HDMI™) technology. HDMI, the HDMI Logo
and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered
trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
Copyright
Meridian Audio Ltd, Latham Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire,
PE29 6YE, England
Copyright © 2011 Meridian Audio Ltd.
Visit us on the Web:
http://www.meridian-audio.com
Part no: HD621/2 (P88400)
This guide was produced by: Human-Computer Interface Ltd,
http://www.interface.co.uk/
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Back panel
The following diagram gives details of the back panel connections:
HDMI connections
Use this connection To connect to this
H1 (DVD), H2 (TV),
H3 (Cable), H4 (Satellite),
H5 (VCR1), H6 (Game)
Up to six HDMI sources.
HDMI Output An HDMI display. By default, it does
not carry audio information, but can be
configured to do so.
Audio connections
Use this connection To connect to this
MMHR Output (RJ45) An MMHR-capable Meridian Surround
Controller.
SmartLink Output A Meridian Surround Controller or
Meridian DSP Loudpeakers.
Control connections
Use this connection To connect to this
RS232 DB-9M Sub
connector
A PC, to enable the HD621 to be
controlled remotely via serial commands,
configured using the Meridian
Configuration Program, and updated
with firmware updates.
Meridian Comms BNC
and DIN
Another Meridian product, to enable the
HD621 to be controlled by a Meridian
audio/video system, for example,
switching the HDMI input when the
appropriate selection is made via the
system controller.
Meridian Comms
H5 VCR1
H6 Game H4 Sat H3 Cable H2 TV H1 DVD
MMHR
OutputVideo
Smartlink
1/2 5/6
3/4 7/8
HDMI Input HDMI Output
Meridian HD621
RS232
Replace with same
typeFuse T1.6AL250V
BNC DIN
Meridian Comms
HDMI sources
MMHR SmartLink
audio outputs
HDMI
video output
PowerFuse
RS232
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Overview
HD621 product highlights
SmartLink output
MMHR output
Up/downsampling of digital audio
FIFO buffering
Lip-sync delay
Front panel
The front panel provides a standby indicator, which is off when
the unit is active, and six indicators indicating which HDMI input
is selected. The Manual button allows you to step through the
inputs.
SmartLink output
These four phono sockets each carry a pair of digital audio
channel signals at up to 96kHz sample rate: 1/2, 3/4, 5/6 and
7/8. These are encrypted to Meridian High Resolution (MHR)
specifications when carrying high resolution data.
Up/downsampling of digital audio
The MMHR and SmartLink outputs can be set to deliver either
standard (44.1/48kHz) or high resolution (88.2/96kHz) sample
rate digital audio, with resolution enhancement of up to 24-bit.
When set to standard rates, the output is either 44.1kHz
or 48kHz irrespective of the input rate, high sample rates
being downsampled by a factor of two or four as appropriate.
44.1kHz and 48 kHz rates are unchanged.
When set to high rates, the output is always either 88.2kHz or
96kHz, irrespective of the input rate. Standard sample rates are
upsampled by a factor of two using Meridian’s powerful DSP
technology, so that input signals of 44.1kHz and 48kHz are
output at 88.2kHz and 96kHz respectively.
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FIFO buffering
In addition to the features noted above, the HDMI audio
processor de-jitters digital audio received via HDMI using two
FIFO (First In, First Out) buffer systems. This ensures that the
audio extracted from the HDMI stream is of the highest quality.
Lip-sync delay
The HD621 also includes a configurable audio delay of up
to 85ms to allow lip-syncing in the event that the display
introduces an appreciable delay in the video presentation.
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Using the default factory settings, the HD621 is optimised for a
Meridian system environment. It allows up to six HDMI sources
to connect to a Meridian system while supplying HDMI video
(and optionally audio) to a display.
While installing the unit, please be sure to follow the safety
instructions provided at the front of this guide.
The HD621 can simply be placed on a flat surface; a rackmount version is also available.
To connect sources
Connect each of your HDMI sources to the appropriate HDMI
input.
By default the sources are assigned to inputs as shown on
the back panel labels, but you can reconfigure this using the
Meridian Configuration Program.
If the source is a Meridian HDMI source:
Use the HD621 to switch the video, and connect the
SmartLink audio output from the source to the corresponding
input on the Meridian Surround Controller.
