Specifications

Bob Stuart answers Questions about the Meridian 800 V3
Page 14
72 How is the software changed?
800’s software can be updated using a computer with an RS232 connection. Updates will be
posted from time-to-time on the Meridian web site at:
http://www.meridian-audio.com/lib_soft2.htm
Take care! There are four hardware versions of 800 in current use and you must only fit the
software that suits your player. Loading the wrong software will disable the player.
73 Can its Region Code be changed?
Every DVD Player is required to have the correct Region Code. The Region Code for each
800 is held in its firmware. If your 800 has the wrong Region Code please contact your dealer.
74 Can I have a Region-free 800?
Not from us. Every DVD Player is required to have a Region Code – don’t even ask! It isn’t
even a good idea because more and more DVD discs are being authored to detect and reject
region-free players.
75 Can I plug it into my computer and use it as a ROM drive?
No.
76 What are the Pause and Stop timeouts?
Under Setup/Playback Options/Screensaver you can choose to set timeouts for both Pause
and Stop. Both are intended as screen saving devices.
If you pause a disc then after the Pause Timeout the player will revert to ‘Halt’ and display the
logo screen. See Q. 32. To resume, press the ‘Play’ button.
The stop timeout causes the logo screen to be blanked to avoid screen burn. See Q. 27.
77 What are the three vertical stripes in the Logo screen?
The wavy Meridian logo screen has precisely calibrated video. The background is within 0.1%
of true black. The intensity of the logo is adjustable in Setup. When set ‘high’ the Meridian
logo is at 50% contrast, it is reduced to 12% on ‘low’ and there is an off (black) option as well.
In the bottom right corner we include a PLUGE pattern – three successive regions below
black, black and above black. Your brightness control is correctly adjusted when you only see
the right-hand stripe. These levels are correct on the high- and low-intensity logo screens.
78 What is DVD-A Mode?
In the special ‘96’ menu (see Q. 34) there is an item called ‘DVD-A Mode’ and the choices
offered are, DVD-V and DVD-A. What does this mean?
Normally this is set to DVD-A which allows the player to navigate DVD-Audio discs.
Many DVD-Audio discs have a DVD-Video region (Video Title Set) which is intended to be
played by DVD-Video players to provide backward compatibility. These regions are normally
invisible to a DVD-Audio player. By selecting ‘DVD-A Mode DVD-V’, you can force your 800
to behave as though it were a standard DVD-Video player.
This is an advanced feature provided for those who are interested in exploring DVD-Audio
discs in some detail; it is commonly used in studio situations for proofing discs.