Verdict
The Meridian Ellipse is no ordinary Bluetooth boombox. It’s an audiophile-influenced, DSP-enhanced wireless wonder. Meridian has somehow leveraged years of high-end Hi-Fi R&D into a ridiculously compact enclosure, capable of exceptional clarity and brilliant stereo imaging – but it comes with a wince-inducing price tag
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Exceptional soundstage and imaging -
Bass & Space DSP -
Extensive connectivity
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No remote control included -
HDMI eARC is AWOL -
No Alexa or Google Assistant
Key Features
Advanced DSP
Meridian is a master at DSP, and works wonders in delivering a stereo presentation
Premium build and design
With its titular form factor, sleek satin-black finish, and stylised metal grille, every aspect of the Ellipse serves aesthetics and acoustics
Versatile connectivity
AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Wi-Fi streaming and Bluetooth are complemented by Ethernet, USB-C and local device input
Introduction
Meridian Audio is a brand synonymous with high-end, floor-standing speakers, and Einstein-grade DSP, so when it turns its attention to something as compact as the Ellipse, expectations are high.
The brand has flirted with the wireless category before, through its long association with LG, but this is its first own-brand Bluetooth table-top speaker. A product of the Meridian Extreme Engineering program, the Ellipse is an uncompromising example of what can be done, when cost is a secondary concern.
Inspired by its premium-priced stablemates, and employing technologies developed for automotive audio, this is a wireless Bluetooth speaker designed for the Meridian faithful.
Price
With a price tag of £1,900 / $3,000 / AU$4,999, the Ellipse exists in a high-end hinterland somewhere between the £699 Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro, and £2,800 Devialet Phantom. So does its performance justify its unabashed cost? Let’s find out…
Design
- Anti-resonance cabinet
- Satin black finish
- No remote control
There’s an understated elegance about the Ellipse. The satin-black finish and high-grade (doubtless acoustically tuned) aluminium front grille lend it a premium vibe. I rather like the modern, minimalist aesthetic, but a choice of colourways would be nice. As it is, the speaker ships in black.
Adopting a stereo configuration, the speaker employs two 90mm polypropylene drivers which sandwich a central 15cm long throw racetrack bass driver. Total quoted power output is 80W, with 2 x 25W going to the stereo pair, leaving 30W for the woofer.
The elliptical shape isn’t just for show; I’m told it plays a crucial role in reducing internal resonance and diffraction, resulting in cleaner, more accurate sound reproduction. The chassis has been engineered to isolate bass frequencies, and utilises a separate low-frequency enclosure to prevent any unwanted vibrations that might colour the audio.
Despite its compact footprint (just 412 x 223 x 171mm), the Ellipse has a commanding presence. It invites admiration.
Up top is an illuminated touch screen panel, with ‘buttons’ for volume, Bluetooth pairing and track navigation. There’s no remote control in the box. Instead users are encouraged to download the Meridian Control app.
If there’s any money left in your budget, the Ellipse is compatible with Meridian’s MSR2 (£300) controller. However, given the Ellipse’s asking price, a simple zapper would have been appreciated.
The speaker ships in a natty, branded storage bag.
Features
- Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect
- Roon Ready
- Connect 4 compliant
Specs are comprehensive. There’s dual band Wi-Fi on-board, as well as Bluetooth 5.0. Physical connectivity includes an analogue/optical input (there’s an adapter included in the box), USB-C for laptop connections, USB-A, and an RJ45 LAN connector, should you want to hardwire to your network.
However, there’s no HDMI eARC port, which seems to be something of a missed opportunity, although you can connect a TV to the speaker using the digital audio input
Most users will be looking to stream their playlists. To that end, the Ellipse offers support for Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect. It’s also uPnP enabled, for those with a networked server. It’s also Roon Ready.
On the debit side, Bluetooth lacks aptX Adaptive or LDAC. There’s no provision for MQA codec support either.
For those integrating the speaker into a smart home ecosystem, the Ellipse works with Crestron, Crestron Home, Control4, RTI, and Nice.
Additional functionality is unlocked by the Meridian Control app. Bass & Space does a great job expanding the perceived soundstage (stick to the Medium setting, because Max makes the sound a little hasty). While the Ellipse is fundamentally a stereo component, this treatment enlarges its presence, to the point where I couldn’t contemplate turning it off.
There’s also Image Elevation, a DSP technique that adjusts the height of the sound projection, ostensibly to provide greater focus and clarity. This trickery has trickled down from Meridian’s work on high-end automotive audio, but I can’t say I’m a fan, as it overly sharpens treble. The Ellipse sounds better with Image Elevation off.
