Meridian 596

General Information

It was the third best CD spinner transport + DAC from Meridian in the 5 hundred serie.
It costed 4250$ new in 2000. It is a beautiful intelligent machine. Jitter is extremely low.
The other two better spinner from that era was 598, and the 588.
The 588 is the same as the 596 with only symmetrical outputs and the video side removed, because the 596 is also a DVD player.
It came in different video output configuration : component, scart.
There is the 596P version that has on board DCI faroudja processor that outputs progressive scan.
The sound quality of this unit is better than all dedicated Meridian CD player of the 5 hundred serie including 20bits and 24bits version of : 506, 507 and 508. Only bettered by 588 in the words of Mr. Stuart the CEO founder and head engineer of Meridian at the time of its release. The 598 released afterwards can play DVD audio.
The 596 is a real bargain today for its exceptionnal CD replay quality, smooth detailed and true with the Meridian signature true to life and deep details quality lacking in todays offering.
Assymetrical outputs only.

Latest reviews

telecaster

1000+ Head-Fier
Pros: Sound, detail, smoothness, price, design
Cons: none
This unit is incredibly good sounding. There is a musicality rarely found nowadays in overly trebly offerings.
The details retrieval can be mind blowing, and the sound of Meridian CD player in general is world class. In its days Meridian CD player were the very best of the world.
The non mystical and BS philosophy of Meridian in electronic design is backed up by the leadership of the brand throughout CD redbook replay since its dawn of times. Meridian made the first audiophile CD player in the world and always lead the field making the contemporary competition bite the dust year after year.
CD replay is always gonna be important for audiophiles because of our collection and because of the rarity of certain discs. Online music server only sell what they can and most of the good recordings are hidden out there waiting to be revealed!
Music server are taking the scene because of sound quality and ease of use, but we will always need to play a CD from time to time with newly acquired disc or because the music just crashed! Dematerialized music is on a computer like device and once its dead, all the music on there is also R.I.P.
CD are forever!

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