Meridian audio 808 brochure

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808/808i The Meridian Compact Disc Heritage than 50 awards for our CD players, including particularly prestigious awards for our landmark 207 in Japan. Over the years we have researched, pioneered and ultimately mastered the art of refi nement of every aspect of CD playback. We showed how jitter was a major challenge to audio quality -� indeed, Meridian was the fi rst company to isolate jitter, as far back as 1984. Our technologies include advanced servo implementations, unique power supply designs, signifi cant innovations in the digital arena and, of course, peerless analogue sections. Meridian also pioneered the idea that special disc navigation could improve the playback quality on diffi cult discs (such as those with fi ngerprints, scratches or manufacturing defects). Our players also benefi ted from digital output capabilities. Meridian was also the fi rst company to offer a 2-box solution (utilising an outboard DAC), and has developed special phase-locked loops and FIFO buffers to produce the very best result in such systems -� including of course our preferred system, a CD player directly connected to a pair of Meridian DSP loudspeakers. The quality of digitally- connected Meridian systems is further enhanced by our music-industry-approved MHR interconnection system. Meridian has also offered its technologies for the mastering of Compact Discs. Some of the highest quality recordings were made using our 607 A /D converter, while even more have used the 618 Mastering Processor to maximise the dynamic range on disc. Top recording studios tend to use a Meridian player for checking, and over the years a Meridian CD player has become synonymous with the best sound, and a reference. This is a reputation we cherish, and one which we aim to defend by making each player better than the one before. Of course, today there are new formats available -� with more on the way -� promising higher resolution. However, after 20 years, the CD catalogue is overwhelmingly comprehensive and strongly-supported. Today there are believed to be tens of millions of CD titles available, with thousands added to that total every month. No matter what the success of music on DVD or other formats, many serious music lovers already own a cherished collection of Compact Discs and will continue to buy them to satisfy their particular interests. The serious listener needs to enjoy the very best sound from this huge musical resource. 1984 1989 199 3 2004 Meridian MCD and Pro-MCDMeridians first CD player, the MCD, based on a Philips chassis with completely custom analogue circuitry, was the worlds first audiophile CD Player. Its successor, the Pro-MCD shown here, included a s eparate cus- tom-designed power supply, DAC and oscil-lator, mounted underneath the transport.lator, mounted underneath the transport. 1985 Meridian invents the CD TransportMeridian invents the CD TransportThe idea of separating the transport from The idea of separating the transport from the rest of the player -� to minimise jitter the rest of the player -� to minimise jitter and other distortion from the mechanism and other distortion from the mechanism -� was developed to produce the worlds -� was developed to produce the worlds first separate Transport/DAC product first separate Transport/DAC product -� the critically-acclaimed 200/203 shown here.critically-acclaimed 200/203 shown here. Meridian 208 CD PlayerMeridian 208 CD PlayerThe highly successful 200 Series included sev-The highly successful 200 Series included sev-eral CD players. Using different DACs as the eral CD players. Using different DACs as the technology developed, technology developed, the 208 was a land- mark in Meridians CD player developmentmark in Meridians CD player development , with up to 20-bit conversion capability and with up to 20-bit conversion capability and preamplifier functionality.preamplifier functionality. 508 -� Compact Disc Classic Compact Disc Classic 508 -� Compact Disc Classic 508 -�The 500 Series, launched in 1993, developed The 500 Series, launched in 1993, developed into a full range of audio/video products, into a full range of audio/video products, including Meridians first DVD player, including Meridians first DVD player, the 596, in 1997 . Meanwhile, from 1994 . Meanwhile, from 1994 onwards, the 508 set the standard for CD onwards, the 508 set the standard for CD until the advent of the G08 in 2003.until the advent of the G08 in 2003. Meridian 808 Reference SeriesOriginally a superb DVD player, the Meridian 800 has developed to become one of the most highly-specifi ed optical disc players in the world , with full DVD-Audio/Video capa- bility .Now, fro m its imp eccable pedigree comes the 808 -� the highest quality Compact Disc player M eridian has ever built . 19 91 Meridian 602 Transport Meridian 602 Transport & 601 DSP Preamplifier& 601 DSP PreamplifierThe 600 Series was highly regarded by was highly regarded by reviewers and owners alike, especially the reviewers and owners alike, especially the 602 transport and its companion 601 DSP 602 transport and its companion 601 DSP Preamplifier, 603 Digital Control Unit or Preamplifier, 603 Digital Control Unit or 606 DAC.

