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Meridian CD Players

I am looking at buying a new (well used) cd player. It is between the meridian 506 and 508 series... (probably 20, not 24). I currently have a mcintosh mc-275 amp, c-22 pre-amp set up. I am wondering, what are the differences between the two products that justify the cost difference? Have any of you guys put them head to head? All I know is that the 508 comes with balanced outputs, which i dont need as my preamp doesnt have balanced inputs. What can you guys say about the difference in sound quality? Any information would really help....Thanx!
puc103
puc103 OP
1 posts
 
Has anyone compared the 506.24 to the 508.2? Please, give a real response... No... "meridian 508.2 are really neat! i have one!"

thanx for listenin!
stowne1
6 posts
 
My response may go against all of the others but I will give it a try. I have been an audio buff for the better part of 15 years now. I have auditioned much gear, and already gon through the money=better phase of audio. Now I consider products to really excel if the price/performance ratio is outstanding.

The 506.20 is a sleeper product from Meridian and is truly a classic in my opinion. At the price used it is untouchable. I have owned it for years and have yet to find a CD player even close in performance.

The 508.20 has balanced outputs and is significantly more money. The balanced outputs are "created" using op-amps and are not truly balanced. Listening to it single ended I found it to have less bloom and sound drier than the 506.20. I would have to stretch to assume in balanced it sounds better, but personally I don't care. A player anywhere near this amount of money should excel no matter which outputs are chosen.

Buy the 506.20 or 24. They are great.
pardales
652 posts
 
I would also be interested in hearing comparisons between the 506.24 and 508.24 as well as the 506.20 and 508.20 --
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