G65 Digital Surround Controller User Guide
ii Preface Important safety instructions • • • • • • Read the instructions. Keep these instructions. Follow all instructions. Do not use this apparatus near water. Clean only with a dry cloth. Install only in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. • Refer all servicing to approved service personnel. WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
iii Contents Contents Introduction 1 Audio inputs 31 The G65 Digital Surround Controller 2 Audio outputs 35 DSP presets and layouts 3 Communications connections 40 Specifications 5 Using the G65 Digital Surround Controller 7 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller 43 Operating your G65 8 Configuration Wizard 44 Using the MSR+ 9 Stage 1: Resetting the product 45 10 Stage 2: Configuring speakers 47 Adjusting the volume 11 Stage 3: Configuring sources 49 Changing the D
iv Preface Copyright and acknowledgements Sales and service in the UK Meridian Audio Ltd Latham Road Huntingdon Cambridgeshire PE29 6YE England Tel (01480) 445678 Fax (01480) 445686 Sales and service in the USA Meridian America Inc. 110 Greene Street, Suite #407 New York NY 10012 USA Tel (646) 66 0140 Fax (646) 66 0152 Designed and manufactured in the UK Meridian Audio Ltd Latham Road Huntingdon Cambridgeshire PE29 6YE England Visit us on the Web http://www.meridian-audio.
Introduction Introduction Welcome to the Meridian G65 Digital Surround Controller. This User Guide provides full information about using the surround controller in conjunction with your other equipment, to achieve the superb results you can expect from it.
Introduction The G65 Digital Surround Controller The G65 is a powerful, flexible surround controller, with eight balanced analogue outputs and eight digital outputs. At the heart of the G65 is a powerful DSP engine consisting of five Freescale 56367s running at 150MHz – delivering an incredible 750MIPS (million instructions per second) capability.
Introduction DSP presets and layouts The G65 provides an extensive range of options for decoding and processing analogue and digital signals for multichannel reproduction. Music on CD or radio The following DSP presets add a surround dimension to stereo recordings, such as on audio CDs or radio. Music extracts the mono and surround components of the original recording for the centre and surround speakers to give a spacious open sound field.
Introduction Multichannel music recordings The following presets are recommended for music recordings containing more than two channels: Discrete renders the source channels to your speaker layout with the ultimate precision and transparency. Ambisonics is especially designed for multichannel recordings on DVD-Audio discs that use Ambisonic encoding. Speaker layouts The surround controller provides great flexibility in the way in which you use the loudspeakers in your system.
Introduction Specifications Audio inputs Controls, etc. • 1 MMHR 6-channel input. • 2 stereo SpeakerLink inputs. • 6 coax digital inputs; D2/D4/D6 can be used as a 6-channel coax input. • 2 optical digital inputs. • 8 stereo unbalanced inputs; A1-A3 and A4-A6 can be used as two 6-channel unbalanced inputs. • Front-panel soft keys include control of Source, Preset, etc. Standby and display buttons, volume control, mute. • Full remote control of all features via MSR+. • Standby button lit when off.
Introduction
Using the G65 Digital Surround Controller Using the G65 Digital Surround Controller This chapter provides a summary of the functions of the G65 Digital Surround Controller to identify the controls which you use to operate the unit. It gives information about switching your G65 on and off, using the soft keys, and changing the display format. It also provides instructions for operating the digital surround controller, using either the front panel or the MSR+.
Using the G65 Digital Surround Controller Operating your G65 Volume control $6$ Display Display Digital Surround Controller G65 Home #INEMA $6$ 2ADIO 46 6#2 $30 More On Off More On/Off Home The five soft keys under the display make the G Series products particularly easy to use. They change to reflect what the product is doing. For example, if you are customizing the DSP settings they provide controls to label and store the preset.
Using the G65 Digital Surround Controller Using the MSR+ down the Function key in the lower left corner and press the key. You can control all of the functions of your G Series products using either the front-panel controls, or the MSR+ remote control provided with the products. For information about programming the remote to control the other equipment within your system please refer to the MSR+ User Guide, supplied separately. This page summarises the commands available from the remote.
