Dear Head-Fi Community,
Here is an incredible opportunity to purchase what I image to be one of the very best examples of the fabled Meridian 508 24-bit CD player.
First of all, this has been in my possession from new since 1998! To say it's an old friend is an understatement! Although being 12 years old, it is in immaculate condition, looks as new which should be a tell tell sign this has been treasured and babied for over a decade... by me. Just look at the pictures!
It has been impeccable in terms of reliability! It's built like a tank, it looks stunning... I love every last detail of it's design and aesthetics, very minimalist. Makes a lot of Hi-Fi look like awfully bling and toy like.
I drove, delivered and collected, the unit to Meridian for a head to toe inspection, clean and tune-up... and crucially an upgrade to fully 24-bit specification in 2007, at considerable expense! I actually met the individuals whom conducted the service and upgrade at Meridians service department, a team of elder English gentlemen who after a little banter were clearly electronic engineers of the highest standard and really knew and were passionate about their stuff!
Of course more importantly... the way it sounds... There is a reason this source has the reputation it does. I always loved and adored the way it sounded in original 20-bit spec and was always incredibly apprehensive to upgrade it. Well I wish I did so long before, it lost none of it's qualities and only widened the smile it always put on my face.
I have owned roughly fifteen other CD players since this in 1998 and auditioned quite possibly a hundred or more! Many have came and went from my Hi-Fi racks, yet this has always remained. I can't describe the sound... that's not my forte.. but many *professional* reviewers have, along with countless other testaments from enthusiasts across the internet and the many dedicated forums. Some of us know even our beloved Ray Samuels uses this as a source when voicing his quite brilliant amplifiers.
Of course I have found CD players which give me even greater satisfaction. The Resolution Audio Opus 21 being one for example, especially upgraded with GNSC reference modifications. Yet if I were on a relative budget, I have not heard anything that gave me as much listening pleasure as this.
I jumped on purchasing the Meridian G08 and it's revisions that replaced this 508, yet they all lacked the indescribable soul this has in abundance... leaning too much on an analytical side for my tastes. For those whom don't know this CD player was one of the first that made an excellent case for high fidelity enthusiasts to seriously spend more time listening to digital music over their turntables, when necessary. It's part of Hi-Fi hall of fame!
So please do get in touch with me if you are serious about acquiring a beautiful CD player all the way around.
I am looking for £950, or your best offer. As you can see even the original packaging is in wonderful condition and comes with the manual and remote, both again in immaculate condition.
It's with me, here in the UK. It's a 240V spec. I will ship this worldwide!
My reason to part with pieces of my Hi-Fi treasure chest?! Well it's a great shame to think of these works of electronic art and design sit in boxes, while they could be putting smiles on faces and emotively moving fellow music lovers. On a practical note, I have run out of space to house these lovely things any longer, so needs must!
For those, like me, to whom it matters... When in the care of loving and delicate usage, it was in a clean and dust, child, smoke and damp free environment. During periods of decommission it was keep in it's original packaging.
All enquiries welcome!
James Hawkes
