Meridian 221 User manual

High-resolution 2-channel
24-bit, 96kHz A/D and S/PDIF
format converter
Studio-quality analogue to
digital conversion
Connect personal stereos
and analogue components to
Meridian DSP Loudspeakers
or other S/PDIF inputs
Line or headphone level in
Converts S/PDIF Optical
input to S/PDIF Coax out
3.5mm stereo jack, optical
S/PDIF and dual phono in
Coax S/PDIF phono output
USB or DC powered
221 Media Player Digital Link
2-channel A/D & digital format converter
The vast majority of personal stereos, such as the Apple®iPod®offer a stereo analogue
output at headphone level, designed for a 3.5mm stereo jack plug. Some additionally offer
line level outputs or even S/PDIF optical outputs. Products like the Apple Airport Express®
provide a USB connector as well as analogue/optical digital connectors.
The MPMax 221 Media Player Digital Link allows all these sources and many more to be
connected directly to a pair of Meridian DSP Loudspeakers, or to any other system that
requires a standard S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) phono input.
The MPMax 221 includes the highest quality of analogue to digital conversion, in keeping
with Meridian’s long tradition of superb digital and analogue audio engineering. Two chan-
nels of conversion are provided, operating at 24-bit, 96kHz resolution – the standard format
used both in the studio and by Meridian DSP Loudspeakers. Special attention has been paid
to minimising jitter and power supply interference with the conversion process. Audiophile-
quality analogue components are coupled with the latest in studio-quality digital conver-
sion technology, optimised for sources and levels of this type.
The MPMax 221 Media Player Digital
Link, the latest in Meridian’s ‘MAX’ series
of problem-solving boxes, overcomes a
difficult challenge – getting analogue
signals such as a personal stereo into
digital products such as Meridian DSP
Loudspeakers – with a simple one-piece
solution.
The MPMax 221 allows the headphone or line-
level analogue output from a typical personal
stereo such as the Apple iPod – or any line-level
analogue signal, such as that from a legacy
hi-fi component – to be fed directly into a pair
of Meridian DSP Loudpeakers, thus making it
possible to create a simple and compact replay
system suitable, for example, for a bedroom
or den, for which no additional components
are required: volume control capability is
provided by the Meridian loudspeaker remote.
The MPMax 221 can also be used to connect
analogue and digital optical components to any
system which requires an S/PDIF coaxial digital
input at up to 24-bit, 96kHz.
The MPMax221 also includes a digital optical
input which can be used with devices that offer
a digital optical output, allowing a completely
digital path. If the audio files played back have
been ripped with a lossless format such as
FLAC, AAC/Apple Lossless or WMA Lossless, the
system can offer full digital audio quality.
The MPMax 221 contains a state-of-the-art
2-channel, multibit Delta-Sigma Analogue
to Digital converter and converts analogue
input signals at true studio quality – 24-bit
word-length, 96 kHz sampling – to match the
high-resolution S/PDIF digital coaxial input of
Meridian DSP Loudspeakers and components.

MPMAX 221
Drive Meridian
DSP Loudspeakers
directly
Headphone-level
analogue source
e.g. personal stereo
(3.5mm stereo jack)
24/96 S/PDIF
coax digital
audio output
(phono)
Legacy analogue
sources at line
level (phono)
S/PDIF
Optical source
e.g. Airport Express
(3.5mm mini-optical)
Digital S/PDIF coax
Analogue headphone level
Analogue line level
Digital S/PDIF optical
The 4-layer printed circuit board used in the
MPMax 221 has been carefully designed to
provide maximum analogue/digital isolation,
and employs the latest state-of-the-art surface-
mount parts. On the analogue part of the
board, audiophile-quality components ensure
that both line-level and headphone level
input signals are accurately matched for the
conversion process, which is implemented to
minimise jitter, power supply noise and other
interference. Overall, the A/D conversion quality
offered by the MPMax 221 is at such a high level
that the only limitations on the quality of the
signal will be those of the source component
and the playback material.
Multiple inputs are provided. A special 3.5mm
jack socket accepts both analogue headphone
signals and S/PDIF Optical (mini optical
connector) inputs. If the optical input is used in
conjunction with a network player or personal
stereo or system that supports it, and lossless file
formats such as FLAC, Apple Lossless or WMA
Lossless are used, the audio signal supplied to
the destination system can be identical to the
original source material.
Line level inputs are provided in the form of a
pair of gold-plated phono connectors. The two
analogue inputs are mixed at appropriate gains
so as to provide similar levels.
The output is in the form of a single gold-plated
phono carrying 24/96 S/PDIF format signals to
the destination system.
The unit has a B-type USB connector which
can be used to power the MPMax 221 as an
alternative to the supplied power transformer.
The unit will accept 9–15vDC at 150mA.
A two-colour LED power indicator is provided.
When S/PDIF Optical signals are detected,
the digital input is selected automatically and
the LED glows amber, indicating that format
conversion mode is operating, converting
the optical input signal to S/PDIF Coax (at the
sample rate of the source: no sample rate
conversion is carried out). If an S/PDIF Optical
signal is present, it is selected automatically. The
LED glows green to indicate that it is ready to
accept analogue inputs.
Typical applications
(see diagram below)
• Connect a personal stereo headphone output
to the 3.5mm stereo jack input.
• Connect a personal stereo line level output, a
network player’s analogue output, or a legacy
analogue hi-fi component to the dual phono
inputs.
• Connect a S/PDIF Optical source such as
a personal stereo, network player or hi-fi
component to the 3.5mm jack with a mini
optical connector. (Meridian DSP speakers
accept standard sample rates from 32 to 96
kHz.)
• Connect an Apple Airport Express unit via
mini S/PDIF connectors to the 3.5mm jack
input (digital), or connect a 3.5mm analogue
stereo jack lead between the two devices.
Power the MPMax 221 by running a USB
cable from the Airport Express to the MPMax.
Stream audio to the Airport Express unit by
selecting it in iTunes.
Outline specifications
MPMax 221 2-channel analogue (headphone or line level) to coaxial
S/PDIF converter and 2-channel optical S/PDIF to coaxial
S/PDIF converter with auto analogue/digital input selection
Output S/PDIF coaxial to IEC958 specifications. Phono connector
Line level inputs Maximum input level 2.2V (rms)
Input Impedance 20kΩ. Dual phono connectors (L&R)
Headphone level in Maximum input level 1.0V (rms)
Input Impedance 10kΩ. 3.5mm stereo jack socket
Resolution Analogue to Digital conversion: 24-bit @ 96kHz
Signal to noise ratio Better than 100dB
THD + Noise Better than 84dB at full scale
Indicator Green – Analogue to Digital Mode
Amber – Optical S/PDIF input present and selected
Power supply DC Input 6 to 15V, 150mA (PSU included)
USB Supply, 5Vdc 150mA
Dimensions 123mm (4.8in) W x 37mm (1.5in) H x 82mm (3.25in) D
Weight 300g (12oz)
Meridian Audio Limited
Latham Road,
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 6YE
United Kingdom
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
Meridian America Inc
8055 Troon Circle, Suite C
Austell, Atlanta GA 30168-7849
USA
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.meridian-audio.com
Information contained in this data sheet is correct as far as possible, but Meridian Audio accepts no liability
for errors or omissions. E&OE. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Meridian Audio
reserves the right to amend product specifications at any time. ©Text & images 2006 Meridian Audio Ltd.
MPMAXDS v1.0 • 20061004 RE
221 Media Player Digital Link
2-channel A/D & digital format converter