Here are some inputs in my experience with Meinl......
Meinl, just like Pearl, is starting to make a move in the US market (that is after more than 25 years everywhere else). Their congas are pretty good. They started with their Marathon and have expanded to Artist Series-Mongo Santamaria to a new series called Professional Series. (There is a review that I saw in Modern Drummer that is in the Meinl site).
Their Marathon line, which is their original, is probably their best priced series and most popular. They beat LP Matador in my opinion and come close to the LP classics. They have an "odd" shape that I personally prefer it when playing seated. I like the "blue" of the Marathon Exclusives which is very good.
I have a catalog from them that mentions a Woodcraft series made of "special" woods that look like traditional congas (in the same manner as the "new" LP Giovanni Palledium) but they are not listed in their site (which is more for US purposes).
Meinl's advantage with LP should be their their price. Besides the Artist Series, their wood congas are made of rubber wood. Rubber wood is lighter and in regards to sound it has good projection. Just like LP has their siam oak as their main wood, Meinl has that rubber wood. I personally like their buffalo skins and hate LP treated rawhide heads. (I own a Meinl Marathon tambora that sounds much better than LP with one of the heads is buffalo).
I know various local Puerto Rico endorsers who, of course, recommend their products saying it has better projection and is better quality. I do not have Meinl's congas but have Luis Conte timbales and they are great besides somethings here and there.
LP customer services is better than Meinl's . I have been trying to get a part I need and I have not gotten a response from them yet.
If you do not have a local store that sells the Meinl, I will recommend to get the LP if they are more accessible. I am a "freak" of knowing I will get parts just in case. (In Puerto Rico Meinl has a good distributior that is the biggest music instrument store in the island. LP is everywhere but is been killed by Meinl here because Meinl is cheaper).
A seller of Meinl's is
http://www.ajpropercussion.com in Tampa, FL. Check also E-Bay because they sell some of their Meinl stuff in e-bay at good price. I bought my Luis Conte Brass with them without knowing.
Good luck in your decision!