Mark Fleischmann

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Audio Video News
Meet Sony's PlayStation TV
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jun 20, 2011
Sony makes TVs. Sony makes PlayStations. So why shouldn't Sony make a PlayStation TV?

Announced at the recent E3 gaming show, the 24-inch 1080p set will be 3D capable and packaged with 3D glasses, HDMI cable, and a Blu-ray copy of the game Resistance 3.

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Ears On
Meet the New Dolby Surround
Mark Fleischmann  |  Nov 07, 2014
Dolby Atmos is hitting surround audiophiles like a succession of giant waves crashing on the beach. The first wave is Dolby Atmos in movie theaters. The second wave is Atmos in Atmos-enabled speakers and surround receivers. But what about that third wave, the one nobody's discussing? That's the quiet incorporation of another totally new technology into the Atmos technology bundle. I'm talking about Dolby Surround.

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CEDIA 2010
Meridian Aims for the Big Fish
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 22, 2010
Meridian plans to address itself in a more targeted fashion to affluent consumers who are not necessarily techies, we learned after arriving early to a press party at the Georgia Aquarium and wandering into a dealer meeting. The company, famed for its bleeding-edge DSP-driven active loudspeakers also plans to discontinue any products (such as passive speakers and amps) that don't bear the "Meridian DNA." That would be roughly half its line. New products to be officially announced in January include the DSP3200 flexible-mount compact digital active loudspeaker and the Audio Core 200, a stereo audio controller/hub that brings together myriad audio sources, connecting them via SpeakerLink to any of Meridian’s DSP speakers. The Aquarium contains the world's largest tank full of amazing aquatic life. And the Cerviche Shooters were fabulous.
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CES 2014
Meridian Builds Digital Smarts into DAC-Amp
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 10, 2014
Meridian's Prime, which it bills as a headphone amp, is also a USB DAC, and who could win a digital arm-wrestling contest with Bob Stuart? The dual skinned, resonance killing, screwless enclosure is a miniaturized echo of a G Series component. There are three Analogue Spatial Processing listening modes: one with no enhancement, one for a more speaker-like "out of head" feel, and more of the same with bass boost. A quick listen suggested that ASP has great potential; we'll audition it with more (and more familiar) software ASAP. Price is $2000 with a conventional power supply. Add $1250 for the separate Prime Power Supply.
CES 2010
Meridian Dazzles with Sooloos and Colors
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 09, 2010
Since we last show-blogged about Meridian's Sooloos audio server, the mag has run a full review. The latest wrinkle for CES 2010 is the ID40 Sooloos Card, which integrates the server with Meridian 800 Series components such as the 861 Surround Controller (now in its sixth generation, $25,995). In the new 808.3 Reference CD Player ($19,995) the card is standard equipment. What pleased us most was the news that the company's amazing active speakers will move beyond their longtime puritan black gloss finish to embrace a rainbow of colors.
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Headphone Amp/DAC Reviews
Meridian Director USB DAC
Mark Fleischmann  |  Nov 25, 2013

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $699

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Enhances computer audio
Sleek design
High-end build quality
Minus
No headphone jack
Ambiguous indicators

THE VERDICT
The Director is the best USB DAC we’ve heard yet.

I will never forget the moment when I first heard digital audio in 1985. It was a profound disappointment. I had just bought my first CD player and played my first Compact Disc. The sound was harsh and alienating. How could that be? CDs offered perfect sound forever. There must be something wrong with my ears, I thought. It took years to trust my senses and rethink my digital signal source.

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Bookshelf Speaker Reviews
Meridian DSP3100 Speaker System and G91A Controller
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jul 14, 2006
Is pure digital architecture the future of audio?

This month's Meridian Spotlight System consists of four DSP3100 monitors, a DSP3100HC center speaker, an SW1600 sub, and a G91A DVD-Audio/video player, controller, and tuner. If you want to know what happened to the amps, you'll just have to read on.

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Headphone Amp/DAC Reviews
Meridian Explorer USB DAC
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jun 10, 2013
Audio Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price: $299 At a Glance: Computer-friendly USB DAC • Headphone amp • Clean and precise sound

Do you have a pack of cigarettes on your desk? If so, try this. Connect a USB cable between the pack and your computer. Then connect a line-level cable between the pack and your desktop-powered speakers or amplifier. Finally, replace the cigarette pack with a Meridian Explorer USB DAC. There: Your life just got a whole lot happier and healthier. And your music is smokin’.

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AV Receiver Reviews
Meridian G95 DVD A/V Receiver
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 22, 2007
High-end audio goes green.

There is a link in the public mind between scale and quality, a notion that, if you want something better, you also want something bigger. After all, top-of-the-line surround receivers are expected to have more powerful amplifiers and more features. Bigger speakers come with a tacit implication of better bass response. And who doesn't dream of buying a bigger plasma or LCD?

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CES 2013
Meridian Gets into Walls
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 09, 2013
Meridian's first on-wall speakers include the DSP 520 ($5000/each) and DSP 648 ($7000/each). Unlike most in-walls, but like other Meridian speakers, they are self-powered and loaded with DSP magic. They're also built with separate enclosures for the drivers, the electronics, and the back box. Our exclusive closeup shows buttons your installer can use to dedicate the speaker to left, center, or right channel use. Mount Meridian's Media Controller 200 to the back and you can control the system from your iPad.
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