Product highlights

• Upsampling for dramatic increase in quality
• Now with a unique proprietary filter with 'apodizing' performance that realises the promise of Compact Disc
• Slot-loading CD/DVD-ROM drive allows over ten times better error-correction
• 24-bit DAC operates at 176.4kHz for maximum performance
• Balanced & unbalanced analogue outs for maximum quality and flexibility
• Multiple buffers for minimum jitter and superior stereo imaging
• S/PDIF coax and TOSLink optical digital outs for high-quality replay
• Evolved from the award-winning 588 & 800 players

Meridian's G Series line of high performance digital & analogue consumer audio components feature a stylish cabinet design.

Designed to be either free-standing or rack-mounted, G Series components build on their predecessors, the multi-award-winning 500 and Meridian's flagship 800 Series, and include entirely new circuitry developed specifically for the G Series.

Multi-layer boards reduce system noise and improve performance. In products which include video capabilities, broadcast-quality, wide-bandwidth video components are employed for maximum image integrity.

G Series units are easy to use. Where appropriate, a knob is included to control volume. The positive-action front-panel keys are software-defined: their legends are presented in the vacuum fluorescent display and change intelligently according to context.

Full installation configuration of many G Series components is achieved by running a special setup program on a Windows computer, connected to the G Series unit via a serial link, or direct from the front panel.

G Series products also include serial ports for remote operation and configuration, along with infra-red sensor input and trigger capabilities, plus Meridian communications ports. A comprehensive back-lit learning/programmable remote is included with products other than amplifiers.

The G08.2 24-bit Upsampling CD Player takes Compact Disc playback to a higher level, with a heritage that includes the multiple award winning 588 and 800, and over two dozen optical disc players from 1984 to the present day.

The G08.2 features a robust new slot-loading drive and is CD-optimised, able to play virtually any Red Book CD, as well as CD-R and CD-R/W. It also plays the CD layer of an SACD disc.

At the heart of the G08.2 are fully-integrated electronics and a computer-style CD/DVD-ROM drive. Although it normally runs at standard CD speed, the drive is capable of spinning the disc much faster, allowing multiple high-speed re-reads to ensure accurate recovery of data from even the most difficult disc. This feature alone provides ten times the error correction of a conventional CD player.

Once the digital data stream has been recovered from the disc, powerful on-board digital signal processing (DSP) with a capability of an impressive 150 MIPS (million instrcutions per second) up-samples the digital information from the 44.1 kHz, 16-bit signal of conventional CD to 24 bits, and to a sample rate of 176.4 kHz for digital to analogue conversion to drive the analogue outputs, and 88.2kHz for the digital outputs.

Upsampling enables filtering to take place far beyond the range of human hearing, as well as offering other, audible benefits, right across the audio band, for ultimate transparency from a CD source.

Meridian's research team designed an exquisite new filter based on their original research – a filter with 'apodizing-like' qualities. It first appeared in the 808.2 and is now included in the G08.2. This filter system removes "ringing" and pre-echoes for superb clarity and imaging, and is so effective that it can even correct errors made in the recording or mastering stage – CDs played back on the G08.2 can soundeven better than they did in the studio!

The G08.2 also employs a triple buffering system to minimise jitter, and therefore maximise HF transparency and stereo image precision and stability.

This, and the digital electronics as a whole, are driven by a new design of high-stability clocking system which further reduces jitter and ensures that the highest level of detail is recovered from a disc. All digital data are accurately re-clocked. Multiple power supplies ensure that digital and analogue circuitry are kept apart and can provide the required power when called upon to do so.

The G08.2 player includes both balanced (on XLR connectors) and unbalanced (on phono connectors) 2-channel analogue outputs. S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface, IEC 60958) digital outputs are also provided and both optical (Toslink/EIAJ) and coax digital formats are included. In addition, the optical digital outputs can support surround-encoded bitstreams such as those derived from DTS-encoded CDs, which can be replayed via an external decoder.

The G08.2 Upsampling CD player is an ideal complement to both analogue and digital systems. A typical analogue system is shown above, including a G02 Balanced Control Unit and G57 high-power 2-channel amplifier, driving a pair of analogue passive speakers. The coaxial digital outputs will drive Meridian DSP loudspeakers directly to form a superb quality stereo CD replay system.