Open, total, natural, non-fatiguing sound. If recorded,wide and deep stage, Not aggerating in any way. I like the looks a lot. Simple and chic. Not bothering about the gear anymore, just listening to the music and buying cds

None (I find the sometimes slow starting an advantage, because I don''t have to run to my seat, when I start listening) Beware: the 588 takes at least a month to burn in! Before that time: don''t judge!!!

I own a nice set of fabulous Magnepan 2.7QR speakers. Since I bought them (2th-hand)I was searching for a new set of gear to serve them. I owned then a chic Meridian 602/606 cd player/DAC in combination with a very nice and handy Meridian 201 pre-amp and a set of B&W MPA1 mono pwramps. It was a nice set, but I thought that there was much more possible with my Maggies. I was searching for a new smaller cd pl. in stead of the double-double-box. I liked it a lot, but after I tried the new Meridian 588 from my dealer in Rotterdam (Multifoon) I found out, that in a few years time the sound of the top CD-players was really improved. Not only was the sound more accurate in terms of balance and place, but also the high sounds of cymbals etc. were much more natural. Also voices didn''t have that nasty chest-sound. I tried the 588 cd-player with the Meridian 502 pre-amp (because the 588 sounds a lot better when the interlink to the pre-amp is balanced. The 502 has several really bal. inputs and unbal.as well as bal. outputs(independed of eachother) and 2 Meridian 505 Mono-amps. Overall it was a real improvement: the soundbalance was more natural and it was (if the recording is right, and that is not the standard) a pleasure to play classical cd''s again. I noticed that interlinks and powercords play a significant role in the sound, and that it was a time-consuming thing to trie them, because it took at least a few days, but with some (fresh) cables a few weeks, before they were stabilised (burned in) (That''s why I really don''t understand how ie in a HiFi magazine people can perform accurate hearings, when all the parameters are constantly altering, they simply don''t have the gear long enough with them) I bought a pair of Siltech Ruby Hill powercords for the preamp and the cdpl., and a pr of Siltech SPO powercords for the poweramps. The interlink between the cdpl. and the preamp is a Siltech G4 SQ88 (bal.) The long(6 m.)interlinks between the pre- and the pwramp is a reasonnably priced Van den Hul bal. interl.(the weakest (inter-)link, I''m saving for a better). The quest for the best sounding speakercable was not easy. The pwramps are behind the Maggies, so I only needed 2x50 cm or so. I tried several famous cables but finally I chose for 2x50 cm. Discovery Sinature. I don''t hear any harshness in the sound. It is all very natural. And that fabulous remote!

Similar Products Used:

Meridian 602/606

Extremely natural, non fatiguing sound. Tremendous delicacy and detail.

I haven''t found any yet.

This unit replaced my Sony SCD-1, which replaced my BOW Technologies ZZ-Eight. After my epiphany that I will be listening to CD''s for a long time. And that SACD & DVD-A are really a long way off. Plus I am not interested in suround sound being the luddite that I am, I tried and purchased the Meridian 588. Simply put, the Meridian 588 is magic. I have heard things on existing CD''s that I have never heard before, certainly not on my SCD-1. Listening through my Quad 989''s I actually hear music, not harshness, distortion, unbalanced highs and less than exciting bass. Voices are etherial, not distant. Orchestral music is delineated into instruments, not an undefined mass of noise. Popular music sounds as good as popular music can sound. All in all, a superior product in all senses. By the way, after reading the other reviews, I contacted Meridian BEFORE trying out and subsequently buying my 588. For the gentleman who complained that his unit wouldn''t play 80 minute CD''s, I should like to point out that Meridian products are designted to play REDBOOK CD''s, not extra long play home burned CD''s.

Similar Products Used:

Bow Technologies ZZ-Eight, Sony SCD-1.

Has not only detail but dynamics which brings music to life.

Unforgiving and harsh on high notes. Somewhat thin in bass. Big remote. Somewhat slow reading table of contents.

I like the Meridian because not only does it have the detail of other similar priced players, it has dynamics and rhythm which brings music to life. But when listening to Bach's Tocata and Fugue in D minor, the pipe organ plays some very high notes a couple of minutes into the song. What I heard were some horrible distortion with the Meridian 588 and Pro-Ac 2.5 speakers. I listened to the same passage a couple of times to be sure. Also the other minor problem was a thin not as full sound in the bass.

Still, I felt the Meridian was the best player for the money until I heard the Cary CD 303. This CD player is $3,000 weighs 35 pounds and feels very durable. It has the dynamics and detail like the Meridian but listening with the Cary CD 303 and Pro-AC 2.5 speakers, the music was not harsh on the high notes. Also the music was fuller. So while it sounds bad on paper to have slight rounding on the high notes, I think the Cary sounded better for Pro-Ac and B&W Nautilus speakers which can be bright on the high notes.

If you want to spend more, get the Cary with internal volume control, ditch the pre-amp and get even better sound.
Also, while no one mentions it at here, I think it's great to be patriotic, buy American and get a great product.

The Meridian has gotton a lot of press (there are some Cary CD 303 reviews at www.ecoustics.com) but I would recommend anyone listening to the Meridian to also listen to the Cary. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Similar Products Used:

Cary CD 303 with internal volume control.

Overall build.. Style..Dynamics

TOC read time..Price...Needed Upsampling..to make Full Use of the 24/192 DAC

I really wanted to love this player since the net reviews are Nillsville. Hifiworld mag has a review but they won't let you access it? The initial & maybe some of the remaining older units had the L&R ouputs reversed! A definite Faux Pas in this price range.
As for the sound it is w/o question dynamic but lacks that special Top-end smoothness & liquidity of competing spinners such as the Cary 506/200 with 192 upsampling. Also the unit has trouble reading 80 minute discs. The Meridian literature goes into specifics about it's CD-Rom based reader & it's check & re-check status... that & few bucks will get ya coffee. It is also missing it's earlier trademark(506,508,etc.) load tray with its center fit cd placement. The player takes a while to break in but never exceeds the performance of the 508.24. I did a side by side comparison test 588 VS 506/Belcanto DAC-1 & the 506 Belcanto won hands dwn with quicker TOC timing & Overall Punch,Finesse, & bottom end.
The 588 is just TOO expensive for these shortcomings... Frank's Sound Room 2001-2002
System used for testing:
Martin Logan Aerius I's....NAD C370 amp...Monster Cable...M2.2s speaker leads...Monster M950I Interconnects.....Monster...Lightspeed 200 digital cables... Sonus Faber Concertinos & REL Strata Sub also used................

Similar Products Used:

Meridian 508.24, 506.20, 500 transport