Meridian Ellipse: stunning streaming speaker
Wednesday, 1st May 2024
Back in early April 2024 we were intrigued to receive an invitation to attend Meridian’s headquarters near Cambridge for a new product reveal. ‘True Meridian Performance – Distilled’ said the header on the invite.
Peter and Zac headed south for the big reveal later in April and they were not disappointed. When Meridian unveiled Ellipse to those in attendance, it was exactly what we had all hoped for – an all-in-one streaming speaker system that’s compact, gorgeous to look at, packed with Meridian technology and offering a wealth of options for streaming.
And then there was the sound...
We're huge fans of Meridian components here, using their CD players, streamers and speakers, so we’re accustomed to Meridian's high-performance sound.
Somehow, Meridian have managed to shoe-horn that signature sound quality – detailed, natural and engaging, and above all musical - into a compact speaker that will give a good Hi-Fi separates set-up a run for its money.
Heck, we’ve heard a fair number of separates systems costing twice the price sound worse. Yes, Ellipse can be used as a second system in a study, bedroom or kitchen, but we're sure that plenty will be using it as their main Hi-Fi system - it really is that good.
Well connected.
Ellipse is Meridian’s first wireless DSP loudspeaker. It distils over 45 years of experience in audio design, including the developments from their recent ‘Extreme Engineering Programme’ that led to the creation of the flagship DSP 8000XE loudspeaker. We think it’s the best sounding – and looking – compact speaker you’ll have heard.
Ellipse is flexible, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming built in – and an ethernet socket is provided for a higher quality wired connection. It supports Airplay if you want to stream to it from an iPhone, iPad or Mac computer; and Chromecast if you prefer to stream that way from any phone or tablet.
Ellipse incorporates Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect, and is a Roon Ready device. Streaming music natively with these apps sounds better, in our experience, and leaves your phone or tablet free to simply control your music – or to take calls, or to browse.
There’s also analogue, optical digital and USB type-C inputs if you want to add any analogue or digital sources. Ellipse partners beautifully with a TV, for example.
Ellipse can be controlled by using your phone, tablet, or computer, but there’s also a gently-illuminated touch screen on the top of the unit with most of the basic functions available at the touch of a button, including volume control, play/pause, skip track, on/off and Bluetooth pairing… there’s no need to unlock your phone if you simply want to adjust the volume.
Sophisticated DSP.
Meridian pack twelve of their unique Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technologies into Ellipse which allows it to deliver an incredible, room filling sound, and to tailor that sound for the room it is in and your own preferences.
Bass and Space. The most significant of these is Meridian’s new Bass and Space tech which uses DSP to create a wide soundstage with a real sense of depth.It’s as if you were listening to a pair of wide-spaced speakers, with clear and extended deep bass.
Image Focus. In a perfect scenario, the listener is sat equidistant between the speakers. This is not always possible, however, so 'Image Focus' technology allows you to compensate for off-centre listening and maintains the original soundstage.
Free-Q. Need to place Ellipse on a shelf in a corner? Ellipse can still deliver an authentic soundstage even if it’s off to one side of your listening seat. Free-Q technology means that Ellipse’s frequency response can be adjusted for the room and its location; sit it in a bookshelf and you can adjust it to ensure there’s no bass boom. 
Image Elevation. Finally, Image Elevation tech comes into play if you need to sit Ellipse on a low table or sideboard, raising the stereo image upwards to suit your higher listening position.
Three amplifiers power the two full range stereo drivers and subwoofer, each of which are housed in their own, individual chamber in the acoustically-inert body.
The sophisticated electronics are isolated from the main enclosure and mounted on a die-cast aluminium chassis. The resultant sound is clear, rich and unlike anything in its class.
BUY MERIDIAN ELLIPSE
Written By John Armer
Comments
reviewed by David Olstein
03 Sep 2024
"Purchasing The Meridian Ellipse"
As the proud owner of two M80s, I've been patiently waiting for a follow-up. Will this be sold in the United States? It's not currently available through the Russ Andrews web site.I hope Meridian will follow this up with a wireless DSP bookshelf speaker, sold in pairs. Something in the $4000-$6000 range that can complete with the B&W Formation Duo, Cabasse Rialto and Dynaudio Focus 10.
Customer Service Reply Hi David
Regarding your recent comment on our website about the Ellipse.
It is internally fitted with a universal power supply making it suitable for use worldwide with the only the correctly terminated mains cable being required.
Due to dealership restrictions, we’re unable to supply the Ellipse outside of the UK. However, if you are interested in one then I can enquire with Merdian if we can sell to you. But I’m sure the Ellipse will be available in the States very soon.
Regarding your recent comment on our website about the Ellipse.
It is internally fitted with a universal power supply making it suitable for use worldwide with the only the correctly terminated mains cable being required.
Due to dealership restrictions, we’re unable to supply the Ellipse outside of the UK. However, if you are interested in one then I can enquire with Merdian if we can sell to you. But I’m sure the Ellipse will be available in the States very soon.
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