Price Paid:  $2450.00 from audiogon.com

Summary:
Just got this beauty. I must say this is the finest sounding machine I have ever used! I recently upgraded from Sunfire Ultimate Receiver to McIntosh Amp and this Meridian. The sunfire was a fine piece but cannot hold a light to the delicacy with which music and HT are reproduced! I must encourage anyone interestef in Meridian to take advantage of the 568 line which is at a bargain since the release of the G series. I auditioned Anthem, Lexicon, Theta( both casanova and casablance), and EAD theater master 8000. Each wonderful and I would have been pleased, however, the Meridian is the best and the price is outstanding.

Strengths:
It's all about sound with Meridian!

Weaknesses:
Remote is well made, but backlighting and universality would be nice.

Similar Products Used:
Sunfire, Anthem, Theta, EAD, Rotel

Price Paid:  $5600.00 from Sneaky Pete's

Summary:
I traded my tube (Jolida, McIntosh) gear in Sept '02 for some a trip down Meridian lane. Listen, I'm not going to get into the age old debate over tube versus solid state gear - but, boy am I sorry I made this switch. My experience with Meridian gear has only left me more convinced of tube superiority. But to the review - Let's start with the remote - I've got smaller typewriters... How about looks - nothing really to look at - no glowing lights, no real heat disapation... One thing that really bothers me is the inability to tool around inside the box (I built a radio home kit on time - so I usually like messing around inside) - this thing is nothing but cards and epoxy boards... I guess I could write some sofware... OK - sound - let's just say after bing accustomed to a nice, smooth - well behaved sounding system, I was quite shocked at my first impression of the 568's jacked up, psycho accoustic mumbo jumbo, and totally unbelievable sound. Upsampling? How completely fake - modern mathmatics has proven that in order to accomplish this (why in the first place?) so much noise is brought into the equation that any benefits are outweighed by an unnaturally altered sound. Tripled buffered fifo memory - well buffering once is fine and isn't fifo an accounting term?

Too much trickery going on here for me. Give me back my tubes and turntable.

Strengths:
Nice glass top - great for serving h'orsderves - easy clean up - I find some diluted Mr. Clean works the best.

Weaknesses:
I find M's spec on jitter woefully low. Requires an exact interconnect match to reduce this problem. Plastic buttons.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This is a fabolous product if you dont need a tape loop I use it with meridian 557 and 500. Else i've got the super senterchannel CC electra 901 with a Meridian monoblock to drive. The sound is stunning, even better than 588, 502 and557. I think they have made a troughlu imressive preamp, prosessor and dac. You can get bettter if you have a hole lot of ekstra mony, but this is a godie.

Price Paid:  $7750.00 from JS Audio

Summary:
The new 568.2 MM is the finest Surround Processor/Preamp I have ever heard. The ability to upsample all 7 channels to 24/88 is a computing marvel. The ablility to accept DVD Audio digitally is a blessing. Frankly, DVD Audio is so superior to CD, the presence, detail, soundstage and analog-like coherence it is amazing. I've decided to just use the 2 channel information on the disc: main left and right and a pair of subs only. As I don't agree with the remixing decisions made by the studios in regards to instrument and vocal placements. The overall sound from the 568.2 MM is everything you could ask for: dynamic yet smooth, detailed with great depth yet full of body and soul. I truly believe that this will be in my system for a long, long time to come...

My system is:
Meridian 598
Meridian 568.2
Plinius SA-250 MKIV with the latest mods.
Plinius SA-100 II mono-bridged for Center
Bryston 3BST for the rears
Dynaudio Crafft mains
Dynaudio T2.1 center
B&W 7 Signature in-walls for rears
Pair of REL Storm III subs
All Cardas Golden Cross cabeling

Strengths:
Everything

Weaknesses:
Nothing

Similar Products Used:
Meridian 565 and 568.1

Price Paid:  $5400.00 from Audio T

Summary:
The longer I have had this unit the more I have started to listen to music and the less I have watched films (sorry movies!).

As an AV processor it has everything and is capable of soundfields of awesome precision and authenticity. It has better bass performance than any of the other processors mentioned and sounds amazingly realistic ( especially across the front soundstage)

My only complaint is that it is possibly too good and this level of accuracy is not heard in your local cinema complex. Whilst it still trounces most processors I would say that the Lexicon delivers a more cinematic,more exiting delivery of movie soundtracks, even though it is probably less neutral.

I have not had a chance to try out the new Meridian EZ processing as my room does not allow for seven speaker set ups. This may change this view as the Lexicon was listened to in simulated Logic 7.

Turn to music however the 568 TROUNCES allcomers, including many respected preamps and separate dacs.The upsampling does work, removing any trace of digital hardness and moving the soundstage back whilst subtly expanding it. It could be that the changes are mistaken for a loss of dynamics. Give it a chance, especially if you like female vocals. You will not switch it off!!

Used with a Meridian 500 transport, it loses little to Krell KCT/KPS28 combo I have recently tried.

In summary this is the best all round AV preamp currently on the market, unless you've got $20000!!

Strengths:
Accuracy,soundstaging,the best processor available for combined audio/cinema installation

Weaknesses:
Not overly "cinematic"

Similar Products Used:
Lexicon DC2,Theta Casanova, TAG AVR32