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Meridian 508.24...sound compared to newer players

I've owned the 508.24 for about ten years now...having upgraded from a 508.20 to .24. I know for many years this CD player was highly regarded and my long term relationship with it is a testimony to how well I think it sounds. However, I know many advancements have been made over time but I have not really kept up with or listened to many newer high end players. While not on it's last legs, I realize that a 10 year old CD player will not be lasting forever (I already replaced the laser). So I may be looking soon at a replacement. To those of you who have owned the 508.24 or are aquainted with it's sound, I would like to know your impressions of it compared to the newer high end players in the $2000-$3500 price range. One player I am specifically interested in is the Bryston BCD-1. Anyone compared these two? Any recommendations or comments would be welcomed.

Thanks
randyhat
mjcmt's avatar
mjcmt
710 posts
 
Being that the Meridian 508.24 was one of the best in its days the $5k Hegel Mohican may be the contemporary replacement.

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/hegel-mohican-cd-player/

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1033-hegel-music-systems-mohican-cd-playe...

http://hifiknights.com/reviews/sources/hegel-mohican-cd-player/

http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/hegel-music-systems-mohican-cd-player/



exexpatpete
1 posts
 
I can't believe this thread has been going for 13 years. Anyway... I have a Meridian 508.20 that I bought new in 1996/97. Yes it is nearly a quarter century old. I replaced the laser once about 12 or so years ago and the tech at the time told me I would never get another one, it took him nearly 12 months at that time to find the parts (I am in NZ). So now it is finally dying and I have no idea what to replace it with, as it is (was) such a great sounding relaxed player. I remember when I bought it, I listened to it beside a Marantz KI player (can't remember the spec) and the Meridian was just so much easier to listen to. So I am hesitant about buying the current Marantz 6007 player that everyone seems to rave about. Am thinking of a Naim CD5si. So to again pose the thread author's original question (13 years later), how good are the latest players in comparison?
disc
108 posts
 
If you have a DAC that you like, I strongly recommend the Pro-Ject RS2 CD transport at just under 3k. I’ve had several different players, including Meridian and Oppo, and prefer it by a mile.  But it’s a transport, not a player, so may not be what you need.  There is a separate thread extolling it’s virtues.  Happy hunting. 
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