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MERIDIAN DIGITAL SYSTEMS

Analogue solutions go just so far in a digital world. For best music from a CD or DVD – now and in the future – only an all-digital playback system will do; it can uplift audio at home as profoundly as it has in the recording studio. An all-digital strategy finally unlocks musical realms only dreamt of in primitive days of vinyl records and two-channel stereo.

Uniquely, Meridian makes all-digital music systems. Indeed, if you have never experienced a full Meridian digital system, we invite you to suspend your assumptions about high-end audio – not only in terms of sound, but appearance, function and elegance. 

Significantly, Meridian spearheads new digital encoding techniques as well. MLP lossless coding has been mandated by the world’s leading audio experts as the standard for DVD-Audio.

What is a digital active loudspeaker?

A typical Meridian digital system is built around our acclaimed digital active loudspeakers. Simply, these are fully self-contained, powered speakers with all necessary equipment (except source) built-in. Compact, reliable and simple to use, Meridian digital speakers are orchestrated by hidden computers. This approach solves audio problems previously insurmountable, and sets new home performance standards without intruding on a gracious living environment.

We offer models ranging in scale from demure to dreadnought. All pack unexpected power for their size, and are engineered with attention to special materials for performance and appearance, such as extensive use of pure silver wire and hand-rubbed piano lacquer or hardwood finishes. All are fully remote-controlled and use DSP (digital signal processing) technology to perform engineering feats that will delight music lovers accustomed to the frustrating limitations of traditional audio equipment.

TIME TO ‘UNLEARN’ STEREO?

While for many technical reasons, a pair of Meridian digital speakers will outperform traditional equipment in familiar stereo mode, please consider this: one of the frustrating limitations of analogue audio has been the very shortcoming of two-channel music itself. We have, since mono, trained our ears to ‘listen through’ stereo’s limitations. Now there is a better way.

BUILD THE ULTIMATE SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM FOR MUSIC AND FILM

Music has shape. Performed live, its dimensions envelop us. However, the best home stereos merely open windows to music; they fail to draw us in. Crude attempts to embrace the listener with surround sound have fallen short over the years; too much detail is lost in the circuitry. So music lovers have accepted sonic gimmickry for home cinema, and purist two-channel stereo for serious listening. This has required two systems, each leaving something to be desired. Until now.

Meridian’s surround system is the world’s only sound system to fully apply computers to the task of recreating music’s true shape in the home.

Engineers have long known stereo recordings contain ambient phase information – three-dimensional phantoms of live music – lost in two-channel playback. But powerful computers in the Meridian system properly extract it for the first time.

Finally, you can step through the stereo window into a world of three-dimensional music, the world of Meridian surround sound. A stunning stage of sound unfolds when you add one apparently simple little device to your system: a Meridian surround processor. First in the market, this product pioneered digital surround sound, being capable of delivering thunderous cinema effects with grand weight and authority, and three-dimensional music with delicate grace, clarity and scale.

Meridian have created a whole range of audio and video components from which you can assemble the finest surround sound system. Here are three examples:

Meridian Music Systems

Meridian Compact Theatre

For the smaller space, five DSP33 compact digital active speakers, a D1500 digital subwoofer and the 568 surround processor. 

Meridian Digital Theatre

For larger spaces where higher output is required, the DSP5500 or DSP5000 loudspeakers provide the answer. Teamed with the 568 and 562V.2 this system has all the control to enjoy the finest music and film from any source. 

Meridian Ultimate Theatre

Up to seven channels plus subwoofers provide the ultimate Meridian Theatre experience. Our 800 Series Reference modular electronics system is used with DSP8000 or DSP6000 loudspeakers. The 800 Series features slot-in cards to keep your system as near future-proof as is possible. 

MERIDIAN DIGITAL THEATRE

Like all Meridian systems, digital surround can be assembled piecemeal over time. Traditional equipment can bloom through surround sound processors, with delightful results.

