When it comes to the tried, tested and trusted hi-fi of the world, there’s a few things that ‘count’. Sure, sound and build quality are pretty important factors (essential, in fact) but those standards are already ridiculously high. So, what is it that makes a hi-fi brand – like Meridian – as special as you know it to be?
Well, that’s what we’ll be talking about today.
There’s the pedigree: how long has the brand been doing what it’s been doing. Brands come and go, they merge with others, they go out of business and reinvent themselves for all sorts of reasons. But the fact of the matter is, bar a few key exceptions, when it comes to hi-fi: age is relevant. It’s down to experience, learning from (and surviving) their mistakes. Longevity is key to a brand you can really, truly trust. Frankly, hi-fi is fierce. We know it all too well. The critics are fierce, the retailers are fierce and – most significantly – the audiophiles are fierce. If something isn’t to standard, it doesn’t last long. So if a brand has been around for 10, 20, 30 or 40 years, you know its got time’s seal of approval, along with the hi-fi community (… crucial!).
Now, Meridian has that seal of approval. Four times over. Their journey began in 1977, and here it is summed up in their own words…
“We embarked upon a mission. Our goal was simple: to put the listener at the heart of every recorded performance. Since then we’ve been continually pushing the boundaries of sound. Redefining the possible at every step of the way.”
Meridian is a term used in Chinese acupuncture. It’s a noun used to describe two things: each of a set of pathways in the body along which vital energy is said to flow. When the meridians are aligned, t’ai chi will flow. And then, magic happens.
Meridian are true to their name in many ways. Not only does it relate to an ancient tried and tested practice (40 years is pretty ancient in the world of true high-fidelity. Trust us!) but there’s another important factor which helps set them apart from many other brands. Pretty much all of them, in fact.
Meridian’s expertise is so acute and finely tuned, one of their main gigs is actually making technology for other brands and products. This is not particularly common in the hi-fi realm. In fact, it’s virtually unheard of! But that is what Meridian do: aside from designing and building their own high-end (and highly thought of) high fidelity technology, they actually design and build technology which is licensed for use elsewhere. They have literally taken what they’ve learned and are currently using it to advance not only their own products – but the products of others too!
If that isn’t commitment to ‘pushing the boundaries’ and putting the listener at the heart of every recorded performance’ then I don’t know what is. Meridian really believe in their commitment to the listener’s experience, and they want what they’ve learnt to reach as far as possible. It adds to the trust factor. If other brands trust these guys with their precious sound, then so do we… and so should you!
We’re not going to talk about the other brands anymore for three reasons.
- This is a blog about Meridian (obviously)
- They have more than enough (rather awesome) products to discuss
- They have kept the very best stuff for themselves. And rightly so!
They specialise in amplification. Specifically, active speakers. Although this specialism extends to separate amplification too (including headphones). There’s even a DAC!
Let’s take a closer look…
The Active Speakers
DSP5200 DSP
Psst… that’s our showroom! And those are our’s 🙂
The Active Speakers which accurately reflects their loudspeaker philosophy. These acclaimed actives inherit powerful features from the larger DSP7200, but they are considerably revised. Each driver has its own amplifier which is in direct and close control of all of its parameters. DSP capability enables crossover specifications unmatched by conventional designs along with bass extension that is vastly superior to other loudspeakers of the same volume. The signal is kept in the digital domain until the final moment – which makes the listening experience almost unparralelled. Some would swear they were in the very recording studio!
DSP5200 SE DSP
Perhaps the most revealing, dynamic and realistic performance of any Meridian loudspeakers to date. Decades of their design and detail expertise has given them a uniue edge in high-res audio reproduction. With their dedication to bringing subtle nuances of musical performances to the listener, the engineers addressed vital new areas in developing these Special Edition (hence the SE!) actives to deliver a more accurate time-domain response and improved transient handling across the entire system. In other words: they sound as good as they look.
DSP7200 DSP
The superior active loudspeaker. Featuring the latest internal electronics and software, along with a new tweeter design, and specialised power amplifiers are combined with a novel Enhanced Bass Alignment system ensuring that low frequencies are time-aligned across the entire bass range, all-the-while retaining the exact timing and coherence that has previously only been associated with ‘closed-box’ designs. This achieves deep clarity and tight bass coupled with clean, clear and audibly better low frequency transients, and sounds big, clear and detailed.
DSP7200 SE
As above, but with an even tighter grasp of that high-resolution handling.
The Amps…
818v2 Reference Audio Core Pre Amplifier
Combining the source connectivity features of a high performance preamplifier with a versatile range of proprietary resolution enhancement technologies, this is a pre-amp designed to provide connectivity to Meridian’s unique range of DSP Loudspeakers (… see above!). In addition to its external source connectivity, it also offers an internal Digital Media source through a network connection to any Meridian Digital Media System. But that’s another subject, for another blog. We’ll let you know when.
Prime Headphone Amplifier
The reference-quality headphone amp which can replay audio from both analogue and USB-based sources. Built into an elegant and compact metal case, it has a preamp output to drive an external audio system or analogue active loudspeakers and fully supports Meridian’s revolutionary MQA technology for studio-quality replay. This is a head-amp designed to appeal to enthusiasts – and that it does!
The Other Stuff
Explorer 2 USB DAC
Portable, compact and rugged, this USB-DAC delivers premium grade audio performance, each and every time. Developed from its hugely acclaimed predecessor (the Explorer, funnily enough!), it features even more powerful DSP capability allowing the full range of Meridian enhancement technologies to be included, along with decoding and rendering for the ‘Master Quality Authenticated process. It has audiophile-grade components and an elegant all-metal enclosure, embodying Meridian DNA in the form of a complex 6-layer circuit board. Premium components are used throughout, including resistors, sockets and music grade electrolytics along with polypropylene filter capacitors. Not bad at all!
There’s also a Media Centre unit, but that’s another topic for another time.
… like any other brand, the products really do speak for themselves. Yes, they have the sound and build quality. Yes, they have the pedigree. Yes, they have the rare and unusual talent of providing the crucial technology for other brands. But what we love about them, is their products.
It’s probably a good job we sell them then, eh? Yes, Meridian are the latest brand to join our ever growing family, and we love having it on board.
Got any questions? Then give us a shout! We love this brand already (almost as much as the other brans that use their technologies!) and we can’t wait to share it with you.