Photo courtesy Meridian

The Meridian F80 sound system $2,995

Meridian teams with Ferrari for the F80, a solid listening experience

Designed in collaboration with Ferrari, the Meridian F80 is a transportable all-in-one digital sound system incorporating a CD and DVD player and AM/FM radio along with facilities for connecting any type of MP3 player or iPod to deliver beautiful, room-filling sound. The high-performance device, set to become a design classic, distills more than three decades of award-winning Meridian know-how and passion for music into a single, elegant package.

Since its debut, the Meridian F80 has received numerous accolades from top tech journalists for its extraordinary ability to provide consumers with an all-in-one system showcasing Meridian’s expertise in musical, voice and image reproduction. In an effort to extend the consumer reach and in response to customer demand, Meridian America offers the F80 on its web-site for $2,995.

“Our goal for selling the F80 online is to help introduce the Meridian sound experience to a customer base that may not have the time to visit a local authorized dealer. Online purchases can be made at any hour of the day, and we are fully prepared to offer the 24/7 service that our customers are now demanding,” says Meridian America’s COO Norm Steinke.

The mineral-filled composite that makes up the F80’s body is identical to a material used by Ferrari in its legendary vehicles. Providing astonishing rigidity and high dimensional stability to maximize the performance of its built-in loudspeakers, the F80 delivers an incredibly pure experience. It’s a premium quality solution for limited spaces and for temporary uses in bedrooms, kitchens, vacation homes or boats.

With hints of art deco in its pure elliptical outline, the F80 is distinctly modern both in its styling and state-of-the-art engineering. While proudly bearing the famous Cavallino Rampante alongside the distinctive Meridian “M,” inside the F80’s cavity lies the most advanced transportable entertainment system ever made. As expected with Ferrari on board, there is a beautiful engine on the inside - an audio engine comprising of three power amps, effortlessly delivering more than 80 watts to the two front speakers and integral rear subwoofer. By comparison, the average transistor radio outputs less than five watts. The loudspeakers themselves are special full-range designs that are custom made for this product - they contain powerful neodymium magnets and high-tech cones fashioned from magnesium and aluminum alloy.

With a resonance that can fill a large room with superb quality, the F80 appears much smaller (16 inches wide by 9 inches high) than it sounds. The Advanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) ensures a wonderfully full, rich sound with an impressively wide stereo stage. This DSP technology allows the user to fine-tune the output of the F80 depending on where it is positioned in the room. Toning down, it also can be set to wake up mode with a favorite pre-set radio station or song.

Completing the design is an exceptionally ergonomic smart-button interface with a crystal-clear organic LED display that incorporates automatic station name labeling among a range of other intelligent programming features.

The F80 is available in five official Ferrari colors - red, yellow, silver, white and black - at www.theF80.com.