Meridian America 808 User's Manual
Contents
1. To ensure the finest sound the 808 s construction employs a motherboard and multiple cards Each card has its own power supplies and buffering so that each section computer decoder FIFO buffers DSP upsampling D A conversion digital output analogue input and digital input is on a separate and isolated card As is traditional with Meridian products the construction uses audiophile grade capacitors throughout and each component even each resistor has been selected for its sonic contribu tion The PCBs are all multilayer many of them using 6 layer technology for the lowest noise and jitter and for optimum grounding Additional controls are fitted under a front panel cover Full remote control is also pro vided by the included MSR infra red learn ing programmable remote and via RS232 The 808 features a solidly constructed case built of metal and glass finished in black lacquer or satin silver The casework itself is non magnetic to maintain the sweetest sound Our objective Meridian CD players have been optimised for the same accurate sound to which we aspire in all our products The chief designer Rob ert Stuart has a definite view that the sound should be totally natural in the midrange Outline Specifications SOME THD amp Noise Better than 96dBFS Mechanism Triple beam laser multi speed CD DVD ROM transport Construction Converters 192kHz capable 24 bit Delta Sigma converters operati2. 08i player preamplifier 808 Player e Digital and fixed or variable analogue outputs ideal for connection to an existing preamplifier or surround controller eg 861 e Drives a pair of Meridian DSP Loudspeakers directly eg DSP8000 shown here or a conventional amplifier and speakers e Can be used to create a simple stereo CD replay system with the highest quality CD playback available 808i Player Preamplifier e Additional analogue and digital inputs to connect radio tape turntable phono preamp etc e Digital and fixed variable analogue outs drives a pair of Meridian DSP Loudspeakers directly or conventional stereo amp speakers e Powerful and versatile stereo replay system with the highest quality CD playback available anywhere at any price Either way the 808 delivers the same superb performance A pair of Meridian s DSP8000s makes an ideal companion for the 808 808 808 Signature Reference Compact Disc Player Em er co n e ee ye n a de 808i Player Preamplifier model Rear Panel The 808 Player model does not include the analogue and digital input panel areas This upsampling allows conversion related filtering to take place far above the limits of human hearing so there are no artefacts added to the sound simply the pure music The 808 employs exquisite multibit over sampled delta sigma D A converters com bined with a matching proprietary analogue output stage of the highest quality
3. DCDC REFERENCE SERIES 808 808 Signature Reference Compact Disc Player Meridian is the acknowledged leader in high performance Com pact Disc playback and has held that pre eminent position since the release of the world s first audiophile CD player the MCD in 1984 Over the last two decades Meridian has introduced no less than two dozen CD player mod els each one better than the last each one redefining the state of the Compact Disc art This steady process of improving CD performance has been recog nized by more than 50 awards and has made Meridian absolutely synonymous with the very best in Compact Disc Mieridian s 508 alone received more than 20 awards including a Class A rating from Stereophile who when faced with the superb performance of 800 had to add the Class A rating Now Meridian introduces the 808 a new member of the 800 Reference Series and one specifi cally developed to render the ulti mate performance possible today from the CD medium There is nothing quite like sinking into your favourite chair in your listening room press ing play on the remote control and listen ing as the air becomes filled with a faithful rendering of your favourite recording This is true whatever the format but the fact is that there is still one medium that Is today as popular as ever the Compact Disc A well recorded well mastered Compact Disc is capable of extraordinarily high q
4. audio video products including Meridian s first DVD player the 596 in 1997 Meanwhile from 1994 onwards the 508 set the standard for CD until the advent of the G08 in 2003 Meridian 808 Reference Series Originally a superb DVD player the Meridian 800 has developed to become one of the most highly specified optical disc players in the world with full DVD Audio Video capa bility Now from its impeccable pedigree comes the 808 the highest quality Compact Disc player Meridian has ever built 50 awards for our CD players including par ticularly prestigious awards for our landmark 207 in Japan Over the years we have researched pio neered and ultimately mastered the art of refinement of every aspect of CD playback We showed how jitter was a major challenge to audio quality indeed Meridian was the first company to isolate jitter as far back as 1984 Our technologies include advanced servo implementations unique power supply designs significant innovations in the digital arena and of course peerless analogue sec tions Meridian also pioneered the idea that special disc navigation could improve the playback quality on difficult discs such as those with fingerprints scratches or manu facturing defects Our players also benefited from digital output capabilities Meridian was also the first company to offer a 2 box solution utilising an outboard DAC and has developed special phase locked loops and FIFO b
