Meridian Audio 808.2 Signature Reference Compact Disc Player, Outline Specifications, THD & Noise

808.2

Signature Reference Compact Disc Player

808.2 rear panel – the 808.2i is shown, with analogue and digital inputs

Meridian’s goal was to invent a technology that stripped away this fundamental limitation in the making of the CD, taking the listener right back to the original higher- resolution sound – no mean ambition,

nor a trivial task. But Meridian’s founder, Bob Stuart, was sure that high-definition sound could be achieved without excessive sample rates – if the filters were right.

Bob authored an Audio Engineering Society paper on high definition audio in 2004 in which he recommended the development of ‘apodizing’ filters – filters that were

Additional panel controls are accessed via the front left flap nerxt to the main controls.

minimum phase, with no ripple, causing no pre-echo: and thus offering perfect timing. He predicted they would even be able to fix problems in the origination process itself.

Meridian’s research team designed an exquisite new filter based on this research

–a filter with ‘apodizing-like’ qualities (you can’t do a true apodizing filter for 44.1kHz sampling) – and its first appearance is

in the 808.2. It needs significant DSP to deliver, using much of the power of the player’s 150MIPS main processor. This filter system is so effective that it can even correct errors made in the recording or mastering stage – CDs played back on the 808.2 can sound even better than they did in the studio!

Bob Harley, editor of The Absolute Sound, reported: “CDs played through the 808.2 and the new DSP7200 active DSP loudspeaker sounded like high-resolution recordings”. Why not listen for yourself?

Outline Specifications

THD & Noise

• Better than –96dBFS

Mechanism

•Triple-beam laser, multi-speed CD/DVD-ROM transport

Converters

•192kHz-capable, 24-bit, Delta Sigma converters operating at 4 x CD sample rate (176.4kHz)

Stereo Outputs

•Analogue: 1 unbalanced on phono, 1 balanced

on XLR-3M: 2.3V rms fixed/variable, Class A, 47Ω impedance

Digital: coax unbalanced (S/PDIF), RJ45 balanced (AES/EBU) digital interface for single-cable connection of other Meridian equipment. Operating at up to 2 x CD sample rate (88.2kHz), 24-bit with MHR option.

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

Comms

•Two 5-pin 240° DIN sockets for Meridian Comms, and RS232 full remote/configuration interface. Three programmable 12v trigger outputs. RJ45 for single-cable connection to other Meridian equipment.

Construction

•Black lacquer or satin silver finish in metal & glass

Controls

•Front-panel keys for Open/Close, Play, Stop, Pause, Previous, 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

Display

•20-character dot matrix display with adjustable brightness and contrast. Indicators for Phase, Repeat and EQ (emphasis).

Dimensions

•480mm (18.9in) x 175mm (6.9in) x 411mm (16.2in) (whd)

Power

•Universal power supply for 100–240Vac, 50/60Hz, 25W

808.2DS v2.0 • P88357 • 20080729 REƒ