Meridian
Meridian DSP5200SE HC/VC Active Centre Channel Speaker
Meridian DSP5200SE HC/VC Active Centre Channel Speaker
In stock
Meridian DSP5200SE HC/VC Active Centre Channel Speaker
The Meridian DSP5200SE HC/VC is the centre channel partner engineered specifically for home cinema systems built around the DSP5200SE Special Edition floorstanding loudspeaker. It shares the floorstander's 2½-way driver architecture, its beryllium dome tweeter, its three-amplifier active system, and its full complement of Special Edition DSP electronics — ensuring that the front soundstage is completed with identical acoustic character and engineering standard, rather than introducing a weaker link precisely where the majority of dialogue, effects and on-screen action is concentrated.
Available in HC (Horizontal Centre) for placement beneath a screen, and VC (Vertical Centre) for installations where room geometry requires vertical orientation. Both variants share identical electronics and driver specifications. Built by hand in the UK.
The 2½-Way Architecture
The DSP5200SE HC/VC uses the same three-driver, 2½-way design as the DSP5200SE floorstander. A 25mm beryllium dome tweeter with silver voice-coil handles treble. One 160mm polypropylene long-throw mid/bass driver covers the midrange and upper bass. The second 160mm driver is dedicated entirely to low-frequency reproduction. This arrangement delivers the imaging purity of a single treble-to-mid crossover while doubling bass-handling capability — the same logic that makes the floorstander perform so far above its cabinet size, now applied to a horizontal or vertical centre cabinet.
Three Class-AB amplifiers — each rated at 75 watts, 225 watts total — are matched precisely to their respective drivers. There is no passive crossover in the signal path and no shared power supply between driver channels.
Frequency response runs from 35Hz to over 32kHz in room. Peak SPL is 116dB at one metre. Distortion is typically below 0.02%.
Image Elevation
Positioning a centre channel below a large screen creates the same geometry problem in every installation: the sound origin and the image do not align. Meridian's Image Elevation technology raises the perceived sound image psychoacoustically to the centre of the screen, anchoring dialogue and on-screen effects precisely where the eye expects them to be. The practical result is an installation that feels acoustically correct — which, for extended film watching, matters considerably.
DSP Technologies
The DSP5200SE HC/VC implements nine Meridian signal processing technologies: Image Elevation, Full Frequency Alignment, Bespoke Signal Mapping, E3 Bass, Q-Sync, True Time, True Link, Pro-Active Bass, and Pro-Active Thermal. Each contributes to a specific aspect of performance — from timing coherence and bass extension to driver protection and low-level clarity — working together to produce a centre channel that is acoustically indistinguishable from the mains it serves.
Technical Specifications
| Tweeter | 25mm beryllium dome, silver voice-coil, short-horn |
| Mid/bass drivers | 2 × 160mm polypropylene long-throw |
| Design | 2½-way active |
| Amplification | 3 × 75W (225W total) |
| Peak SPL | 116dB @ 1m |
| Frequency response | 35Hz – over 32kHz (±3dB in room) |
| Distortion | Typically <0.02% |
| Noise floor | <15dB SPL |
| Audio input/output | SpeakerLink RJ45; Co-axial RCA (up to 96kHz/24-bit) |
| Display | 8-character display; can be blanked |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 201 × 735 × 267mm |
| Weight | 35kg |
| Power | 20W standby; 300W maximum |
| Finishes | Piano lacquer black; Select (custom colour) |
| Variants | HC (horizontal) and VC (vertical) |
| Build | Hand-built in the UK |
Who Is It For?
The DSP5200SE HC/VC is the correct centre channel for any home cinema system using DSP5200SE Special Edition main loudspeakers. It completes the front soundstage with matching architecture, matching electronics, and matching acoustic character. It is also a strong choice for installations where the Meridian DSP7200SE HC/VC would be physically too large, or where a smaller footprint is required without any sacrifice in engineering standard. For installations requiring bass reinforcement, the Meridian DSW.2 Digital Active Subwoofer integrates seamlessly into the same system.
Buying from Martins Hi-Fi
Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind. We have a long-standing relationship with Meridian and extensive experience specifying multichannel systems built around the Special Edition range — advising on pairing, Image Elevation settings, placement, and finish options including Select custom colours.
When you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris and Tim — experienced specialists who can advise on the DSP5200SE HC/VC and your complete home cinema system.
Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.