10 Using the G65 Digital Surround Controller Switching on and off and selecting a source When not playing, the digital surround controller should be left in the standby state. This ensures that the components of the digital surround controller operate at maximum efficiency from the moment you start. If you are not going to use the digital surround controller for several days you should switch the unit off completely at the rear panel, and disconnect it from the AC power supply.
11 Using the G65 Digital Surround Controller Adjusting the volume The G65 Digital Surround Controller adjusts the volume in precise steps of 1dB, where 9dB is equivalent to doubling the loudness. The current volume setting is displayed in dB on the front-panel display, and can be varied in the range 1 to 99dB. When you first connect power to the digital surround controller the volume is set to 65, which is similar to the mid-way position of the rotary volume control on a conventional preamplifier.
12 Using the G65 Digital Surround Controller Changing the DSP preset Each source has a set of DSP presets associated with it, one for each of the alternative content types: Music 2 (2-channel music), Music 6 (multichannel music), Movie 2 (2-channel movie soundtrack), or Movie 6 (multichannel movie soundtrack). When you choose a source, a DSP preset is selected depending on the incoming content type.
13 Using the G65 Digital Surround Controller Changing the display The G65 Digital Surround Controller displays information about the current settings on the frontpanel display. To change the displayed information You can adjust the brightness of the front-panel display for optimum viewing, and choose what information is displayed. For example: The digital surround controller automatically stores these settings, even with the power off. To change the brightness • Press Display (front panel or remote).
14 Using the G65 Digital Surround Controller
15 Customising the G65 Digital Surround Controller Customising the G65 Digital Surround Controller In addition to being able to change the source, volume, and DSP preset, the G65 Digital Surround Controller provides a sophisticated range of more advanced adjustments for each DSP preset, to allow you to tailor the sound. This chapter explains how to change these parameters, using the menu keys on the remote or under the front panel, and gives detailed instructions for adjusting common parameters.
16 Customising the G65 Digital Surround Controller Locking and unlocking the menus To simplify the normal operation of the digital surround controller, and to protect the settings from accidental changes, you can lock the menus so that the DSP parameters cannot be accessed. The only parameter available with the menus locked is Brightness. To display or change the DSP presets, or to define your own presets, you first need to unlock the digital surround controller menus.
17 Changing the DSP parameters Each DSP preset provides a series of parameters that you can vary to customise the behaviour of the preset to your specific requirements. For example, most presets provide Balance and Depth parameters to allow you to alter the characteristics of the sound. For each of the built-in DSP presets these parameters are set to standard values, designed to give the best sound in typical listening conditions and with most source materials.
18 Customising the G65 Digital Surround Controller To change a DSP parameter • Make sure the menus are unlocked; see To unlock the menus, page 16. • Press More to display the menu keys. • Press < or >, or Function < or > on the MSR+, until the display shows the name of the parameter you want to change. For example: $6$ st $EPTH uv wxy z{| !SSIGN • Press A or V, or Function A or V on the MSR+, to change the value of the parameter.
19 Customising the G65 Digital Surround Controller Changing treble, bass, or phase The digital surround controller provides sophisticated treble and bass controls, to allow you to adjust the broad balance of the system to correct for the acoustics of your listening room, or for a misbalanced recording. The controls are more subtle than conventional tone controls, and take advantage of digital signal processing techniques to provide a more natural adjustment of the frequency response.
20 Customising the G65 Digital Surround Controller Changing the listening position A conventional stereo system provides a single balance control, which changes the relative loudness of the two speakers. The G65 Digital Surround Controller provides a more sophisticated adjustment which corresponds to moving the listening position to the left or right. The axis control allows you to adjust the optimum listening height of the loudspeakers, like a balance control operating in the vertical plane.
21 Changing the integration of the centre If you have a centre loudspeaker you can adjust its relative loudness, to provide the best integration of the centre with the main left and right speakers. You can also adjust the relative delay, or depth, of the centre speaker to give the best perspective between the three front speakers. Note: These adjustments are not available for the Direct, Stereo, or Mono presets.
