Meridian 508 User manual

Meridian 508 20-Bit CD Player
user guide

Preface
ii
Sales and service in the UK
Meridian Audio Ltd
Stonehill
Stukeley Meadows
Cambs
PE18 6ED
England
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
World Wide Web
http://www.meridian.co.uk
Sales and service in the USA
Meridian America Inc
3800 Camp Creek Parkway
Building 2400
Suite 112
Atlanta
GA 30331
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
Designed and
manufactured in the UK by
Digital Gramophone and Wireless Ltd
Stonehill
Stukeley Meadows
Cambs
PE18 6ED
England
Copyright © 1993–1996
Digital Gramophone and Wireless Ltd
Part no: 508/2
This guide was produced by
Human-Computer Interface Ltd,
Cambridge, England.

iii
Preface
Contents
Introduction 1
Introduces the 508 20-Bit CD Player, and
provides an overview of the other products
available in the Meridian 500 Series.
The Meridian 500 Series ........................ 2
Sample configurations ........................... 3
Specification and accessories ............... 6
Using the CD player 7
Provides step-by-step instructions on how
to operate the CD player, using either the
front panel or the Meridian System
Remote.
Front panel............................................. 8
Switching on and off .............................. 9
Playing a disc......................................... 10
Stopping, pausing, and repeating
play ........................................................ 11
Programming a selection ....................... 12
Disc information and scanning .............. 14
Using index points ................................. 15
Changing the absolute phase ................ 16
Setting up the
CD player 17
Describes how to unpack and install the
CD player, and gives information about
cleaning and servicing your CD player.
Unpacking.............................................. 18
Connecting the CD player...................... 19
Troubleshooting ..................................... 23
Maintenance .......................................... 25
Service and guarantee ........................... 26
Index ...................................................... 27

Preface
iv

Introduction
In choosing the 508 20-Bit CD Player you have acquired a component that
combines major advances in digital audio and engineering design. The 508
20-Bit CD Player incorporates a three-beam laser CD mechanism, for
superb sound quality and disc playability. The precision-engineered
turntable combines the advantages of drawer loading with the superior
disc clamping normally associated with top loading players. The digital
signal is decoded using the latest 20-bit dual-differential Delta Sigma
digital to analogue converter, combined with a discrete class A output for
superlative audio performance.
This guide is designed to enable you to obtain the best possible results
from the unit, whether your requirements are simply to play a disc or to
programme a selection of music.
If you have just purchased the 508 20-Bit CD Player, you should first turn to
the section Setting up the CD player, page 17, which explains how to
unpack and install the CD player correctly.

2
Introduction
The Meridian 500 Series
The Meridian 500 Series is a unique system of digital, analogue,
and video components designed to meet the demand for
absolute quality, ease of use, and lasting value.
The flexibility of the Meridian 500 Series is such that you can
assemble a system as simple or as complex as you need,
perfectly suited to your musical and environmental requirements,
and with the ability to add to it or change it at a later date should
your requirements change. The 500 Series is also compatible
with the existing Meridian 200 Series and 600 Series
components.
Each Meridian 500 Series component is housed in a matching
slim line case. Front panel controls provide access to the most
important functions, and the full range of functions is available
from the Meridian System Remote using a simple and intuitive
control interface.
500 Series communications
The Meridian 500 Series includes a sophisticated
communications link, to ensure that any configuration of units
will work together as a fully integrated system.
The 500 Series communications system allows you to control
any combination of units using a single remote, and ensures that
your commands from the remote are interpreted unambiguously.
The communications system also allows you to extend your hi-fi
system into two or three rooms, with the ability to control the
sources in one room from the controller in another room.
Professional features
The 500 Series also includes features for professional users,
including RS232 computer control and balanced connections.
The following pages give examples of four suggested
configurations to illustrate the flexibility of the Meridian 500
Series.

Introduction
3
Sample configurations
508 20-Bit CD Player 500 Compact Disc Transport
The 508 20-Bit CD Player is an integrated CD transport and
converter, providing both digital and analogue outputs.
The 508 20-Bit CD Player is ideally suited for use with the
Meridian 557 Stereo Power Amplifier and A500 Loudspeakers,
with control over the volume and source selection provided by
the 502 Analogue Controller. These units provide balanced
inputs and outputs, allowing a completely balanced system to
be created.
504
500
562
DSP5000DSP5000
The 500 Compact Disc Transport provides a precision digital
output, and can drive DSP5000 Digital Loudspeakers directly.
A 562 Digital Control Unit can be added to cater for conventional
analogue sources, and provide source selection between up to
12 different analogue or digital sources.
The 504 Stereo FM Tuner is an ideal addition to the system if
radio reception is required.
A500
504
508 502
557
A500

4
Introduction
566 20-Bit Digital to Analogue
Converter 502 Analogue Controller
A500
566
500
557
A500
502
The digital output provided by the 500 Compact Disc Transport
can be decoded by the 566 20-Bit Digital to Analogue Converter
to provide a high-quality audio output for use with a
conventional audio preamplifier. The 566 20-Bit Digital to
Analogue Converter can also decode digital signals from other
sources, including LaserDisc players and Digital Audio Tape.
The 502 Analogue Controller is a full function preamplifier for use
with any analogue source, and includes balanced inputs to allow
you to take advantage of balanced sources, including the 566
20-Bit Digital to Analogue Converter. It provides balanced
outputs which are ideal for use with the 557 Stereo Power
Amplifier.

