MERIDIAN ELLIPSE

If you're going to spend big on a wireless speaker, you're entitled to expect excellence at every turn: great sound, impeccable ergonomics, interesting design and that most intangible of qualities - pride of ownership.

- 

It's safe to say the Meridian Ellipse covers all of these bases, and in some style - not least the 'spending big' bit.

In photos, the Ellipse looks to owe more than a little to the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin, a product that's in part responsible for validating the whole 'really expensive wireless speaker' category. But the Ellipse is usefully smaller, and is packed with the sort of technologies that Meridian packs into its high-end active stereo speakers (and by 'high-end' I mean £60k per pair). It's hand-built in the UK, flawlessly finished and - between the touch-panel on the top and the comprehensive app - simple to set up and operate.

Daddy dual

The Ellipse can accept audio signals either wirelessly or via a selection of physical inputs. Ethernet and dual-band WiFi make it a useful network player, as well as being compatible with AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect.

That audio is delivered by a 2.1-channel array consisting of a pair of 3.5in full-range drivers and a 6x4in 'racetrack' sub powered by a total of 80W... but not until it's been pored over by the tech resulting from Meridian's 'Extreme Engineering Programme'. This brings a number of app-accessible options: 'E3 Bass' to expand low-frequency response, 'Bass & Space' for optimal soundstaging, 'Free-Q' to help compensate for sub-optimal room positioning, and a whole bunch more. With standard bass and treble tweaks available too, it's obvious the Ellipse is as adaptable as they come.