22 Customising the G65 Digital Surround Controller Changing the spaciousness of the sound You can adjust the spaciousness of the sound by altering the delay on the rear and side channels. Note: These adjustments are not available for the Direct, Stereo, or Mono presets. To change the relative delay of the rear or side speakers • Press > or < until the display shows the current rear delay.
23 Customising the G65 Digital Surround Controller SpeakerLink controls Certain Meridian DSP loudspeakers provide additional digital processing features that can be controlled by the G65 Digital Surround Controller. To access these features you need to: • Connect to the DSP loudspeakers via the SpeakerLink connection.
24 Customising the G65 Digital Surround Controller Changing the LipSync To adjust the LipSync The LipSync parameter is a feature originated by Meridian that allows you to adjust the delay between the sound and the video image by up to 50ms, or up to 85ms if Meridian Room Correction is not being used. Most movies are mixed for a viewing distance of 9m (30'), and when viewed from 3.6m (12') or less the sound arrives too early, giving a disconcerting effect.
25 Changing the DSP preset for a source Each source has an appropriate DSP preset associated with it for each music format. For example, for a standard stereo (PCM) signal the CD source uses Trifield and the TV source uses TV Logic. This section explains how to change the DSP preset associated with any source. To assign a DSP preset to a source • Make sure the menus are unlocked; see To unlock the menus, page 16.
26 Customising the G65 Digital Surround Controller Defining your own presets The G65 Digital Surround Controller allows you to modify any of the built-in presets, and save them for future use. You can either save the changes to the built-in preset, or you can create up to 10 presets of your own, with names of your choice, so you can use them alongside the built-in presets. Alternatively press V to choose the built-in preset you started with.
27 Customising the G65 Digital Surround Controller To clear a user-defined preset • Make sure the menus are unlocked; see To unlock the menus, page 16. • Press DSP (front panel or remote) to select the preset you want to clear. • Press More until you see Clear: • Press and hold down Clear for several seconds. The display shows: 0RESET #LEAR "RIGHT 3TORE #LEAR If you clear a preset that was saved over a built-in preset, the original preset name and settings are restored.
28 Customising the G65 Digital Surround Controller
29 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller This chapter explains how to install the digital surround controller. It describes what you should find when you unpack the product, and how you should connect it to the other equipment in the system. You should not make any connections to the product or to any other component in the system while the AC power supply is connected and switched on.
30 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller Unpacking The G65 Digital Surround Controller is supplied with the following accessories: • MSR+ remote control with batteries, manual, and spare key caps. • Meridian Comms lead. • Power cord. • This manual. If any of these items are missing please contact your dealer. Note: You should retain the packaging in case you need to transport the unit.
31 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller Audio inputs Analogue Output Left Right Meridian Comms Centre Sub Maintenance Trigger 1 +12V 100mA Rear Right Rear Left On Analogue Output Side/Sub Left Off Side/Sub Right Voltage USB RS232 IR In Analogue Input Mic Multi Analogue Input L+R C+Sub SpeakerLink Output Side L+R Optical Input Rear L+R SpeakerLink Input SL1 MMHR Digital Input D1 D3 D5 L Surr L Centre Left MD1 MA1 O2 O1 Master R (One only, This Row) A8 A7 A
32 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller To connect to a digital source (eg G06 24-bit CD Player) G06 CD Player MERIDIAN COMMS G65 Digital Surround Controller MERIDIAN COMMS DIGITAL OUT Meridian Comms lead DIGITAL IN Digital coax lead You can connect up to six digital coax sources to the G65 Digital Surround Controller. If the source is a Meridian product connect together the Comms sockets using the Comms lead provided.
33 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller To connect to a digital source using SpeakerLink (eg 808) G65 Digital Surround Controller 808 Signature Reference CD Player SPEAKERLINK OUTPUT SPEAKERLINK INPUT SpeakerLink lead • Connect the DIGITAL output from the 808 to one of the SpeakerLink inputs on the digital surround controller, using a Meridian SpeakerLink lead.
