Search

The Meridian Compact Disc Heritage

Meridian is the acknowledged leader in high-performance Compact Disc playback, and has held that pre-eminent position since the release of the world's first audiophile CD player, the MCD, in 1984.

Over the last two decades, Meridian has introduced no less than two dozen CD player models, each one better than the last; each one redefining the state of the Compact Disc art.

This steady process of improving CD performance has been recognized by more than 50 awards and has made Meridian absolutely synonymous with the very best in Compact Disc.

1984 Meridian MCD and Pro-MCD

Meridian’s first CD player, the MCD, based on a Philips chassis with completely custom analogue circuitry, was the world’s first audiophile CD Player. Its successor, the Pro-MCD shown here, included a separate custom-designed power supply, DAC and oscillator, mounted underneath the transport.

“I suspect that [the Meridian Pro-MCD] will be the first CD player to be regarded as a ‘classic’!”
—Hi-Fi News & Record Review, Feb 1986

1985 Meridian invents the CD Transport

The idea of separating the transport from the rest of the player – to minimise jitter and other distortion from the mechanism – was developed to produce the world’s first separate Transport/DAC product – the critically-acclaimed 200/203 shown here.

“The original Pro-MCD set the benchmark in its day, but the 207-Pro was the radical step, placing Meridian for all time in the CD player hall of fame.”
—Hi-Fi Choice, June 1990
 

1989 Meridian 208 CD Player

The highly successful 200 Series included several CD players. Using different DACs as the technology developed, the 208 was a land-mark in Meridian’s CD player development, with up to 20-bit conversion capability and preamplifier functionality.

“There is nothing else on the market remotely like the Meridian 207… It is…one of the finest-sounding CD players on the market.”
—Sydney Morning Herald, Aug 1988

1991 Meridian 602 Transport & 601 DSP Preamplifier

The 600 Series was highly regarded by reviewers and owners alike, especially the 602 transport and its companion 601 DSP Preamplifier, 603 Digital Control Unit or 606 DAC.

“…the 602 [via the 606] was damn near impossible to fault… Its resolution of the subtlest treble details was intricate to the point of being exquisite… the 602/606 turned out to be a very ‘special’ combination.”
—Hi-Fi Choice, July 1991

1993 508 – Compact Disc Classic

The 500 Series, launched in 1993, developed into a full range of audio/video products, including Meridian’s first DVD player, the 596, in 1997. Meanwhile, from 1994 onwards, the 508 set the standard for CD until the advent of the G08 in 2003.

“…the Meridian 508.24…the world’s best single-box player … brings out aspects of music that most players can merely hint at…”
—Audio & Video Lifestyle, 1999

2004 Meridian 808 Reference Series

Originally a superb DVD player, the Meridian 800 has developed to become one of the most highly-specified optical disc players in the world, with full DVD-Audio/Video capability. Now, from its impeccable pedigree comes the 808 – the highest quality Compact Disc player Meridian has ever built.

Meridian 800
“…a true reference-quality product…”
—The Absolute Sound, January 2004

“…the 800 is perhaps the finest overall CD player I’ve ever laid ears on. ..”
—HiFi World, December 2002

“…I found that the Meridian… was clearly superior… not just to my reference components, but to any other CD front ends that I’ve auditioned or reviewed.… ”
—Absolute Sound, December 2003

| News | Dealers | Products | Library | Gallery | Contact |Search | Home |