Meridian Meridian M60C User manual

MERIDIAN M60C USER GUIDE
Meridian Audio Ltd
14 Clifton Road
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire PE18 7EJ
England
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
Meridian America Inc
3800 Camp Creek Parkway
Building 2400 Suite 112
Atlanta GA 30331
USA
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
Author: Duncan M Smith
“Boothroyd|Stuart Meridian”, MERIDIAN
and “Meridian Digital Theatre”are
registered trademarks of Meridian Audio
Ltd
©Meridian Audio Ltd 1995

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M60C User Guide
Introduction
In choosing a Meridian M60C Centre Channel Loudspeaker, you
have acquired refined equipment which will bring you listening
pleasure for many years to come. Whether as part of an
enhanced stereo system or a full home theatre, the centre
channel is designed to bring you the highest quality sound
possible. This manual should help you get the best from it.
If you have any queries regarding the M60C, remember that your
Meridian Dealer has been selected for his expertise. You should
refer to him in the first instance.
General Description
The M60C is part of the current range of Meridian Active
Loudspeakers. They use built-in power amplifiers specifically
tailored for the cabinet and drive units to give a perfectly matched
system. This superior approach to the design of high-fidelity
loudspeaker systems has been a speciality of Meridian for fifteen
years.
Your M60C has two inputs, unbalanced and balanced, an
electronic crossover and three power amplifiers, one for each of
the drive units. The drive units are:
2 x 160mm shielded polypropylene bass and bass/midrange
1x 25mm aluminium custom dome shielded tweeter
The Boothroyd|Stuart Meridian tweeter has a number of features:
• silver voice coil
• semi- horn loading, for improved sensitivity and dispersion
characteristics
• ferro-fluid damping
• correctly aligned rear enclosure
Unpacking
Inside the packaging you should have found:
• 1 M60C Active Loudspeaker complete with grilles
• 4 self-adhesive rubber feet to protect furniture
• this manual
• 1 power cord suitable for your territory
• 1 phono-phono analogue audio lead

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M60C User Guide
If any of these items is missing, please contact your dealer. We
suggest that you retain the packaging carefully, as it provides
maximum protection in transit.
WARNING:Take great care when unpacking or repacking the
M60C that you do not put undue pressure on the front, as the
drive units may be damaged if pressed.
Getting Going
IMPORTANT: Before connecting to the AC supply, check that the
unit has been manufactured to the correct supply voltage for your
territory.
Do not make any alterations to the connections of your system
with the M60C AC power switched on.
To get going:
• Use the audio cable supplied to connect the unbalanced input
of the speaker to an appropriate preamplifier or surround
sound decoder.
• Switch on the power at the source at a low volume level.
• Connect the M60C to AC power with the cord provided.
• Switch on the M60C with the switch located next to the AC
power inlet. A green light should appear at the front of the unit
and you should be able to play music.
If you cannot hear any sound, refer to Help!
Installing your M60C
This section explains how to get the best from your M60C
installation. If your system includes a Meridian 565 Digital
Surround Processor, you will find more information on correct
installation in its User Guide.
Connections
AC power connects to the M60 at the left hand end of the speaker
viewed from the front. Where possible connect the M60C to a
grounded socket using the mains lead provided. Try to use a
separate AC power outlet for each active speaker. The use of
adapter units is discouraged as they degrade the sound quality.
Unbalanced audio may be connected to the single phono socket.
This can be connected to any preamplifier or surround sound
decoder such as the Meridian 565 Digital Surround Processor. In
this case connect to the Analogue Centre output.

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M60C User Guide
Balanced audio may be connected instead using the Balanced
InputXLR socket. If your preamp or surround decoder has a
balanced output, it may be connected as follows.
2
3
1
Connections to XLR:
1. Shield and ground or common.
2. Signal phase positive.
3. Signal phase negative.
Siting
We recommend that you now set up the system so that you can
listen to music and adjust the position of the M60Cs if necessary.
Vertical operation
Although primarily intended for horizontal mounting, the M60C can
also be used in the vertical orientation. The best sound would
result from a position which is 90 degrees clockwise from the
‘normal’ orientation.
As a Centre Channel
The M60C is ideally suited as a centre-channel speaker for
surround sound installations.
The location you choose will depend on whether you intend the
surround system for music only or whether it is to be used in
conjunction with a TV, monitor or video projector.
If the application is music only, place the speaker centrally
between the main left–right pair and arrange for the tweeters of
the three speakers to be approximately the same height 1.
If the application is video-associated then the constraints of the
video system will largely dictate the position.
If at all possible note the following guidelines:
• Height of left – centre – right to be as even as possible.
• Above a TV is vastly better than below.
• Directly on a TV is OK, the M60C is magnetically shielded.
• Below a TV will work if adequate cooling is available.
• In a custom cabinet it is entirely the responsibility of you and
your dealer to ensure adequate ventilation. If in doubt this can
determined by operating the unit and monitoring the
temperature of the backplate which is also the heatsink.
• Permanent wiring to a building is prohibited by most building
codes.
1Preferably within 1 foot, 30cm.