34 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller To connect to a source with analogue multichannel outputs (eg SACD player) G65 Digital Surround Controller SACD player DIGITAL OUT ANALOGUE OUT A1-A3 Phono leads Analogue inputs A1 to A3 can be used as a multichannel input from a source with a suitable analogue multichannel output, such as an SACD player. Analogue inputs A4 to A6 can optionally be used as a second multichannel analogue input.
35 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller Audio outputs Analogue outputs Analogue outputs Analogue Output Left Right Meridian Comms Centre Sub Maintenance Trigger 1 +12V 100mA Rear Right Rear Left On Analogue Output Side/Sub Left Off Side/Sub Right Voltage USB RS232 IR In Analogue Input Mic Multi Analogue Input L+R C+Sub SpeakerLink Output Side L+R Optical Input Rear L+R SpeakerLink Input SL1 MMHR Digital Input D1 D3 D5 L Surr L Centre Left MD1 MA1 O2 O1 Maste
36 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller To connect the G65 to Meridian DSP loudspeakers (daisy chain) Front R – Slave G65 Digital Surround Controller Front L – Master MERIDIAN SPEAKERLINK SPEAKERLINK MERIDIAN SPEAKERLINK INPUT OUTPUT INPUT OUTPUT SpeakerLink lead SpeakerLink lead Centre – Slave Rear R – Slave MERIDIAN SPEAKERLINK MERIDIAN SPEAKERLINK Rear L – Slave INPUT OUTPUT MERIDIAN SPEAKERLINK INPUT OUTPUT INPUT OUTPUT SpeakerLink lead SpeakerLink lead This is an alternativ
37 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller To connect the G65 to Meridian DSP loudspeakers (home run) Front R – Slave G65 Digital Surround Controller Front L – Master MERIDIAN SPEAKERLINK SPEAKERLINK MERIDIAN SPEAKERLINK INPUT OUTPUT INPUT OUTPUT SpeakerLink lead SpeakerLink lead Centre – Slave Rear R – Slave MERIDIAN SPEAKERLINK Rear L – Slave MERIDIAN SPEAKERLINK INPUT OUTPUT MERIDIAN SPEAKERLINK INPUT OUTPUT INPUT OUTPUT SpeakerLink lead SpeakerLink lead This is an alternative
38 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller To connect to passive loudspeakers powered by a Meridian G55 Rear Left Speaker Front Left Speaker Loudspeaker leads Centre Speaker Front Right Speaker Loudspeaker leads G55 5-Channel Power Amplifier ANALOGUE IN XLR leads ANALOGUE IN ANALOGUE IN ANALOGUE IN G65 Digital Surround Controller ANALOGUE OUTPUTS ANALOGUE OUTPUTS Rear Right Speaker ANALOGUE IN XLR leads
39 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller The G65 provides eight balanced analogue outputs to allow you to connect to active loudspeakers, or power amplifiers and passive loudspeakers. An ideal choice is the Meridian G55 5-Channel Power Amplifier. • Connect the Left and Right analogue outputs to the G55 balanced inputs for the main front loudspeakers. • Connect the Rear Left and Rear Right analogue outputs to the G55 balanced inputs for the rear loudspeakers.
40 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller Communications connections Trigger output USB connection Meridian DIN Comms Analogue Output Left Right RS232 connection Meridian Comms Centre Maintenance Trigger 1 +12V 100mA Sub Rear Right Rear Left On Analogue Output Side/Sub Left Off Side/Sub Right Voltage USB RS232 IR In Analogue Input Mic Multi Analogue Input L+R C+Sub SpeakerLink Output Side L+R Optical Input Rear L+R SpeakerLink Input SL1 MMHR Digital Input D1 D3 D5 L
41 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller To connect to other Meridian G Series or 800 Series equipment G65 Digital Surround Controller G Series or 800 Series unit MERIDIAN COMMS MERIDIAN COMMS Meridian Comms lead In a system of Meridian products the products should be linked together in a chain, via the COMMS sockets, using the Comms leads supplied with each product. The sequence in which you connect the units is not important.
42 Installing the G65 Digital Surround Controller
43 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller This chapter explains how to configure the digital surround controller using the Configuration Wizard. Alternatively, for complete control over all aspects of the product’s configuration you can set up the unit from a computer using the Meridian Configuration Program; see Installing the Meridian Configuration Program, page 53.
