Meridian 810 User manual

Product highlights
10 megapixel (4096 x 2400) Ultra
High Denition display derived from
three 1.27in diagonal 4096 x 2400
D-ILA chips for smooth, icker-free,
beyond-cinema-quality images
Light output up to 4000 lumens
delivers SMPTE cinema reference
level for reected light (16 foot-
Lamberts) from grey or white screens
Native 10,000:1 contrast with organic
polarization grid for superb shadow
detail and true blacks
Painstakingly calibrated at Meridian’s
dedicated facilities over a period of
four days using exclusive calibration
technology developed by William
Phelps. Separate calibration for SD
and HD sources
System includes both projector
and specially-designed scaler for
480i–1080p inputs
High performance interchangeable
lenses: short, medium and long-throw
package systems include motorised
2.35:1 (Cinemascope®) anamorphic
lens; very short-throw package
available for back-projection and
simulator applications
This is a preliminary document and all
contents are subject to change.
Meridian Audio Limited
Latham Road, Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire PE29 6YE, UK
T [phone]
F [phone]
E [email protected]
Meridian America Inc.
8055 Troon Circle, Suite C
Austell, GA 30168-7849, USA
T [phone]
F [phone]
www.meridian-audio.com
For over ten years, Meridian has been
developing and manufacturing award-winning
video products – from DVD players to
projectors – that, together with the company’s
advanced digital audio components, create
the Meridian Digital Theatre, offering the
highest quality reproduction of both image
and sound.
Now, Meridian takes the next step towards
perfecting the home viewing experience
with the introduction of the Meridian 810
Reference Video System.
The 810 system comprises two primary
elements: the Ultra High Definition 810
Reference Video Projector, an entirely new
D-ILA-based digital projector offering a
previously impossible 10 megapixels –
exceeding the resolution even of commercial
digital cinema projectors – and the 810
Reference Video Scaler, a special processor
designed to optimise the imaging of HD
and standard resolution inputs for the vast
new possibilities offered by a 10 megapixel
projection environment.
The result is a system that, Meridian believes,
represents the most realistic home theatre
performance in the world.
Using a brand new light engine, the Meridian
810 Reference Video Projector offers
an effective resolution of 4096 x 2400
pixels, or 9,830,400 pixels. In comparison,
a conventional HDTV image at 720p
represents just one megapixel, while full-spec
HD (1080p) is still only twice that.
The Meridian 810 Reference Video Projector
also has extremely high light output capability.
Powered by a PKI Xenon lamp, the projector
is capable of delivering up to 4000 lumens,
enough to light even the very largest grey
or white screen to the SMPTE standard
Hollywood reference level of 16 foot-
Lamberts reflected light.
In addition, the projector has a native contrast
ratio of 10,000:1, ensuring that even in
the most difficult scenes, such as those
combining bright light and shadow, detail is
never lost.
810 Reference Video System
10-megapixel digital projector & scaler
Version 1.0 09/2008

Calibration: the key to quality
Trained staff at Meridian’s dedicated facilities
individually calibrate each projector in a
procedure that takes over four days to
complete, mainly as a result of the sheer
number of pixels to be calibrated. Different
calibration steps require different groupings
of pixels to be considered: for example flat
field calibration is carried out for every group
of four adjacent pixels; other parameters
may require adjustment at the individual pixel
level. The 810’s calibration technology was
developed exclusively for Meridian by William
Phelps.
It is not sufficient to calibrate a projector
in isolation – especially one that offers
such a high-resolution, high-quality image.
Instead, the projector and its accompanying
scaler are considered as a complete,
indivisible system – for example, different
calibration procedures are carried out to
suit Standard and High Definition signals;
the scaler determines the signal format
and automatically activates the appropriate
calibration profiles in the projector.
In addition, calibration bears in mind the
conditions in the viewing environment. The
aim of a projector is not to get the maximum
light on to the screen: on the contrary, most
dedicated home cinema rooms are darkened,
and it is all too easy, with a powerful
projection system, to get an image that is too
bright – which apart from losing visual detail
can lead to a tiring viewing experience.
The correct approach is to standardise the
amount of light reflected from the screen.
This is the method employed by the Society
of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
(SMPTE), and used throughout the film
industry. Their standard requires a light
level of a nominal16 foot-Lamberts to be
reflected from the screen when no film is in
the projector gate. In practice, the average
brightness of a bright scene in a cinema is
around 60% to 75% of this amount.
