Meridian AC11 User manual

Technical specification
Form factor
• 1U 19in rack mounting
Power
• External power supply,
12VDC 300mA max
Connections
• Power input
• Trigger in (3.5mm jack)
• IR Out to controller (3.5mm jack)
• RS232 DB9 master control port
• BNC Meridian Comms & Slave Comms
• DIN Meridian Comms & Slave Comms
• IR Return and Slave Comms Return
(RJ45)
• SpeakerLink connections to Master and
Slave speakers, Ch A (Master) to D
(RJ45)
• Digital Audio Inputs (MHR or S/PDIF)
Ch A (Master) to D (phono)
Front-panel Indicators
• Power LED
• Master (x1) and Slave (x7) LEDs
Meridian’s SpeakerLink is a component
interlink system allowing balanced high
resolution digital audio and Meridian Comms
signals, or RS232 firmware updates, to
be transmitted via a standard Cat 5 STP
(shielded twisted pair) cable terminated with
standard RJ45 connectors. This results in
unprecedented ease of installation, which
can often employ existing network-ready
wiring. A single cable can supply all the data
and audio information between two Meridian
components that would previously have
required separate audio and control cables.
As time goes by an increasing number
of Meridian products will be fitted with
SpeakerLink connections.
The AC11 Meridian SpeakerLink Hub
allows the interfacing of SpeakerLink DSP
Loudspeakers with existing Meridian source
and control products including DIN and/
or BNC Comms ports and Digital audio or
MHR digital audio connections. The AC11
permits the building of a complete system
utilising components and loudspeakers using
a combination of these connections. The unit
is particularly useful for interfacing Meridian
sources and surround controllers with
DSP loudspeakers. Additional connections
include an IR Out port, which can carry IR
received by the Master loudspeaker to the
Controller’s IR input. Front panel indicators
show the presence of power and Master and
Slave SpeakerLink connections. The AC11 is
designed for systems with between two and
eight channels.
Typical Systems
In a typical system, the Meridian ‘Controller’
product will be connected to a Meridian
Comms socket (DIN or BNC) on the rear
panel of the AC11. BNC or DIN cables
can be run from the ‘Slave’ ports to (and
from, depending on configuration) non-
SpeakerLink speakers (via a 511 if needed).
The Master SpeakerLink socket is connected
to the Master DSP Loudspeaker and carries
digital audio sourced from Digital Audio
Input A. The slave speakers are connected
to the remaining SpeakerLink connectors
as required (Ch A–D) and carry digital audio
sourced from the controller (for example), via
the corresponding digital audio inputs.
The Front Panel
The front panel of the AC11 includes only
indicator lights. On the left is the power
indicator, and in the centre of the panel are
indicators that illuminate when an active
RJ45 SpeakerLink connection is plugged
into the corresponding rear panel connector
(whether the AC11 is powered or not).
The Rear Panel
From left to right, the rear panel includes the
following connectors:
Power input. This barrel connector is
designed for the wall-socket power supply
included with the unit.
Trigger In. This 3.5mm jack socket is not
currently used.
IR Out. This 3.5mm jack socket operates
in conjunction with the IR Return RJ45
socket on the rear panel, delivering infrared
commands back to the Controller in systems
where the latter is hidden.
Master RS232. This DB9 connector allows
a serial link to be established with the Master
loudspeaker to enable firmware updating
from the AC11 (rather than having to
connect direct to the loudspeaker). To update
the firmware in a series of loudspeakers
with SpeakerLink connectors, plug each
loudspeaker in turn to the Master RJ45
socket and perform the update.
Product highlights
Allows Meridian loudspeakers
using the new SpeakerLink
Cat 5-based interlink system to
interface with existing components
using the DIN- or BNC-based
Meridian Comms system.
SpeakerLink carries balanced
MHR digital audio and Meridian
Comms, or RS232 firmware
updates via standard Cat 5 cabling.
AC11 allows the integration of
both simple and complex Meridian
installations using virtually any
Meridian digital components.
AC11
Meridian SpeakerLink Hub
Product Information & User Guide

When all the loudspeakers have been
updated, reconnect the actual “Master”
loudspeaker to the Master socket and
connect the other loudspeakers to their
correct RJ45 ports.
BNC and DIN Meridian
Communications Connectors.
These are labelled “Meridian Comms”
and “Slave Comms”. They carry Meridian
communications signals between the
components that provide them; the AC11;
and non-SpeakerLink loudspeakers.