More helpful is placement optimisation, dubbed Free-Q, which makes appropriate adjustments when the speaker is placed up against a wall, on a shelf, or freestanding on an island or credenza.
There are several ways to connect Bluetooth. You can hold and touch the Bluetooth logo on the touch panel, or activate pairing mode from within the Meridian Control app.
The Ellipse also supports NFC, so compatible Android smartphones can use tap-to-pair. The NFC sensor is located next to the touch panel.
Sound Quality
- Wide stereo imaging
- Superb balance
- 80W total output power
One of the Ellipse’s greatest triumphs is its ability to stereo image. Traditional two-channel demands speakers be spaced apart for convincing separation, but Meridian uses a proprietary DSP algorithm, able to create a spacious soundstage from a unit not much bigger than a tea set.
Minoru Muraoka’s City Pop iteration of Dave Brubeck’s jazz classic Take Five is a great example of this provision. Muraoka’s flute work sounds almost three dimensional, while the crazed percussion showcases width and dynamics. Eyes shut; I’d swear I was listening to a pair of bookshelf speakers.
Intelligibility is top notch. Chris Stapleton’s vocals on Tennessee Whiskey are as smooth as bourbon on ice.
Bass also impresses. Not because it’s bombastic, but because it’s tight and fast, with natural weight.
More importantly, the Ellipse is just great fun to listen to. Quiet Riot’s version of Slade’s ‘cum on feel the noize’ is presented in all its singalong, guitar chopping glory. Unlike the speaker, the chorus is delightfully big and rowdy.
Should you buy it?
Punches above its size and weight
If you’re prepared to pay a hefty price for a premium wireless speaker, then the Meridian Ellipse doesn’t disappoint. Offering support for key streaming services, as well as a signature sound that emulates the brand’s audiophile systems, it punches well above its size and weight
It’s a pricey wireless speaker
If you’re not already invested in the Meridian way of life, then the Ellipse is an expensive stretch. If you only intend to use it for Spotify streaming, you might also want to give it a swerve, as it’s severely over-qualified.
Final Thoughts
It’s difficult not to be impressed by the Ellipse and the DSP devilry which enables it to transcend its earthly cabinet.
If, (as I suspect), the target audio is existing Meridian buyers, that toppy price tag isn’t overly significant. The Huntingdon-based Hi-Fi outfit isn’t looking to sway buyers in the bargain aisles.
The good news is that price is reflected in the speaker itself. The Ellipse is a masterclass in audio engineering.
From a pure usability point of view, I’d have liked a zapper in the box. Call me old school, but having a simple controller anyone can quickly pick up and use remains a timeless benefit. I’d also have valued HDMI eARC.
But then, the average Meridian buyer probably doesn’t care about such trifles. The sublime sonic performance and ingenious design of the Ellipse will surely suffice.
How we test
We test every wireless speaker we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
- Tested for a week
- Tested with real world use
FAQs
It certainly does, in addition to Tidal Connect, it’s classified as Roon Ready renderer and is uPnP enabled. The USB-C input supports sampling rates up to 192kHz / 24-bit, while the optical digital audio input is compatible with sources up to 96kHz 24-bit.
While the Ellipse lacks HDMI eARC, there is an optical digital audio input (via an included adapter), which can be used in conjunction with the TOSLINK output that’s provided as standard on most TVs.
No, the Ellipse doesn’t include a physical remote in the box. Instead, Meridian encourages users to manage things via the Meridian Control app, which offers detailed EQ adjustments, boundary compensation settings, and access to its Bass & Space and Image Elevation DSP modes. Alternatively, you can buy Meridian’s MSR2 remote, but that’ll set you back an additional 300 smackers.
Full Specs
| Meridian Ellipse Review | |
|---|---|
| UK RRP | £1900 |
| USA RRP | $3000 |
| CA RRP | CA$3900 |
| AUD RRP | AU$4999 |
| Manufacturer | – |
| Size (Dimensions) | 412 x 233 x 171 MM |
| Weight | 3.9 KG |
| Release Date | 2024 |
| Driver (s) | Two 90mm polypropylene drivers. 15cm bass driver |
| Ports | Stereo analogue/digital optical input, USB-A, USB-C |
| Audio (Power output) | 80 W |
| Connectivity | Apple AirPlay, Google Cast Bluetooth: 5.0 (AAC, aptX, SBC,) |
| Frequency Range | – Hz |
| Audio Formats | FLAC, WAV, AIFF, DSD |
| Speaker Type | Wireless Speaker |
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