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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
hitv
4 posts
 
I owned a Wadia 850 for 10 years, before the Wadia I owned a Meridian, I don't recall the model anymore, at the time I bought because of it's analog sound. I recently replaced the Wadia with a Logitech Transporter. According to many reviews the transporter is on par with modern cd-players upto $5k. My experience so far is that it completely trounced the Wadia, soundstage is much better defined and the music itself is much more detailed, clear and extended at the bottom and the top. This experience led me to the conclusion that I will never buy digital in the +$10k range anymore, as in 3-5 years it's surpassed by mid-priced high-end.

Regards,

hitv
nasaman's avatar
nasaman
459 posts
 
*bump bump*
Let's hear more discusion from 508.24 owners... comparing it to the newer version G06, G07, and G08. Perhaps, the latest 2 version as well.
kaufman's avatar
kaufman
39 posts
 
I am listening to a 508.20 upgraded to 508.24 and it sounds great. 
I played with power cords last night and could believe the differences in Power Cords on the CDP!
My reference is a Modwright Oppo UDP205 with $500 of upgrades tubes. The Oppo is fantastic and so life-like that’s hard to compare to other CDPs in my current price range ($3-5k). 
I am keeping the 508.24 but it has some issues with the drawer not opening/-so I am going to try and replace the belt. 
Does anyone have experience with replacing the belt to share with me?
hifijunky
126 posts
 
I had a 508.24 years ago. I replaced it with a Consonance Ref 2.2 which was way better. Now I have Esoteric K-05x far better yet (sacd & hrd). Digital keeps getting better. I still love vinyl the over all.
dinosore
100 posts
 
I still have my 508.20 from 1995; upgraded to the 508.24 in 1998.  I have since added to my main system a Meridian Director DAC that I bought at half-price when it was discontinued a few years ago.  Today I mostly play FLAC files off a NAS drive, or stream Tidal, through a lowly Sonos Connect, outputting to the Director DAC. The 508 gets little use anymore.  I actually prefer the sound of playing FLAC files through the Director over playing CDs through the 508.  Very similar overall sound, but I think there is a tad more detail and air with the Director (plus the convenience factor).  The 508 still sounds great and I'll keep it until it dies, but I rarely buy or play CDs anymore.
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