If the source is a non-Meridian HDMI source the audio will be
taken from the HDMI input.
To connect the HD621 to your Meridian
system
If your Meridian Surround Controller supports MMHR:
Connect the MMHR output from the HD621 to the Meridian
Surround Controller with a single SpeakerLink, Cat 5, or Cat
6 Screened Twisted Pair (STP) RJ45-terminated cable.
If your Meridian Surround Controller does not support MMHR:
Connect the SmartLink outputs from the HD621 to a suitable
digital input on your Meridian Surround Controller or DSP
Loudspeakers.
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Be sure to observe the channel allocation correctly. Each socket
carries two channels and you should connect the appropriate
number of sockets for the maximum number of audio channels
to be used.
To connect the HD621 to your display
Connect an HDMI cable between the HDMI Output of the
HD621 and an input on your display.
To connect Comms and power
Connect the BNC or DIN Meridian Comms connector to
another Meridian product in your system.
Connect power (100–240V AC) to the unit via the IEC mains
connector.
Setting up non-Meridian sources
Non-Meridian sources sending audio via HDMI should in most
cases be configured to decode the audio to PCM in the source
component to take advantage of the resolution enhancement
features of the HD621.
For best results configure your source components to get the
highest possible quality audio from your HD621. The HD621
contains sophisticated DSP-based FIFO buffering, reclocking
and up/down-sampling, so best results will be obtained by
configuring your sources so that the HD621 carries out these
processes when required, and not the source.
Here are some points to bear in mind when setting up nonMeridian sources feeding the HD621:
Make sure that the HDMI source is turned on, and that its
HDMI output is providing audio as well as video.
Configure the source to output PCM.
Pay special attention to the way that the source handles
different content. Check the configuration to ensure that
multichannel material is not downmixed.
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Initial system installation
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The HD621 accepts a maximum input sample rate of
192kHz.
If possible, set the output sample rate of your source to
match the sample rate of the content being played.
How sources and displays behave
The HDMI interconnection system uses handshaking to
establish a dialogue between a source and a display. Typically
the display signals its capabilities to the source, and the source
then generates the highest quality signal it can to meet those
capabilities. This is why, when you first activate a system, there
may be a succession of blank and blue screens while the two
components work out how to communicate with each other at
the highest level of quality common to both.
When the HD621 is added to the system, it reads the display
capabilities and passes them to the source, but at the same
time adds a description of its own enhanced audio capabilities.
Essentially, the HD621 tells a source what audio it is capable
of handling (or is configured to handle), but it is left up to the
source how it satisfies those capabilities. For example, if you
configure the HD621 for 2-channel audio but also specify that
it can handle bitstreams, you will need to configure the source
as to whether it should send a 2-channel PCM track on the disc
or a 5.1 DTS bitstream, if both are possible.
The HD621 also has a “receiver” mode, which it will
enter automatically if the display device is switched off or
disconnected. This allows music to play or continue to play
without a display. It may take a few seconds while the units
handshake to establish this mode. It may also take a few
seconds to re-establish communications if the display is
reactivated, because of the HDMI handshaking procedure. Also
see the Operational Notes section at the end of this guide.
System defaults
By default, the unit is set to work with Meridian Surround
Controllers and DSP Loudspeakers, and to enhance up to
6-channel PCM inputs. If they have not been decoded in
the player or source (decoding in the source is the preferred
configuration), Dolby Digital, DTS and AAC bitstreams are
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passed through untouched. If you are using the HD621 with
other equipment that does not support Meridian’s MHR, then
you will need to run the Meridian Configuration Program to
disable MHR.
To reconfigure the HD621 from its standard defaults, you will
need to connect a Windows computer via the RS232 connector
and use the Meridian Configuration Program to set it up. See
below for details.
Controlling the HD621
The HD621 can be controlled via Meridian Comms, from the
front panel and via RS232 serial commands.
The front panel allows you to step through the active inputs. An
input that has been disabled will not be included as you step
through. No other functions are accessible from the front panel.
RS232 can be used to control the HD621 in conjunction with
a home automation system. The unit responds to standard
Meridian commands to select named sources, enter Standby
and other functions. An RS232 command table is available on
request.
