Originally Posted by Eloise
I'm slightly speculating here ... but I think part of this is a big change in how things are developed and implemented. In the 90s when HT itself was the cutting edge, people like Meridian took off the shelf DSPs and created their own code for processing. The large CE companies had to do likewise.

Now everything is just done with standard code for the likes of Denon and Marantz and Onkyo. And as the major customers they get the code for DSP chips as exclusives before everyone. Considering now there are only 3 major CE brands - Denon and Marantz; Onkyo, Integra and Pioneer and then Yamaha - each one probably has an exclusive from one IC giant. This leaves smaller more HiFi orientated companies such as Meridian, Classe / Rotel, Arcam, etc. having to either wait till the exclusivity period has ended, or developing their own code. Certainly I've heard comments from B&W representatives that they've not had access to the chipsets from their DSP suppliers to enable them to develop Atmos, etc. processors.
Due to the large increase in processing power required for the new Atmos/DTS:X formats, Meridian may decide it is more practical to move to an Intel i7 processor and software based solution for the DSP processing?

This is what Trinnov decided to do with their Altitude32, 32 channel Home theatre pre-amp/processor. Basically a server/PC based engine (running under Linux I suspect?)

Current generation off the shelf DSP chips are not as flexible to program/update, or as powerful.

861v4 LPSU, HD621, Sony HW40, PMC AML2, PMC IB2SA Centre - Triamped via Wyred4Sound MMC, PMC Wafer2 surr, PMC SB100 Sub & Wyred4Sound SX-1000, Dune HD MAX. Oppo BDP-105D Signature. Mede8ER 600X3D
Marantz CD94/CDA94. Rotel RB-1562, LG 65" OLED. IPL Acoustics STL5. Virgin Tivo. HifiMan HE-1000/Audio-GD M9. Stax SR-007/KGSSHV Carbon‏.