808.2
Signature Reference Compact Disc Player
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
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?
808.2DS v2.0 • P88357 • 20080729 REƒ
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 xed/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/conguration
interface. Three programmable 12v trigger
outputs. RJ45 for single-cable connection to
other Meridian equipment.
Construction
• Black lacquer or satin silver nish 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
808.2 rear panel – the 808.2i is shown, with analogue and digital inputs
Additional panel controls are accessed via the front left flap nerxt to the main controls.
