MPMax221 gets personal media players into digital hi-fi systems
International CES 2007, Las Vegas, NV, January 8, 2007– The MPMax 221 Media Player Digital Link, the latest in Meridian’s ‘MAX’ series of problem-solving boxes, is on show at Meridian Audio’s booth (South Hall 1, Booth 20538). The MPMax 221 overcomes a difficult challenge — getting analog signals, like those from a personal stereo, into digital products such as Meridian DSP Loudspeakers — with a simple one-piece solution.
The vast majority of personal stereos, such as the Apple iPod, offer a stereo analog output at headphone level, designed for a 3.5mm stereo jack plug. Some additionally offer line level outputs or even S/PDIF optical outputs. Products like the Apple Airport Express provide a USB connector as well as analog/optical digital connectors.
The MPMax 221 Media Player Digital Link allows all these sources and many more to be connected directly to a pair of Meridian DSP Loudspeakers, or to any other system that requires a standard S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) phono input.
The MPMax 221 includes the highest quality of analog to digital conversion, in keeping with Meridian’s long tradition of superb digital and analog audio engineering. Two channels of conversion are provided, operating at 24-bit, 96kHz resolution — the standard format used both in the studio and by Meridian DSP Loudspeakers. Special attention has been paid to minimizing jitter and power supply interference with the
conversion process. Audiophile -quality analog components are coupled with the latest in studio-quality digital conversion technology, optimized for sources and levels of this type.
The MPMax221 also includes a digital optical input that can be used with devices that offer a digital optical output, allowing a completely digital path. If the audio files played back have been ripped with a lossless format such as FLAC, AAC/Apple Lossless or WMA Lossless, the system can offer full digital audio quality.
Multiple inputs are provided. A special 3.5mm jack socket accepts both analog headphone -level signals and S/PDIF Optical (mini optical connector) inputs. Line level inputs are provided in the form of a pair of gold-plated phono connectors. The two analog inputs are mixed at appropriate gains so as to provide similar levels. The output is in the form of a single gold-plated phono connector carrying 24/96 S/PDIF
format signals to the destination system. The unit has a B-type USB connector that can be used to power the MPMax 221 as an alternative to the supplied power transformer. The unit will accept 9–15vDC at 150mA.
Meridian Audio Limited is based in Huntingdon, near Cambridge, UK, and was founded in 1977 by Allen Boothroyd and Robert Stuart. With a 25-year history of innovation and development of the highest quality consumer audio systems, the award-winning company is widely recognized as a world leader in digital and analog audio reproduction. Meridian developed the world’s first audiophile CD player, the world’s first consumer digital surround controller, developed the MLP lossless packing systems mandated for use in DVD-Audio and included in emerging high-definition disc formats, and is the only UK audio hardware manufacturer to be a member of the DVD Forum. The company’s optical disc players, DSP-based loudspeakers and Digital Theater systems are unique in the industry, maintaining a super-quality digital audio signal throughout the path from the source to the amplifier, and using digital signal processing to generate advanced crossover characteristics that would be impossible with conventional passive analog systems. Meridian is also the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of Faroudja High-Definition video processors and projectors.
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Meridian Media Center server: http://media.meridian -audio.com
