FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MERIDIAN Audio’s NEW High Resolution Offering Ideally Suited for Wide Range of Custom Installation Applications
New Meridian Power Amps, Zone Controller, and strategic relationships emphasize ease of integration and profitability for custom installers
JANUARY 2017—Delivering once again on its unyielding commitment to the custom installation channel and the systems integrators working within it, Meridian Audio, pioneers of Hi Res Audio, will tout its latest High Resolution products and relationships at ISE 2017 (Stand 7-Q214), including two competitively priced new Meridian Power Amps that add muscle and quality to any existing system, and a new zone controller that provides a multitude of control options for a variety of applications.
“Meridian is committed to developing high resolution audio solutions that are easy to install and integrate seamlessly with existing systems from other manufacturers, while providing the performance Meridian is known for to give customers the very best audio experience possible,” says Ryan Donaher, Meridian America VP of Sales and Marketing. “Our stand at ISE will reinforce to the custom installation community a real opportunity to offer something tangibly better, and at a price points that are profitable for dealers, as well as palatable to their customers.”
Meridian 258 Eight-Channel Power Amplifier
The Meridian 258 is a dedicated rack-mount Eight Channel Power Amplifier (previewed at CEDIA 2016). Replicating the legendary performance of Meridian’s speakers and electronics, the new Meridian 258 Amplifier is compatible with any audio system and can provide an unrivalled Hi-Res audio experience for multi-room audio systems, in almost any application, at a competitive price point of $2,000 (MRSP).
The easy-to-integrate Meridian 258 Power Amplifier also offers significant reductions in the overall price, installation time, and operational cost of multi-room audio systems. Housed in a compact 1U high chassis, these small but powerful amplifiers take up minimal space in the rack. Built-in Class D amplifiers are highly efficient, with a low operating temperature that does not require an internal fan or any external cooling, thus negating the need for additional rack cooling mechanisms and eliminating the associated time and cost. Aluminium construction combined with audiophile-grade components improves the lifetime and reliability of the product, making the 258 a genuinely “fit and forget” solution.
Suitable for a wide range of applications, the 258 delivers >100W per channel into 4 Ohms and >70W per channel into 8 Ohms. Featuring an innovative output filter design that ensures peerless, efficient audio performance, the 258 is destined to become an instrumental part of Hi-Resolution, high-performance systems around the world.
Meridian 857 Reference Two-Channel Amplifier
This Reference Two-Channel Hi-Res Audio Power Amplifier delivers 500W per channel into 4 Ohms, is bridgeable to >1.5KW, and is available as a dedicated rack-mount variant. The 857 incorporates a totally new design based upon extensive research. It is tremendously powerful with an incredibly low noise floor, representing a step change in amplifier design. Similar to the 258, the 857 has been specifically designed with the custom installer in mind, allowing it to work with any audio product, so that dealers can include Meridian Hi Res-enabling technology with their client’s preferred brand of loudspeaker. The price of just $10,000 (US MSRP) means that the 857 can power a Hi Res Audio system of almost budget, giving installers the opportunity to provide Meridian quality sound to more clients.
Meridian 218 Zone Controller
Combining digital and analog 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, making it the best friend of many a custom installer. With control features including IP and IR and the ability to be easily integrated with third-party control systems, again, the 218 Zone Controller reinforces Meridian’s commitment to making the custom installer’s life easier, more flexible, and more profitable. The versatile 1U 218 can also be rack, shelf, or wall mounted for the ultimate installation convenience. Priced at a very competitive $1,000 (US MSRP), the 218 is a comprehensive and powerful solution to a distributed audio system, regardless of budget.
Updated, Free Meridian Design and Specification Service
Meridian’s newly updated, free Design and Specification Service will help installers integrate Meridian’s innovative products into designs for home theaters of any size or shape, using any ancillary equipment. Installers simply send a plan of the room or home, and Meridian will return a schematic that details where to position speakers, audio panels, projector, and screen to ensure that audio is optimized for the ultimate movie-watching experience. The service can also show how Meridian components can interface with third-party control options and existing audio and video distribution systems. The Design and Specification Service saves design time and reduces costs for dealers working on whole-home, home theater, or super-yacht projects and ensures that customers receive the very best experience.
New Partnerships with Best in Breed Brands
Meridian recently entered into a new partnership 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.
Meridian has also signed recent partnerships to distribute Cinema – ATS, an innovative, easy-to-install acoustic treatment solution for home theaters, and DT Screens, projection screen specialists who have developed a superior masking technology for improved screen size accuracy. Meridian can now offer dealers a comprehensive range of home theater technology that can be specified alongside Meridian’s existing product portfolio of high resolution audio solutions.
ISE Events
As part of the extensive ISE 2017 education program, Meridian’s Chief Technical Officer Richard Hollinshead will present “Making the Most of HD Audio” on Wednesday, February 8,from 9:30 – 11:00 am in room D202. Richard will discuss the importance of high resolution audio and examine the difference between standard and High Resolution audio, the available audio formats, sources and the requirements to use them. Richard will also be discussing “Listening to Music and Movies in the Year 2020” in the ISE stand at 10:30 am on Tuesday, February 7, looking at how we will access more content, in more formats across more devices as our lives become more mobile, urban and connected. To find more information and to book a place on this training course, visit www.iseurope.org/meridian.
Learn more by visiting www.meridian-audio.com and following Meridian Audio on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Meridian Audio Corporate Contacts:
For further information about Meridian, please contact Katy Bradshaw at [email protected] or Brandon Leeming at [email protected].
Meridian Audio PR Contact for Custom Installation:
For interviews, reviews, editorial appointments, or media tours, please contact:
Media Contact
Katye (McGregor) Bennett | KMB Communications, Inc.
(425) 328-8640 | [email protected] | www.kmbcomm.com |
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ABOUT MERIDIAN AUDIO
Since 1977, Meridian Audio has been crafting innovative, elegant, high performance audio solutions. From its compact DSP loudspeakers with integrated amplification, to its user-friendly music management platform, Sooloos, Meridian delivers easy to install, high resolution audio systems for home cinemas and whole home solutions. The Meridian Audio experience is now also available in the latest models from Jaguar Land Rover, thanks to a collaborative partnership between these two leaders of British innovation and engineering. Learn more at www.meridian-audio.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
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