The DSP8000 is Meridian’s flagship loudspeaker, and the Special Edition makes its performance even more awe-inspiring than before. One of the few loudspeakers available that can reproduce the sound of a full-size grand piano at realistic volume and with realistic dynamic range, the DSP8000SE takes this landmark loudspeaker even further with the full range of Special Edition enhancements.
2014 marked the 25th anniversary of the launch of Meridian’s first digital loudspeaker – in fact the first digital loudspeaker in the world – the D600 in 1989.
The Special Edition DSP Loudspeaker Range is the result of Meridian’s ongoing research into how we, as humans, “hear” sound. These findings dictated improvements that have led to the loudspeaker’s lifelike performance. Quite simply, the Special Edition DSP Loudspeakers, and matching centre channels, are the best sounding loudspeakers Meridian has ever created.
Finished as standard in a piano lacquer black or white, the Special Edition Range is also available in any of the 270 Meridian Select colours.
The Special Edition loudspeakers share the same enclosures and are visually identical to previous models (with the exception of the clamp rings). These enclosures feature a number of unique design elements and innovations that have been refined over the past 37 years of Meridian being a world-class loudspeaker manufacturer. These performance-improving factors impact choices of materials, shape, and even finish.
Loudspeaker enclosures should be completely inert and make no sonic contribution to the sound at all. Meridian utilizes “soundless” materials for the enclosure – notably Meridium in DSP8000SE and DSP7200SE. It is rigid and thus ensures you hear the only the loudspeaker – not the cabinet. All models are finished in a high gloss lacquer that forms a tight “skin” around the enclosure, reducing vibrations that can colour the sound.
The narrow shape emulates aspects of the human form, which psychoacoustics suggests provides a more realistic performance. Soft cabinet edges enhance the visual design, but they also avoid generating unwanted additional high frequency sounds that can blur the soundstage. For perfect stability, the loudspeaker stands on adjustable foot assemblies machined from solid aluminium, helping to eliminate microscopic vibrations that can rob a loudspeaker of that “you are there” quality.
Provide the most revealing, lifelike, and powerful performance of any Meridian loudspeakers to date.
Deliver more accurate time-domain response and significantly improved transient handling across the entire digital active system.
The narrow shape emulates aspects of the human form, which psychoacoustics suggests provides a more realistic performance.
Soft edges avoid generating unwanted additional high frequency sounds that can blur the soundstage.
For perfect stability, the loudspeaker stands on adjustable foot assemblies machined from solid aluminium. Meridian utilises “soundless” materials for the enclosure – notably Meridium. It’s rigid and thus ensures you hear the only the loudspeaker – not the cabinet.
Technical Specifications:-
PERFORMANCE:Frequency response in-room 20Hz – > 32kHz ±3dB (for inputs at 44.1kHz or 48kHz). ‘31/2’-way crossover system with linear-phase mid–top crossover; 6th-order Linkwitz-Riley bass–mid crossover. Output > 118dB spl @ 1m on music material. Noise less than 15dB spl. Overall distortion typically < 0.02% at any frequency or level.
INPUTS:SpeakerLink balanced digital (2ch, RJ45)
S/PDIF unbalanced digital (2ch, phono)
32kHz–96kHz sampling rates
OUTPUTS: 1x RJ45 with balanced digital audio and control for a second loudspeaker. Carries infra-red pickup for system automation.
AUDIO PROCESSING: FIFO memory buffer input for the lowest possible jitter from almost any source. Four 24-bit D/A converters. 3x150W amps on bass (1 amp per driver pair) and 2x150W amps on midrange and tweeter. All upsampling and processing is performed by 2 x Freescale 56367 running at 150MHz.
CONSTRUCTION: Two separate enclosures: mid/top and bass. Horizontally opposed and profiled bass system introduces minimal vibration to the mid/top enclosure. Entire speaker manufactured from interlaminated panels with glass front.
AMPLIFIERS: Bass: 3 x 150W power amplifiers
Mid: 150W
Treble: 150W
Total: 750W
Drivers 6 x 200mm long-throw bass drivers
1 x 160mm polypropylene (TPX) mid driver in separate enclosure
1 x 25mm (1") Meridian piston in short horn, beryllium dome with silver voice-coil.
DIMENSIONS: 1350mm (53.2in) H, 400 (15.7) W, 528 (20.8) D
WEIGHT: 105kg (231lb) each