At ISE 2017 Meridian Audio showcased a number of new products designed to give customers the very best experience of hi-res audio. Dealers visiting the Meridian booth responded very positively, and placed a large number of pre-orders at the show.
A number of fruitful conversations took place with dealers eager to add Meridian audio performance to their home theatre and audio solutions offerings. The company states that, with an ever-expanding portfolio of market-leading audio products and partnerships with premium home theatre technology suppliers, such as Barco, and with competitive pricing throughout its product range, there has never been a better time to be a Meridian dealer.
On show was the Meridian 258, a dedicated rack-mount 8-channel power amplifier that can be integrated with any existing passive loudspeaker system. This high-performance cold-running Class D amplifier delivers more than 100W per channel into 4 ohms. At only 1U high and carrying a five-year manufacturer’s warranty, the 258 is described as “a category changing amplifier”. As with all Meridian products, it is manufactured in the UK.
Meridian also displayed its new 857 Reference 2-channel power amplifier, delivering 500W per channel into 4 ohms. This Hi-Res Audio amplifier, bridgeable to more than 1.5kW, is available as a dedicated rack-mount variant and incorporates a totally new design based upon extensive research. Highly powerful with a very low noise floor, the Meridian 857 is described as “representing a step change in amplifier design”. Similarly to the 258, the 857 has been specifically designed to work with any audio product.
Finally, Meridian previewed the new 218 Zone Controller. Combining digital and analogue inputs and outputs, the Sooloos/MQA-enabled Meridian 218 is suitable for a wide range of distributed audio applications from single-zone to multi-zone use. With control features including IP and IR, and easy integration with third-party control systems, this versatile 1U-high product can be rack- shelf-, VESA- or wall-mounted.
Meridian recently entered into a new partnership in the UK with Barco Residential that enables dealers to specify Barco projectors into Meridian projects. Building upon each brand’s distinguished legacy to create the highest quality home cinema and media room experience, dealers will have access to a wide range of Barco projectors, offering significant performance advantages for a number of applications, specifications and price-points.
On the Wednesday evening Meridian hosted dealers and integrators on its booth to enjoy drinks and nibbles, while listening to hi-res audio provided by a pair of Meridian DSP5200 Special Edition Loudspeakers.
