Letter (email) to Meridian... - Blu-ray Forum

DaViD Boulet · 11-30-2007, 06:59 PM

I am disappointed that Meridian has plans to produce an HD DVD player, but not a Blu-ray Disc player or combo player.

Blu-ray Disc is a more forward-oriented format better aligned with your company’s values: with more bit-space and higher bandwidth, the improved audio fidelity over HD DVD is not a theory: virtually all Blu-ray Discs offered by Disney, Sony, Fox, and MGM (those studios committed to authoring the very best quality on Blur-ray Disc) carry a lossless-compressed or PCM soundtrack, whereas only a small fraction of HD DVDs do the same (to maintain parity, Warner Brothers omits lossless audio from BD when it isn’t provided on HD DVD).

Bob Stuart was helpful in getting the 24/96 PCM provision on red-book DVD, and your company developed the MLP algorithm upon which Dolby TrueHD is based; it seems ironic that you would align with a format that can’t consistently deliver lossless audio quality. Why work to improve the fidelity of perceptually-compressed soundtracks on HD DVD when you could be delivering full-fidelity from audio on Blu-ray Disc titles? I would seem more consistent with your company’s mission for audio excellence and transparency to support the Blu-ray Disc format which does not require sonic compromises based on bandwidth and bit-space limitations seen with HD DVD.

One more thing: you might want to encourage Warner and other studios using Dolby TrueHD (based on MLP) to avoid applying Dialog Normalization processing settings. Such “features” of Dolby negate bit-for-bit accuracy to the master and run contrary to the purpose of MLP (Sony does not apply Dialog Normalization to any of its Dolby TrueHD tracks on Blu-ray Disc, a policy they have implemented based on audiophile requests). If you could influence Dolby to allow user-disabling of Dialog Normalization processing, this would also assist audiophiles seeking transparency with Dolby TrueHD soundtracks.

Thank you for considering my requests. I’m hopeful that your company will support the Blu-ray Disc format and the lossless-quality audio it delivers.

Sincerely,

David Boulet

Spankey · 11-30-2007, 07:10 PM

Shouldn't you have addressed that to Bob Meridian?!

Nice letter. Hopefully you will get an unautomated response.

DaViD Boulet · 11-30-2007, 07:47 PM

Bob Stuart:

http://www.stereophile.com/interviews/906bob/

I got to shake his hand at the stereophile convention in NYC '96. I Thanked him for pushing for 24/96 PCM on red-book DVD.

Esox50 · 11-30-2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spankey

Shouldn't you have addressed that to Bob Meridian?!

You beat me to it.

DaViD Boulet · 11-30-2007, 09:15 PM

Guys,

It's Bob Stuart. Check my link.

Living Near Shamu · 11-30-2007, 09:17 PM

Haven't they learned from Onkyo and their decision to drop the high end HD DVD player on their end?

DaViD Boulet · 11-30-2007, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Boo. Let them stay in the UK

Ok guys,

request:

Let's rise above the AVS HD DVD mentality here and actually contribute some meaningful conversion, or none at all. Were Bob Stuart or some other Meridian executive to visit our site and read this thread, I'd rather not feel embarassed about what's posted.

Mods,

can you do some garbage-collection in this thread?

thanks.

Esox50 · 11-30-2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Guys,

It's Bob Stuart. Check my link.

We know. We're making fun of AmirM, who claimed after CES07 that his "good friend Bob Meridian" confirmed the HD DVD player was coming soon.

MatrixS2000 · 11-30-2007, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Ok guys,

request:

Let's rise above the AVS HD DVD mentality here and actually contribute some meaningful conversion, or none at all. Were Bob Stuart or some other Meridian executive to visit our site and read this thread, I'd rather not feel embarassed about what's posted.

Mods,

can you do some garbage-collection in this thread?

thanks.

+1

I thought your letter was very well thought out and asked them some tough questions. I would like to know what the responses to those questions are.

DaViD Boulet · 11-30-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

We know. We're making fun of AmirM, who claimed after CES07 that his "good friend Bob Meridian" confirmed the HD DVD player was coming soon.

Thanks for the education. Brilliant. That's news to my ears (pleasant, comforting, entertaining news).

dave

Living Near Shamu · 11-30-2007, 09:32 PM

I remember once writing a letter to the President of the United States as part of a high school project (back in the 90s) asking him about such topics as immigration and foreign policy. I never expected a reply but to my surprise, a few weeks later I received an official response from the White House, signed by Bill Clinton. As of today, I still have that letter.

