Meridian Audio DSP 9 Review
Meridian Audio has consistently earned its place as a trailblazer in the global hi-fi landscape. The brand-new DSP 9 active loudspeaker aims to uphold the excellent reputation of the manufacturer. We had the exclusive opportunity to test this highlight.
On our planet’s surface, meridians represent the lines running from the North Pole to the South Pole, similar to the way celestial meridians or astronomical meridians track from zenith to nadir in the sky. These meridians act as reference points for orientation both in the sky and on Earth. British hi-fi company Meridian Audio aims for nothing less, presenting electroacoustic benchmarks as their own reference points.
The company may not be the most beginner-friendly, but their quality is of the highest grade. Meridian Audio was founded in 1977 by Allen Boothroyd and Bob Stuart under the modest name Boothroyd-Stuart. With the Meridian M1, the two inventors introduced the world’s first active loudspeaker for home use. In the mid-1980s, Boothroyd and Stuart launched the brand’s first product, a CD player, making an innovative breakthrough in the decade with this technology. Bob Stuart remains known for his inventive spirit, with the lossless codec Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) credited to him.
Today, Meridian Audio has firmly established itself as a benchmark in the hi-fi world. In Germany, Meridian Audio devices are distributed by Audio Reference in Hamburg, led by Mansour Mamaghani. Despite their high reputation, Meridian Audio has only been featured in 7Review four times, and we’ve never had one of their loudspeakers in our test lab – until now.
Meridian Audio DSP 9
Nine months ago, at the HIGH END fair in Munich, we got our first look at Meridian Audio’s DSP 9 active floor-standing speaker. The eccentric design instantly caught our eye at the Audio Reference booth, and we knew we had to test this beauty ourselves. It took three-quarters of a year before Lorenzo Mamaghani and Maximilian Merk from Audio Reference brought a pair of DSP 9 to our editorial rooms in Leipzig.
The delay had a simple reason: this month, the new reference model finally goes on sale. However, the manufacturer has set a substantial price of $104,000 per pair, with $12,000 of that for the custom-painted casing, inspired by the luxury sports car McLaren P1. This isn’t a mere imitation; Meridian Audio actually has the DSP 9 painted at McLaren’s factory with the original paint used on the sports car! If the orange color of our test model seems too bold, you can choose a fully customized finish on Meridian Audio’s website. Monaco turquoise or coral red? Han purple or celadon green? No problem.
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The DSP 9’s paint isn’t the only feature reminiscent of a sports car. The streamlined housing design also feels like a nod to automotive excellence. Similar to the upright fender of a racing car, the DSP 9 has no parallel walls. While the lower end of the housing provides ample volume, the body rapidly narrows as it ascends, corresponding with the DSP 9’s driver setup.
High-End Ensemble
The active DSP 9 features four side-mounted subsonic woofers. These long-throw drivers, made of polypropylene, measure an impressive 20 centimeters and are equipped with an anti-resonance clamping ring mounting system. Each pair of woofers is driven by two Class-D amplifiers, providing over 240 watts total per pair. The midrange is handled by a Class AB amplifier with over 150 watts, capable of driving a frequency range exceeding 100 kHz – more than sufficient for its midrange role. The 16 cm EVO midrange driver has a non-conductive voice coil driver and an anti-resonance clamping ring mounting system. The 2.5 cm beryllium tweeter, featuring a silver voice coil and custom waveguide, is powered by a Class-AB amplifier rated over 150 watts, covering a frequency range above 100 kHz. Together, the DSP 9 delivers a maximum sound pressure level of 119 dB, with a frequency response from 20 Hz to 40 kHz.
Basic Connectivity
The DSP 9 includes a basic set of digital connections: a coaxial input that processes signals up to 192 kHz at 24-bit, an optical input for 96 kHz at 24-bit, and a USB-C input for up to 384 kHz at 24-bit. Bluetooth compatibility can be added via the included Meridian B-Link. For analog signals, Meridian’s analog input module must be purchased separately, adding balanced XLR inputs and unbalanced RCA channels for phono system use. With the proprietary RJ45 Meridian SpeakerLink connection, two DSP 9 units can be paired for stereo sound.
Special Features
Now let’s dive into the technical highlights of the DSP 9 from Meridian Audio. First, the Meridian Bespoke Signal Mapping applies custom crossover filters tailored for each configuration of driver units in Meridian Audio speakers, promising absolute signal fidelity. Additionally, Meridians E3 bass technology introduces special filtering to provide more resonance in the bass range without sacrificing fine-tuning. The woofer’s Pro-Active Bass amplification protects the woofers from overloading, enabling maximum performance without risking driver damage.