44 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller Configuration Wizard The Configuration Wizard leads you through the correct sequence to configure your digital surround controller. Alternatively, you can skip between the configuration stages, which allow you to reset the configuration, or configure the sources or other settings of the digital surround controller. To run the Configuration Wizard • If necessary press On/Off to put the digital surround controller into standby. • Press More.
45 Stage 1: Resetting the product The digital surround controller provides several alternative standard settings, called Types, which configure all aspects of the product into the most commonly needed configurations. Choosing one of the Types overrides any other configuration you may have performed, and so can be used to reset the configuration of the unit. To reset the configuration • Press Wizard.
46 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller Types The following table lists the available Types: Type Speakers Music Sub Logic Sub 5.1 Movie Sub 0 All analogue. LFE Centre LFE 1 All analogue. Mono Mono Mono 2 All digital. LFE Centre LFE 3 All digital, large centre. None None None 4 Digital left, right, and centre. LFE Centre LFE 5 Digital left and right.
47 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller Stage 2: Configuring speakers The Speakers configuration stage allows you to set up the digital surround controller for the particular arrangement of loudspeakers in your system. When you have stepped through all the speaker options the display shows: 3PEAKER CHOICE FINISHED To configure the speakers "ACK .EXT Either: Either: • Press Next after resetting the product; see page 45.
48 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller Speaker options The following table summarises the speaker options: Option Values Description Number of Subwoofers: none, one, two, three How many subwoofers. The main L&R speakers are: small analogue/THX, small DSP, large analogue, large DSP, small SpeakerLink, large SpeakerLink The types of the main left and right speakers. If you have no subwoofers, you cannot specify small main speakers.
49 Stage 3: Configuring sources The digital surround controller provides up to 12 sources corresponding to the 12 source keys on the MSR+: The top line of the display shows a description of each option, and its current value is shown to the right of the source name. CD, RADIO, DVD, AUX, DISC, TAPE, TV, CABLE, SAT, VCR1, VCR2, GAME. When changing the source name, Next and Back step between character positions.
50 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller Source options The following table summarises the source options: Option Values Description The source is: in use, not in use Whether the source is enabled. Audio input: D1-D6, SL1, SL2, MMHR, MD2, O1, O2, A1-A8, MA1, MA2, Last Valid* The audio input used for the source; digital, multichannel digital, optical, analogue, or multichannel analogue. Source name: Any name of up to five characters.
51 Stage 4: Configuring other settings The next stage allows you to configure other aspects of the product’s operation. To calibrate the system To configure other settings • Press Next to proceed to calibrating the system, as described in the next chapter. Either: • Press Next after configuring the sources; see Configuring sources, page 49. Or: • Press Wizard; see To run the Configuration Wizard, page 44. • Press Skip to skip past the stages 1 to 3.
52 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller Settings The following table summarises the product settings: Option Values Description The fan is: used as necessary, never used Specifies how the optional temperature controlled fan operates. Distance measurement: feet/inches, metres Units for displaying and entering distances. Do your subs play to 20Hz? No, THX Ultra2/yes Subwoofer frequency response.
53 Installing the Meridian Configuration Application The Meridian Configuration Application is a Windows program that allows you to configure the G65 Digital Surround Controller, together with any other Meridian products in your system, using an intuitive visual interface. The Meridian Configuration Application is an alternative to using the Configuration Wizard, or you can view or modify a configuration previously created using the Configuration Wizard.
54 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller
55 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller Calibrating the system To help you to set up the installation to give the best possible sound with any particular combination of associated equipment, the G65 Digital Surround Controller includes a built-in calibration procedure. This calibration procedure uses test signals to present a series of sounds, which you use to adjust certain aspects of the system to their optimum settings.
56 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller Introduction We recommend that you perform the calibration procedure using the MSR+ and from the listening position. As you run the calibration procedure the name of each calibration test is shown on the front-panel display, followed by the parameters adjusted in the test. Each calibration test uses a test signal designed to give the best results.
