MERIDIAN 204 FM TUNER/TIMER

JOHN BaRWICK discussed theoriginal version of the 204 in July

1988, where it was reviewed as acomponent part of the then new 200Series range. Since then Meridianhave superseded the 207 CD playerwith the Bitstream-based 206 playerand 208 player-preamplifier (reviewedin July 1990) and have brought outseveral other new models including anew "Argent" range of three passiveloudspeakers (one of these, the Argent2 was reviewed in October), the06000 flagship digital loudspeakerand several new electronics compo-nents in a new top-end 600 Series.

With all this high-level activity it isremarkable that Meridian's TechnicalDirector, Bob Stuart, found time tohave a second look at the 204 (butperhaps no wonder because of it thatmost reviewers have passed it by infavour of writing about the moredramatically new items), yet therewere several aspects of the originaldesign that he felt could be improved.In effect the update to the 204 com-prises an entire re-think, albeit onewhich is functionally almost identicalto the original; only the metal caseand model number actually remain thesame. The current 204 has different

SPECIFICATIONFM tuning range: 88-1 08MHzFrequency response: 20- t5.000Hz ± IdBSensitivity: mono 30/50dB quieting t ·5/4·0~V:stereo 23~VUltimate quieting: >75dBDistortion: mono <0·2%: stereo <0-4%Selectivity: 56dBCapture ratio: 1·5dBIF rejection: 100dBAM suppression: >55dBOutput level: OdB775mVDimensions (H x W x D): 100x 159x 31OmmWeight: 3kgManufacturer: Meridian Audio Ltd.. 13Clifton Road, Huntingdon. Cambs

PEI87EJUK retail price: £660·00

front-end and stereo decoder circuitsand now uses the four-layer printedcircuit board technology adopted forthe the Bitstream D/A units. Thislayout effectively gives two groundplanes. which significantly enhancesthe noise performance in a number ofrespects. The on-board microproces-sor which does all the electronic'house-keeping'-the programming,channel selection, timer and displayinformation, and so on-is now in aseparately screened box within theoverall case, which again has resultedin a purer audio signal path.

Finally the optional timer output,which can be used to control suitableequipment from other manufacturersand which used to be available on twopins of the rear-panel DIN 'bus'socket, is now more convenientlybrought out on a single phono socket.(Incidentally, a 'bus' in this context isa set of interconnections, electrical oroptical, which carries informationfrom one circuit to another, or fromone unit to another.)

The 204 is a high quality FM-onlytuner with presets for 18 stations. All

functions except mains on/off (forwhich a rocker switch is located at therear) are controlled via push buttons onthe front panel. In addition, the unitincorporates a clock/timer, the fascia'ssimple four-digit seven-segment LED(light-emitting diode) display showingfrequency, preset number or time asrequired. Being part of the 200 Series,the 204 is presented in the regulationblack livery and is contained in a sin-gle one of the extremely elegantbuilding-block 'modules' which arecommon to the range (some unitsoccupy a pair, bolted together-forexample the 208 has its CD transportin one and the electronics in theother).

The front panel is split horizontallyas usual, with a glass window for themain display at the top and a series of16 plastics push buttons in two rows atthe bottom. All but three of thesebuttons have LEOs behind themwhich register the current state of thelogic circuits. These are colouredaccording to their function or primaryfunction: station setting is accom-plished in an orange domain, timer

options in green while mono overrideand the more complex, multi-functionMode/Store button are in red.

If this description impliessomething of a riot of colour the effectin practice is anything but that, thesesmall points of light relieving theotherwise austere black of the fascia.Six buttons are devoted to the presetstations, each having control of threechannels according to the state of twofurther 'shift' keys which are alsoused for selecting hours or minuteswhen setting the clock or timer. Twoopaque green-co loured buttons areused to increment frequency up ordown when tuning, or similarly forhours and minutes. The labelling andgrouping of these buttons is entirelylogical, although -I found a need torefer to the instruction leaflet now andagain for some of the less frequentlyused functions. The rear panel carriesa fused IEC mains input socket (three-core lead with moulded plugs sup-plied), a female 75 ohms aerial socket,two DIN sockets for the various 200Series 'bus' options and gold-platedphono sockets for the audio and Timeroutputs.

Although it can function perfectlywell as a stand-alone unit in conjunc-tion with other manufacturers'equipment the 204 would normallyform part of a 200 Series system, inwhich case the further luxury ofremote control in station selection andmanual or timed switching from orinto Standby mode becomes available(the CD track selection buttons on the209 Remote Control now double aspreset station selectors). Used alonethe 204 can be put back into Standbymode only by setting the timer's off-time, as there is no dedicated Standbybutton (as there is on, say, the 208),not that that represents a significantproblem since the unit consumes anegligible amount of power. Resettingvia the mains switch achieves thesame result. The main display hasthree normal states-preset number,frequency or time-the latter con-stantly available, even in the Standbystate, if preferred.