Connect the Comms connector on the
component to the “Meridian Comms” socket.
The “Slave Comms” socket delivers the
Meridian communications signal back from
the Master loudspeaker if it is connected
via SpeakerLink, and can be used to
supply Slave Comms to non-SpeakerLink
loudspeakers in the system.
The BNC and DIN sockets have identical
functionality. If your component includes both
types of connector, BNC and DIN, you only
need to use one set.
Slave Comms Return RJ45. (This socket
is seldom required.) You can connect the
SpeakerLink Output RJ45 connector on
the Master loudspeaker to this socket if it is
necessary to provide Slave Comms to other
speakers in the system via the AC11. The
signal received at this socket also appears
at the Slave Comms BNC and DIN sockets
(described above) to provide Slave Comms
to any non-SpeakerLink loudspeakers in the
system.
IR Return RJ45. In systems where the
Master speaker is not the Controller, connect
an RJ45 cable from the SpeakerLink Output
on the Master loudspeaker to this socket
to provide an IR signal from the IR Out
socket, which can be returned to the source
component. For example, if the system
Controller is remotely located in a rack, you
can connect the SpeakerLink Output from
the Master speaker to the IR Return on the
AC11, and run a 3.5mm jack cable from the
AC11’s IR Out to the Controller’s IR In.
Master RJ45 socket. If the Master
loudspeaker in the system is a SpeakerLink
type, then connect it to this socket. The
other end of the cable should be plugged
into the SpeakerLink Input RJ45 socket on
the Master loudspeaker. Ensure that the
audio for this loudspeaker is fed into the
corresponding digital audio input on the
AC11. This connector also encompasses
the functionality of the Slave Comms Return
connector (see above).
SpeakerLink RJ45 sockets A–D.
Connect the other SpeakerLink loudspeakers
in the system to these sockets. Each pair of
sockets corresponds to the digital audio input
socket with the same letter. For example,
the signal to feed the Surround/Rear pair of
loudspeakers in a surround system might be
connected to the “D” sockets. In this case, the
surround or rear digital audio signals from the
surround processor would be connected to
the digital audio socket on the AC11 labelled
“D”. Each RJ45 socket carries two channels
of digital audio (the same two channels
as the corresponding digital audio phono
connectors). During configuration, “Type”
the loudspeaker to pick up the appropriate
channel.
Digital Audio Input phono sockets
A–D. These sockets carry the digital audio
signals from the source or controller product
to the AC11. Digital audio sockets each carry
two channels. As a result, it is important to
connect the correct channel pair to each
Digital audio input socket. Ensure that the
pair of signals applied to each Digital audio
input socket corresponds to the similarly-
labelled pair of RJ45 connectors. Whether a
loudspeaker picks up the left or right signal
of the pair is determined by the loudspeaker
Type configuration (except in the case of a
subwoofer, where it is set with a switch on
the rear panel).
Typical Port Assignments
In the case of a surround system, there may
be up to eight outputs. A typical set of port
assignments in such a system might be as
follows. Also see the table below.
A (Master): The master speaker in the
system, typically the Centre loudspeaker.
A (Slave): the other channel alongside
the Master in the 2-channel pair from
the controller. Typically the Subwoofer (if
present).
B: Left & Right Front speakers.
C: Sides (if present).
D: Surround/Rear speakers.
In cases like the above, you will typically
run cables from the AC11 out to the
loudspeakers (a “star” network configuration).
In the case of a simple SpeakerLink stereo
system, one loudspeaker will be the Master
and the other a Slave. One way of connecting
the pair of speakers would be to run an
RJ45 cable from the AC11 Master socket
to the SpeakerLink Input on the Master
speaker, and another cable from the AC11
A Slave socket to the other loudspeaker’s
SpeakerLink Input.
However, you are not obliged to run cables
from both speakers back to the AC11.
Instead, if it makes more sense, you can
connect the “Master” socket on the AC11
to the Master loudspeaker’s SpeakerLink
Input and “daisy-chain” from that speaker’s
SpeakerLink Output to the SpeakerLink Input
of the second loudspeaker in the pair.
Examples
Please note that these examples are provided
solely for the illustration of principles. There
may be alternative, more appropriate methods
of connecting these components. See
diagrams following.
1. 861 Surround Controller
with seven DSP7200s
(all speakers have SpeakerLink)
• Connectthe861digitalaudiooutputs
to the Digital Audio Inputs on the AC11.
