STATUS - AVAILABLE
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Description :
There are 3 different types of Meridian 508 cd players which have different versions of DACs - 19bit, 20bit and 24bit. They can be easily differentiated by their printing on their front glass display. The 19bit version is printed as "508 High Resolution CD Player". Meridian Audio's 500 series was introduced in 1993, slotting in between its then flagship 600 range and the rather more affordable but still very highly rated 200 models. Like all previous Meridian players, the original 508 employed a Philips CDM4 single-beam swing-arm laser transport. The Meridian 508.20 used the Philips CDM12.4 laser transport which was a high specification version of the CDM12.1 laser transport. The 508.24 used a newer Philips CDM12.5 which has a Hall-Effect spinning motor. Overall, Meridian’s venerable 508 cd player alone had enjoyed more than 20 awards, including a Class ‘A’ rating from Stereophile.

When compared to the 208 predecessor, the Meridian 508 had better refinement which manifests itself more in perceptions of image depth and detail. The acoustic 'signature' of a hall could be percieved, in subtle gradations in string harmonics, in the ability to separate out the mechanical 'noise' of bow on string from the, as it were, wanted sound. The Meridian 508 was obviously better than the 208 in all these areas that in a sense, it sounded softer in its more complete resolution of harmonics. The image was a little more tangible, in a word more natural. The definition of image it achieved was just a shade more complete: musical strands within it were better separated, freer and more apparent in texture of a hall's acoustic. These are small but nevertheless significant improvements. In summary, the Meridian 508 is rated as a leader od what is considered to be a first-rate quartet of units (501,504,508,555) as perhaps befits a company which has been continuous presence on the front line of digital sound development.

Specifications :
THD.................................................Less than -93dBFS
Noise...............................................Less than -93dBFS
Conversion.......................................Dual differential Delta Sigma, 64 times oversampled
                .......................................at 2 bits per channel giving 19 bits resolution
Display............................................Eight character dot-matrix display for track, time, and index
Finish..............................................Black textured enamel and glass
Audio Output....................................2V fixed, class A
Balanced ouputs...............................XLR sockets,
                         ..............................1=ground, 2=positive phase output, 3=negative phase output
Digital outputs..................................Co-axial, optical
Communications...............................Two 5 pin 240" DIN sockets
Consumption....................................20VA
Dimensions(w x d x h).......................32.5 x 34.5 x 9 cm
Weight.............................................7kg

Miscellaneous :
Remote............................................Yes
Manual.............................................Yes
XLR Ouputs......................................Yes
Made in............................................UK, England
Condition..........................................9/10

Product Information :
http://www.meridian-audio.com/download/Handbooks/500_Series/508user.pdf (Manual for Meridian 508.20)
http://www.meridian-audio.info/show.php?compid=47 (Manufacturer's Website)

Reviews :
http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/590 (Meridian 508 24bit version)
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_5_1/meridian50824cd.html (Meridian 508 24bit version)
http://www.meridian-audio.info/public/meridian_508_gramophone%5B585%5D.pdf
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ocmeridian&1077542894&openfrom&2&4
http://www.hifi-advice.com/reviews-CD-DAC.html
http://www.audioreview.com/cat/digital-sources/cd-players/meridian/508/prd_401482_1586crx.aspx
http://www.audioreview.com/cat/digital-sources/cd-players/meridian/508-24/prd_116984_1586crx.aspx (Meridian 508.24)