Meridianís New Line Of 96kHz/24-Bit-Capable DSP Loudspeakers

At the past Consumer Electronics Show (CES í99), Meridian unveiled its new line of 96kHz/24-bit capable DSP loudspeakers, a fact that went all but unnoticed in the shadow of the big news concerning the (then) impending incorporation of Meridian Lossless Packing (MLP) in the finalized DVD-Audio spec released on February 9, 1999. This is understandableóDVD-Audio is a huge story, one that has implications that will reverberate within our industry for years to come. But the 96/24 upgrade to Meridianís DSP line of loudspeakers is a significant development, too.As many of our readers know, Meridian is considered by many to be the world leader in producing high-end powered loudspeaker designs. The addition of 96/24 capabilities to Meridianís DSP500, DSP5500, and DSP6000 allows them to take advantage of the full-bandwidth sound provided by DVD-Audio. It also means theyíre ready for an up-sampled digital datastream from conventional compact discs, which will allow consumers to continue to enjoy the sound of their CDs well into the digital future.The new speakers have 24-bit DACs, as well as Meridianís proprietary FIFO (first-in/first-out) buffer technique that reduces jitter to vanishing levels. They also incorporate flash memory, allowing software upgrades to be easily installed when needed. The speakers also include new, more powerful, 80MIPS DSPs, enabling them to run extremely precise 48-bit crossovers, while ensuring capacity for future developments. Meridian says that its modular design means that its speakers will be able to accommodate future digital interfaces as they are developed.For more information contact Andrew Regan at 404 344 7111or visit the Meridian Website at www.meridian.co.com.