Introduction
5
562V Multimedia Controller
conventional analogue sources such as the 504 Stereo FM
Tuner and video sound.
It also includes video switching for CVBS and S-VHS signals,
such as from a satellite receiver, LaserDisc player, or video
recorder.
LaserDisc
Video Recorder
500 562V
Television
504
Satellite
DSP6000 DSP6000
The 562V Multimedia Controller is the ideal control unit for use
with the Meridian DSP6000 Digital Loudspeakers.
It provides direct digital inputs for digital sources, such as the
500 Compact Disc Transport and LaserDisc sound, together
with precision Delta Sigma Analogue to Digital Conversion, for

6
Introduction
Specification and accessories
Specification
THD Less than -93dBFS.
Noise Less than -93dBFS.
Mechanism Three-beam laser.
Conversion Dual differential 20-bit Delta Sigma.
Display Eight character dot-matrix display for
track, time, and index.
Finish Black textured enamel and glass.
Dimensions 88mm x 321mm x 332mm
(3.46" x 12.64" x 13.07").
Weight 6.4kg (14lbs).
Audio output 2V fixed, class A.
Balanced outputs XLR sockets, 1=ground, 2=positive
phase output, 3=negative phase
output.
Digital outputs Co-axial, optical.
Communications Two 5 pin 240°DIN sockets.
Consumption 20VA.
Meridian Audio reserves the right to amend product
specifications at any time.
Available accessories
The following accessories are available from your dealer:
❍Meridian System Remote.
❍Power cord Europe.
❍Power cord Canada and USA.
The Meridian System Remote provides access to all the facilities
provided by the 508 20-Bit CD Player, including those available
from the front panel controls. In addition, it allows you to control
any other 500 Series units in your system.
If you have problems purchasing these items, you can order
them direct from Meridian Audio Limited, who can also supply a
range of digital cables suitable for connecting the 508 20-Bit CD
Player to other equipment.

Using the CD player
This chapter provides a summary of the functions of the CD player in
order to identify the controls which you will use to operate the unit.
It also describes all aspects of using the CD player, beginning with
essential instructions such as switching on and loading a disc, to the more
advanced functions such as programming.
Unless otherwise specified, each function is available from the front panel
or the remote.

Using the CD player
8
Front panel
1 Open
Opens and closes the disc
drawer.
2>(Play)
Plays a selected track, or
moves to the next track.
3•(Stop)
Stops the disc.
4=(Pause)
Pauses the disc.
5 Display
Selects the information
displayed.
6[(Previous)
Selects the previous track.
7](Next)
Selects the next track.
8 Off
Switches to standby.
Open >Display [•= ]Off
Play 14
BOOTHROYD STUART
508
20-Bit CD Player
12345678
Display
Drawer

Using the CD player
9
Switching on and off
During normal use the CD player should be left in the standby
state. This uses a negligible amount of electricity, but ensures
that the components of the CD player operate at maximum
efficiency from the moment you start playing a disc.
If you are not going to use the CD player for a period of several
days you should switch the unit completely off, at the back
panel, and disconnect it from the AC power supply.
To switch on from standby
●Press Open (front panel only), >(Play), •(Stop), or =
(Pause).
●Switch on any other equipment connected to the CD player
which is not part of the Meridian 500 Series.
To insert a disc
●Press Open (front panel only) to open the drawer.
●Place your disc, label side up, over the hub, as shown
opposite.
●Press Open again to close the drawer.
To switch to standby
●Press Off.
The display will show:
.
If you have other Meridian 500 Series equipment connected to
the CD player, these units will also switch to standby.
If a disc is currently playing, switching to standby will stop the
disc, and the disc can safely be left in the unit.