Hopefully you will receive a response to your questions and maybe you can share that experience with us.

Grisle · 11-30-2007, 09:32 PM

Do we know what the price ponit will be on this player? I don't understand why they would want to make a player for HD-DVD being that Toshiba lowers the price at times to ridiculous levels. Will they really want to compete with a $98-199 1080i player even if they are making a 1080p machine? How well do the 1080p HD-DVD players sell against the 1080i players? I don't know any of their sales figures.

DaViD Boulet · 11-30-2007, 09:35 PM

Meridian is about as high-end as you can get when it comes to digital products. "Reference" is a term that legitimately applies to the audio products they deliver. Any Meridian HD DVD player would absolultely be top-end and would have no market-relationship to budget-gear like Toshiba models.

RickD · 11-30-2007, 09:43 PM

Very nice letter! I agree with you, and I hope they respond personally.

Rick

cpgator · 11-30-2007, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grisle

Do we know what the price ponit will be on this player? I don't understand why they would want to make a player for HD-DVD being that Toshiba lowers the price at times to ridiculous levels. Will they really want to compete with a $98-199 1080i player even if they are making a 1080p machine? How well do the 1080p HD-DVD players sell against the 1080i players? I don't know any of their sales figures.

Do you even know who Meridian is? Do you know that they sell $4000 dvd players even though you can pick one up at kmart for $50? Why should the price of the A3 matter to Meridian?

richteer · 11-30-2007, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Meridian is about as high-end as you can get when it comes to digital products. "Reference" is a term that legitimately applies to the audio products they deliver. Any Meridian HD DVD player would absolultely be top-end and would have no market-relationship to budget-gear like Toshiba models.

Agreed, although "high end HD DVD" sounds oxymoronic to me! A company like Meridian would be much better served design a high end Blu-ray player.

Grisle · 11-30-2007, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpgator

Do you even know who Meridian is? Do you know that they sell $4000 dvd players even though you can pick one up at kmart for $50? Why should the price of the A3 matter to Meridian?

I'm only asking because HD-DVD as a whole seems more interested in price vs. quality. I'm asking why they would want to be in competition with a crappy 1080i player even if they make a top of the line product. I understand that they will be catering to the high end consumer which is why it seems they would be more interested in Blu-ray.

Manco · 11-30-2007, 10:22 PM

An HD-DVD player coming from Meridian is a disgrace.

I hope they are ** THOUROUGHLY ** reading this thread.

Nothing more to say.

cpgator · 11-30-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grisle

I'm only asking because HD-DVD as a whole seems more interested in price vs. quality. I'm asking why they would want to be in competition with a crappy 1080i player even if they make a top of the line product. I understand that they will be catering to the high end consumer which is why it seems they would be more interested in Blu-ray.

HD-DVD doesn't only have cheap players. You can spend $600 and get an excellent (by all accounts and reviews) 1080p player. The idea of selling a $100 or $200 player is to get them into as many hands as possible - not because HD-DVD only cares about cheap players.

I am sure if Meridian makes a HD-DVD player, it will be as great as its other players, and will have a market.

Now, if the only reason for this thread is to bash HD-DVD, then please disregard my post and carry on.

Grisle · 11-30-2007, 10:36 PM

No it's not really bashing HD-DVD. I also understand that they make some better 1080p players as well, but my point that I don't seem to be getting across is that HD-DVD consumers seem to be more interested with price over quality. I know there are a lot of their consumers that like the high end stuff, but will the kind of consumer willing to spend top dollar on a player really want to buy into HD-DVD? It seems that Blu-ray caters more to a high end consumer than HD-DVD does. I would think the Meridian player would sell a lot more in Blu than in Red. I'll put this argument to rest though and say I see your point, but their market will be much more limited than Blus imo.