But for the ultimate audio experience, take Meridian surround sound as a seamless whole, with computerized Meridian digital speakers orchestrated by the 568 or the new 800 Series and controlled by wireless remote.

The beauty of a full-blown Meridian Digital Theatre is its seamless uniformity and power, combining the intelligence of our digital speakers and processor in a technical tour de force. By knowing precisely all elements in the music chain, the processor’s computers work with those nested in Meridian speakers to extract maximum performance for your specific room.

“Meridian, thank you for everything you have done for us – especially the use of the most awesome components made in the world!” 

Rick McCallum,  Lucasfilm, Producer, Star Wars  Episode 1

Technical superiority

Projecting believable, ‘holographic’ sound into three- dimensional space is psychoacoustically delicate; the ear is convinced by engineering, not cheap trickery. Specifically, stereo and other spatial illusions rely largely on correct timing and phase. Electrostatic, point-source, dynamic analogue and hybrid loudspeaker systems all have audiophile followings for varying success addressing these difficult issues, but each suffers serious compromises which cannot be recovered even by a good processor. 

Meridian digital loudspeakers – the first to operate deeply into the digital realm with proper crossover blending – control time and phase with unprecedented precision and thus project a stereo image unmatched by analogue equipment. 

And in a surround system – with not just two but many speakers in a room – these time and phase benefits become far more crucial. Phasey analogue equipment simply cannot compete with the precision of fully orchestrated digital speakers. 

Meridian digital speakers are active by design. This makes them far more dynamic, efficient and responsive; multi-amplified and optimized for demanding surround-sound systems. They are self-protecting, for years of trouble-free operation even with heavy home cinema use. See your dealer for full appreciation of these design parameters.

Musical flexibility

Musical flexibility. Convenience is not the ultimate goal of an elegantly engineered system, but is its natural birthright. In the Meridian Digital Theatre we offer an audiophile system with transparent bass and treble controls, as well as absolute phase correction, digital tweeter tilt for different listening heights, and time compensation if you sit off-centre. Is room configuration a problem? Meridian Digital Theatre allows software corrections – leave the speaker where convenient and simply manipulate system controls to ‘move the wall, not the speaker’ for best sound.

SIMPLICITY IS NOT EASY

Rarely, if ever, does a full Meridian Digital Theatre appear on the used market. This system usually marks the end of a long odyssey for the highly evolved audiophile, or the beginning of a long and charming relationship for the music and cinema arts lover who prefers muses to fuses. 

We suggest you consider the elegance of a total Meridian system. Multiply the traditional stereo clutter by a factor of three for surround sound, and you have an aesthetic nightmare. Meridian simplifies the whole system to a sophisticated minimum. 

However, simplicity is not easy. Meridian Digital Theatre is a very advanced system and its select dealers have been factory-trained to guide your choice and installation wisely. It is a credential not to be taken lightly. Call Meridian to find your closest qualified dealer.

“HOW DOES IT WORK? IT WORKS GREAT!”

A quote from a delighted Meridian customer speaks volumes about our approach. You needn’t understand the wealth of technology built into your Meridian system in order to enjoy it. 

The Meridian System Remote (MSR) distills the world’s most-sophisticated audio equipment to a few intuitive controls, issuing virtually every conceivable command from your listening chair. It operates all Meridian equipment. 

The Meridian Ultimate Theatre system features our reference electronics components – 861 processor and 800 CD/DVD source. 800 Series components are designed in the 19” rack format and can be so mounted as an option. 

All connections and processing electronics are located on cards which are assembled for each customer. This thoughtful design provides complete flexibility guaranteed to keep pace with this fast moving world of changing formats. 

A recent arrival to the ultimate theatre system is the Meridian DSP8000. This is our new reference DSP loudspeaker and features all the wizardry of our other DSP speakers in a cabinet of advanced construction with state-of-the-art amplifiers.

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