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Meridian decided to introduce the 808 Signature Reference Compact Disc Player for several reasons. We have been both surprised and pleased by increasing levels of interest in our CD player models 588 and G08: this tells us that there is a strong element of enthusiasts that does not want pictures or complications attached to their music enjoyment. Some believe that modern DVD or Universal players cannot get the best from CD because of the additional circuitry and compromises involved and, to some extent, this is true. Meridian also wanted to mark the 20th anniversary of the category Audiophile CD Player -� a category we can legitimately claim to have invented. Thus the 808 is offered as an exquisite music-only player, embodying the very best of our art and technology. For the fi rst time we are creating a signature model -� each one hand-signed by Meridians founders, Robert Stuart and Allen Boothroyd. Player or Player/ Preamplifi er 808 is available in two forms. Both versions offer analogue balanced and unbalanced outputs which can be fi xed in level (to suit a preamplifi er), or variable (for direct connection to a power amplifi er). Both versions also have two digital outputs: Aux (which runs at 44.1kHz) and Main (which can run at either 44.1kHz or, via upsampling, at 88.2kHz, and can use MHR to enhance performance when connected to a Meridian DSP loudspeaker or Surround Processor). 808i adds analogue and digital inputs. This means that 808i can also be the system preamplifi er. When connected to a power amplifi er or DSP loudspeakers, all the users sources can be routed through the player. 808 Technology Meridians 808 is the latest in a series of optical disc players that use a specially- selected ROM drive for reading. The ROM drive allows multiple passes to be made, ensuring that the correct data are recovered from the disc and improving Compact Discs error-correction a hundredfold. It also allows complete buffering of the recovered data. To ensure the lowest possible jitter, 808 incorporates three buffers, two of which are used as FIFOs. By the time the data is passed to the DACs or the digital output, the jitter is incredibly low -� in fact 808 has the lowest jitter we have ever measured on a CD player: around 90 picoseconds, with the jitter spectrum held below 0.1Hz. The signal path includes proprietary error correction and concealment, and Meridians acclaimed Resolution Enhancement DSP, in which the original 44.1kHz, 16-bit audio is upsampled to 176.4kHz, 24-bit in one of three 150MIPs processors operating with 48-bit internal precision. This is true DSP upsampling, unlike anything else available in the marketplace. 808/808i Signature Reference Compact Disc Player The press on Meridians CD players-� Meridian CD Player -�a breakthrough for CD players. -�[Soundstage] is where the Meridian renders the competition irrelevant and worthless. The Absolute Sound, Winter 1985 One of the most signifi cant developments in CD player technology. Audio Magazine (USA) Meridian Pro-MCD I suspect that [the Meridian Pro-MCD] will be the fi rst CD player to be regarded as a classic! Hi-Fi News & Record Review, Feb 1986 [The] MCD-Pro-� has found itself used as a quality reference by several CD manufacturers as well as equip- ment and record reviewers. Which Compact Disc, Jan 1988 Meridian 207 The original Pro-MCD set the benchmark in its day, but the 207-Pro was the radical step, placing Meridian for all time in the CD player hall of fame. Hi-Fi Choice, June 1990 There is nothing else on the market remotely like the Meridian 207-� It is-�one of the fi nest-sounding CD players on the market. Sydney Morning Herald, Aug 1988 Meridian 602/606 In Meridian we might be looking at a company that has a real contribution to make towards raising CD performance. Audiophile, June 1991 -�the 602 [via the 606] was damn near impossible to fault-� Its resolution of the subtlest treble details was intricate to the point of being exquisite-� the 602/606 turned out to be a very special combination. Hi-Fi Choice, July 1991 Meridian 508 -�the Meridian 508.24-�the worlds best single-box player and used as a reference machine by renowned US publication Stereophile-� brings out aspects of music that most players can merely hint at-� Audio & Video Lifestyle, 1999 -�the 508.24s measured performance reveals that Bob Stuart and his talented digital design team have done a fabulous job. Stereophile, May 1998 Meridian 800 -�a true reference-quality product-� The Absolute Sound, January 2004 -�the 800 is perhaps the fi nest overall CD player Ive ever laid ears on. When you consider that there are some CD-only players round that demand this outlay, the price tag doesnt seem all that eye-watering-� Takes audio to another level, if you can afford it. Without doubt the fi nest optical disc playing system weve encountered. HiFi World, December 2002 -�I found that the Meridian-� was clearly superior-� not just to my reference components, but to any other CD front ends that Ive auditioned or reviewed.-� The performance of Meridians 800/861 with CDs is superior to the performance you get with the great majority of SACDs and DVD-As through any player. Absolute Sound, December 2003 Building a System The 808 is a single component, but it is designed to interface seamlessly with other Meridian products, and with a wide range of third-party audio equipment, to build a system that is uniquely your own. You can begin by considering which model of the 808 is most appropriate for your needs: the 808 player or the 808i player/preamplifi er. 808 Player - Digital and fi xed or variable analogue outputs, ideal for connection to an existing preamplifi er or surround controller (for example Meridian 861). - Drives a pair of Meridian DSP Loudspeakers directly (eg DSP8000 shown here) or a conventional amplifi er and speakers - Can be used to create a simple, stereo CD replay system with the highest quality CD playback available. 808i Player/Preamplifi er - Additional analogue and digital inputs to connect radio, tape, turntable /phono preamp etc - Digital and fi xed /variable analogue outs: drives a pair of Meridian DSP Loudspeakers directly, or conventional stereo amp/speakers. - Powerful and versatile stereo replay system with the highest- quality CD playback available anywhere, at any price. Either way, the 808 delivers the same, superb performance. A pair of Meridians DSP8000s makes an ideal companion for the 808.