25+ Years...

Last week I had to replace my CD transport, it died, so I replaced it with a Cambridge Audio CXCv2. Over the past 20 years, I lost both my Meridian 508/24 and it’s replacement a Pioneer PD-95. The rest of the system has been (knock on wood) flawless, Conrad-Johnson MF 2300 power amp, PF2L preamp, run through a set of Acarian Alon 4 speakers. Both of the dead transports, ran through a PS Audio ultralink or a Benchmark DAC1, the turntable is a Technics SL1200mk2, with a Sumiko Blue Point Special, using an Aragon 47K phone preamp.

When I was putting the manual, in the file cabinet, I found all of the receipts for the other equipment, all with 1994 - 1995 purchase dates. So everything, except the Benchmark, is over 25 yrs old. I’ve been thinking about changes, but where to start?

April 12, 2021 - 8:28am

Old Audiophile

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Last seen: 1 month 4 days ago

Joined: Jun 15 2017 - 7:34pm

WOW! NICE SYSTEM!

WOW! NICE SOUND SYSTEM! That's all I got for ya! Hard to know or even guess where to go from where you're at. As in virtually all things audiophile, I suppose this all depends upon how much moolah you want to part with to satisfy the itch. Not having heard your system, I'm comfortable assuming you are at the proverbial audiophile point of diminishing return(s). That being said, I've always found, over the years, that the business end of any sound system is the speakers. Looking back over these last 50 years since I first invested in my beginning modest audiophile sound system, I've replaced or upgraded speakers more often than anything else.

April 12, 2021 - 8:22pm

Allen Fant

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Last seen: 3 days 12 hours ago

Joined: Sep 12 2010 - 3:42pm

Jack -incredible that you had

Jack -incredible that you had that kind of milage from Meridian!
Will you purchase the latest 808 player?

April 13, 2021 - 5:49pm

Jack Lundrigan

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Last seen: 2 years 3 months ago

Joined: Apr 11 2021 - 9:48am

Absolutely not!! The Meridian

Absolutely not!! The Meridian 508/24 spent almost as much time in the repair cycle, as it did in the system. They replace the laser assembly 3 times, the drive mechanism twice, great sound but far too fragile for me. This last time it failed, they said it was basically unfixable, no replacement parts, still available. I actually lived with Pioneer Elite PD-95, longer than the Meridian, built like a tank, but after many thousands of cds and hours, it too died. Hopefully the Cambridge Audio will have a long life too.

April 22, 2021 - 10:24pm

JDFlood

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Last seen: 2 years 3 months ago

Joined: Jan 5 2014 - 9:27am

I have had a High end

I have had a High end Meidian processor that has failed three times. In the last twenty years.. no moving parts, Not going to be buying Meridian again either.

Well. If you like the sound of Connie J. I would stick with them. Or the logical alternative would be Audio Research. I have all ARC Reference components, and Sonus Faber Amati Traditional.

But it is 2021... so time to get a high-end streamer. They are pretty much like a turntable in the better one you buy, the better they sound. So, for $19.99 for Qubuz or Tidal you get access to nearly infinite music, lots of it at greater than red book cd quality. I prefer Aurender Streamers, although had Auralic Aries and some lessor and PC. I can’t tell the difference between a CD and streaming although streaming is better when at higher Rez.

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