Determine which pair will carry the Master
and connect it to the A input on the AC11.
• ConnectaMeridianCommsportonthe
861toaMeridianCommsportonthe
AC11.
• RunanRJ45cablefromtheMastersocket
on the AC11 to the Master loudspeaker.
• HookuptheremainingRJ45SpeakerLink
Slave connections on the AC11 to
the SpeakerLink Input sockets of the
corresponding loudspeakers.
Note that this is an instance of a “star” or
“home run” network topology: all the speaker
cables run back to the AC11 with no daisy-
chaining.
2. G08.2 with a pair of
DSP7200 speakers
(all speakers have SpeakerLink)
• Connectthedigitalaudiooutputfromthe
G08.2totheMasterDigitalAudioInputon
the AC11.
• ConnectMeridianComms(DINorBNC)
fromtheG08.2toaMeridianComms
socket on the AC11.
• ConnectanRJ45cablefromtheMaster
socket on the AC11 to the SpeakerLink
Input socket on the Master loudspeaker
(typically the left).
• ConnectanRJ45cablefromthe
SpeakerLink Output socket on the Master
loudspeaker to the SpeakerLink Input
socket on the Slave loudspeaker.
Typical Port Assignments for Digital Audio I/O and Speaker pairs
Signal Pair Stereo 5.1 7.1
A Left & Right Centre & Sub Centre & Sub
B — Left & Right Front Left & Right Front
C — — Left & Right Side
D — Rear (Surrounds) Rear (Surrounds)
Notes Either can be Master Typically Centre = Master Typically Centre = Master

3. Hybrid System: G68ADV with 3 x
DSP7200 (front), 2 x DSP5200 (rear)
and SW1600 sub
(fronts have SpeakerLink, others do not)
• RunadigitalaudiocablefromtheCentre/
SuboutputoftheG68totheADigital
Input of the AC11.
• RunadigitalaudiocablefromtheFront
outputoftheG68totheBDigitalInputof
the AC11.
• RunadigitalaudiocablefromtheRear
outputontheG68totheDigitalInputon
one of the rear speakers.
• RunadigitalaudiocablefromtheDigital
Out of the rear speaker above to the Digital
Input of the other rear speaker.
• RunadigitalaudiocablefromtheDigital
Audio Output of the Centre speaker to the
Digital Input of the subwoofer.
• RunCommscables(DINorBNC)fromthe
Slave Comms socket on the AC11 to the
Comms Input on the subwoofer, from the
Comms Output on the sub to the Comms
Input on one of the rear speakers, and from
the Comms Output on that speaker to the
Comms Input of the other rear speaker.
• ConnectaG68CommssockettoMeridian
Comms on the AC11 (BNC or DIN)
• ConnectanRJ45cablefromtheMaster
socket on the AC11 to the SpeakerLink
Input on the Centre speaker.
• ConnectanRJ45cablefromtheBsocket
of the AC11 to the SpeakerLink Input
socket on the Front Left speaker.
• ConnectanotherRJ45cablefromthe
SpeakerLink Output of the Front Left
speaker to the Input of the Front Right
speaker.
KEY
Digital Audio
Meridian Comms (BNC or DIN)
SpeakerLink RJ45
DSP7200
DSP7200
DSP7200
DSP7200
DSP7200
DSP7200
DSP7200HC
861
MASTER
IN
IN
IN
IN
IN
IN
IN
D =
L/R SURR
C =
L/R SIDES
B =
L/R FRONT
A =
CENTRE
1. 861 Surround Controller
with seven DSP7200s
AC11 front and rear panel views

AC11
Meridian SpeakerLink Hub
AC11UG-ENG v1.9 • REƒ • P86025 • 20081114
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
DSP7200
G08.2
DSP7200
MASTER
IN
IN
OUT KEY
Digital Audio
Meridian Comms (BNC or DIN)
SpeakerLink RJ45
A =
L/R FRONT
2. G08.2 with a pair of DSP7200s
3. Hybrid system: G68ADV with 3 x
DSP7200 (front), 2 x DSP5200 (rear)
and an SW1600 digital subwoofer
DSP7200
DSP7200HC
SW1600
G68
DSP7200
DSP5200DSP5200
IN
IN
OUT
MASTER
IN
IN
OUT
OUT
IN
IN
IN
IN
OUT
OUT
IN
A =
CENTRE/SUB
B =
L/R FRONT
KEY
Digital Audio
Meridian Comms (BNC or DIN)
SpeakerLink RJ45