TOPIC:

Be aware that you have to download the Meridian mConfig software (it’s freeware) and configure the processor once via RS232 to output 8ch and not high resolution.

At what levels? I would expect AES/EBU over 4 XLR connectors normally. 4 balanced without shield will work over 8P8C but what about interfacing to normal AES/EBU inputs? Is it simply a matter of making a wiring harness or are level changes required?

Here's a PinOut and some compatibilitys. I really don't know what level this will output, but - it is standard in industry... Quad Twisted Pair (QTP) has a break out board (just a pcb with tracks) from rj45 to DB25 tascam or Yamaha pinout, and maybe you can get a nice tascam or Yamaha db25 patch cable.

c3f18fc2-65b9-4e62-8935-5869ea133f25.fil...9a6ae40a9d318ef6.pdf
c3f18fc2-65b9-4e62-8935-5869ea133f25.fil...985be2448541075d.pdf


I am probably the only one using (abusing) the meridian processor this way. Never heard it anywhere else.

I came across it, when someone wanted to know if he can connect his professional projector with a rj45 aes out to a meridian surround sound processor. And that was possible right away so I figured why not the other way round.

jan.p.ho wrote:

Here's a PinOut and some compatibilitys. I really don't know what level this will output, but - it is standard in industry... Quad Twisted Pair (QTP) has a break out board (just a pcb with tracks) from rj45 to DB25 tascam or Yamaha pinout, and maybe you can get a nice tascam or Yamaha db25 patch cable.

c3f18fc2-65b9-4e62-8935-5869ea133f25.fil...9a6ae40a9d318ef6.pdf
c3f18fc2-65b9-4e62-8935-5869ea133f25.fil...985be2448541075d.pdf


I am probably the only one using (abusing) the meridian processor this way. Never heard it anywhere else.

I came across it, when someone wanted to know if he can connect his professional projector with a rj45 aes out to a meridian surround sound processor. And that was possible right away so I figured why not the other way round.

Ah! This I understand. Tascam and Yamaha pinouts cover up to 8x AES/EBU at expected levels. Made plenty of breakout cables. I'm guessing the 8P8C cable is shielded and connected to the relevent pins at the other end (for purposes of a shield ground and not signal ground as the signals are balanced).

Only 1080p but fine for use with an auxiliary "audio only" HDMI output that delivers 4k on the main output.

If you’re willing to throw in more money there is a new UHd722 or so that can handle UHD

A little rich for my blood. I don't need it as an HDMI switch.

Just bumping the thread with the conclusion to the internal header output for anyone interested.

I bought a decent scope and checked J2:9, but no signal, decided to poke around at other pins just because and found MCLK is actually on J2:11 contrary to miniSHARC interface.

So here is the header info for interfacing via i2s; viewed as if front panel is farthest from you and rear connectors are closest to you. All signals are 3.3v, and MCLK is 24.576MHz. Power header near power input has GND on left pins and 5v on right pins.

The WM8804 converter I got works, I took differential outputs direct to RCA & XLR and tested on S/PDIF & AES/EDU of my speakers, and both worked great.

jan.p.ho wrote:

That’s what they tell you.
I can tell you, that I’m using a Dolby cp650 with it via 4 stereo channels over 4 aes


Well there is one thing. You can’t go higher than 48khz. Above that it is encrypted.

Do you know if that was 24bit?

All the searching I did seemed to think it was only 16bit.

I think it‘s possible to go with 24bit. But most blu rays give out 16bit, no?
Let’s say this. In my Setup it’s connected to a blu ray player one of the big ones from Sony as well as an Apple TV and I never had a problem.

Greetings,

Kiroomar wrote:

Just bumping the thread with the conclusion to the internal header output for anyone interested.

I bought a decent scope and checked J2:9, but no signal, decided to poke around at other pins just because and found MCLK is actually on J2:11 contrary to miniSHARC interface.

So here is the header info for interfacing via i2s; viewed as if front panel is farthest from you and rear connectors are closest to you. All signals are 3.3v, and MCLK is 24.576MHz. Power header near power input has GND on left pins and 5v on right pins.

The WM8804 converter I got works, I took differential outputs direct to RCA & XLR and tested on S/PDIF & AES/EDU of my speakers, and both worked great.

 

Thank you for your findings! If I would have known this earlier I would have bought a standard NanoAVR.

Now it's out of stock everywhere an MiniDSP will probably never release a product like this again

Cheers!

mga2009 wrote:

Thank you for your findings! If I would have known this earlier I would have bought a standard NanoAVR.

Now it's out of stock everywhere an MiniDSP will probably never release a product like this again

Cheers!
 

They occasionally come up on eBay (currently there are some expensive ones posted). Just create a saved search "nanoavr -arduino" and wait, used ones in the $250-$400 range use to come up every few months... (I stopped monitoring early 2020 though after I bought a spare)

Thanks! 

Will do. 

In my desperate search for a NanAVR, I also bough this board which outputs 8 channel I2S but Ithink I will get a ton of jitter without a FIFO.
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/attachments/digital-source/950504d1620669049-dac-hdmi-input-hdmi-board-jpg

 

mga2009 wrote:

Thanks! 

Will do. 

In my desperate search for a NanAVR, I also bough this board which outputs 8 channel I2S but Ithink I will get a ton of jitter without a FIFO.
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/attachments/digital-source/950504d1620669049-dac-hdmi-input-hdmi-board-jpg

 

The board (attachment visible to diyaudio.com registered users only) looks like what this thread was looking for, a solution to get all the 8x digital audio channels out of HDMI (via internal I2S headers for each channel pair).  What is the board or which digital audio extractor product did it come out of? (to help others looking for similar, I might even buy one)

Also, what are you ultimately trying to accomplish? HDMI to what destination?

I was trying to make a "cheap" active speaker, or better said... a cheap set of active speakers for home theater use,

I know it would be much cheaper to just use the PC as source, and get a big USB interface (Motu, Behringer or whatever) but I really wanted the possibility to have an HDMI source, mainly to use game consoles. 

Now, I have the board (HDMI to I2S) and I have the DSP (ADAU1452). All bought in Aliexpress. 
The board was bought here: 

www.aliexpress.com/item/33031920347.html...1.0.0.274263c0a5pzQr

I tested it with my ADAU1701 but I had some noise, or what I think its a problem with the clocks. I recall ADAU1701 need the niput to be slave. NOw I have to try my ADAU1452 wich has ASR converters. 

I am no experts, but I am almost 100% positive that I will need this to reduce jitter:
www.diyinhk.com/shop/audio-kits/165-fifo...r-8-channel-dac.html

If you are interested and willing to help, I might get one and report to see how this works.  

mga2009 wrote:

I tested it with my ADAU1701 but I had some noise, or what I think its a problem with the clocks. I recall ADAU1701 need the niput to be slave. NOw I have to try my ADAU1452 wich has ASR converters. 

I am no experts, but I am almost 100% positive that I will need this to reduce jitter:
www.diyinhk.com/shop/audio-kits/165-fifo...r-8-channel-dac.html

If you have a scope, you can check the I2S signals from the extractor for distortion / timing discrepancies / under-voltage, but as long as the jumper cables are short, the boards are connected together with Gnd & MCLK (as well as BCLK, LRCLK & SD#), and they both agree on the same BCLK & MCLK frequency, I'd assume they would lock signal pretty well.

By noise, do you mean digital noice causing the DAC to mis-interpret the signal or analog, increased noise floor over what you expect from the source?