transport: new!
if you were using it for it's audio quality, then it's hard work to match/beat a favorite sounding cd player
New transport or repair CD player
I have a 508.20 series Meridian CD player being used as a transport which has trouble reading CDs ("NO DISC" message) that it had no problem with in the past. I suspect the laser is dying. The Meridian is a very well made player but to my ears sounds better being used as a transport into my external DAC. The repair center in Georgia wants $500 to replace the laser mechanism. A new transport such as the well regarded Audiolab 6000T is $600. Seems to me it is worth getting the Audiolab or something similar rather than fixing the Meridian but not sure how they would compare sonically. Plus, due to its age the drawer mechanism on the Meridian might become problematic in the not too distant future. I need to keep it under $1000 otherwise I'd spring for one of the better transports such as Jays for example. I suppose I could buy a new transport and if the sound isn't as good as the Meridian I could return it. What would you do?
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I have an Ayre Cx7MPe that I've always really loved the sound of. The whole "DACS are improving exponentially" stuff is way overblown IMO, so I recently sent it back to Ayre for a new transport. $400 and works like a charm once again. Anybody purchasing a "new" player or transport needs to make sure the disc drive they have is either readily available or that the manufacturer has plenty in stock. So bottom line, if you like the way the Meridian sounds, repair it. |
Did you ask the repair shop "how much would you charge to replace the laser in my cd player?" Sometime just cleaning, lubricating and maybe a belt? would fix it. How are you in taking things apart? It doesn’t work as it is. What do you have to lose? Just be careful. I haven’t taken apart a Maridian cd player apart but cd and dvd drives are pretty much the same, I suggest cleaning the laser head and lubing the rails that the head moves on. While in there you can look other loading problems that I had with drives. Message me. |
If best sound quality is your goal; one of the dedicated transports mentioned above probably is the way to go. If budget is the priority, then find another competent repair shop. $500 seems very expensive if it truly is a laser assembly swap out. Before any of that a little player maintenance as Kingsleuy suggested seems prudent if you were satisfied prior to the malfunction. |
Audiolab CDT6000 sounds very good, has IEC connector so you can upgrade power cord in the future. |
I sold my 508.24 earlier this year primarily because of its age and my fear that if it broke, it would be expensive to fix or impossible to fix due to the lack of parts. I spoke to my local Meridian dealer, and he advised against spending any money to repair such an old unit if it broke (but of course he wants to see me new stuff). I sold the 508 to The Music Room and they listed it for over $900. I recall seeing some other on-line classifieds for the 508 in that price range. In my case, I mostly stream, so I just bought an inexpensive CD player (that matches my integrated amp) and connected it to an external DAC. I think the practical answer is to just get a new transport if you are using an external DAC. If you like the looks of the 508 or have an emotional connection to it, it is a tougher call. I'm curious about what external DAC you are using, because I thought the 508 was pretty damn good as a stand-alone CD player, even by today's standards.
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@dinosore I am currently using the Musetec DA 005 DAC which replaced an Ayre Codex which was also very good. The Meridian player is still competitive! |
The player had been updated by an authorized tech to 24 bit many years ago. Not sure if this matters regarding the new optical laser lens pickup. @kingsleuy Here's a new observation that suggests it might not be the laser?? If I play a CD that it is usually able to read for a few minutes, then quickly substitute a CD that usually gives me the No Disc error, then it plays it!!! Otherwise, inserting that same problematic CD into the "cold" player won't read and the disc does not spin. There has got to be a rational explanation. Does the drive need to warm up? Does the laser remain on for a short period after CD removal and I'm catching it before it powers down? I'm at a loss to explain this latest observation. |
I had a modified Pioneer PD 65 for years. The laser gave out, but Pioneer no longer stocks parts. I replaced it with a CDT 6000 (that I picked up slightly used for $375, including shipping!), it’s terrific IF you use a top notch coax, power cord, isolation/vib feet: I buy my cables from Ali-Express DIY HiFI- Odin Gold (see the Counterfeit Chinese Cables thread in AG forums. The top cover needs some dampening, too, BUT, you might check out the Pro-Ject DS2 PLAYER, which has coax outs (MSRP $800), so you can use it as a transport Oh, and FYI, you can usually pick up a used 6000 for < $400, likely because the owner is using lessor cables hth |
Yeah, the Meridian owes you nothing at this point and could well fail going forward. If you wanna stick with a CD transport I’d get an Audiolab, Bel Canto, or Pro-Ject transport and either an Empirical Audio Syncho Mesh or Wyred4Sound Remedy if you can’t pony up for a Jay’s Audio transport. But, honestly, I’d get an Innuos Zen Mk3 that you can load all your CDs into and have all your music available from one source in any order from your chair. Plus you can stream with Qobuz and have worlds of new music at your fingertips, and much of it in hi-res u ain’t gonna get with a CD drive. Also, many of your CDs are probably available on Qobuz so you may not even need to burn too many of your CDs into the Innuos. I just no longer see the need for a CD transport these days — it’s like the buggy whip of the 21st century IMHO. And, the biggest improvement by far as a long-time audiophile hasn’t been equipment, it’s been being able to find new music I would’ve never, ever heard but not for streaming. Like many others, I rarely play my own CDs anymore because it’s infinitely more interesting to hear new music rather than listening to the same stuff over and over, as entertaining as that can be but has its limits. Just my $0.02 FWIW. |
@soix You make valid points. I already use a Remedy with the Meridian and it sounds great, sometimes better than streaming Qobuz from my MacBook Pro. Fact is, I was debating whether to put the money into a streamer vs a new transport. I was leaning towards the iFi Zen Stream. But your suggestion makes more sense. I just do not want to go backwards in terms of how music sounds in my system. It took me too long to get here. |