Meridian DSP5200 Loudspeakers

Meridian Audio announced the formal debut of the DSP5200 loudspeakers at this year's CES (they were announced at CEDIA .) The elegantly styled DSP5200 is the latest addition to its expanding line of DSP-based loudspeakers. The DSP5200 takes the elegant appearance and design of Meridian's flagship DSP8000 and popular DSP7000 and delivers it in a compact package just 36 inches tall. Indeed, many of the features of the 5200 are derived from the larger systems in the line.

The self-contained system combines a 2 1/2-way crossover design, three custom drivers, three amplifiers, two multi-bit delta-sigma digital converters, digital crossovers and computers to audio with full remote control over bass, treble tilt, time-correct balance, absolute phase, tweeter axis and input. Advanced DSP controls allow correction of the frequency response for a variety of locations.

An enhanced basket design with sturdy clamp rings accompanies the drivers, which are chosen specifically for their sound. The curved and tapered cabinet both increases stiffness and is said to improve HF dispersion. Cabinet construction is of 19mm thick multi-layer materials, with proprietary heavy poured resin, and is inherently stiff. The dual bass drivers use 160mm long-throw composite designs and the cabinet vents through a dual rear port. The tweeter is a 25mm aluminum-dome, silver-wire design.

Each speaker incorporates an electronics panel in the rear part of the cabinet. The speaker accepts digital signals and has two inputs, placed at the base of the cabinet for ease of installation. The electronic design of the DSP5200 is entirely new, and takes advantage of the latest advances in component design as well as techniques and approaches employed on the DSP8000.

The input receiver uses a FIFO (First In First Out) memory buffer for the lowest possible jitter from almost any source. At the heart of the 5200 is a new DSP system based around a 150MIPS processor, running brand new software. A built-in circuit monitoring system handles both thermal and bass protection, without compromising either sound or protection capability.

High resolution double-precision processing and upsampling, coupled with the latest 192kHz, 24-bit DACs, ensure the digital signal path is second to none.

The three 75W amplifiers themselves are again based on those in the DSP8000, with the latest error-correcting auto-biasing technology, which runs the amplifiers with maximum linearity and minimum coloration, even at high levels.

Meridian products are carefully designed inside and out and the DSP5200 - available in a choice of black or silver high gloss lacquer, satin Santos rosewood, natural satin maple and black ash finishes - looks as good as it sounds.

The DSP5200 is currently shipping and the MSRP is set at $10,995.

Meridian also showed us their new center channel speaker-meant to go side by side with the DSP5200 series towers.

Like the DSP5200, it uses Meridian's DSP8000 amplifier technology for a total of 3x75 watt amps. It uses the same DSP8000 drive tweeter and all hi-fi controls are located in the speaker including boundary compensation settings to re-EQ and provide room correction functions. MSRP is $5,995.

For more information, please visit www.meridian-audio.com .