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You can configure the HD621 using the Meridian Configuration
Program, a Windows application that is used to set up Meridian
components and systems. For details on how to use it, see its
built-in help files. You can also download its User Guide from
the Support section of the Meridian Web Site at:
http://www.meridian-audio.com/
The Meridian Configuration Program is installed by the Common
Installer which can also be downloaded from the Support
section of the web site.
Connections
Connect your computer to the HD621 via RS232 and run the
Meridian Configuration Program.
The HD621 is set up in the same way as any other Meridian
component.
Note: the HD621 can act as a Controller. However you will
only use it as such in a non-Meridian system. If you select the
HD621 as the controller in a Meridian system, the available
inputs on a Meridian processor you add subsequently will be
limited to those defined for the HD621.
To configure the capabilities of the HD621, display the
Properties dialog for the product.
Audio
The Audio tab is used to define the audio behaviour of the
HD621:
The properties are described in the following table:
Property Description
Audio Output Selects the output port used to interface
with the system, using the pop-up menu
in the Value column. This will either
be SmartLink/MMHR (normally, to
use the phono or RJ45 outputs) or,
exceptionally, Video HDMI, which
retains the audio on the HDMI output
along with the video.
MHR Connection
Select SmartLink to feed a Meridian
Surround Controller such as the G61R,
G68 or 861. Select None to feed
Meridian DSP Loudspeakers directly.
Configuring the HD621
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Property Description
Linear PCM Determines the number of output
channels. The options are 8 Ch,
6 Ch
, and 2 Ch. This will generally be
determined by the capabilities of your
system. Note that the HD621 advertises
how many channels it wants to receive.
For example, in the case that 6 are
chosen here and 8 are available from the
source, then the HD621 will instruct the
player to output the 6-channel version.
You only need to make physical
connections between the HD621 and
the system that correspond to the
number of channels selected here. So,
for example, if you have a 2-channel
system and limit the PCM output here to
2-channel, you only need to connect the
“1/2” SmartLink output from the HD621
to the system.
Dolby Digital 5.1 Ch
AAC
DTS 5.1 Ch
Inform the source about the decoding
capability of the products fed by the
HD621.
Set all three to Yes for Meridian
Surround Controllers such as the G61R
and G68.
Set AAC to No for the 861.
Set all three to No if you are driving
Meridian DSP Loudspeakers direct from
the HD621.
Property Description
Output Rate Determines the capability of the product
fed by the HD621 and whether the unit
outputs high sample rates (88.2kHz or
96kHz) or standard rates (44.1kHz or
48kHz).
If set to Yes the unit will always output
high sample rates, by upsampling
standard sample rates or downsampling
super-high sample rates (176.4kHz or
192kHz).
If set to No all outputs are at standard
rates, with higher-rate sources
downsampled accordingly. Use this
option for early DSP loudspeakers,
D600s, and the 561.
MHR Determines whether MHR is active
or not. Setting this to Yes allows the
HD621 to protect copyrighted audio or
to enhance the quality of others.
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Sources
The Sources tab displays the physical input associated with
each logical source and allows them to be assigned:
Each physical source shows as an icon – in this example there
is only one, the BD player, so there is only one icon. However
you can assign more than one “logical” source to a physical
input.
For each source you can also set the Audio Delay to apply a
lip-sync delay of up to 85ms.
Types
The Types tab shows the Meridian Types stored in the product:
You can reset the HD621 to a Type by selecting the desired
Type from the list and right-clicking on it, then choosing Reset
to this Type from the resulting pop-up menu.
The final tab is Connections. This displays the inputs and
outputs available on the device and what they are connected
to. You can filter the results shown here by right-clicking on an
item (any item) in the list and checking the items you want to
display, or unchecking them to hide them.
Complete the configuration process by storing the settings to
the HD621. Finally, click the Close button to finish working
with the HD621 properties and continue to set up the system
as required.
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Operational notes
Some source/display combinations may not return cleanly
from “receiver” mode, due to the way in which they handle
handshaking. If you do not get the expected result (eg no
audio is heard) even after several seconds have elapsed, it
may help to switch to another input and then back again. This
is not a fault in the HD621; it is a function of how the source
and display communicate with each other.
Handshaking between a display and a source can take some
time and you may, for example, see a series of alternating
blank and blue screens. This is not a fault.
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