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M60C User Guide
As a Left – Right or a Surround pair
The locations chosen for a pair of M60Cs are crucial to getting the
best possible acoustic result. For two-channel stereo, the two
speakers should ideally be equidistant from the main listening
position, and the same distance apart.
Since it has a horizontal format, the M60C can be mounted on a
strong shelf or on a suitable stand – about which your dealer can
advise.
General guidelines
In order to get the best acoustic performance from your M60C in
your room, you should try to achieve the following:
• If possible, have the most acoustically absorbent wall in the
room behind the front speakers. They could, for example, be in
front of an open bookcase or curtained window, or on each side
of a bow window.
• If possible, have each M60C at least 50cm from a corner.
• If possible, locate the listening position so that your head is at
least 60cm from the wall behind you (unless this is acoustically
absorbent).
Consider the following practical points:
• If possible, you should locate the M60C so that the electronics
(back) of the speaker are not subjected to long-term strong
sunshine. The back plates should be cool (less than hand-hot)
when the unit is not in use.
• You should not, if possible, locate a M60C with its back to any
heat source – for example, a central heating radiator.
• You should not, locate a M60C with its back fully enclosed so
that it cannot dissipate heat from the rear-panel heatsink.
Final adjustments
The best sound possible will only be obtained if the M60C is firmly
mounted and cannot rock.
Operation
Normally the M60C should be left switched on, even when the unit
is not in use. The sound quality of the unit is at its best when the
temperature of the components has reached normal working
levels. This takes about an hour.
The electronics in the M60C use the very latest techniques to
ensure that the idle power consumption of the unit is very low.
This ensures long periods of cool running and low energy
consumption.
All audio equipment should be switched off if you expect to be
away from the installation for an extended period.

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M60C User Guide
Maintenance
There are no user serviceable parts inside the M60C.
One or two days after installation check the tightness of the fixing
screws of the loudspeaker drivers. These screws may loosen
slightly in shipping or with extremes of temperature or humidity,
and the speaker will not sound at its best with them loose. Do not
over tighten them. It is worth checking these screws after transit or
extended periods of loud playing.
The electronics do not need routine maintenance.
The audio sockets are gold plated and, where gold plated phono
sockets are used, there should be no need to clean the contacts.
Other phono plugs should be unplugged and replugged once a
year. Some proprietary contact cleaners may be used to
advantage, but you should seek the advice of your dealer.
Help!
No Sound.
• Check the AC power supply to the M60C. The green light on
the front should be lit.
• Check the AC supply to the other units in the system.
• Check correct source is selected and that the source itself is
producing music.
• Check interconnections are made to the correct sockets.
Unit goes silent when played hard.
M60C has a temperature sensing system on board which prevents
overheating of the electronics. The sound will continue when the
speaker has cooled.
Cleaning The cabinet of the M60C is finished with veneer and may be wiped
clean with a damp cloth.
The display panel is glass, and should be cleaned using a barely
damp chamois leather.
Do not use abrasive cleaners on any part of the M60C.

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M60C User Guide
Service The Meridian M60C has been carefully designed to give years of
untroubled service.
In the unlikely event that your M60C fails to function correctly, it
should be returned, in its original packing, to your Meridian dealer.
In case of difficulty, please write to the following address if you live
in the UK:
Digital Gramophone & Wireless Ltd
14 Clifton Road
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire PE18 7EJ
Outside the UK, contact the importing agent for the territory. A list
of Meridian agents abroad is available from the above address.
No responsibility can be accepted for the M60C while it is in transit
to the factory or an agent, and customers are therefore advised to
insure the unit.
In the USA and Canada, contact
Meridian America Inc.
3800 Camp Creek Parkway
Building 2400 Suite 112
Atlanta GA 30331
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
Guarantee The Meridian M60C is guaranteed against defects in material and
workmanship for 12 months from the date of purchase.
The guarantee is void if the M60C has been subjected to misuse,
accident or negligence, or has been in any way tampered with or
modified without the written authorisation of DGW Ltd.
Attempted servicing by unauthorised people may invalidate the
guarantee.
Labour and carriage charges are not covered unless by local
agreement.
If you request service under guarantee, proof of the date of
purchase will be required.
Outside the UK, local warranty liability is restricted to equipment
purchased within the territory. Our agents abroad are contractually
obliged to service under guarantee only equipment sold through
them. They are entitled to make a non-refundable charge for any
service carried out on other equipment.
This guarantee does not limit your statutory rights within the
United Kingdom.

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M60C User Guide
Specification Audio Inputs
Unbalanced 775mV (nominal), gold plated phono
Balanced 3Vrms max, XLR
Power
Amplifiers Complementary bipolar design, with
output-stage error correction and twin loop
design
Tweeter 65W mean power
Mid + Bass 65W mean power
Bass 65W mean power
Distortion <0.05%, typically less than 0.01% up to
full power at all frequencies
Noise and hum < –94dBr
Acoustic
Output Typically > 108dB spl @ 1m
Noise < 15dB spl @ 1m
Frequency
response In room response within 3dB, 45Hz– 20kHz
Crossover Double Butterworth at 2.6kHz, First Order
at 400Hz
Drive units
Bass 2 x 160mm polypropylene high-efficiency
long-throw shielded custom drivers
Tweeter Meridian 25mm piston in short horn:
aluminium dome with silver voice-coil.
Cabinet Constructed from fine veneered MDF
Dimensions 195x670x280mm
Weight 20 kg each
Power 100–125; 200-230; 210–250V AC 50–
60Hz
10VA idle; 200VA max