Designed for in-room and in-rack systems, the 251 Powered Zone Controller contains all the functionality needed to create a great sounding and flexible Hi-Res Audio zone.
With two powerful, cool-running channels of on-board amplification, the Meridian 251 can comfortably drive a pair of loudspeakers or a sound bar with Meridian's trademark fidelity and High Resolution performance.
A significant number of control options are provided on the Meridian 251 Zone Controller, including IP control, Meridian Sooloos Control, IR and Digital Active Loudspeaker control. In addition, the unit’s front panel features multiple LEDs to indicate source selection, including one that signals MQA playback. Configuration via web browser is also available.
IP CONTROL
IP Control allows for seamless integration and flexibility within the home. Also includes both digital and analogue inputs and outputs.
LIP SYNC
Video processing typically delays the picture. As sound travels slower than light, the effect of the sound arriving before the picture is highly noticeable. For installations where the audio and video are separated before video processing, the Meridian 251 has adjustable audio delay to realign the audio with the video.
FIFORECLOCKING
Clock variations, known as jitter, are one the main causes of unpleasant “glare” in digital audio systems. The Meridian 218 solves this problem with a proprietary jitter reduction technique using a FIFO (first-in first-out) buffer that allows an independent output clock to deliver clock performance that does not rely upon on the incoming signal quality.
DSP UPSAMPLING FILTER
Almost all audio has been digitally processed, even if it arrives at the Meridian 251 in analogue form. Upsampling allows the Meridian 251’s DACs to run at a higher sample rate and achieve their full potential. Upsampling also provides the opportunity to apply apodising correction to ameliorate time-domain errors that have been introduced to the signal by the ADCs or other upstream processing.
MQA
Sourced from the original studio master recording as approved by the creative team, MQA combines an advanced new digital sampling technology that captures extremely high frequency timing and detail in an audio signal with an equally novel system to “encapsulate” that data into a form for delivery using any lossless file format or streaming. The listener’s decoder reconstructs the entire original signal, bringing up an indicator confirming that what they are hearing is exactly the same as the original master. Without the decoder, the listener enjoys CD quality reproduction. Its most advanced form, “MQA Studio”, uses the technology in the studio to generate an even higher quality master recording as the source.