CE Pro July 2023 - 13

Meridian DSP9 Turns Heads
at High End Munich
MERIDIAN and other leading audio companies returned this
year to High End Munich, a global audio event staged May
19-21, and the British manufacturer added to its rich history
specializing in powered speakers by introducing its DSP9
Digital Active Loudspeaker.
" Meridian's goal is for our products to be as beautiful to
look at as they are easy to use and amazing to listen to. A
design where you can see no effort - elegant, simple and
powerful, " notes John Buchanan, CEO of Meridian. " With
the DSP9, we achieve the perfect synthesis of function and
form through our holistic system approach. "
The DSP9 is the second loudspeaker resulting from Meridian's
Extreme Engineering Program and continued research
and expertise in producing authentic, natural and lifelike
sound, the company notes.
The product introduces a
new look for Meridian loudThe
new DSP9 Digital Active
Loudspeaker leverages
the UK company's
proprietary technologies
and Extreme Engineering
Program.
speakers by pushing the boundaries
of cabinet design and construction,
and using the ellipse
geometry to develop a striking
aesthetic from every angle that
also offers acoustic benefits,
the company describes.
Advanced engineering was
used to create the sculptured
exterior lines and three-dimensional
spaces within the cabinet
to enhance performance, Meridian
explains. The curvature
of the exterior also minimizes
unwanted diffraction of the sound produced by the drive units.
" The DSP9 loudspeaker is undeniably Meridian, " says Natalie
Reynolds, product manager at Meridian. " It is a powerhouse
of performance that delivers goosebump moments thanks to
incredible dynamics, full frequency response and massive power
handling. It is also aesthetically stunning, introducing a brandnew
iconic design - the beauty is in its simplicity. "
Additionally, with the company's expertise in psychoacoustics
and experience in digital signal processing (DSP),
the new speaker incorporates a suite of Meridian technologies
designed to ensure " an exceptional listening experience
in all environments. "
Proprietary technologies deployed for the DSP9 include
Digital Precision, Q-Sync, True Link, True Time, E3 Bass, Image
Focus+, Pro-Active Bass, Pro-active Thermal, FFA, Free-Q,
Perfect Balance and BSM, according to the company.
cepro.com
Spears & Munsil Intro
Ultra HD Benchmark
3-Disc Set
STACEY SPEARS AND DON MUNSIL, creators of the
Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark series of AV
calibration discs, have stepped up their custom integrator
tool with the release of the Spears & Munsil Ultra HD
Benchmark, a three-disc Ultra HD Blu-ray (UHD) set.
According to the developers, the Spears & Munsil Ultra
HD Benchmark gives professionals and enthusiasts alike
access to a litany of test and demonstration materials to
tell them what their displays are doing, identify weak links
in hardware and software, and dial in optimal settings not
only for their equipment, but for future equipment that
hasn't been designed yet.
" Every pattern has been rethought with High Dynamic
Range and Ultra HD in mind, " says Spears. Almost every
pattern is encoded in multiple versions, with metadata
and peak levels adjusted for a wide variety of HDR display
technologies, she adds.
" The previous disc had 1,000 separate encoded files,
which was a high-water mark for evaluation discs, " Spears
says. " We blew past that record with this new set, which
includes over 5,000 separate video and audio clips! "
Like the previous versions, the Spears & Munsil Ultra HD
Benchmark uses patterns created via in-house software. The
multidisc set includes new versions of some favorite patterns
from earlier editions, plus many exclusive new ones. It also
expands the range of supported formats and encodings.
" In this set, we've included video in HD and UHD
resolution, in SDR (encoded in both BT.2020 and BT.709
color spaces), HDR10 with multiple target peak luminance
options, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, " Spears says. " On the
audio side, we include test material in both Dolby Atmos
and DTS:X, which is completely compatible with earlier
iterations of Dolby Digital and DTS. "
Adding tons of unique patterns and features, the 3-disc
Spears & Munsil tool focuses on HDR, UHD and immersive
audio.
July 2023 CE Pro | 13
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CE Pro July 2023

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