Meridian 206 CD - update + lots of porn

It's here and it's ace... more comments/pics later

 

Well?

C'mon man you've had it for three days and not a peep from you

 

that tells it's own story

Well yeah... I love it.
Mine is a 3rd generation one... bitstream with the DAC7 DAC I think - though I don't know much about technical side of things.

It really just plays music - very smooth and refined, not hard or harsh in the slightest. I forget I'm listening to CDs. I haven't played a record since Monday.

Will post a pic up later.

 

OK some pics... not v good quality.

Notice how - in the second pic - the record sleeve is reflected in the lovely glass on the front of the Meridian

 

Very nice.

Mike, I can host the pics and display them here for you if you'd prefer.

Those matt black cases can show up dust, dirt and fingerprints and because of the textured finish they are hard to clean without making things look even worse. Try buffing it with a lint free cloth lightly sprayed with WD40. One of those short bristled nylon paint pads is ideal for this as it gets into the cracks and dips.
Also works really well on Naim cases.

Mike, do you have a manual?

 

No manual.. no remote either which is a bit cheap but I'm not really bothered at the moment.

I would like to give it a good clean yeah and I will do in the next week or so. Will be buying a new camera soon too (one I used isn't mine) so will post better pics when I do.

What sort of nylon paint pads do you mean?

 

Flat pads designed for applying emulsion. The bristles are soft and about 5mm deep.

No remote or manual with mine so I bought a neat little universal remote which sort of works, but not all of the buttons perform the right functions

 

not having a remote is an excuse to touch it

I love the fact that the disc tray opens immediately when you press the open button... no waiting around making squiggly noises whilst it think about doing something.

I also love the "clunk" as the disc tray shuts

 

guys,

have any of you heard the 506 model?

My mate has this and im just wondering which would be the better sounding player?

 

there is a remote for sale here...

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/forum5/7514.html

 

I moved from a 507 to a 200/203 combo and never regretted it for a moment. The 507 had excellent resolution, deep clean bass, and extended highs by comparison, and though it sounded impressive to start with, it had a flatness and greyness to it that ended up sounding bland. The 200/203 by contrast is lacking a bit in the "hifi" qualities, but sounds vastly more natural and believable, and also punchier, livelier, and more fun to listen to.

I've since moved to an Audio Synthesis DAX Decade Balanced, which sounds significantly better in every way - but then it should do as it retailed for 3.5K for just the DAC! I'm still using my 200 transport as it's great and works well with the DAX.

All in all, I'd say the Meridian 200-series are a real bargain these days, as the aesthetics are pig ugly by today's standards (I find them hugely endearing, but they *are* ugly ) and people imagine CD players from that far back couldn't possibly be a patch on today's 192K upsampling uber players. While in hifi terms I would probably agree, in terms of enjoyment and naturalness, the oldies still rule.

Dunc

 

No don't agree about the aesthetics... I think all Meridian is very good-looking kit. Solid and purposeful, not flashy at all, very stylish.

 

yup, have to agree, the meridian 200 series has timeless looks, super stylish and waaay better built than most players of today.
I too added an audio synthesis dax ultra/ ma dip combo to mine, and although better, the 206 on its own is still a great cd spinner.

 

I had the 206 delta sigma version it worked well with the trichord clock2 which is about £50 now and i should imagine another 50 on a psu for it and you would have a nice sounding player. I had to spend 2.5k on coplands flagship to better it. Remember buying Roksans caspian some 8 years on and taking it back coz not as good.

I liked the looks apart from the yellow... who chose that FFS

...fond memories indeed

 

Not a problem as it rubs off

 

Hi,

Good looking stuff!

I used to own a Meridan 207 back in the 80s. This was the cd/pre amp that Meridan had out at the time. Not bad as a cd player, didn't rate the pre amp much.

I sold it in the late 80s to raise funds for a Rock Reference.

SCIDB

 

£140 Looks like a bargain. I think Meridian can still service these too, so it should last a while yet. I have one, and compared to my newer Linn Genki, it still sounds the biz. Enjoy!

 

How did i forget?

After the resent acquisition of some silver (ish) speaker cable i dug my old Meridian 206 and a low end DAC (Cambridge Audio) out of retirement and set it up in my office........ After clowning about with mp3 stuff for yrs (i Pod, monster connector, Technics SU-V85A) for convenience I now find myself just sitting & staring at this CD player as tho transfixed by a magic trick (so much so, I had to join this forum just to prattle on about it). I bought it from a childhood friend when it was about 2 yrs old... For £50! (What can i say. He had a rich Dad & was a little bit 'Rainman' when it came to the value of things). I don't know much tech stuff about HI-FI but have 3 conclusions;

1/ Technological advancement isn't always better.
2/ I'm a bastard to my friends.
3/ The 206 on the front of the slide draw is for the amount of potions & spells it took to make it.

Right, next job; Close itunes account

 

I always wanted a 206 and then luck was with me one day and I got a 25% off voucher for my local hifi shop (back in 1993).

So thought "ahhh 206 you will be mine!"

I went to the shop only to find that the 206 had been replaced by the 506. So I ended up with a £800 506 for £600.

I was only 22 at the time and earning maybe £7000 a year.

Still I was living at home with my parents then.

Loved the 506, it was the 18bit version. It was hooked up to a
A400GTE. it needed a new CDM4 around 2000. Loved the solid drawer mech on those, really chunky.

I then replaced the A400GTE for a Meridian 508 in 1998 and then replaced the 506 for a 507 just before the new G series came in.

I got £300 trade in for the 506 so I guess it only cost me £300 in the end! Who says buying expensive hifi is a mugs game??

Love Meridian gear shame it just seems to get pricier and pricier.

 

yes...

I have a 506.20 (the 20bit model fwiw) and to say I am pleased would be an understatement. I bought mine for just £325 and it has proved to be totally reliable and has build quality like the rest of the meridian gear. Recommended.