All output components feature Full Frequency Alignment, a combination of digital filters and delay circuits to correct potential phase shifts, ensuring all frequencies reach the listener simultaneously. Complementing this is True Time technology, a Meridian-developed apodizing filter that prevents pre-ringing effects from earlier filters, transforming pre-echo into post-echo. This technology, often associated with optics, is an alternative to the more popular brick-wall filter in audio. Meridians Q-Sync further cleanses the signal by minimizing jitter through a multi-phase buffer system, improving timing and signal clarity. Finally, the DSP 9’s proactive thermal management monitors the audio signals going to the mid and high drivers and limits the speaker’s volume if there’s a risk of individual drivers overheating.
Setup and Performance
Setting up a DSP 9 stereo pair from Meridian Audio is best done with four hands, as the 110 cm tall speakers weigh a hefty 68 kg. Thanks to the down-firing bass reflex, they’re quite versatile in positioning. When arranged in a stereo triangle, slightly angled toward the sweet spot, their performance impressed us. The DSP 9 showed its prowess with “Tu Café” by N.O.H.A., blending a fast-paced rhythm section with nuanced vocals and acoustic instruments. The low-end power complements the timbre of traditional vocals and piano with precision. In “Don’t Say” by Arone Dyer & Stargaze, the DSP 9 delivers astonishing detail and spatiality, creating an expansive depth that made rim shots feel 15 meters away.
This effect is reinforced with Lower Dens’ “Alphabet Song,” where dry drums seem close, while a distant synth arpeggio, guitar, bass, and vocals gradually create a vibrant soundscape. The DSP 9 earns the title of a reference speaker, revealing details that conventional speakers can’t reproduce. It captures subtle guitar resonances and air between hi-hat cymbals – elements that demand exceptional microphone and speaker quality. The Meridian DSP 9 lives up to its creator’s name, standing as a true reference in electroacoustics, a guide in the hi-fi sky!
At the top of the tapered housing is the 25 mm tweeter with a beryllium dome and custom waveguide
The DSP 9’s input terminal is discreetly placed at the bottom rear of the housing, though it lacks built-in analog input options
The DSP 9’s sleek casing features dual 20 cm woofers on each side, with paint inspired by and applied by McLaren
Specs
| Meridian Audio DSP 9 Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Device Class | Active Floor-standing Speaker |
| Price Category | Luxury Class |
| Manufacturer | Meridian Audio |
| Model | DSP 9 |
| Price (RRP) | $104,000 (pair) |
| Dimensions (W/H/D) | 66 x 110 x 51 cm |
| Weight | 68 kg |
| Information | www.audio-reference.de |
| Technical Data (according to manufacturer) | |
| Operation Mode | Active |
| Design | 3-way, bass reflex |
| Frequency Range | 20 Hz – 40 kHz |
| Output | 119 dB @ 1 m |
| Source Connection | Digital |
| Streaming Capability | No |
| Max. Sampling Rate | 384 kHz / 24 Bit |
| Room Recommendation | 15 m² to 50 m² |
| Individual Sound Adjustment | Yes (via app) |
| Inputs | 1 optical, 1 coaxial, 1 USB-C |
CONCLUSION
Meridian Audio showcases its expertise with the DSP 9. Although it looks like a sports car, it performs delicately, like a Stradivarius. Yet, it can also easily fill larger rooms, as if you were standing trackside. With top-tier technology and cutting-edge developments, the DSP 9 clearly points toward the reference class!
Rating
- Bass Reproduction: 20/20
- Midrange Reproduction: 20/20
- Treble Reproduction: 20/20
- Spatiality: 10/10
- Sound Quality: 70/70
- Features/Build Quality: 9.5/10
- User-Friendliness: 9/10
- Adjustments: 1
Intermediate Score: 89.5 out of 90 points
Price/Performance: Good (8/10)
Result: Reference Class – 97.5%
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You give the impression that the analog input module is an expensive extra. My pair here in the U.S.A. had them included in the box. Also, the four subsonic woofers each have their own 240 watt amplifier and are side-mounted, not down firing, utilizing separate DACs for the left and right pairs so that they move air together (horizontally-opposed) to equalize pressure inside the cabinet.