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[rpalmer68]

Hi folks,

This probably won't be all that exciting for most of you, but for anybody running Meridian gear like a 568.2mm or G98 this is VERY exciting.

The Meridian gear is digital all the way through to the DSP speakers and doesn't support HDMI inputs unless you purchase a Meridian HD621 which takes the HDMI signal, splits out the video/audio and then passes the video to the display and the audio to the digital inputs on the Meridian processsor.  There units are like US$2500 (A$4000)!!!

I have now found a MUCH cheaper way of doing this, and thus allowing me to pass full HD multi channel audio theough to my Meridian processor.

Octava have an HDMI 4 x 2 switch with 7.1 analogue outputs - http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20switch%204x2_7_1audio.html

This will be useful for those with 7.1 (or 5.1) analogue inputs on your AMP but no HDMI input if you have an HDMI output on your PC or player but not multichannel output..... BUT there is a mod board avilable from here   http://www.switch-box.com/Home.html that changes the switch to have 4 SPDIF OUTPUTS, which I can then feed into my Meridian processor. 

The Octava is like US$350 and the 4 port SPDIF mod US$200, so a HUGE saving over the Meridian option.

Just had to share this with you

Richard

[Avman]

Hi mate
I know it's been a while since posting. I have just come across your thread and am wondering about the configuration of the above as I was contemplating buying the meridian hdmi switcher for my 568.2mm


Do I just need the above from your links or anything else.

Cheers
Jon

[rpalmer68]

Hi, sorry didn't see your post.

All you need is the Octava box and the mod board, plus somebody who can solder it in as it's all surface mount stuff and SMALL!

Although looking at the website now http://www.switch-box.com/4x_S_PDIF_Transceiver_board.html it says that the board is now discontinued!

You could email Shawn Fogg (info at switch-box d o t com) and see if he still has any or ask on the Meridian unplugged board if anybody has a modded octava they want to sell.
http://www.meridianunplugged.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php

Sometimes the octava drops sync with the HDMI, especially if you use the latest ATI drivers (I'm now using a NVIDIA GPU), but overall it's been a great upgrade and well worth doing.


Richard