HD621 HDMI Audio Processor User Guide
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.
EEC: This product has been designed and type-tested to comply with the limits set out in EN55013 and EN55020 Sales and service in the UK Meridian Audio Ltd, Latham Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 6YE England Tel +44 (0)1480 445678 • Fax +44 (0)1480 445686 Sales and service in the USA Meridian America Inc, 8055 Troon Circle Suite C, Austell GA30168-7849, USA Tel +1 (404) 344 7111 • Fax +1 (404) 346 7111 Web: www.meridian-audio.
HD621 Product highlights • Six-input HDMI switch. • HDMI video output. • Extracts up to eight channels of high-resolution audio from the HDMI data stream, supplying them to separate audio-only outputs. • Connects HDMI audio direct to a Meridian processor. • SmartLink coaxial digital audio output (up to 8 channels). • Multichannel Meridian High Resolution (MMHR): balanced digital audio output via RJ45/Cat 5 cable (up to 8 channels). • Up/downsampling of digital audio.
About the HD621 HDMI Audio Processor Standby indicator Manual input select Active input indicators 1–6 Front panel The front panel (see above) simply shows a Standby LED (which shows that the unit has power but is not active: it goes out when the unit is activated), plus six LEDs indicating which input is currently active. A manual select button allows you to step through the inputs. Rear panel views. Above: left-hand half. Below: right-hand half.
HDMI Output: Video – This outputs the video information present on the selected HDMI input. By default, it does not carry the audio information, but can be configured to do so. MMHR Output – This RJ45 connector carries up to eight channels of balanced digital audio data at up to 96 kHz sample rate conforming to the Meridian Multichannel High Resolution (MMHR) specification, with encryption where required to carry high-resolution audio data.
Initial system installation 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 version with ears is alternatively available for rack-mount installation.
Here are some points to bear in mind when setting up non-Meridian 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. • The HD621 accepts a maximum input sample rate of 192kHz.
To reconfigure the HD621 from its standard defaults, you will need to connect a Windows computer via the RS232 connector and use the Meridian Mconfig application 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.
The second row, “MHR Connection” offers “SmartLink”, “SpeakerLink compatible” and “None”. Select “SmartLink” to feed a Meridian processor such as the C61R, G61R, G68 or 861, and select “None” here to feed Meridian DSP Loudspeakers directly. The next row determines the number of output channels. The options are 8-, 6- and 2-channel out. This will generally be determined by the capabilities of your system. Note that the HD621 advertises how many channels it wants to receive.
Next to the Audio tab is the Sources tab: This panel displays the logical sources associated with each physical input 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. The penultimate tab in the Properties dialog accesses the Types section. This shows the Meridian Types stored in the product.
Meridian Audio Limited, Latham Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 6YE, UK. T +44(0)1480 445678 F +44(0)1480 445686 E info@meridian-audio.com Meridian America Inc., 8055 Troon Circle, Suite C, Austell, GA 30168-7849, USA. T +1(404) 344 7111 F +1(404) 346 7111 www.meridian-audio.com HD621UG-ENG • Part no: P88380 • Version 1.
