History of CD Technology
| 1841 | Augustin-Louis Cauchy Proposes a Sampling Theorem. |
| 1842 | Charles Babbage Proposes analytical engine for performing and storing calculations. |
| 1854 | George Boole publishes "An Investigation Into the Laws of Thought." A book that contained, among other things, theories that were later used to build digital circuits. |
| 1855 | Leon Scott de Martinville invents the phonoautograph, a machine that records vibrations on a carbonized paper cylinder. |
| 1876 | Alexander Graham Bell introduces the telephone |
| 1877 | Thomas Edison invents the phonograph while trying to invent a device that would record and repeat telegraphic signals (digital) |
| 1887 | Emily Berliner replaces Edison's wax cylinder phonograph with the audio disc. |
| 1915 | 78 R.P.M records introduced |
| 1922 | J.R. Carson examines the idea of time sampling for communications |
| 1928 | Harry Nyquiest publishes "Certain Topics in Telegraph Transmission
Theory." His theory contained proof that the technology used in todays
audio cd's could work. 33 1/3 Records Introduced |
| 1937 | A. Reeves invents pulse code modulation (PCM), a technology used by
computers and CD's for audio in the present day. H. Aiken from Harvard approaches IBM and proposes a electrical computing machine. |
| 1943 | The U.S. Army turns on the first computer (ENIAC) at the University of Pennsylvania. |
| 1947 | Magnetic Tape Recorders hit the U.S. market. |
| 1948 | The transistor is invented by Bell Laboratories. Claude E. Shannon publishes "A Mathematical Theory of Communication." -- Yet another important development for theories used in CD technology |
| 1949 | 45 rpm records hit the U.S. market, thanks to microgroove technology. |
| 1950 | Richard W. Hamming publishes information about error detection/correction codes. It would be impossible for CD's to work without error correction. |
| 1958 | Invention of the Laser. Stereo LP's produced. Integrated Circuit introduced by Texas Instruments |
| 1960 | Computer Music experiments take place at major laboratories. I.S. Reed and G. Soloman publish information on multiple error correction codes. These come to be known as the "Reed-Solomon" Codes which are the codes used for enconding and reading CD's. Working Laser produced. |
| 1967 | NHK Technical Research Institute demonstrates a 12-bit PCM digital audio recorder with a 30 kHz (30,000 times per second) sampling rate. The digital recording goes onto a high-grade video tape. |
| 1969 | Sony introduces it's 13-bit PCM digital recorder at a 47.25 kHz
(47,250 time per second) sampling rate. The digital recording is sent to
a 2" video tape. Klass Compaan, a Dutch physicist comes up with the idea for the Compact Disc. |
| 1970 | At Philips, Compaan and Pete Kramer complete a glass disc prototype and determine that a laser will be needed to read the information. |
| 1971 | Microprocessor produced by Intel Digital Delay line used by BBC's studios (first digital audio device). |
| 1972 | Compaan and Kramer produce color prototype of this new compact disc technology |
| 1973 | BBC and other broadcast companies start installing digital recorders for master recordings. |
| 1977 | Mitsubishi, Hitachi & Sony show digital audio disc prototypes at the
Tokyo Audio Fair. JVC Develops Digital Audio Process |
| 1978 | Philips releases the video disc player Sony sells the PCM-1600 and PCM-1 (digital audio processors) "Digital Audio Disc Convention" Held in Tokyo, Japan with 35 different manufacturers. Philips proposes that a worldwide standard be set. Polygram (division of Philips) determined that polycarbonate would be the best material for the CD. Decision made for data on a CD to start on the inside and spiral towards the outer edge. Disc diameter originally set at 115mm. Type of laser selected for CD Players. |
| 1979 | Prototype CD System demonstrated in Europe and Japan. Sony agrees to join in collaboration. Sony & Philips compromise on the standard sampling rate of a CD -- 44.1 kHz (44,100 samples per second) Philips accepts Sony's proposal for 16-bit audio. Reed-Solomon code adopted after Sony's suggestion. Maximum playing time decided to be slighty more that 74 minutes. Disc diameter changed to 120mm to allow for 74 minutes of 16-bit stereo sound with a sample rate of 44.1 kHz |
| 1980 | Compact Disc standard proposed by Philips & Sony. |
| 1981 | Matsushita accepts Compact Disc Standard Digital Audio Disc Committee also accepts Compact Disc Standard. Sharp achieves production of semiconductor laser. Philips & Sony collaboration ends. |
| 1982 | Sony & Philips both have product ready to go. Compact Disc Technology is introduced to Europe and Japan in the fall. |
| 1983 | Compact Disc Technology is introduced in the United States in the
spring The Compact Disc Group formed to help market. CD-ROM Protoypes shown to public 30,000 Players sold in the U.S. 800,000 CD's sold in the U.S. |
| 1984 | Second Generation & Car CD players introducted. First Mass Replication Plant in the United States built. Portable (i.e., Sony DiscMan) CD Players sold. |
