Meridian Readies HD Projector, Digital Video Processor

“Over the last two to three years, core technologies for HD video projection have advanced to significant new performance capabilities,” says Norm Steinke, Chief Operating Officer of Meridian America. “With Meridian’s unique engineering experience and proprietary design, and with our rigorous hand-selection and calibration programs, we are now able to offer fully reference-grade equipment at rational cost, enabling a new level of home-theater excellence.”

Building on the success of the award-winning MF1, the new MF10 uses the latest-generation D-ILA light-engine technology, in a maximum-performance three-chip 1080p array. Based upon an all-new, 0.7-inch DILA device, the MF10’s refined new optical package delivers an important reduction in stray light, producing industry-best black levels (in excess of 30,000:1 native contrast ratio) without the use of a servo iris. This means powerfully stunning blacks and superbly dynamic visual “pop,” with no sacrifice in light output—or of the MF10’s remarkable shadow detail. The result: rich, film-like textures and depth, and an entirely involving, cinematic visual experience.

Another key to the MF10’s unexcelled video excellence is its exceptionally accurate, 16-element, all-glass lens. This ensures sharp, fully focused imaging across the entire screen, edge to edge and top to bottom. Its 2x zoom delivers a large, bright image even in smaller environments with curtailed throw-distance dimensions, delivering image size from 60 to 200 inches. Like Meridian’s MF1 projector, the MF10 will feature the optional 2.35:1 (Cinemascop®) conversion kit from lab-quality optics maker Schneider.

While video performance is indisputably the MF10’s key feature, Meridian has also engineered numerous intelligent design touches. An extremely low-noise cooling system maintains quiet installations, with both intake and exhaust located on the front panel, making location close to the rear wall practicable, for tidy layout and maximal throw-distance. Lens-shifts of 80 percent horizontal and 34 percent vertical further enhance design and installation adaptability, while the MF10’s side-access lamp compartment makes renewal simple even for ceiling-mounted installations.

Meridian’s unequalled selection and calibration standards and stringent quality control make the MF10 the most consistent high-end projector available. This is an important point to system designer/installers offering reference systems, and promising calibrated performance at multiple venues or rooms.

The MF10 incorporates powerful DSP for high-performance video processing, including deinterlacing and image scaling, making it a virtually “plug-and-play” solution for high-end, full-HD image reproduction. For installations requiring a range of fully state-of-the-technology abilities, the MF10’s “pixel-for-pixel” unprocessed mode is tailor made to work in tandem with Meridian’s newest digital video processor, the DVP2351. For its part, the DVP2351 is specifically engineered to deliver maximum performance when paired with the new Meridian projector, or with an equivalent model of similar potential. The DVP2351 provides a full range of inputs including 4 HDMI ultra-high-bandwidth 1080p paths, with flexible switching and a host of input/output aspect ratio options, taking full advantage of its powerful scaling/deinterlacing digital-video processing abilities. Totally programmable, and controllable via infrared or RS-232 communications, the DVP2351 is equally adept optimizing the MF10 projector within an all-Meridian system or in a multibrand layout.

Meridian is offering the MF10 Digital Projector and DVP2351 Digital Video individually. Both models are available immediately.

MSRP: MF10 projector: $14,995; DVP2351 processor: $3,995.