Thus the projector must be individually
calibrated for the specific space in which
810 Reference Video System
10-megapixel digital projector & scaler
Digital Cinema 4K 4096 x 2160
Meridian 810 Reference Video System 4096 x 2400
Digital Cinema 2K 2048 x 1080
HDTV 1080i/p 1920 x 1080
HDTV 720p 1280 x 720
PAL SD 720 x 576
NTSC SD 720 x 480
This diagram provides a comparison of video
resolutions, from standard definition to the
Ultra High Definition 4096 x 2400 resolution
of the Meridian 810 system – significantly
higher than four full-spec HD screens
laid side by side. The purple and green
rectangles (top left) indicate the resolution
of a Standard Definition (SD) image – 720
pixels wide by 480 (NTSC) or 576 (PAL)
high and generally interlaced. A 720p HDTV
image is 1280 pixels wide by 720 high
and progressive-scan, while a ‘full spec’
HDTV image is 1920 x 1080 progressive
(‘1080p’) – 1080i (interlaced) images are
also common. A standard Digital Cinema
specification, generally referred to as ‘2K’,
delivers 2048 x 1080 pixels progressive. The
latest ‘4K2K’ Digital Cinema spec is 4096 x
2160, delivering an 8-megapixel image. The
810 projector goes beyond this to deliver a
10-megapixel. 4096 x 2400 image.
Beyond High Definition… way beyond.
810 Projector
Outline Technical Specification
All information is subject to revision
Display device
•Aspectratio17:10(Approx.)
•Displaysize(diagonal)1.27”
•EffectiveResolution4096x2400
Lamp
•PKIXenon
•Outputupto4000lumens/825W
•Poweroutputdeterminedbycalibration
process for the application
•Accumulatedlamptimecounterand
lamp replacement warning
Projection Lenses
•Severallensoptionsavailablefromveryshort
throw (back-projection) to long throw
•Anamorphic2.35:1(Cinemascope®)
capability
Optical system
•ON/OFFcontrast10,000:1(typical)
•ANSIcontrast300:1(typical)
•Peripheralbrightness>80%
Installation capability
•Vertical±90degrees
•Horizontal±5degrees
•Noiselevel<45dB(A)
System features
•Associated810scaleraccepts
RGB480i–1080p24/48/50/60
•DirectDVIinputsfor4kx2knative
•Low-delaymode
•Displayresolution4096x2400
Connections
•Upto4DVI
•RS232(forcontrol)
•Ethernet
•USB
Power
•Input100–120V,200–240VAC
Single-phase,50/60Hz
•Maxcurrent<15A
•PowerConsumption<1,500W
•PowerConsumption(Standby)<2.7W
Physical characteristics
•Dimensions663x793x342-362mm
W D H (including lens and foot)
•Mass:Net59kgGross69kg
•OperationEnvironment(Temperature):
+10°C – +35°C
•OperationEnvironment(Humidity):
Less than 80% (No condensation)
•StorageTemperature:–5°C–+60°C

it will be used. The installation contractor
provides Meridian with full details of the
operating environment including the
specifications and colour of the screen (the
810 will support both grey and white screens,
though the latter is recommended), as the
reflected light level depends on several
factors, including the throw length and
the gain of the screen, as well as the light
brightness. The 810 light output is controlled
as part of a calibration process that meets
international cinema standards every step of
the way.
The calibration of the 810 projector is
therefore part of an integrated installation
and configuration process, including every
aspect of the home cinema environment.
Calibration is often a multi-dimensional
process. For example, a conventional setup
approach simply aligns a projector’s white
reference to a given colour temperature.
But colour temperature alone does not tell
you how accurate the colour rendering is.
Onlyonepointinthecolourmeasurement
coordinate system (D65) is actually correct –
and our projectors are calibrated specifically
to that point. The optimisation process
provides both accurate colour temperature
and Gamma tracking.
Similarly, it is not enough just to set up a
projector to give a uniformly white screen at
full output. It has to remain uniform across
different luminance levels. In the 810, the flat
field uniformity is superbly aligned for virtually
zero deviation for an extraordinarily wide
range of luminance values.
The fundamental intention behind the
Meridian 810 Reference Video System is to
give you, the viewer, the impression of looking
through a window into the cinematographer’s
world, with all its detail and three-
dimensionality: and calibration is an important
part of achieving that goal.
