Meridian 500/563 💫

 

I admit I’m a nostalgic, romantic old fart… BUT, I cannot deny that a 25+ years old transport/DAC combo - quite expensive in its hey days - still makes sense today, as my (twogood) ears seldom lie!

I much more rely on and prefer a vintage top model than the ubiquitous, awful blue-LEDs’ Chinese rebranded disk players.

🤭😳😉🤭

I own and use some nice, vintage CD players (Studer A730, Esoteric D2/P2, Madrigal Proceed, Denon and Parasound SACD) but these Meridians’ have a raison d’etre with their precise, natural, surprisingly lifelike sound presentation.

Detailed but not tilted on too shimmering highs, extremely dynamic but relaxed, at Meridian they knew their business, indeed: something also Jean Hiraga noticed when he visited me in 2013 and wrote a review about my (old) system for his “Stereo Prestige” magazine…

He was a fan of the newer and newer digital gears, but, was honestly and admittedly impressed by the beauty of Meridian’s sound and he clearly stated in his review.

Preserving these venerable gears, including some routine check-up, is a music-lover mission and happily so.

💫