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Meridian and Faroudja DCDi
®
technology, which
can simultaneously provide composite and
S-video outputs, plus progressive component
video and up to 1080i on an HDMI audio/video
interface. They provide two composite video,
one component video and three S-video inputs,
all of which can be routed to any of the video
outputs with appropriate scaling.
At the heart of the G98 is a high-speed comput-
er-style DVD-ROM drive – the best type of drive
to use to ensure accurate data recovery from all
types of disc, while providing a stable platform
that can be updated in the future, if necessary,
to keep pace with new requirements.
In addition to regular CDs (including MP3 CD-
ROMS) and DVDs, the player can also play most
hybrid varieties. The G98 can handle both DVD-
Video and DVD-Audio discs, decoding Dolby
Digital, DTS or MLP data streams and extracting
or downmixing them to stereo if required.
The drive normally operates at standard speed;
however it is capable of recovering data a great
deal faster when required, enabling it to make
successive attempts to recover accurate data
from a problem disc. Because of this, the drive
can perfectly recover the data from nearly all
discs.
Unlike other players that use a mechanical
approach to try to lower jitter by minimising
drive vibration, the G98 employs a triple buffer-
ing system to minimise jitter, maximizing HF
transparency and sound stage imaging precision
and stability. The result of this sophisticated
effort is that the players deliver ultra-low jitter,
with sound and picture quality second only to
Meridian’s 800 Reference DVD/CD Player.
The digital electronics as a whole are driven by
a new design of high-stability clocking system
which further reduces jitter and ensures that the
highest level of detail is recovered from a disc.
All digital data is accurately re-clocked. Multiple
power supplies ensure that digital and analogue
circuitry are kept separate.
The G98 DVD player includes a comprehensive
front-panel user interface which allows access to
all the features of the unit, including congura-
tion. The player can be reset to a standard Type
which congures all the required settings as
appropriate for a particular application.
In addition, an on-screen display (OSD) allows
you to congure specic settings individually.
The player employs Flash ROM memory for the
operating system, so software updates can be
downloaded from the Internet and installed via
a PC connected to the serial port on the back
panel. The serial port also allows full remote
control and conguration of the unit.
The G98DH provides three principal S/PDIF
coax outputs designated L/R, L/R Surround, and
C/LFE. These typically connect to Meridian pro-
cessors, or feed a stereo signal to a pair of DSP
loudspeakers. If congured for MHR SmartLink
they, or the adjacent combined 15-way D-type
connector, carry high-sample rate encrypted
data from DVD discs for the highest delity of
decoding and reproduction. The SmartLink also
informs a downstream Meridian processor of
the signal source, so that it can switch process-
ing modes automatically.
The G98AH provides six channels of analogue
output. These feature true 24-bit DACs that
operate at sample rates up to 192kHz for the
maximum possible audio quality.
All models provide an additional S/PDIF digital
output which delivers a stereo downmix or
bitstream signal.
On the video side, advanced video circuit de-
signs, matched phase video lters, and a broad-
cast-quality video encoder are employed to
deliver low-noise images of outstanding colour
depth and resolution. Separate ultra-low jitter
master video and audio oscillators allow picture
and sound to be independently optimized,
ensuring that the G98 delivers breathtakingly
clear pictures.
The G98’s unique high-resolution video
processor/scaler can receive composite, S-video,
and interlaced component, and convert be-
tween the formats, or to the high-density mul-
timedia interface (HDMI) standard, to provide a
single video output for all the video sources in
the system. A bypass function allows progressive
or high denition component video to be routed
directly to the component output only.
The HDMI port supports a wide range of high
quality digital video options including 480p,
576p, 720p, and 1080i. A unique feature of
HDMI is that it is able to ‘handshake’ between
the source and the display to nd the highest
quality format. Analogue component out is
available at 480p and 576p.
The HDMI interface also carries high-resolution
digital audio, either two channels of PCM at up
to 96kHz or a 5.1 encoded bitstream.
G98 DVD Audio Transport G98 DVD Audio Transport
The G98DH DVD Transport is an ideal source for, and with the G68 Digital Surround Controller forms
the basis of, a stunning Meridian Digital Theatre system. The units are shown here connected to a
pair of Meridian’s top-of-the-line DSP8000 speakers for left and right, coupled with a pair of DSP420
in-walls for the surrounds (not to scale) and a DSP5500HC for the centre front channel. Any kind
of video display device can be supported, whether composite, S-Video, Component (progressive or
interlaced) or even the latest interfaces such as HDMI or DVI. Different video inputs are converted to
all formats, so there is only need for one display connection.
In this analogue alternative to the system shown opposite, the G98AH and an analogue-out G68
are augmented with the G55 5 x 100W multichannel power amplier. The amplier will drive any
conventional passive analogue loudspeakers. Once again, the video output from the G98 can be
selected from any of the available formats, be it composite, S-Video, component (interlaced or pro-
gressive) or an emerging interface standard such as HDMI/DVI. The G98’s powerful video processor
drives all these outputs irrespective of the input format. There are three composite and three S-Video
inputs to the unit and broadcast-quality components deliver the highest possible picture quality in
any format.
G98DH rear panel composite drawing (actual panel layout may differ slightly)
G98 (above) with G68