11-30-2007, 06:59 PM	#1
DaViD Boulet Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Washington, DC Blu-ray reviews: 1	Letter (email) to Meridian... I am disappointed that Meridian has plans to produce an HD DVD player, but not a Blu-ray Disc player or combo player. Blu-ray Disc is a more forward-oriented format better aligned with your company’s values: with more bit-space and higher bandwidth, the improved audio fidelity over HD DVD is not a theory: virtually all Blu-ray Discs offered by Disney, Sony, Fox, and MGM (those studios committed to authoring the very best quality on Blur-ray Disc) carry a lossless-compressed or PCM soundtrack, whereas only a small fraction of HD DVDs do the same (to maintain parity, Warner Brothers omits lossless audio from BD when it isn’t provided on HD DVD). Bob Stuart was helpful in getting the 24/96 PCM provision on red-book DVD, and your company developed the MLP algorithm upon which Dolby TrueHD is based; it seems ironic that you would align with a format that can’t consistently deliver lossless audio quality. Why work to improve the fidelity of perceptually-compressed soundtracks on HD DVD when you could be delivering full-fidelity from audio on Blu-ray Disc titles? I would seem more consistent with your company’s mission for audio excellence and transparency to support the Blu-ray Disc format which does not require sonic compromises based on bandwidth and bit-space limitations seen with HD DVD. One more thing: you might want to encourage Warner and other studios using Dolby TrueHD (based on MLP) to avoid applying Dialog Normalization processing settings. Such “features” of Dolby negate bit-for-bit accuracy to the master and run contrary to the purpose of MLP (Sony does not apply Dialog Normalization to any of its Dolby TrueHD tracks on Blu-ray Disc, a policy they have implemented based on audiophile requests). If you could influence Dolby to allow user-disabling of Dialog Normalization processing, this would also assist audiophiles seeking transparency with Dolby TrueHD soundtracks. Thank you for considering my requests. I’m hopeful that your company will support the Blu-ray Disc format and the lossless-quality audio it delivers. Sincerely, David Boulet

11-30-2007, 09:17 PM	#6
Living Near Shamu Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Austin, TX Trading Score:42	Haven't they learned from Onkyo and their decision to drop the high end HD DVD player on their end? Last edited by Living Near Shamu; 11-30-2007 at 09:34 PM. Reason: EDIT: Better articulation and discussion point for David Boulet ;)

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11-30-2007, 07:10 PM	#2
Spankey Power Member Member since:Oct 2006	Shouldn't you have addressed that to Bob Meridian?! Nice letter. Hopefully you will get an unautomated response.

11-30-2007, 07:47 PM	#3
DaViD Boulet Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Washington, DC Blu-ray reviews: 1	Bob Stuart: http://www.stereophile.com/interviews/906bob/ I got to shake his hand at the stereophile convention in NYC '96. I Thanked him for pushing for 24/96 PCM on red-book DVD.

11-30-2007, 09:15 PM	#5
DaViD Boulet Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Washington, DC Blu-ray reviews: 1	Guys, It's Bob Stuart. Check my link.

11-30-2007, 09:32 PM	#11
Living Near Shamu Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Austin, TX Trading Score:42	I remember once writing a letter to the President of the United States as part of a high school project (back in the 90s) asking him about such topics as immigration and foreign policy. I never expected a reply but to my surprise, a few weeks later I received an official response from the White House, signed by Bill Clinton. As of today, I still have that letter. Hopefully you will receive a response to your questions and maybe you can share that experience with us.

11-30-2007, 09:32 PM	#12
Grisle Power Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Northern California 4K collection:18 Blu-ray collection:18 Trading Score:12	Do we know what the price ponit will be on this player? I don't understand why they would want to make a player for HD-DVD being that Toshiba lowers the price at times to ridiculous levels. Will they really want to compete with a $98-199 1080i player even if they are making a 1080p machine? How well do the 1080p HD-DVD players sell against the 1080i players? I don't know any of their sales figures.

11-30-2007, 09:35 PM	#13
DaViD Boulet Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Washington, DC Blu-ray reviews: 1	Meridian is about as high-end as you can get when it comes to digital products. "Reference" is a term that legitimately applies to the audio products they deliver. Any Meridian HD DVD player would absolultely be top-end and would have no market-relationship to budget-gear like Toshiba models.

11-30-2007, 09:43 PM	#14
RickD Active Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Maryland, USA Blu-ray collection:147	Very nice letter! I agree with you, and I hope they respond personally. Rick

11-30-2007, 10:22 PM	#18
Manco Special Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Tucumcari	An HD-DVD player coming from Meridian is a disgrace. I hope they are THOUROUGHLY reading this thread. Nothing more to say.

11-30-2007, 10:36 PM	#20
Grisle Power Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Northern California 4K collection:18 Blu-ray collection:18 Trading Score:12	No it's not really bashing HD-DVD. I also understand that they make some better 1080p players as well, but my point that I don't seem to be getting across is that HD-DVD consumers seem to be more interested with price over quality. I know there are a lot of their consumers that like the high end stuff, but will the kind of consumer willing to spend top dollar on a player really want to buy into HD-DVD? It seems that Blu-ray caters more to a high end consumer than HD-DVD does. I would think the Meridian player would sell a lot more in Blu than in Red. I'll put this argument to rest though and say I see your point, but their market will be much more limited than Blus imo.

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