Meridian Audio, Ltd.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Meridian Audio, Ltd. | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Limited company |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Huntingdon PE29 6YE, United Kingdom |
| Website | www.meridian-audio.com |
Boothroyd Stuart Meridian is a British manufacturer of high-end high-fidelity audio and video equipment. Founded in 1977 by Bob Stuart and Allen Boothroyd, its products have proved popular among audiophiles and more recently in the lifestyle technology/home theatre field.
The company introduced the first consumer active loudspeakers (ie speakers with power amplifiers inside the cabinet), the first audiophile Compact Disc player, the first digital surround-sound processor and the first DSP-based digital active loudspeakers. Meridian products are noted for their appearance as well as their performance, and as a result are popular with upscale installers and interior designers as well as with those who require very high quality. Bob Stuart brought a background of psychoacoustics and electronic engineering while Allen Boothroyd's mechanical engineering and industrial design expertise results in products with a distinct emphasis on both audio engineering and aesthetic quality.
The flagship DSP8000 active speakers were released in the late 90's as part of the 800 series. Partly due to their unanticipated popularity, the company relocated to a larger manufacturing facility outside Huntingdon and subsequent products (DSP7000, DSP5200 etc.) took advantage of the styling that contributed to the success of the DSP8000.
In addition to hardware, the company is also known for its software, most notably the Meridian Lossless Packing standard that is used in DVD-Audio as well as the sound on High-Definition formats including HD DVD and Blu-Ray.
In 2005 the company signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Genesis Microchip Inc to design, manufacture and distribute video equipment (including digital video processors and projectors) under the Faroudja brand name.
More recently, the co-branded F-80 audio player has been produced with Ferrari, catering to a more mainstream consumer market.
[edit] Products
- MCD
- MCD Pro. Based on a Philips CD player with an enhanced power supply. Used a rubber mat to stabilise the disc during playback.
