Price Paid:  $1300.00 from audiogon

Summary:
Wow, I am very impressed with this unit. I've experimented with various surround processors and I've never been happy with the sound. My main interest is music, and passable movie sound is a secondary priority. What impresses me most is that the surround modes for music sound great, and this is from a diehard 2-channel person. I assumed I'd use the surround for movies only but find I prefer the music surround to 2-channel. While my other preamps made good recordings sound great, they were also very unforgiving of lesser recordings. Those now sound great on this setup. While this unit doesn't have the pinpoint resolution of a good tube preamp, it does seem to have a wider soundstage and nice laid-back presence. It's much less forward than the BAT it replaces. Setup is a pain, but you only do that once (hopefully). I'd like balanced outputs but don't see myself upgrading to the 568 anytime soon due to the price. I highly recomend Meridian if music is the #1 priority and movies second. I can't really comment on the movie sound, to my ear it's great but I'm not too picky about movies. But ahh...the music...love it. Setup: Martin Logan CLS mains Magnepan MMG rears No center or sides Monarchy SM-100 deluxe main amps Acurus A-150 for rears Pioneer 440 DVD for transport home-made pure silver interconnects home-made power chords 2 home-made subs

Strengths:
Great sound, exceptional on music, even makes bad recordings sound good, looks nice and clean

Weaknesses:
Pain in the butt to setup, no balanced outputs, few inputs, pricey.

Similar Products Used:
Foreplay, BAT VK3i, Rotel, NAD, Yamaha

Price Paid:  $2000.00 from loaned from a dealer

Summary:
What I liked about the meridian is first of all the name and the looks. Also an old fashion video tape sound sounded terrific trough the meridian. I was also very please with the meridian using digital sound sources. It did a very fine job although it was not what I was looking for.
The meridian 565 sounded very smooth and silky and it didn't dissapoint me with the bass. I was although constantly waiting for something to happen, an aspect of the sound to appear. Also it had way too much high tones emphazised which I am not a fan of. I listened to a jurrassic park dvd DTS version and found unbearable even with the thx filters for the high tones.
The meridian had a huge selection of different DSP modes which were all very good and some fantastic but a little too subtle. I could always hear the difference between them but they were all too similar to deside what sounded best. The got the sensation that the meridian didn't dare to do all that it could, as if it was holding back.
I found the setup fantastic with all its variables but I don't understand why it has been constrcuted so difficult that I have to switch it off anf back again while pressing some buttons and then when wanting another menu I should set it off again and put it back on from the (which was a stretch because mine stood in a cubbord) main switch and then back on while pressing again another button. You don't do this ofcourse so often but it somewhat kept me from experimenting with the adjustments. Finally I desided not to buy this product because it would've required me to buy more meridian products and also pretty sure new maybe meridian active speaker (because of the high tones).

I use:
Pioneer dv-737
Rotel RMB-985 thx (front + sides)
Nad 216 thx (subwoofers)
Cheap 2ch reciever (rears)
Jamo THX one serie + OR210 for rear speakers
Sony vcr.

Strengths:
build, versatility, reliability, sound.

Weaknesses:
difficult to set up, very few connectors without other meridian equipment, remote a little clombsey.

Similar Products Used:
Lexicon MC-1, Classe 225, Rotel RSP-985, Sony 9000ES.

Price Paid:  $1800.00

Summary:
I had a complete Adcom Pro-Logic home theater system. I my quest to upgrade my system I determined to spend the most I could possibly afford on a processor. I started with a all in one Denon, stepped up to a Rotel and ended up with the Meridian. Purchased used from a dealer. This is a unit I have only dreamed of having. Since the retail is over $5K for the 565 and the accompanying 562v is $2,300, I figured I would have to sell a body part if I wanted new. The newer version of the 565, the 568 is even more $. Needless to say this was the deal of a lifetime for me. It has far exceeded my expectations when I finally hooked it up. The sound is astounding! I could use more adjectives to describe this unit but it would just use up alot of space. Sounds great at low volume and high. No distortion, no hiss, no buzz, just clear crisp heart pounding sound. I cranked up the depth charge scene of U-571 the other day and just about blew the windows out of the house. Scared the crap out of my cat. She couldn't get out of the room fast enough. The sound is truely unbelievable. By far, the best bang for the buck, literally! Had it upgraded to the lastest software version (6.0) by the local dealer for free. Now equivalent to a new 568; DTS, 7.1 Dolby, etc. Great response from Meridian and the dealer. I am a happy camper. The next step is to go active. Saving my money for some Meridian DSP's.

Strengths:
Sound reproduction, ease of use, upgradeable.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Adcom(Amp, Tuner, CD), Rotel(Amp), Pardigm & Eosone(Speakers)

Summary:
I tried a few silod state preamps before selecting the meridian 502 fully balanced aualogue system preamp.Some silod state preamps give me hard sounding and dry,but 502 this preamp sound warm mirdrange and airly also tigt bass.The other preamps i tried (Classe,mark levinson ;etc.)were bull or fake.Until today my meridian 502 preamp with me already two year,i still happy with it.

Strengths:
Great bass,soundstaging, warm midrange,and airly

Weaknesses:
Absolutely none bescause reasonable price

Similar Products Used:
Sound like tube