Tuning can be either manual, usingthe up/down buttons to set therequired frequency, or automatic inwhich case a nudge of either button

sets the circuit off in search of thenext station of suitable strength; thetuning threshold can be set to one ofeight levels to suit local conditions.Centre tuning indication is availableand received signal strength can alsobe readily assessed, the display in thiscase switched to show a numericalrange between I (weakest) and 7(strongest): Although it complicatesthe user-procedure a little, I personallylike the manner in which these rarelyused functions are normally hiddenfrom use and indeed view, leavingeveryday use as simple and straight-forward as can be. All settings areretained in the microprocessor'smemory, an internal rechargeablebattery covering those periods whenthe unit is actually disconnected fromthe mains, which is only necessarywhen long periods of absence areenvisaged-the entire 200 Series isdesigned to be left powered-up.

When used as part of a Meridiansystem a bus link (lead supplied)transfers control signals between thevarious units. Bringing anyone ofthese out of Standby will activate allof the rest so that, for example, press-ing Line on the 208 or Radio on the20 I Preamplifier will select that inputand also start up the 204 and 205Power Amplifier-true "music at thetouch of a button" operation.Similarly, pressing just the requiredpreset radio station button on the 204will achieve the desired result. Bysetting the 204's timer the system canbe brought to life automatically,which could be useful when one is athome and wanting to listen to, say, aconcert but busy enough about thehouse to risk missing the start. Atpresent there is no recording device(i.e. tape machine) in the Meridianrange to permit completely unattendedrecording, although their DCCmachine, due for release next year,will of course have this facility. Wealso await with interest the MeridianCD-R recorder previewed at Penta.The Timer Out socket on the rearpanel can, however, be used to controlsome appropriately appointed cassettedecks (some models in the Nakamichirange are suitable, for example) butthe manual insists that a dealer becontacted before attempting to do this

in case the 204 is damaged. In fact thesocket carries a 5 volts DC controlsignal which drops to ground potential(OY) when activated. A MosFetdevice is used at the output which can'sink' about Y2 amp so it would not bea difficult matter for the DIY type tomake up a small unit with a relay-switched mains outlet to which one ofthe many mains-activated cassettedecks could be connected.

How it performedI have been a keen user of the 208

CD player/preamplifier since purchas-ing one following my review in July1990, so the opportunity to experi-ment with the 204 was eagerly taken.Clearly the pair make a most attractive'front end' with the remote controlaspect a nice bonus, though it is ratherless useful with radio, I feel, than it isfor CD. In fact the one remote controlfunction I find really invaluable isvolume. Setting up the 204 is an easymatter once one has read the 10-pageA4 manual, after which the concise"Quick Operating Guide" resume atthe end is sufficient to keep to hand asa reference when setting the timer, agood idea, this summary-moremanufacturers should adopt it. Reallythe only difficulty is in rememberingsome of the more esoteric functions ofthe Mode/Store button, which is usedin conjunction with other keys to tog-gle between Step and Search tuning,for adjusting the tuning threshold,storing the timer details and so on (thedisplay can even be made to reveal theoperating software version number).The problem is that the requisite keysequences are not overtly logical.

Obviously this kind of set will notfind a place in the systems of radio'hams' who like to pore over the air-waves looking for all manner ofstations-they will want not only tohave the other AM wavebands as wellbut also to have all the user functionsavailable on the usual plethora ofseparate buttons rather than hiddenlike this, and will certainly prefer arotary tuning knob to a pair of push-buttons. Rather, the 204 is designed tobe installed and then taken forgranted, a role it manages supremelywell in my view.

In terms of its audio output I couldfind nothing really to fault; it con-veyed a natural quality of the spokenword on Radio 4 news programmeswith no tendency to emphasize close-miked sibilants and no chestiness; itpresented a detailed stereo stage onfirst-rate symphony concert and operabroadcasts; there were no problemswith adjacent channel breakthrough('birdies') and the background noisewas exceptionally low.

As always with FM tuners a good,preferably outside, aerial is pretty wellmandatory in order to obtain the bestresults but given a good signal thetuner side of the Meridian 204 reallycan be set-up once and taken forgranted. For existing Meridian users itis the obvious choice but for otherswho will appreciate its excellent per-formance and can make use of thetimer function it is well worth consid-ering, despite its decidedly, and to mymind refreshingly, non-standardphysical size and shape.

lVOR HUMPHREYS.