5. creasing levels of interest in our CD player models 588 and GO8 this tells us that there is a strong element of enthusiasts that does not want pictures or complications attached to their music enjoyment Some believe that modern DVD or Universal players cannot get the best from CD because of the additional circuitry and compromises involved and to some extent this is true Meridian also wanted to mark the 20th anniversary of the category Audiophile CD Player a category we can legitimately claim to have invented Thus the 808 is offered as an exquisite music only player embodying the very best of our art and technology For the first time we are creating a signature model each one hand signed by Meridian s founders Robert Stuart and Allen Boothroyd Player or Player Preamplifier 808 Is available in two forms Both versions offer analogue balanced and unbalanced outputs which can be fixed in level to suit a preamplifier or variable for direct connection to a power amplifier Both versions also have two digital outputs Aux which runs at 44 1kHz and Main which can run at either 44 1kKHz or via upsampling at 88 2kHz and can use MHR to enhance performance when connected Building a System to a Meridian DSP loudspeaker or Surround Processor 808i adds analogue and digital inputs This means that 808i can also be the system preamplifier When connected to a power amplifier or DSP loudspeake
6. e T 44 0 1480 445678 F 44 0 1480 445686 www meridian audio com Meridian America Inc 8055 Troon Circle Suite C Austell Atlanta GA 30168 7849 USA T 1 404 344 7111 F 1 404 346 7111 808 808 The Meridian Compact Disc Heritage Meridian MCD and Pro MCD Meridian s first CD player the MCD based on a Philips chassis with completely custom analogue circuitry was the world s first audiophile CD Player Its successor the Pro MCD shown here included a separate cus tom designed power supply DAC and oscil lator mounted underneath the transport Meridian invents the CD Transport The idea of separating the transport from the rest of the player to minimise jitter and other distortion from the mechanism was developed to produce the world s first separate Transport DAC product the critically acclaimed 200 203 shown here Meridian 208 CD Player The highly successful 200 Series included sev eral CD players Using different DACs as the technology developed the 208 was a land mark in Meridian s CD player development with up to 20 bit conversion capability and preamplifier functionality Meridian 602 Transport amp 601 DSP Preamplifier The 600 Series was highly regarded by reviewers and owners alike especially the 602 transport and its companion 601 DSP Preamplifier 603 Digital Control Unit or 606 DAC 508 Compact Disc Classic The 500 Series launched in 1993 developed into a full range of
7. kets for Meridian Comms and RS232 full remote contiguration interface Three program mable 12v trigger outputs Black lacquer or satin silver finish in metal amp glass 480mm 18 9in x 175mm 6 9in x 411mm 16 2in whd Front panel keys for Open Close Play Stop Pause Previ ous Next On Off Additional controls behind hinged front access cover include Repeat Fast Forward Reverse Display Mute Volume Up Down Store Clear Source Full remote control via MSR RS232 20 character dot matrix display with adjustable brightness and contrast Indicators for Phase Repeat and EQ empha sis Universal power supply for 100 240Vac 50 60Hz 25W Information contained in this data sheet is correct as far as possible but Meridian Audio accepts no liability for errors or omissions Meridian Audio reserves the right to amend product specifications at any time Third party trademarks are recognized as the property of their respective owners Further technical details images product reviews and company history are available from Meridian Audio or from our web site www meridian audio com Text amp images 2004 Meridian Audio Ltd 808DS v3 2 e 20 08 04 RE
8. l resource 808 808 Signature Reference Compact Disc Player The press on Meridian s CD players Meridian CD Player a breakthrough for CD players Soundstage is where the Meridian renders the competition irrelevant and worthless The Absolute Sound Winter 1985 One of the most significant developments in CD player technology Audio Magazine USA Meridian Pro MCD I suspect that the Meridian Pro MCD will be the first CD player to be regarded as a classic Hi Fi News amp Record Review Feb 1986 The MCD Pro has found itself used as a quality reference by several CD manufacturers as well as equip ment and record reviewers Which Compact Disc Jan 1988 Meridian 207 The original Pro MCD set the benchmark in its day but the 207 Pro was the radical step placing Meridian for all time in the CD player hall of fame Hi Fi Choice June 1990 There is nothing else on the market remotely like the Meridian 207 It is one of the finest sounding CD players on the market Sydney Morning Herald Aug 1988 Meridian 602 606 In Meridian we might be looking at a company that has a real contribution to make towards raising CD performance Audiophile June 1991 the 602 via the 606 was damn near impossible to fault Its resolution of the subtlest treble details was intricate to the point of being exquisite the 602 606 turned o
9. ng Dimensions at 4 x CD sample rate 176 4kHz Controls Stereo Outputs Analogue 1 unbalanced on phono 1 balanced on XLR 3M 2 3V rms tixed variable Class A 47Q impedance Digital S PDIF IEC60958 main coax with MHR plus auxiliary coax operating at up to 2 x CD sample rate 88 2kHz 24 bit Display Stereo Inputs 808i only Analogue 6 unbalanced on phono Digital S PDIF 3 coax and 2 Toslink optical Formats CD Audio CD DA CD R CD R W MP3 Power and that the high and low ranges should never intrude but should remain precise We believe that the tonality of our players is best judged with the finest recordings of hu man voice piano and violin We audition our new designs using recordings like these and if they sound wrong in any way the design is not accepted Another important target for us is that the player must reveal the space in the original recording Meridian CD players and 808 in particular are unique in their ability to allow the listener to hear depth in the recording and to interpret the side and back walls of the recording location Most of all the words we would use to describe the sound of 808 are exquisitely musical Those who are lucky enough to own this Signature Reference CD Player will find immense enjoyment and new depth and subtlety in well loved recordings gaining a lifetime of musical insight that is simply not possible with lesser designs Two 5 pin 240 DIN soc
