Linn Ikemi vs. Electro. EMC1 vs. 508.24

I had the Linn Ikemi and the EMC-1 as the final two CDPs I was trying to decide on last year when I was in your situation.I heard the Linn but not the EMC-1 and upon reading a lot about both players I went with the EMC-1 and never look back. A really great CD player for the money.

The Ikemi is very refined but also very laid back with soft bass. I am a big fan of the player but the 508.24 has a more powerful, controlled bass, a little more up front and overall I found it to be a more exciting player.

I'm in Joel's position, too, but have had to rule out the EMC as too large. Blackie's comment re the Ikemi's softish bass has me concerned, as I was about to demo it versus perhaps a Naim CD5 or used CDX. More help, please?
Thanks. Ernie

and bought the 508. The hardness of the EMC (and I've got an expensive CJ tube setup with Guarneris (thanks Soundman!) so it should have been warm. Digititis to the max. Headaches. And worse, stopped listening. Bought the dealers last 508 and took a bath on the EMC1 sold here at Audiogon. My advice, don't buy a digital product from a company that doesn't specialize in it. Meridian, ah, I'm back to listening! (Ugly fit and finish too, I was embarassed when I sold it to 'sic it on anyone else's room!)

A no brainer. 508 might be the best bargain in audio. Only three players I have heard come close. The Accuphase 75V and the big Linn rig at $12000. I also own the Marantz flagship $7500 sacd bad boy but the Meridian stays on the equipment rack for redbook. What does that tell you? And, by the way, when I went head to head against the Accuphase at my dealer in NYC I had to unplug the Meridian, lug it in the cold to the shop, turn it back on and play it against the Accuphase which had been warmed up for months. STILL the Meridian sounded so close that I kept it and kept my wallet. In sound difference I would say that the Accuphase warmed up remember was silky smooth, but didn't have the jump factor of the Meridian. And less bass too. The sound was concentrated on a very very fine midrange. But we're talking thousands and thousands and thousands more here. And the Meridian was cold. Let Electrocompaniet stay on the Brit mags and Stereophile Class A list for 7 years running and we'll talk. Otherwise, buyer beware. There are as many for sale it seems as have sold since a nice guy I buy cables from in upstate NY carries it mailorder and tells me that no one who has bought from him has kept it more than a year. He has made a good bit of money in trade ins. nuf said.