Specifications

Bob Stuart answers Questions about the Meridian 800 V3
Page 2
5 Why is a ROM drive used?
The 800 uses a ROM drive because this is the best type of drive to ensure accurate data
recovery on all disc types while providing a stable platform that can be changed in the future
to keep pace with new requirements. For more on this, see Q. 6.
6 How can a ROM drive be so good?
ROM drives recover the data from computer discs perfectly. Loading a computer program
rarely fails due to the ROM drive. Therefore, extracting the data from a CD or DVD can be
done without error. Normally, however, a computer pays no attention to how smoothly the
data flows from the disc. That’s where our special technology comes in. From leaving the
drive, the information is in the hands of the most sophisticated audio circuitry ever used in a
Disc player. The 800 uses three memory buffers and three layers of error correction to get the
lowest jitter and highest integrity data possible.
Unlike other players that have to try to minimise drive vibration to get low jitter, the 800’s
memory architecture abolishes this problem forever. In fact, the 800 will often read the data
from the disc more than once just to be sure it has it right. The result of this sophisticated
effort shows up in ultra-low jitter with sound and picture quality second to none.
Sound issues...?
7 Is 800 a good CD Player?
It is totally stunning! This is very important: CD will be the major source of music enjoyment
for many years because the catalogue is so rich and the sound we can get is so good.
Meridian has made the best CD players for 18 years, with award-winning models like the 208,
602 and 508. But, the 800 is by far the best sounding that has ever been made! The ROM
reading system and error correction method provides a very accurate data stream. The 800
then uses three levels of memory-based de-jittering to smooth out the data to previously
unattained levels. Finally, ultra-high precision DSP upsampling is used to feed an 88.2kHz 24-
bit signal to the output(s).
Meridian’s 800 team has devoted four years to perfecting this aspect alone ….
Since it was introduced, the 800 has received numerous awards and acclaims for the
incredible sound it makes from CD. Now, with even higher-grade electronics, advanced
double-precision DSP, smart error correction and proprietary disc navigation, we are very
proud to announce that CD performance in 800 has stepped even higher.
Be careful, if you ever hear 800 playing your favourite CDs you will end up owning one!
8 Can I get 96kHz out of my 800?
800 is fully capable of providing multichannel at 96kHz from DVD-Audio or stereo from DVD-
Video. Analogue outputs always run at the highest possible sample rates. The digital outputs
will also provide 96kHz; sometimes to comply with copy protection these outputs will be
encrypted and you need a Meridian system to get the very best result.
The 800 has a very exciting new feature: it upsamples all low-rate material using Meridian’s
renowned resolution enhancement technology. So you can now listen to CDs at 88.2kHz and
movies upsampled in multichannel to 96kHz 24bit, see Q. 10.