If you forget that you are looking at a screen
illuminated by a complex chain of art and
technology, and instead are connected
directly to the film-maker’s visual imagination,
then – and only then – have we truly
succeeded. And this is exactly what you
will experience with the 810. At last, the
cinematographer’s dream is realised.
810 Scaler completes the system
To display an image with a resolution of
10 megapixels requires some very special
scaling. To meet this requirement, Meridian
has developed the 810 Reference Video
Scaler.
Where some scaling technologies still
rely on copying adjacent pixels to handle
upconversion, the 810 scaler is fully
interpolative, and offers a significantly
higher level of processing. A brand new
design, featuring Marvell’s powerful Qdeo®
processing technology, the scaler converts
any digital source (480i to 1080p) up to full
10 megapixel resolution. Its quiet and natural
video processing produces images that
are free from noise and devoid of artefacts
whether operating in 4:3, 16:9 or 2.35:1
modes.
810 Reference Video System
10-megapixel digital projector & scaler
810 Scaler
Outline Technical Specification
All information is subject to revision
Supported formats
•Inputformats:RGB480i,576i,720p,
1080i,1080p;24/48/50/60f/s
•Outputformats:upto4096x2400to
drive projector inputs
Processor technology
•MultipleMarvellQdeovideoprocessors
under microprocessor control
Connections
•HDMIIn
•DVIin
•QuadDVIOut
•RS232Projectorsocket
•RS232Controlsocket
•MaintenanceRS232socketforrmware
upgrades
•USBportforrmwareupgradesvia
memory stick
•MeridianCommsBNC
•Ethernetport(RJ45)allowsaccessto
inbuilt web server for configuration
•IRsensorportforconnectionofG12
remote sensor
•Triggeroutputx3:onecontrols
anamorphic lens slide; others user
configurable
Controls
•Reset,HomeandMorefrontpanel
buttons
•SoftButtonsx5:takeondifferent
functions according to context, eg Setup,
Projector Settings, Scaler Settings etc.
Enclosure
•2U,19inrackmounting,uniformwithC
Series
•17.25x13.5x3.5in/437x343x
87mm (W D H) approx, not including
protuberances

The 810 scaler includes a new class
of adaptive video format conversion
technologies, accepting video resolutions
from 480i to 1080p, 24–60 frames per
second.
Incorporated in the technology is a
complete set of noise and artefact
reduction technologies. Per-pixel noise and
compression artefact reduction removes
noise typically inherent in digital video, while
per-pixel motion-adaptive 3-D de-interlacing
removes jaggies and eliminates feathering.
Marvell’s Adaptive Contrast Enhancement
(ACE) and Intelligent Color Remapping (ICR)
render rich and vivid images, optimising
texture, detail, edges, contrast and colour,
providing a consistent, immersive viewing
experience for all types of content.
Projector and scaler are operated as a
single system. Serial data commands
flow between the two units to select the
appropriate projection and image processing
parameters at both ends of the chain, so that
the image will always be at its best, whether
it is receiving it from DVD, HDTV, Blu-ray
Disc or alternative sources. The projector is
also configured from the scaler interface,
which includes a built-in configuration web
server, accessed via the scaler’s Ethernet
connection.
The scaler accepts both HDMI and DVI
inputs and delivers a quad DVI path to
the projector. In addition the unit features
Meridian comms for full integration with a
Meridian Digital Theatre system, RS232
and USB maintenance ports for firmware
upgrades (the latter allowing an update to be
loaded via a memory stick) and an RS232
connection to the projector.
The scaler is a rack-mounting unit in the
same style as Meridian’s existing C Series of
installation products and includes a vacuum
fluorescent front-panel display with soft
buttons that can be used to operate and
configure the unit. Modelled on Meridian’s
successful G Series user interface, the
display labels the buttons according to
context.
Complete projection systems
The Meridian 810 Reference Video System
is available as a package consisting of
both projector and scaler, which will not be
available separately. Four different packages
are offered, featuring lens systems with
differing throw lengths. Short, Medium and
Long-Throw packages include a special
motorized 2.35:1 (Cinemascope®) lens
assembly, while a Very Short Throw package,
designed for back-projection and simulator
applications, will also be available.
See separate sheets for dimensioned
drawings and RS232 communications codes.
Lens information to follow
810 Reference Video System
10-megapixel digital projector & scaler
810DS-ENG v1.0 • REƒ • 20080915