Meridian's $16,000 CD player

(Credit: Meridian Audio)

Some Cravers out there had a few choice words for a $17,000 Blu-ray player we featured last week, so we can't wait to hear the opinions on this one.

Meridian Audio, also known for its Ferrari label products, now has a CD player that's selling for $16,000. That's right, just audio--no DVD video, no Blu-ray. You can read all the gory details here, though Luxurylaunches points out that the "808.2 Signature Reference" player has something called a "Resolution Enhancement System" and features "a novel digital speaker connector you can hook up to any of Meridian's compatible DSP speaker range." How nice.

If they're going to charge that much, the least they could do is give us something interesting to look at. In the meantime, that old boombox is looking better all the time.

[soulfood_9]

Meridian's 808.2 CD player

I think the opinion expressed in this piece is a little harsh - Meridian was one of the first companies to manufacture a CD player in the 80's and has always had a reputation for high-performance products with a price ticket to match. Given the continuing uncertainty over formats and how sustainable Blu-ray actually is in the face of movie downloads, all the more reason to invest in products that help you get more performance from the library of material you already own. I personally heard this new player at a recent hi-fi show in the UK and have to say it sounded stunning and worth every penny!

[soulfood_9]

Meridian's 808.2 CD player

I think the opinion expressed in this piece is a little harsh - Meridian was one of the first companies to manufacture a CD player in the 80's and has always had a reputation for high-performance products with a price ticket to match. Given the continuing uncertainty over formats and how sustainable Blu-ray actually is in the face of movie downloads, all the more reason to invest in products that help you get more performance from the library of material you already own. I personally heard this new player at a recent hi-fi show in the UK and have to say it sounded stunning and worth every penny!

[bhagwan69]

This is a great CD Player;
I got mine a month back;
The burn in is just about done.
It has really 'opened up'
Truly a product that can use the lablel 'the best that there is' !!!!

This 808i.2 that I have can take on the EMM / dcS Scarleti / Teac Esoteric / Accuphase etc.

I recommend an audition to all. If one is in the market for an 'all out' assault, then this is a product to consider;; The Black horse is the Bow Technology ZZ Eight - 2008 version.

Bhagwan - Mumbai - India

08.06.2008

LIST OF AUDIO GEAR OWNED AND USED :-

Simaudio Moon Eclipse CD Player [Serial Number A-211294-CD]
Simaudio P-5 Pre Amplifier [Serial Number A-081291-PRE]
Electrocompaniet EMC-1 24/192 CD Player [Serial Number 01334]
Audiomeca Mephisto II CD Transport [Serial Number 2001045]
Audiomeca Enkiantus 24/192 DAC [Serial Number 2001073]
Metronome T1A MK II Transport + UP Sampler
Metronome C1A MK III Tube 24/192 DAC
Metronome Technologie - T-1i CD Player [Serial Number 02041]
Wadia 861-B CD Player [Serial # 086 130 0343]
Mimetism 20.1 CD Player [Serial # L6-129]
Cary Audio CD 306 SACD Professional [Serial # 08306PV6044 - Black]
Meridian 808i.2 Signature Referance CD Player [Serial # 808-200379]
Bryston BP-25 Pre Amplifier [Serial Number 251744]
Bryston 7B ST Power Amplifier [Serial Number 773775 & 773793]
Pass Labs X-1 Pre Amplifier [Serial Number 010388]
Dynaudio Confidence 5 Speakers [Serial Number 729879 & 729990]
Xavian - XN360 Speakers [Serial # 31 & 32] - Czech Republic
Tannoy - Studio Monitor - Ellipse 8 - 230V - Grey - [Serial Number 418321 & 418327]
Penaudio - Charisma Monitor [Serial Number 0352 & 0328]
Penaudio - Chara Subwoffer [Serial Number - 0341 & 0345]
'Resurrection' - Custom made - ATD woffer & Alain Bernard Ribbon - Italy
T.A.D. - Tidal Audio Diacera [Diamond + Ceramic] - Custom made - 30mm [T & P]
Diamond Tweeter + 7" Black Ceramic Woffer [T & P] - Germany
VdH The Second Balanced Interconnects 1M
VdH The First Ultimate Unbalanced Interconnects 1M
VdH The Revelation Hybrid Speaker Cable 3M
VdH The Mainstream Hybrid Power Cable 2M
XLO Electric Type 4.1B AES/EBU Digital Interconnect Cable 1M
Solitone - Hungary 1.5M Un-Balanced Interconnect [Spare - Stand By]
Solitone - Hungary 4.0M Speaker Cable - Single Wire - Banana Termination [Spare Stand By]
The Gryphon Adagio CD Player [Serial # 0401111]
The Gryphon Sonata Allagro Pre Amplifier [Serial # 8890099]
The Gryphon Antilion Stereo Signature Power Amplifier [Serial # 118]
Camelot Technology Merlin Pro CD Transport [Serial # 301209]
Camelot Technology Dragon 5.1 Plus JITTER REDUCER [Serial # 103584]
Camelot Technology Uther D/A Convertor v2 Mk5 [Serial # 501202]
The Gryphon Guideline Reference Balanced Interconnect 1M
The Gryphon PSC Reference Speaker Cable 2M
The Argento VDM Master Reference XLR Balanced Interconnect 1M & 1.5M
The Argento VDM Reference Speaker Cable 3M
Wireworld Super Eclipse 5 XLR Balanced & RCA Unbalanced Interconnect - 1M
Jorma Design JPC 2.5 Power Cable - Sweden - 2M [Power Amplifiers]
DC-Cable Taiwan Power Cables - Custom Termination [Front End Electronics - Digital]
Transparent Cable - Power Link MM - Power Cords - 03 pcs [CD Player & Pre Amplifier]
Serial Number - 45388MM & 46367MM & 46368MM.


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* = Owned / Used - No Longer in Stock
* = Owned / Used - In Stock = For Sale
* = Owned / Being Used = Not for Sale

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[gme109]

This review, or whatever you want to call it, is an indication of the authors ignorance of high end audio. His basic premise of, how can something so expensive not have a gazillion features like his smart phone, reveals the fact that he'd do best, sticking to intros on the next latest greatest gadget, and leave lives finer luxuries, like the reproduction of music and high end audio, in the hands of professional reviewers.

[gme109]

This review, or whatever you want to call it, is an indication of the authors ignorance of high end audio. His basic premise of, how can something so expensive not have a gazillion features like his smart phone, reveals the fact that he'd do best, sticking to intros on the next latest greatest gadget, and leave lives finer luxuries, like the reproduction of music and high end audio, in the hands of professional reviewers.