57 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller To start the calibration procedure To exit from the calibration procedure Either: You can exit from the calibration procedure at any time, and any parameters you have set will be retained: • Press Next on the last option of configuring settings; see To calibrate the system, page 51. Or: • Press On/Off to put the digital surround controller into standby. • Press More. • Press On/Off.
58 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller Calibration tests Levels These tests allow you to adjust the output level to each speaker individually, and it follows the general guidelines from Dolby Laboratories and THX. Before setting up the speaker outputs you need to measure the distance to each speaker from the listening position: Left Sub Centre Right In each test the display shows the speaker being tested, and the current relative level.
59 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller Fine tuning These tests allow you to fine-tune the phase and delay of each speaker when used in conjunction with other speakers on the layout. • Use > and < to move between each of the speakers in the layout. The first display allows you to adjust the phase. For example: Press More for help Left Phase ìî ïñ + óòô öõú The next display shows the distance for the same speaker.
60 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller Speaker size These tests allow you to determine the bass handling capability of subwoofers and large analogue speakers. Once set, the digital surround controller will limit the bass level to protect the speakers from potential damage.
61 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller Using the Sine/Sub/Sens controls This section explains how to use the Sine/Sub/Sens controls to check for room resonances, adjust the subwoofer crossover frequency, or adjust the sensitivity of the analogue sources.
62 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller To select the channel You can select between the following inputs: • Press Chan. Option Description You can select any individual channel, or All Channels. Input The current input. Sine A sinewave. To change the sweep rate Noise Pink noise, band pass 500Hz to 2kHz for main channel. • Press A or V to change the sweep rate and direction, as follows: Silent Silence.
63 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller To adjust the source input sensitivity This section explains how to use the Sine/Sub/ Sens controls to adjust the sensitivity of the analogue sources. To obtain the best signal-to-noise ratio for each analogue source you can adjust its sensitivity to give the highest level that does not produce clipping. • Select the source you want to adjust, with loud source material playing. • Display the Sine/Sub/Sens controls as described above.
64 Configuring the G65 Digital Surround Controller
65 DSP Presets DSP presets This chapter gives technical information about each of the DSP presets built in to the G65 Digital Surround Controller, including information about which preset you should select for different types of material. It also gives details of the special DSP parameters available for each preset.
66 DSP Presets DSP presets for two-channel material The digital surround controller provides several signal processing options for two-channel material. The Music DSP presets are designed for use with music from sources such as CD or radio: • Music, Trifield, Ambisonics, Super Stereo, Music Logic, PLIIx Music, Stereo, and Direct. stereo, which converts the differences between the microphone signals into amplitude differences in the speaker signals.
67 DSP Presets Ambisonic surround sound is quite unlike conventional stereo. A special microphone can be used to capture the sound of the original performance in all three dimensions, allowing a recording to be made in a special format (B-Format) that describes the soundfield exactly at the microphone position. Alternatively, special mixing techniques including Ambisonic spatial localisation controls (panpots) can be used to mix conventional multitrack into the same Ambisonic surround format.
68 DSP Presets PLIIx Music PLIIx Movie and PLIIx THX The PLIIx Music preset is designed to use the Pro Logic IIx DSP processing mode to decode music sources. It provides additional Width, Dimension, and Panorama preset parameters to allow you to adjust the soundfield. PLIIx Movie and PLIIx THX use the Dolby Pro Logic IIx DSP processing mode, and are the recommended choice for Dolby Surround encoded material.
69 DSP Presets PLIIx Movie and PLIIx THX DSP preset parameters Parameter Options What it changes Surrounds Rear, Side, All Which of the four surround channels are generated by steering. Pro Logic Off, On On selects an emulation of the original Pro Logic decoding. If Party? is set to No, the combined or selected signal is played only through the centre speaker, or the left and right speakers if there is no centre, to centrally localise high-frequency hiss and clicks.
70 DSP Presets DSP presets for multichannel material Multichannel audio signals can come from either encoded data streams (such as Dolby Digital) or as discrete channels from a DVD player. If you are using Meridian SmartLink then all formats will reach the G65 as discrete channels. With suitable loudspeakers the G65 can upsample these to provide a more enjoyable surround experience. Discrete and Cinema DSP preset parameters Parameter Options What it changes 2+2+2* Off, 5.1, Side, 7.