| 1985 | Third generation CD Players released. CD-ROM drives hit the computer market. |
| 1986 | CD-I (Interactive CD) concept created. 3 Million Players sold in U.S. 53 Million CD's sold in U.S. |
| 1987 | Video CD format created. Allen Adkins of Optical Media International joins with SonoPress in Amsterdam and demonstrates a desktop system for pre-mastering CD's (Adkins and SonoPress, produced a replicated CD in less than 24-hours using this system). |
| 1988 | CD-Recordable Disc/Recorder Technology Introduced |
| 1990 | 28% of all U.S. households have CD's. 9.2 million players sold annually in the United States. 288 million CD's sold annually in the United States. World Sales close to 1 Billion |
| 1991 | CD-I format acheived. CD-Recordable Introduced to the Market "QuickTopix" the first CD-R pre-mastering Software introduced by Allen Adkins. |
| 1992 | CD-R Sales reach 200,000 |
| 1996 | DVD Technology Introduced. Prices of Recorders and CD-R Media go down significantly. High Demands cause World-Wide CD-R Media Shortage. |
| 1997 | DVD Released. DVD Players/Movies hit consumer market. DVD-R standard created (3.9 Gig). Mitsui builds it's first CD-R production plant in the U.S. World-wide shortage ends. Price of CD-R media lower than ever imagined. |
| 1998 | DVD-RAM, DVD-Recordable systems/equipment hits market. DVD-Video/ROM authoring tools hits the market. CD-R prices continue to drop. |
| 1999 | DVD-Video Becomes main stream. Consumers begin purchasing DVD Players & Movies on a mass level. Most major film studios have titles on DVD. DIVX Dies (DIgital Video eXpress). Second Generation DVD Burners. 4.7 Gig DVD-R Media Developed. |
Source
| 1841-1991 Pohlmann, Ken C. |
The Meridian Compact Disc Heritage
Meridian is the acknowledged leader in high-performance Compact Disc playback,
and has held that pre-eminent position since the release of the world's first
audiophile CD player, the MCD, in 1984.
CD History
Over the last two decades, Meridian has introduced no less than two dozen CD
player models, each one better than the last; each one redefining the state of
the Compact Disc art.
This steady process of improving CD performance has been recognized by more than
50 awards and has made Meridian absolutely synonymous with the very best in
Compact Disc.
The Press on Meridian's CD Players...
Meridian CD Player
“…a breakthrough for CD players. …[Soundstage] is where the Meridian renders the
competition irrelevant and worthless.”
—The Absolute Sound, Winter 1985
1984 Meridian MCD and Pro-MCD
Meridian’s first CD player, the MCD, based on a Philips chassis with completely
custom analogue circuitry, was the world’s first audiophile CD Player. Its
successor, the Pro-MCD shown here, included a separate custom-designed power
supply, DAC and oscillator, mounted underneath the transport.
“I suspect that [the Meridian Pro-MCD] will be the first CD player to be regarded
as a ‘classic’!”
—Hi-Fi News & Record Review, Feb 1986
1985 Meridian invents the CD Transport
The idea of separating the transport from the rest of the player – to minimise
jitter and other distortion from the mechanism – was developed to produce the
world’s first separate Transport/DAC product – the critically-acclaimed 200/203
shown here.
“The original Pro-MCD set the benchmark in its day, but the 207-Pro was the
radical step, placing Meridian for all time in the CD player hall of fame.”
—Hi-Fi Choice, June 1990
1989 Meridian 208 CD Player
The highly successful 200 Series included several CD players. Using different
DACs as the technology developed, the 208 was a land-mark in Meridian’s CD
player development, with up to 20-bit conversion capability and preamplifier
functionality.
“There is nothing else on the market remotely like the Meridian 207… It is…one
of the finest-sounding CD players on the market.”
—Sydney Morning Herald, Aug 1988
1991 Meridian 602 Transport & 601 DSP Preamplifier
The 600 Series was highly regarded by reviewers and owners alike, especially the
602 transport and its companion 601 DSP Preamplifier, 603 Digital Control Unit
or 606 DAC.
“…the 602 [via the 606] was damn near impossible to fault… Its resolution of the
subtlest treble details was intricate to the point of being exquisite… the
602/606 turned out to be a very ‘special’ combination.”
—Hi-Fi Choice, July 1991
1993 508 – Compact Disc Classic
The 500 Series, launched in 1993, developed into a full range of audio/video
products, including Meridian’s first DVD player, the 596, in 1997. Meanwhile,
from 1994 onwards, the 508 set the standard for CD until the advent of the G08
in 2003.
“…the Meridian 508.24…the world’s best single-box player … brings out aspects of
music that most players can merely hint at…”
—Audio & Video Lifestyle, 1999
2004 Meridian 808 Reference Series
Originally a superb DVD player, the Meridian 800 has developed to become one of
the most highly-specified optical disc players in the world, with full
DVD-Audio/Video capability. Now, from its impeccable pedigree comes the 808 –
the highest quality Compact Disc player Meridian has ever built.
