Meridian 206 CD - update + lots of porn

Discussion in 'Hi-Fi and General Audio' started by RobHolt, Jul 25, 2006.

  1. RobHolt

    RobHolt Moderator

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    Well, I seem to have got myself one of these old timers to play with. It is the first version with the Crown version of the TDA1541 converter and CDM4 mech.
    I bought it from a dealer who'd taken it in for a new mech to be fitted. Meridian serviced it but the guy never collected the machine. So I get a serviced player with documentation showing a new mech, draw and motor fitted :) - lucky me :D

    Anyone used this player and care to give an opinion?

    I can find little about it online.

    This is the beastie:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 3, 2006
    RobHolt, Jul 25, 2006
    #1
  2. RobHolt

    zanash

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    Should sound pretty good ...at the time it was one of those bits of kit I aspired to. It was also fairly well regarded so you should have a winner.
     
    zanash, Jul 25, 2006
    #2
  3. RobHolt

    RobHolt Moderator

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    Thanks Pete.

    Meridian is one of the those companies I've never been very interested in and they've sort of passed me by over the years.
    I always liked the build of those players ever sinse seeing a friends 200 transport. If it works well (gets delivered next week) I'll be well pleased for the cost of £140.
     
    RobHolt, Jul 25, 2006
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  4. RobHolt

    Goomer

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    If you don't like it, Rob, I'll take it off your hands.

    Excellent player in my opinion, compared very favourably to a Naim CDi that I had at the same time, both being machines that I could listen to for ages without noticing the machine, if you see what I mean. Good build quality too.

    Seriously, though, if you don't like it, drop me a pm.
     
    Goomer, Jul 25, 2006
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  5. RobHolt

    A.N.

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    i ran one of these too, fantastic, and for 140 quid, a steal!
     
    A.N., Jul 25, 2006
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  6. RobHolt

    mikedefacto

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    I've just bought one of these too, can't wait to get it home, should be a fair improvement over my Marantz :D
     
    mikedefacto, Jul 30, 2006
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  7. RobHolt

    RobHolt Moderator

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    Excellent we can swap notes :)

    Should have mine Tuesday.
     
    RobHolt, Jul 30, 2006
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  8. RobHolt

    Mr Perceptive

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    I've had a couple of 200/203s (transport/DAC), battleship build quality, respond very well to Trichord clock mods and will embarass many much more players (and high end machines). Not the fastest track access in the world but when the music sings you can forgive it for that. (BTW remote is standard Phillips codes)

    One of the CD greats, enjoy it

    Mr Perceptive
     
    Mr Perceptive, Jul 30, 2006
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  9. RobHolt

    mikedefacto

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    I'm hoping for end of week.
    What are you going to be using yours with? :)
     
    mikedefacto, Jul 30, 2006
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  10. RobHolt

    RobHolt Moderator

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    It'll drop into the system and feed WAD tube electronics into Impulse H2 horns. If I prefer it to the current tweeked Sony it will get a new clock (PFM Flea) and probably a PSU recap, unless Meridian did that as part of the recent service.
     
    RobHolt, Jul 30, 2006
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  11. RobHolt

    mikedefacto

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    Mine will be via a Copland driving KEFs.

    Did you get it today, Rob?
     
    mikedefacto, Aug 1, 2006
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  12. RobHolt

    RobHolt Moderator

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    Yes, got it today.

    I'm quite shaken by how is sounds TBH (in a good way) such that I need to get my head around it before I post more. For now lets just say that it's very good and very different to the average 2006 spinner.
     
    RobHolt, Aug 1, 2006
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  13. RobHolt

    A.N.

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    aye dude, you could say its the boloxxxx:MILD: :D
     
    A.N., Aug 2, 2006
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  14. RobHolt

    yahoodie elbow valves,mmm loverly

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    i swear by mine, wouldn`t change it for the world :)
     
    yahoodie elbow, Aug 2, 2006
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  15. RobHolt

    RobHolt Moderator

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    I've now had a good listen and taken it to bits for a thorough clean up and nose around inside.

    Listening to this has been quite some experience as it couldn't be more different to the Sony 3000ES I've been using for the past few months.

    The Sony sounds big, airy and delicate and until yesterday I thought it also did pretty well in the timing & rhythm departments, but this Meridian gives it a thorough pounding. Soundstage is truncated compared to the Sony and the tonal balance is a mite harder and possibly less open, but it really latches onto rhythms in a way that the Sony can only hint.
    I sat for several hours yesterday playing track after track - usually with CD I drift over to vinyl after an hour or so.
    Bass from this thing is wonderful being grippy and taught when the music demands it. I was playing some Keb Mo yesterday and the bass guitar on the Sony sounded powerful and punchy but tried to impress purely through force and scale, whereas on the Meridian you could hear the notes 'walk' and the buzz of the guitar string. Simply, it is more musical.

    I've been coming to the view recently that most good CD players sound pretty similar and I still think that holds true, but some most definitely have something special. I also think that I've been tinkering with too much peripheral stuff recently in search of that little extra smoothness, sweetness, air, depth etc etc and in the process neglected the basics. This old 206 has been a salutory lesson not to neglect the basics.

    It's an old 206 - the first version and based around the famous TDA1541A S1 Crown DAC and CDM4 mech. This one had a new mech fitted by Meridian in 2004 and been unused since. I bought it from a dealer who'd taken it in for rapair and the customer never collected. His loss!

    These old 200 series boxes are an absolute PITA to open up - the main case consists of four U shaped castings which screw and clasp together. Anyway, here is some porn:

    Nice and clean after a good buff with WD40 -

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    The wonderful S1 Crown version of the TDA1541 DAC -
    [​IMG]

    CDM4 Mech -

    [​IMG]

    Ahhh....who put that in there?......spit it out!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    RobHolt, Aug 3, 2006
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  16. RobHolt

    A.N.

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    gorgeous aint they? all shiney black and glass exterior :techno: :beer:
    i'd never trade my 200t, or dac, as to these ears, you need to spend a shed load to better it, plus, they dont build them like that anymore:D
    you got a bargain my friend, just look out for a later 203 dac (dac7) and you got a lovely bit of audio porn that looks and sounds the bollox:D
     
    A.N., Aug 3, 2006
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  17. RobHolt

    Tenson Moderator

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    Very nice! The interior reminds me of my old Phillips CD player (RIP!) The coffee table is nice and clear as well!
     
    Tenson, Aug 3, 2006
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  18. RobHolt

    RobHolt Moderator

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    Oh and you can't hear it - nothing.
    The transport that is. The faintest whisper but only with my ear againt the case. It doesn't even go - Schvrawwwwwwwwwishhhhhhhh when it loads up the TOC :D
     
    RobHolt, Aug 3, 2006
    #18
  19. RobHolt

    sideshowbob Trisha

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    That's because it is, Meridian's early players used the boards from Philips players of the time. I have a Philips CD-350, from about 1986, which is the player Meridian used to make the 207.

    Anyway, very fine players the early Meridians. It's largely the DAC I think, the early Philips DAC chips have something very natural-sounding about them.

    -- Ian
     
    sideshowbob, Aug 3, 2006
    #19
  20. RobHolt

    mikedefacto

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    Mine will be delivered tomorrow. Unfortunately I wont be here so it will be Monday or maybe Saturday when I get mine. Can't wait - I've taken Monday off work :D
     
    mikedefacto, Aug 3, 2006
    #20
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