71 DSP Presets THX As with the PLIIx THX DSP preset, THX re-equalises the signals to suit domestic listening conditions, and applies frequency-response correction and decorrelation to the surround channels to make the surround sound more realistic. It can be used whether or not your other equipment is THX Certified. THX DSP preset parameters Parameter Options What it changes Surround Surr. Rear, Surr. Side, Surr. All Switches the surround signal between the side and rear speakers.
72 DSP Presets Using dynamic range control Dialogue Normalisation display If the input format is Dolby Digital, the 5.1 Movie DSP presets provide an additional Compress parameter to allow you to take advantage of the dynamic range information provided in the Dolby Digital format to provide dynamic range control without the distortion involved in analogue methods. Dolby Digital audio streams include Dialogue Normalisation and Mix levels, to specify the recommended listening level of the soundtrack.
73 Troubleshooting Troubleshooting We expect you to achieve superb results with your digital surround controller. If, however, you encounter any problems, either when installing and configuring it, or during operation, please check the following pages for suggested solutions. If these suggestions fail to cure the problem, please contact your Meridian dealer for further assistance.
74 Troubleshooting General operating problems Standby light not lit • Check that the AC power supply is connected correctly. • Check that the ON OFF switch on the back panel is in the ON position. If the light still does not illuminate, check any fuses in your power supply and the fuse in the inlet of the G65. If these are all intact, contact your dealer. Erratic or unexpected system behaviour Redo the Auto Configure process as follows: • Put the whole system into standby.
75 Troubleshooting Audio problems Hum on analogue input Audible hiss at high volume settings • Check the source equipment. Disconnect each source in turn. • If the hum originates from a ground loop, an antenna or cable supply may be the cause. In this case an antenna-lead isolator should be fitted. • If the G65 seems to be the cause of hum consult your dealer. The input dynamic range of most current recordings is at maximum 16 bit.
76 Troubleshooting There is a hiss when starting DTS LaserDiscs or CDs The DTS audio stream is indistinguishable from a PCM audio stream; the G65 takes 30ms to identify the encoding, during which a hiss is heard. • With non-video DTS sources you can add a 30ms delay to avoid this. • With video sources you can create a DTS-only source to avoid any hiss. For more information about each of these options see Installing the Meridian Configuration Application, page 53.
77 Maintenance To clean the case, display panel, and keypad • Disconnect the power cord before cleaning the unit. The exterior surfaces of Meridian G Series products are made from solid anodised aluminium, powder coated steel, thermoplastic rubber, and glass. They are designed to be easily wiped clean with a dry, lint free cloth. Greasy marks should be removed by light rubbing with a slightly damp cloth and a trace of proprietary glass cleaner. Do not use any other solvent or abrasive based cleaners.
78 Troubleshooting Service and guarantee Service Guarantee The Meridian G Series of hi-fi components has been carefully designed to give years of untroubled service. There are no user-serviceable parts inside the case, nor do the units require any form of maintenance. The product is guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship for two years from the date of purchase.
79 Index Index A Centre (DSP parameter) 17, 21, 66 Direct (DSP preset) 68 Academy (DSP parameter) 69 Centre Elevation control 23 Discrete (DSP preset) 70 centre loudspeaker display accessories 30 active subwoofer, connecting to 39 Ambisonics (DSP preset) 66, 71 analogue inputs 31 analogue outputs 35 analogue source, connecting 32 audio inputs 31 audio outputs 35 automatic setup 41 Axis (DSP parameter) 17 axis, changing 20 B Balance (DSP parameter) 17, 20 changing the relative delay 21 changing
80 Index DSP presets (continued) Trifield 66 two-channel 66 user-defining 26 dynamic range control 72 E EBA (DSP parameter) 17, 23 Enhanced Bass Alignment control 23 F L Music DSP presets 66 layouts 4 5.
81 Index rear loudspeakers speaker layouts 4 changing the relative delay 22 5.
82 Index
