Technical specification
Form factor
• 1U 19in rack mounting
Power
• External power supply,
12VDC 300mA max
Connections
• Power input
• Trigger in (3.5mm jack)
• IR Out to controller (3.5mm jack)
• RS232 DB9 master control port
• BNC Meridian Comms & Slave Comms
• DIN Meridian Comms & Slave Comms
• IR Return and Slave Comms Return
(RJ45)
• SpeakerLink connections to Master and
Slave speakers, Ch A (Master) to D
(RJ45)
• Digital Audio Inputs (MHR or S/PDIF)
Ch A (Master) to D (phono)
Front-panel Indicators
• Power LED
• Master (x1) and Slave (x7) LEDs
Meridian’s SpeakerLink is a component
interlink system allowing balanced high
resolution digital audio and Meridian Comms
signals, or RS232 firmware updates, to
be transmitted via a standard Cat 5 STP
(shielded twisted pair) cable terminated with
standard RJ45 connectors. This results in
unprecedented ease of installation, which
can often employ existing network-ready
wiring. A single cable can supply all the data
and audio information between two Meridian
components that would previously have
required separate audio and control cables.
As time goes by an increasing number
of Meridian products will be fitted with
SpeakerLink connections.
The AC11 Meridian SpeakerLink Hub
allows the interfacing of SpeakerLink DSP
Loudspeakers with existing Meridian source
and control products including DIN and/
or BNC Comms ports and Digital audio or
MHR digital audio connections. The AC11
permits the building of a complete system
utilising components and loudspeakers using
a combination of these connections. The unit
is particularly useful for interfacing Meridian
sources and surround controllers with
DSP loudspeakers. Additional connections
include an IR Out port, which can carry IR
received by the Master loudspeaker to the
Controller’s IR input. Front panel indicators
show the presence of power and Master and
Slave SpeakerLink connections. The AC11 is
designed for systems with between two and
eight channels.
Typical Systems
In a typical system, the Meridian ‘Controller’
product will be connected to a Meridian
Comms socket (DIN or BNC) on the rear
panel of the AC11. BNC or DIN cables
can be run from the ‘Slave’ ports to (and
from, depending on configuration) non-
SpeakerLink speakers (via a 511 if needed).
The Master SpeakerLink socket is connected
to the Master DSP Loudspeaker and carries
digital audio sourced from Digital Audio
Input A. The slave speakers are connected
to the remaining SpeakerLink connectors
as required (Ch A–D) and carry digital audio
sourced from the controller (for example), via
the corresponding digital audio inputs.
The Front Panel
The front panel of the AC11 includes only
indicator lights. On the left is the power
indicator, and in the centre of the panel are
indicators that illuminate when an active
RJ45 SpeakerLink connection is plugged
into the corresponding rear panel connector
(whether the AC11 is powered or not).
The Rear Panel
From left to right, the rear panel includes the
following connectors:
Power input.
This barrel connector is
designed for the wall-socket power supply
included with the unit.
Trigger In.
This 3.5mm jack socket is not
currently used.
IR Out.
This 3.5mm jack socket operates
in conjunction with the IR Return RJ45
socket on the rear panel, delivering infrared
commands back to the Controller in systems
where the latter is hidden.
Master RS232.
This DB9 connector allows
a serial link to be established with the Master
loudspeaker to enable firmware updating
from the AC11 (rather than having to
connect direct to the loudspeaker). To update
the firmware in a series of loudspeakers
with SpeakerLink connectors, plug each
loudspeaker in turn to the Master RJ45
socket and perform the update.
Product highlights
Allows Meridian loudspeakers
using the new SpeakerLink
Cat 5-based interlink system to
interface with existing components
using the DIN- or BNC-based
Meridian Comms system.
SpeakerLink carries balanced
MHR digital audio and Meridian
Comms, or RS232 firmware
updates via standard Cat 5 cabling.
AC11 allows the integration of
both simple and complex Meridian
installations using virtually any
Meridian digital components.
AC11
Meridian SpeakerLink Hub
Product Information & User Guide
