Tell us what new products or services integrators can expect to see from Meridian?
To further cement our position as British Audio Pioneers, we are continuing with the implementation of our Extreme Engineering Programme. This is proving to be a great vehicle for driving our business in ways which help integrators.
The ongoing investment in engineering resources has led to us refining existing Meridian innovations and, by combining these with new concepts as they have been developed, has resulted in a comprehensive suite of fully defined and well-proven Meridian Technologies, which can be implemented into new products as they are developed.
One advantage this offers is that once our integrators have witnessed the benefits of a particular technology in one product, they know what it will offer when it appears elsewhere. Contrary to the old proverb, “Familiarity breeds contentment!”
The first product to benefit from this approach is the DSP8000 XE, our new flagship loudspeaker. This incredible loudspeaker sits at the top of our range of in-room models which also includes the Special Edition DSP7200 and DSP5200 models, as well as the more compact DSP3300 and DSP3200.
Springing from the same pool of technical developments that have emerged from the Extreme Engineering Programme, the forthcoming DSP8000 Performance Pack is a comprehensive hardware package that can be installed by a suitably experienced technician into any existing DSP8000 loudspeaker – of any version. Regardless of their age, the audio performance of the upgraded loudspeakers exceeds that of even our previous flagship, the Special Edition DSP8000.
Meanwhile, our range of architecture loudspeakers now offers integrators the chance to specify even more combinations of products to ensure a perfect match with their clients’ requirements.
The introduction of our DSW600 in-wall subwoofer enables prodigious levels of deep, controlled bass to be achievable from the same 100mm (4 inch) wall-mounting depth as the rest of our installation loudspeakers.
Our patented HPA (High Power Array) technology optimizes the performance and coverage of sound when three of our in-wall loudspeakers are arranged in a close-proximity array configuration. This has increased the maximum SPLs available from Meridian systems, making it possible for reference levels to be achieved in even the largest of listening rooms while retaining fantastic fidelity.
Another exciting development for us is the addition of Works with Sonos integration to Meridian products. Works with Sonos allows our products to seamlessly connect with Sonos, instantly waking, changing inputs, and playing at the desired volume when initiated using the Sonos app. Anyone who has experience with Sonos (meaning almost everyone!) now has an easy way to enjoy Meridian’s high-performance audio using the simple and familiar interface of the Sonos app.
What makes those products unique?
The DSP8000 XE is the pinnacle of everything we’ve learned about loudspeaker design over the past 45 years. Its external appearance is an evolution of previous models, but its internal design is completely new, and this gives the XE the audio performance that far exceeds anything that has come before it. The more it gets listened to, the more jaws drop, and more people decide they must own it!
The fact that the Performance Package can be used to upgrade any DSP8000 (even those which may be up to 22 years old), provides integrators with a compelling reason to engage, or to re-engage, with existing Meridian customers.
As well as the chance of a substantial improvement to the performance of the system, our integrators love an opportunity to explore the possibility of other upgrades or additions.
Our architectural loudspeakers now allow integrators to offer superb-sounding solutions ranging from a single 12-inch square unit through to vast multi-channel systems using arrays of three loudspeakers per channel and multiple in-wall subwoofers – plus every size of system in-between! All done while still occupying a wall-depth of a mere four inches.
Even rooms and spaces that used to be seen as problematic are now opportunities to provide great sound.
Our active involvement with our integrators and distributors gives us direct, pertinent, and often quite undiluted(!) feedback from our marketplace. Our ability to design, develop and manufacture Meridian products completely in-house, combined with our ongoing innovative research, means that this feedback can be considered at whatever stages it applies to, not just throughout the entire design process, but onwards into the lifetime of our products.
What is the state of the home audio market?
The home audio market is currently in great health. We are seeing an increase in simple stereo systems with really high-quality loudspeakers being used.
Statement pieces (custom paint finish) are really growing in popularity and clients seem to be really open to the idea of having an amazing pair of speakers in their living room.
Having them finished in either a complementary or contrasting color or by making a statement with glass speakers in rooms with a view. Integrators are growing in confidence in putting forward these proposals, having heard for themselves how incredible a premium audio solution can be.
Our adoption of the “Works with Sonos” program has really opened up a number of new doors for our partners as well.
Works with Sonos removes any friction to the sale by making it super simple for a client to enjoy whatever loudspeakers they desire, with the Sonos user interface that they know and love. Our resolution enhancement suite of technologies maximizes the fidelity of the Sonos Port and feeds de-jittered, upsampled digital audio straight into our Digital Active Loudspeakers.
It is great to see clients taking the advice of putting the budget into the areas of their home where they will spend the most time listening to music. We’ve seen integrators deploying some incredibly high-spec audio systems into kitchen/dining areas along with living rooms, with multiple channels to provide great coverage in the space and multiple subwoofers to drive the room with powerful bass energy.
Most visitors to the home spend most of the time in the kitchen/dining areas so why not make them a focus point for an awesome audio system?
How has Meridian been able to handle the supply chain situation. Do you have available product?
Since our inception in 1977, all of Meridian’s products have been researched, designed, and engineered by us in Great Britain. Having our engineering team working so closely with the manufacturing team, we are in a very fortunate position to adapt and overcome a number of supply chain issues.
For example, very recently we saw a simple, single component (non-audio path) we use have more than a 200% price increase. We were able to allocate the engineering resource to investigate a suitable replacement component, test, and sign off a revision process so that our production team could continue to build the affected product.
This close-coupling of engineering and manufacturing has allowed us to remain agile and resourceful when faced with global supply chain issues. We have also heavily invested in raw materials ahead of time to ensure we’ve ringfenced the stock we need for the next twelve months, on a rolling basis.
This is essential as a relatively low-volume manufacturer, and it’s something we wanted to commit to so that we can support our integrators and distributors around the world.
What advice would you give to dealers?
The best bit of advice we give our integrators is to be confident and be enthusiastic. Clients love to see enthusiasm and excitement in demonstrations – it helps to cement their decision that they are investing in something that will give them many years of entertainment. Chuck on tracks that you love listening to, share stories of concerts and engage the client in what they love to listen to.
Be confident in showing solutions that might well cost a large amount of money – it is your responsibility to let your client know that these solutions exist, so let them make the decision if they want to invest or not. I can guarantee you that if you don’t tell them it exists, they will NEVER buy it. “If you don’t ask, you don’t get” has never been truer.
Finally, work on your vocabulary. We work with our dealers on expanding their audio descriptions. There are only so many times you can say “it sounds better”. Give them some more descriptive words that explain what they are hearing, feeling, and experiencing. Audio is incredibly nuanced and learning ways to describe it will boost your confidence, engage your clients, and improve your conversion rate and sales value.
