Meridian Introduces World's First Ten Megapixel Projection System

For over ten years, leading UK-based luxury home entertainment manufacturer Meridian Audio Ltd has been developing and manufacturing award-winning video products - from DVD players to projectors - that, together with the company's advanced digital audio components, create the Meridian Digital Theatre, offering the highest quality reproduction of both image and sound.

Now, Meridian takes the next step towards perfecting the home viewing experience with the introduction of the Meridian 810 Reference Video System. The 810 system comprises two primary elements: the 810 Reference Video Projector, an entirely new D-ILA-based digital projector offering a previously impossible 10 megapixels - exceeding the resolution even of commercial digital cinema projectors - and the 810 Reference Video Scaler, a special processor designed to optimize the imaging of HD and standard resolution inputs for the vast new possibilities offered by a 10 megapixel projection environment. The result is a system that, Meridian believes, represents the most realistic home theater performance in the world.

Using a brand new light engine, the Meridian 810 Reference Video Projector offers an effective resolution of 4096 x 2400 pixels, or 10 megapixels. In comparison, a conventional HDTV image at 1080i represents just 1 megapixel, while full-spec HD (1080p) is still only twice that. The Meridian 810 Reference Video Projector also has extremely high light output capability. Powered by a PKI Xenon lamp, it is capable of delivering up to 4000 lumens, enough to light even the very largest screens to the Hollywood reference level of 16 foot-lamberts. In addition, the projector has a native contrast ratio of 10,000:1, ensuring that even in the most difficult scenes, such as those combining bright light and shadow, detail is never lost. Trained staff at Meridian's state-of-the-art headquarters near Cambridge, UK, individually calibrate each projector in a procedure that takes over four days to complete.


To display an image with a resolution of 10 megapixels requires some very special scaling. To meet this requirement, Meridian has developed the 810 Reference Video Scaler. A brand new design, featuring Marvell's powerful, award-winning, Qdeo
video processing technology, the scaler converts any digital source (480i to 1080p) up to full 10 megapixel resolution. Its quiet and natural video processing produces images that are free from noise and devoid of artifacts whether operating in 4:3, 16:9 or 2.35:1 modes.

The Meridian 810 Reference Video System will be available as a package consisting of both projector and scaler, which will not be available separately. Four different packages will be available, featuring lens systems with differing throw lengths. Short, Medium and Long-Throw packages will include a special motorized 2.35:1 (Cinemascope®) lens assembly, while a Very Short Throw package, designed for back-projection and simulator applications, will also be available. All four packages will be the same price: US$185,000 (US retail).

The Meridian 810 Reference Video System is expected to begin shipping in limited quantities by the end of Q3, 2008, with full availability before the end of the year.

Gentry Eagle Yacht To Be Redesigned By Thierry Mugler

The Gentry Eagle will be reborn through the vision and tremendous creativity of internationally acclaimed fashion and perfume designer, Thierry Mugler. The first to come in the Weyves Couture collection of yachts designed and signed by top fashion designers in the industry: high fashion meets the high seas.


With the Gentry Eagle, the world’s fastest yacht, as his canvas, Mugler will bring to life his creative visions alongside Weyves Yachts interior designer Eva Cadio to design the quintessential bespoke yacht.


Presently on the market for sale through Weyves Yachts, its exclusive broker, the yacht’s fusion of speed and power with absolute opulence will make this vessel a truly unique possession for any owner to have in their fleet and one of the most highly desirable vessels to exist on the seas.



The Gentry Eagle was engineered and built by racing legend Tom Gentry who went on to set nearly every powerboat speed record. This monumental vessel shattered the transatlantic crossing record in 1989 completing the journey from Ambrose Lighthouse at the entrance to New York Harbour to Bishop Rock on England's Isles of Scilly 62 hours & 7 minutes. In his victory, Tom, along with Norman Gentry, took the Blue Ribbon away from the British airline and music tycoon Richard Branson of Virgin.



The vessel has an impressive 11,500 horsepower and a top speed of 73 mph. She measures 112' in length and is fitted with twin 3,480 horsepower MTU turbo diesels coupled with a 4,500 horsepower turbine combined to propel her to over 63 knots (70+ mph). Fuel capacity is 9,800 gallons with a cruising range of 1,500 nautical miles.



The matchmaking of Gentry Eagle and Thierry Mugler is one of several design projects to come from the Weyves Couture. Weyves has partnered with Agent de Luxe president and former president of 25 years for Jean Paul Gaultier, Donald Potard, who represents more than 80 of the world’s leading fashion and interior designers.


Weyves International Ltd.
t : 00.1.647.293.0712
e: na@weyvesyachts.com