First Looks

So what exactly is the F80? Well, at first glance it looks like a stylish, slightly larger-than-average clock radio, but that description alone doesn't nearly do it the justice it deserves. When you pick it up out of the box it certainly doesn't feel like the typical clock radio because, at over 14lbs, the F80 is one hefty little sound system. In fact, the dense materials used in the construction of this tiny beast are the main contributions Ferrari made to the design, which is a bit ironic considering how very light their cars are. In stark contrast to the racing world, in the realm of hi-fi, there is often a direct relationship between weight and performance since dense materials make better speaker enclosures.

When I got some time to inspect the F80 out of the box, I began to realize that, while it is partly a clock radio, it's more like an all-in-one mini home theater audio solution. It can play standard audio CDs, mp3 and WMA discs, has multiple analog and optical audio inputs so you can even play your iPod through it, and, if you hook it up to your television via an S-video cable, it even plays DVDs. While the DVD player is a nice addition, it should definitely only be viewed as a nice little bonus feature because, in this day of 1080p high-def video, the antiquated S-video connection won't exactly look awe-inspiring on your big screen HDTV. [Ed: Given the F80's price tag, I'd say it's safe to assume anyone purchasing this has gone high-def, so the S-Video output is an odd inclusion.] Hook it up to a small TV in your bedroom, though, and you at least won't have to have a standalone DVD player just to watch an episode of The Office before bed.

The F80 controls seem to be a little unconventional at first --especially when the unit is turned off-- but the purpose of the thin row of smart buttons that sit just below the LCD display become evident as soon as the device is turned on. Each button simply adjusts whichever function is displayed directly above it on the LCD. The only thing not controlled by one of these buttons is volume, which has a dedicated knob on the right side of the unit. The disc drive is slot-fed at the very bottom of the F80, and all connections are on its backside, including dual external antennae and a semi-mysterious "dock" input, which is likely to be used for accessories such as an iPod at some point down the road.

Of course, a product such as the F80 wouldn't be complete without a remote control, so Meridian included a small, no-frills remote as well. While the remote can control all major functions of the unit, it certainly won't be replacing your $20 Radio Shack universal remote any time soon. My biggest complaint is that it doesn't have any back-light or even glow-in-the-dark buttons, so finding it in a dark room would be quite a challenge. Considering that the remote is also black and very thin, it's just the kind of thing easily lost in couch cushions or between magazines on a coffee table.

Testing

So how does the F80 sound? Well, let's just say that, like the scream of Ferrari's F1 engine at 19,000 rpm is music to the ears of racing fans, so is the F80's audio to the ears of audiophiles. All similar products are put to complete and utter shame.

The collaboration between both Meridian and Ferrari really makes the F80 what it is. With Meridian's highly refined DSP expertise and the components crafted by Ferrari, I really can't imagine a higher-quality product in the same vein as this. The F80 truly excels at reproducing mid- and high frequencies, as well as moderate levels of bass. However, with its 2.1 design and backfiring "subwoofer," the F80 will never replace your current home theater's sub.

I like bass in my music, movies, and games, and in those cases the F80 doesn't deliver like it does in every other area, though, for the size of it, you really can't expect any better whatsoever. Even if you're the biggest bass fan out there, I defy you to listen to the F80 for more than a minute and say that the purity and richness of the sound is anything other than absolutely stellar in every other way.

My favorite part of listening to the F80 was when I discovered the "width" adjustment hidden within the audio settings. I pushed it up to the max, effectively opening up the sound stage of the F80 so that it sounded as if it had just pushed its speakers out a few feet to the left and right. This feature is really what makes the F80 sound so much bigger than it really is. Combine the unparalleled clarity and warmth of sound with this room-filling feature, and you have a little "clock radio" that can rival some of the better multi-channel home theater systems on the market today.

Again, don't expect huge thundering bass. And don't think you're truly going to replace a good 5.1 home theater setup with this product. But, for what it is, the F80 certainly performs better than you'd think possible just by looking at its size.

Suffice it to say, if the pedigree of both Meridian and Ferrari meant nothing to you, and even the build quality and visual style failed to impress, I'm certain that anyone with ears would still know they were listening to something special as soon as they heard the musical capabilities of the F80.

Conclusion

The F80 is truly a marvelous example of the heights achievable through superior engineering and design. I think it's completely safe to say that this is the best sounding "clock radio" ever made, and I really can't imagine something coming along that would be significantly better. If that was all that mattered in this world, I can guarantee you I'd have one sitting on my bedstand right now.

Unfortunately, however, now we get to the disappointing part. While I wish I could say that I can finally afford to own a Ferrari product of my own, I'm afraid that the F80 still makes that a dream for now because, at a price of $3,000, even the best "clock radio" in the world isn't truly feasible for my budget.

Obviously, the intended market for the F80 is more likely to be the type of person who already has a car with a prancing horse emblem in the garage. If you ever get a chance to hear the F80 I'm sure you'll want one too, though, and maybe you can somehow convince yourself that you can justify the cost because you'll use it for your home theater, computer, and telephone receiver... heck, maybe even incorporate it into your weight-lifting routine. While I'd normally say "good luck explaining all that to the wife," at this point... you know what... if she's a music lover and you can get her to take a listen too, you might just have a shot at this one because the F80 is that good. It's still a long shot that you'll almost certainly miss, but good luck!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the F80 - leave a comment or user review and tell us, is this something you could actually see yourself spending $3,000 on? Where would you see yourself using it?

Pros

Best "clock radio" ever
Astounding clarity and richness with mid- and treble frequencies
A lot of versatility
Sounds much bigger than it is

Cons

You might need to take out another mortgage to afford this one
Bass response isn't going to replace a real subwoofer
Remote feels like it was almost an afterthought

Mark Korff : www.thetechlounge.com