[Geek]

I am spending four days auditioning the Meridian 507.24 player; it's the one that HeadRoom uses to A/B headphones on (I borrowed it from them for the weekend).

I will refrain from posting any significant commentary for at least a day, as I am using also a brand-new cardas HD600 cable which needs to be burned in for a little bit.

Cheers,
Geek

 

[MusicLover]

You wouldn't happen to know what the difference is between the Meridian 507.24 and the 508? Also, I can't wait to see what you think of the Meridian with the HD600/Cardas.

 

[Geek]

You will have to ask a resident meridian expert. I believe that they are of a different series. The 507.24 is pretty darned new.

My quick two cent review so far goes something like this:

There is significantly added realism, the sound is unbelievably detailed but still natural, and it's extremely uncompressed. These characteristics remain at anywhere from very low to deafeningly high volumes, all of which sound unfatiguing.

I also did an a/b of the un-broken-in cardas vs my stock cable and I instantly heard much more soundstaging and detail on blues music.

Cheers,
Geek

 

[DanG]

There is no 507.24, although the relatively new 507 is a 24-bit player. Headroom owns a 508.24, which is what I believe Geek has in his possession at the moment. The newer version of the 508.24 is the 588.

 

[Geek]

Sorry for the confusion.

The title on the player is "Bootherroyd-Stuart Meridian 507", and it's a 24-bit player.

I assumed incorrectly that the two digits after the 507 were the bitrate of the player, thus I incorrectly characterized the player as 507.24.

It is therefore a 507.20.

Cheers,
Geek

 

[Brandon_Ottawa]

Does Headroom have 10 ft Cardas cables in stock now for HD600's?

 

[DanG]

Hm -- so it does say 507 on it? Can you check the back to see if it has balanced outputs? Tyll told me that it was the 508.24

 

[Geek]

DanG,

It has balanced XLR left / right on the back as well as RCA left / right.

I think that they have a second meridian which they're using in the "listening room." The one I picked up was on Todd's sales desk, it's from his personal setup.

It is titled 507 though.

Brandon_Ottawa,

Headroom doesn't really have the Cardas 10 foot in stock, it's just that I've been waiting for 4 months for one plus I'm doing this review so Todd thought it would be best to replace that little black fella hooked up to the HD600.

Cheers,
Geek

 

[Geek]

Here's what I think so far (biggest differences):

1. Detail

I am noticing even more stuff than I heard through my previous setup; the NS500V that I use is notoriously bright. The Meridian is actually significantly less bright but still more detailed.

2. Soundstage

Huge. Cavernous. Pretty darned realistic, it's most appreciated when listening to classical music (Deutsche-Grammophon's recording of Perlman playing the Mozart 3rd and 5th violin concertos).

It's actually there now! I didn't really realize it but I didn't have much of a soundstage with my previous player.

3. Pace, attack

Wow, the attack really took a step up with these two components: The pluck of a guitar happens very quickly now. Also, decay is excellent, much better than with the NS500V. When a note stops, you KNOW it stops. You can hear it resonate beautifully in the recording venue up until that point, and you can tell where it resonates. The sound is FAST.

4. Channel balance

This is really interesting: I can better hear the separation of front / left / right. It's to the point where a poor recording is revealed as such because of a channel imbalance that I never heard before. I can hear it when an effect moves the sound of an instrument from left to right or vice versa.

5. Vocals

Disclaimer: I have lots of bad recordings. On bad recordings, grainy poorly recorded vocals come out as such. Lots of my recordings sounded slightly worse due to this.

However, I really liked the sound from the Riverdance CD that I have; vocals were much better than before - detailed, presented better, and not harsh in any sort of way. I don't have any purist audiophile reocordings of light jazz/vocal music. . .recommendations anyone?

Anyways, that's all so far. Keep in mind that I am still burning in the cardas cable and the sound was quite grainy for the first few hours; it's still burning in I think. The differences were obvious though.

More to come.

Cheers,
Geek

 

[HappymaN]

I can't believe Headroom loans people CD players of that much value. Especially Head-Fi'ers that are in their teens like myself.

I tell you, if I had a Meridian CD player on loan for a weekend, I wouldn't see the sun for a few days.

 

[Wilson M.]

The 507 does not have balanced outputs. It has single-ended RCA outputs, coaxial digital output and TOSLINK digital output. There is a RS-232 port as well as two Meridian COMM ports.

I know because I just looked at the back of mine.

 

[DanG]

That's what I thought.

Geek, maybe you confused the COMM ports for balanced?

 

[TimSchirmer]

Yes, Geek... you do need a serious source upgrade! I can't believe you are using a sony with a MOHR!!!!

 

[dd3mon]

Quote:

Originally posted by HappymaN I can't believe Headroom loans people CD players of that much value. Especially Head-Fi'ers that are in their teens like myself. I tell you, if I had a Meridian CD player on loan for a weekend, I wouldn't see the sun for a few days.

I think they might do it for anyone who happens to live in Bozeman and had just purchased a MOHR from them

-dd3mon

 

[HappymaN]

Quote:

Originally posted by dd3mon I think they might do it for anyone who happens to live in Bozeman and had just purchased a MOHR from them -dd3mon

Perhaps.

If I had a Meridian 507, I wouldn't even let my family touch it.