Meridian Audio, the British audio technology pioneer has announced the launch of its first high-end all-in-one wireless DSP streaming speaker, Ellipse. Priced at $3,000 USD, Ellipse is positioned as one of the most expensive luxury wireless speakers in the category, which includes the Sonus faber Omnia ($1,999) and Naim Mu-so ($1,299). However, it reminds us most of another wireless speaker from the UK, the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin ($899).
Does the Meridian Ellipse offer something different? It leverages twelve unique Meridian DSP technologies including the first implementation of ‘Meridian Bass & Space’ in a home audio product. According to the company, Ellipse creates a vast, spatial soundstage, far exceeding its size, while offering Meridian’s signature performance; resolution, timing, bass cohesion, and dynamic range for lifelike and natural sound in any room.
“Ellipse represents a luxury lifestyle product that seamlessly combines aesthetics with performance,” comments Natalie Reynolds, Head of Product at Meridian. “Its graceful curves and smooth, pebble-like finish ensure effortless integration into any decor, offering an engaging and tactile experience.”
“This distinctive elliptical design is featured throughout the Meridian product range, including the flagship DSP8000 XE and the acclaimed DSP9. Throughout this new product, elliptical motifs persist, such as the intricate spiralling pattern of the metal grille’s elliptical perforations. Ellipse is elegantly elevated on curvaceous feet, embodying a harmonious blend of form and function, nothing is extraneous, it just looks right.”
Meridian Ellipse should be easy to use straight out of the box via either the Meridian Control app or your favorite streaming music app. With support for Bluetooth, WiFi, and Ethernet, there are multiple ways to stream music via AirPlay, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect. Plus it’s also Roon Ready and can be used as a UPnP renderer. Lastly, with playback functions atop the unit, you don’t necessarily need your phone nearby to play music.
Ellipse is the first Meridian speaker to feature the new R2 electronics platform. A compact version of the R1 electronics platform, R2 has been specifically developed for Ellipse. It features the same sophisticated, signal-enhancing developments found in the DSP8000XE and DSP9, and incorporates Meridian’s brand-new and updateable high-end streaming platform.
At the heart of this feature-rich streaming speaker sits Meridian’s Atlas Software Core which enables the implementation of new enhancement technologies and features, including many of the sophisticated signal-enhancing technologies found in its larger, award-winning stablemates.
“Meridian’s mission has always been clear: to bring better sound to more people,” remarks John Buchanan, CEO of Meridian. “By persistently challenging convention and reshaping the way customers experience sound, we’ve crafted an all-in-one, high-performance streaming speaker that pushes the boundaries of what’s achievable within a compact form factor. With Ellipse, we’ve succeeded in engineering a product that seamlessly blends versatility and style into any space, enriching the user’s listening journey and fostering a deep connection with their music, regardless of their location. Ellipse truly redefines the capabilities of a product its size.
“In a market cluttered with compromise, Ellipse dares consumers to demand more – more performance, more satisfaction, more longevity. We believe in challenging the norms, in pushing boundaries, and in never settling for less than the best. Dare to be better – Ellipse is not just another streaming speaker.”
Specifications
Drive Units:
- 2 x 90mm (3.5″) polypropylene wide-range drivers
- 1 x 150mm (6″) x 100mm (4″) polypropylene long-throw “racetrack” subwoofer driver
- Crossover frequency = 180Hz
Performance:
- SPL: 100dB@1m (pink noise source)
- Frequency response in room within 3dB: 40Hz – 20kHz (volume setting 65)
Amplification:
- 2 x 25W for full-range drivers
- 1 x 30W for subwoofer driver
Connectivity:
- Bluetooth
- Ethernet
- Wi-Fi (Dual band – 2.4GHz and 5GHz compatible)
- AirPlay, Chromecast built-in, native streaming from Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect. Roon Ready, UPnP renderer.
Audio Inputs:
- 1 x USB-C supporting sampling rates up to 192kHz @ 24-bit
- 1 x mini-TOSLINK optical supporting sampling rates up to 96kHz @ 24 bit
- Stereo analogue with 88kHz/24bit A/D conversion (Optical and analogue share dual-purpose 3.5mm minijack socket)
Control Options:
- Illuminated touch controls located on top of unit
- Meridian Control app via Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection
- IR receiver eye (MSR2 remote control available separately)
- Automation interface via Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection
Dimensions / Weight / Power:
- HxWxD: 163 x 410 x 219 mm (6.4″ x 16.1″x 8.6″)
- Weight: 3.9kg (8.6 lbs)
- Power: 100V – 240V AC, Max 80W
Price & Availability
Meridian Ellipse will be available in the coming weeks for $3,000 USD.
Editor’s Note: The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin is both wider and taller than Ellipse, but the Ellipse weighs more. Specifications are unclear just how much amplification power Zeppelin offers, and it’s too soon to say which one plays louder or sounds better.
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