10. rs all the user s sources can be routed through the player 808 Technology Meridian s 808 is the latest in a series of op tical disc players that use a specially selected ROM drive for reading The ROM drive allows multiple passes to be made ensuring that the correct data are recovered from the disc and improving Compact Disc s error correc tion a hundredfold It also allows complete buffering of the recovered data To ensure the lowest possible jitter 808 incorporates three buffers two of which are used as FIFOs By the time the data is passed to the DACs or the digital output the jitter is incredibly low in fact 808 has the lowest jitter we have ever measured on a CD player around 90 picoseconds with the jitter soec trum held below 0 1Hz The signal path includes proprietary error correction and concealment and Meridian s acclaimed Resolution Enhancement DSP in which the original 44 1kHz 16 bit audio is upsampled to 176 4kHz 24 bit in one of three 150MIPs processors operating with 48 bit internal precision This is true DSP upsampling unlike anything else available in the marketplace The 808 is a single component but it is designed to interface seamlessly with other Meridian products and with a wide range of third party audio equipment to build a system that is uniquely your own You can begin by considering which model of the 808 is most appropriate for your needs the 808 player or the 8
11. uality results But to realise the full potential of this medium one that today we perhaps take for granted you need the highest level of repro duction a truly extraordinary high fidelity system unmatched in sound quality A Meridian system Meridian CD Innovator Of all manufacturers Meridian has the lon gest history of high performance CD players Meridian s first CD player MCD was intro duced exactly 20 years ago MCD sounded radically better than anything else available and still stands comparison with many so called audiophile designs of today In the intervening 20 years Meridian has relentlessly pursued the path of making bet ter and better CD players introducing more than 24 models each one better than the one before Every model has received critical acclaim and we have gathered more than BOOTHROYD STUART MERIDIAN Highest quality CD player ever offered by Meridian 808 Player only version 808i Player Preamplifier version includes built in stereo preamp functional ity six stereo analogue inputs three coax and two optical digital inputs Main and auxiliary S PDIF coaxial digital outputs for connection to Meridian DSP Loudspeakers or digital preamps controllers Balanced and unbalanced analogue outputs fixed or variable for connection to preamp or power amp Special Limited Edition with extended 5 year warranty Meridian Audio Limited Latham Road Huntingdon PE29 6YE United Kingdom
12. uffers to produce the very best result in such systems including of course our preferred system a CD player directly connected to a pair of Meridian DSP loudspeakers The quality of digitally con nected Meridian systems is further enhanced by our music industry approved MHR inter connection system Meridian has also offered its technologies for the mastering of Compact Discs Some of the highest quality recordings were made using our 607 A D converter while even more have used the 618 Mastering Proces sor to maximise the dynamic range on disc Top recording studios tend to use a Meridian player for checking and over the years a Meridian CD player has become synonymous with the best sound and a reference This is a reputation we cherish and one which we aim to defend by making each player better than the one before Of course today there are new formats avail able with more on the way promising higher resolution However after 20 years the CD catalogue Is overwhelmingly compre hensive and strongly supported Today there are believed to be tens of millions of CD titles available with thousands added to that total every month No matter what the success of music on DVD or other formats many serious music lovers already own a cherished collection of Compact Discs and will con tinue to buy them to satisfy their particular interests The serious listener needs to enjoy the very best sound from this huge musica
13. ut to be a very special combination Hi Fi Choice July 1991 Meridian 508 the Meridian 508 24 the world s best single box player and used as a reference machine by renowned US publication Stereophile brings out aspects of music that most players can merely hint at Audio amp Video Lifestyle 1999 the 508 24 s measured performance reveals that Bob Stuart and his talented digital design team have done a fabulous job Stereophile May 1998 Meridian 800 a true reference quality product The Absolute Sound January 2004 the 800 is perhaps the finest overall CD player I ve ever laid ears on When you consider that there are some CD only players round that demand this outlay the price tag doesn t seem all that eye watering Takes audio to another level if you can afford it Without doubt the finest optical disc playing system we ve encountered HiFi World December 2002 1 found that the Meridian was clearly superior not just to my reference components but to any other CD front ends that I ve auditioned or reviewed The performance of Meridian s 800 861 with CDs is superior to the performance you get with the great majority of SACDs and DVD As through any player Absolute Sound December 2003 Meridian decided to introduce the 808 Signature Reference Compact Disc Player for several reasons We have been both surprised and pleased by in
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