Using the CD player
10
Playing a disc
The CD player allows you to play an entire disc, or start playing
from any track. While a disc is playing you can go back to the
start of the track or skip to the start of the next track.
If you have programmed a selection, these functions also work
with the selection of tracks you have programmed. For
information about programming; see Programming a selection,
page 12.
To play the disc
●Press >(Play).
The display will show your
selection: Play 1
The display will then show
the track being played: 1
To restart the current track
●Press [(Previous).
To move to the next track
●Press >(Play).
To play starting from a particular track
●Press ](Next) or [(Previous) to step through the track
numbers until the track you want to play is displayed, or type
the number of the track (remote only).
For example:
Track 4
With the remote you will need to press CD first if you have the
504 Stereo FM Tuner.
After a short delay the track you have selected will start to play.
If you have programmed a selection you will also need to:
●Press >(Play).

Using the CD player
11
Stopping, pausing, and repeating play
You can pause a disc while keeping it spinning, so that you can
resume play instantly.
You can also set a disc to play repeatedly, so that when the disc
(or selection) has played, it will begin again from the beginning.
This function is only available from the remote.
To stop play
●Press •(Stop).
The display will show the total number of tracks on
the disc.
For example: --2O
To pause play
●Press =(Pause).
The Paused indicator will appear, and the disc will remain
spinning.
To continue after pausing
●Press =(Pause) or >(Play).
To continuously repeat a disc
●Press Repeat (remote only).
The Repeat indicator will appear.
To cancel the repeat function
●Press Repeat again.

Using the CD player
12
Programming a selection
With the remote you can programme a selection of tracks, and
then play only those tracks you have programmed.
You can programme a selection either by storing the tracks you
want to play, or by clearing the tracks you do not want to play. If
you programme a selection by storing the tracks you want to
hear, you can play the tracks in any order and repeat tracks in
the sequence.
You can programme a selection while the disc is playing, in
which case the selection will be played after the current track
finishes.
Attempting to programme more than
31 tracks will display an error warning:
Error
To choose a track to programme
●Press Next or Previous to step through the track numbers
until the track you want is displayed, or type the number of
the track you want.
To programme by specifying the
tracks you want to play
●Choose the first track you want to play, as described above.
The display will show the track
number; for example: Track 14
●Press Store (remote only).
The display will change to: Store 14
You should store the track within two seconds, or it will begin to
play.
The track will be labelled Store.
All the other tracks are initially programmed not to play, and will
be labelled Clear.

Using the CD player
13
The Clear label will change to Store to indicate that the track is
stored.
To remove a track from a selection
●Select the track you want to remove, as described above.
●Press Clear (remote only).
The Store label will change to Clear to indicate that the track has
been cleared.
To clear a programme
●Press •(Stop) twice.
The display will show C.P. (Cancel
Programme):
C.P.
A programme is automatically cancelled if you open the disc
drawer, or press Off.
To programme by specifying the
tracks you do not want to play
●Choose one of the tracks you do not want to play, as
described above.
The display will show the track
number; for example: Track 12
●Press Clear (remote only).
The display will change to:
Clear 12
You should clear the track within two seconds, or it will begin to
play.
The track will be labelled Clear. All the other tracks are initially
programmed to play, and will be labelled Store.
To add a track to a selection
●Select the track you want to add, as described above.
●Press Store (remote only).

Using the CD player
14
Disc information and scanning
To change the display
●Press Display.
Each time you press the appropriate key, the display will step
between the following display options:
Display Example
Track (and index) number. This is
the usual display. 14
Elapsed time for the whole disc. 58:12 14
Elapsed time for the current track. O:59 14
Time remaining for the whole disc. 1:47 14
Blank.
Scanning a disc
The scan controls allow you to move quickly to any position on
the disc at approximately 20 times normal speed.
During scanning, the sound is muted and the display
automatically changes to show the elapsed time for the whole
disc, unless you have already selected one of the other time
displays.
This function is only available from the remote.
To scan through a disc
●Hold down ˘or ¯(remote only).
The display will show your position
on the disc; for example: 12:37 >>
●Release the key when you have reached the point you want.

Using the CD player
15
In addition to dividing music into tracks, some discs provide
index points within each track to allow you to locate individual
movements or bars.
For any disc with index points, the CD player’s track display will
show the track and index number.
With the remote you can use index points to move rapidly to
particular positions within a track.
To display the index number
●If necessary, select the track number display.
After the first index point, the index number will be shown after
the track number on the display.
For example, on track 14 index
number 7 the display will show: 14.7
To move to an index point
●Type the number of the track, followed by .and the number of
the index point (remote only).
For example, to play from track 3, index number 2, press 3.2.
The display will show: T. 3.2
After a short delay the disc will start to play at the track and
index point you have selected.
Using index points

Using the CD player
16
Changing the absolute phase
You can use the remote to change the absolute phase of the
analogue output signal, which in some circumstances can give
noticeable improvement in realism.
To review the phase setting
●Press Phase (remote only).
The display will show: Phase +
To change the phase setting
●Press Phase.
The display will show: Phase +
●Press Phase again.
The display will show: Phase -