Anyone got any experience with Meridian Power Amps?

Things like the 557 and 559?

I'm using a LK280/Spark right now which I need to get around to recapping, but Meridian bits have been creeping into the system of late so I'm a little curious.......

Cheers,

Stephen

I've got a 556 driving some Royd Doublets and it does a stirling job.
The 557 looks very tasty though.

Stevo

Try Pming Merryweather on this Forum he has Meridian Kit and is very helpful

The 557 looks very tasty though.

It does, and they seem to be reasonably available second hand. Haven't seen a 559 for sale though.



Try Pming Merryweather on this Forum he has Meridian Kit and is very helpful

I'll give that a go, ta.

Stephen

Hi Stephen

I had a Meridian 557 power amp driving ATC SCM12 last year. It is a very powerful amp which has plenty of deep bass. The midrange is warm and detail is quite good. It is a good all rounder, especially I was using a EAR 83L valve pre amp with it which I think is a good match to get rid of the transistor glare.

The build quality is absolutely superb and it feels like it will last forever. There is a pride of ownership from owning Meridian components. I also have a Meridian 507 CD player which I like a lot. I got rid of the 557 amp only because I bought a Tact int amp which reduces the component count (but growing again!) as the original intention.

Hon

I have 2 x 557, one driving my fronts (Shahinian Arcs) and another driving my rears (Quad 22Ls). Using a 557 for the rears is a bit overkill but I got it at a good price and it seemed rude not to buy it!

I find the 557 very neutral, its justs gets on with the job of being a good power amp and adds very little (except volume!). Also very little, if any audible distortion, even at daft volumes. They are quite heavy though at 26kg each!!!

I went from Naim to Arcam (AV processor) to Meridian and IMHO it really makes my system fly, I'm very happy, though if a right price 559 came along (and very rarely they come available s/h), then I might change.

Hope that helps

Thanks for the info chaps. It sounds like I should probably try one out when one comes up locally, although I have a couple of things I will try and sell first, as I seem to keep buying things but not selling anything at the moment. Too many amps.....

Has anyone tried a 559?

Stephen

The build quality is absolutely superb and it feels like it will last forever. There is a pride of ownership from owning Meridian components.


It's beautiful stuff. I have a transport and a digital pre and they're so well put together. I've just had to get the new(ish) Meridian remote as they seem to use a different RC5 code to eveyone else for volume, and even that is an incredible thing. And amazing value compared to what a few other British manufacturers charge for essentially OEM remotes.



I went from Naim to Arcam (AV processor) to Meridian and IMHO it really makes my system fly, I'm very happy, though if a right price 559 came along (and very rarely they come available s/h), then I might change.


Well I've been from a CDS2-based 100% Naim system to Meridian/Benchmark/Linn. Linn's approach to helping customers with older gear (and not honouring the guarantees on recent second-hand stuff) had me looking elsewhere before I went too far down the road with that stuff, hence the interest in Meridian.

Currently 500>518>DAC1>LK280/Spark>Kabers and has never sounded better. Nowhere near in fact.

Stephen

Sorry to revamp this thread but can anybody tell me anything about the Meridian 205 power amps ? There's a pair for sale over here @ 230 quid and I was wondering if they might be useful with my Electrocompaniet ECI-2 as pre driving my ATC SCM11s ?