Meridian DSP8000 User manual

Meridian DSP8000
Meridian’s latest flagship sets entirely new standards for clarity, dynamics,
imaging and realism. DSP8000s are breathtaking in their ability to place
musicians in precise locations in your room, with evensubtle body movements
clearly audible. The system also has the power to bring alive the most
challenging motion picture sound track or rock band.
The DSP8000 is designed to reproduce sounds at up to full natural level while
providing all the resolution required by sources of up to 24bit and 192kHz. Such
demanding dynamic resolution called for a new approach to cabinet
construction and selection of advanced drive unit materials.
DSP loudspeaker drivers
Each DSP8000 loudspeaker uses six multiple high-efficiency long-throw
custom bass drive units. The bass units are mounted symmetrically in pairs on
the sides of the bass cabinet, cancelling vibration in order to minimise
interference with the mid-range and treble units.
The treble and mid-range drivers are mounted in a separate sealed head
assembly. The treble unit is a semi-horn-loaded composite dome design with a
silver voice coil. The mid-range unit incorporates a cone made from a uniquely
light and stiff combination of polymers to give unparalleled transparency.
Power amplifiers
The speakers are driven by five independent high-power low-feedback power
amplifiers mounted on a multi-finned extruded heatsink. The combination of
optimised magnetic design, careful star earthing, and very fast output devices
gives the amplifiers extremely low noise, high detail, and fast bass.
The whole electronic assembly is supplied from two substantial toroidal
transformers feeding high-quality audiophile-grade capacitors.
Cabinet
Each DSP8000 loudspeaker is built within a precision manufactured cabinet,
which uses innovative design techniques to give exceptionally low coloration
and exquisite mid-range transparency.
The head assembly is a sealed enclosure fabricated from curved pressure-
laminated panels, each using multiple layers of selected woods and metal to
provide high stiffness and damping. Its narrow, tapered shape offers optimum
DSP8000
DSP Loudspeakers
Sales information
1st December 2001
•Four-way DSP active loudspeaker
•The ultimate expression of the
art and science of loudspeaker
design
•Self-contained audio system,
each comprising eight custom
drivers, five amplifiers, four
digital converters, digital
crossovers and advanced sound-
shaping DSP computers
•Remote controlled and requiring
no unsightly speaker cables
•Advanced, curved cabinet
featuring new lamination and
damping techniques
•Class A rated by Stereophile
•Listener control over features
including bass, treble tilt, listening
axis, volume, time-compensated
balance and absolute phase
•Maximum output level 118dB spl
Meridian Audio Limited
Stonehill, Stukeley Meadows
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire PE29 6EX
T [phone]
F [phone]
Meridian America Inc.
Suite 122, Building 2400
3800 Camp Creek Parkway
Atlanta GA 30331
T [phone]
F [phone]
www.meridian-audio.com

dispersion across a wide listening area. It is supported on the bass enclosure
by three machined feet.
Like the head unit, the bass cabinet is constructed from interlaminated panels
with extensive bracing. The front panel is 6mm glass and incorporates a
window for the matrix display and infrared remote control sensor. The cabinet
stands on triangulated adjustable machined foot assemblies with provision for
floor spikes or skids.
Technical Specification
Performance: Frequency response in-room within 3dB from 20Hz to over
20kHz.
Maximum output >118dB spl @ 1m on music material
Noise less than 15dB spl.
Overall distortion typically <0.02% at any frequency or level
Inputs: Two digital inputs to SPDIF standard; 32kHz–96kHz sampling
rates at up to 24 bit; MHR support. (A future software update
will enable support for 192kHz.)
Construction: Two separate enclosures: mid/top and bass.
Four-way infinite-baffle system.
Digital crossovers at 80Hz, 200Hz and 2.6kHz.
Horizontally opposed and profiled bass system introduces
minimal vibration to the mid-top enclosure.
6 x 200mm long-throw bass drivers.
1 x 160mm polypropylene mid driver in separate enclosure
1 x 25mm aluminium-dome tweeter, silver wire, short horn-
loaded with protective grille.
Black gloss piano-lacquer head and glass front bass cabinet
Other colours to special order.
FIFO memory buffer input for the lowest possible jitter from
almost anysource.
Analogue gain and filtering using proprietary Meridian Class-A
discrete amplification.
Digital and conversion electronics constructed using
advanced surface-mount techniques and partitioned 6-layer
printed-circuit boards.
Four 24-bit 128x oversampling D/A converters.
Five 100W power amplifiers per speaker.
All processing is performed upsampled in twin 100MHz digital
signal processors (DSPs).
Dimensions: 1350mm (53.2in) H, 400 (15.7) W, 528 (20.8) D
Weight 105kg (231lb) each
Controls: Rear-panel controls for Power On/Off.
MSR and RS232 port provide controlover bass, treble tilt,
listening axis, volume, time-compensated balance and
absolute phase.
Front display: Eight-character display with system lights, can be blank.
DSP8000
DSP Loudspeakers
Sales information
1st December 2001
Meridian Audio Limited
Stonehill, Stukeley Meadows
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire PE29 6EX
T [phone]
F [phone]
Meridian America Inc.
Suite 122, Building 2400
3800 Camp Creek Parkway
Atlanta GA 30331
T [phone]
F [phone]
www.meridian-audio.com