Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems 596 internals picture

I remember few years ago somebidy posted a picture 596 of internals.
now i can't find it.

will appreciate assistance on this.

best regards,
Gennady

Hi Croc, this may help.

http://www.homecinemachoice.com/reviews/hccreviews/DVDPlayers/Meridian/MeridianAudio596_innards.jpg

Cheers, Chris

thx,
Gennady

now, for 588 picture.

pls help

Hi Croc,

This was discussed in the past in the following thread:
https://www.meridianunplugged.com/u...bb=showflat&Number=42440&fpart=1

There are two internal photos of the 596 and 588:
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/6517/27zl1.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/5502/11xo1.png

The 596 has an added video card above the audio card and that is why you cannot see the capacitors on the 596 (they are beneath the video card, I checked in my machine).

When I asked Meridian have already advised me that with the exception of the added video on 596 and added XLRs on the 588 the units are identical.
By the way, the power supply had been changed and it does not utilize a fan anymore (my unit was repaired/rebuilt lately and Meridian advised the fan is not being used anymore).

Ignoring the video capability of the 596 and concentrating on audio it seems odd that somehow, people are willing to pay hundreds of dollars more for a 588 in the second hand market for added balanced outputs only.
I would not.
It seems to me that the biggest enemy of the 596 in the second hand market is its added obsolete video capability (obsolete compared to $230 Oppo 981HD and of course the HD/Bluray machines) but for CD playback I would not look at anything else unless I would be considering a G08, 800, 808 or better yet, a future Meridian music server.


Cheers,

Doron

I was absolutely amazed at the leap in sound quality of CD playback when I upgraded my 506 to my 596 - and I could play DVDs too! Importantly, for me, it plays CD-Rs as well. It's my best piece of kit so far - it's criminal how underrated the 596 (and 565 - Z3) are nowadays in price terms on the second-hand market. These boxes blow the spots off most shiny silver toys (except more up to date M ones of course!).

I had a problem with my 596 skipping recently. I sent it back to Huntingdon and they kindly replaced the power supply for only the cost of labour. The old fan type unit had sucked in dust from my lounge rebuilding into the box. And the new unit doesn't have the muttering fan noise when you go in close.

Of course, I'm looking forward to M's G Series (H series?) dual format HD player and x68 with HDMI! I've started saving.......

That is very interesting given the second-hand price discrepancy. Seems that less (596 @ �500) is more (than 588 @ �1000)...

Yes,
It is interesting but that was Russ Phillips (Meridian Service) reply when I asked him about the differences between these machines, audio wise.
But if you really think about it 596 as new was selling for $4,250 and the 588 was selling for $3,250-3,500 at the time.
The Video got obsolete for Videophiles to consider and most typical audiophiles with purist approach would not dream of using a DVD/CD machine as a digital source and hence 596 fell between the cracks.

Cheers,

Doron

More fool them Doron, You have a good explanation there.

I Like to think for myself and see the 596 for what it is; A bargain!!!!

As for video, it equals or beats upscaling efforts of HD DVD machines on SD DVD with a 32" LCD.
I know, I tried it on mine.

Most of what I watch isnt on HD anyway, if it ever will be.

Get your self a 596 if your wavering, before people get wise and the price goes up.

Cheers, Chris

I was indeed impressed by the audio performance of the 596, especially as a digital audio transport. SDI mod availability was also a plus that helped extend its life (video-performance-wise).

But reading the above, something else comes to my mind.

Do I take it that the internal analog audio output stage of the 588 is actually NOT fully balanced ? (The statement that the 596 and th 588 are identical except for the XLR's - which are ... connectors - would imply that).

Interesting.

As a CD transport or player, the 596 is top-notch. As a DVD player, with the addition of an SDI interface (cheap) and an SDI-enabled scaler (like my DVDO iScan HD+), it can't be beat. Still a bargain for DVD playback.

Here is the what I got from M:

Doron,



The only difference in audio quality is down to the XLR balanced outputs on the 588 other than that the two units are identical.



Regards



Russell Phillips

Service Technician

Meridian Audio Limited

http://www.meridian-audio.com



Company Registration No: 2710631 Registered in England and Wales.

VAT Reg. No: GB576660505



From: Meirav Or [mailto:meirav-or@shaw.ca]
Sent: 05 November 2007 15:20
To: Service
Subject: 596 Vs. 588



Hi Russ,



Sorry to bother you again.

Wanted to thank you again for the wonderful job you did on my 596 (RMA S/N: 100143, RMA 1963). It sounds beautifully and works flawlessly.



I wanted to ask you a technical question:

Is there any difference in design, internal build and sound quality (referring to CD audio only) between the 596 and the 588?

For CD audio only (Ignoring the Video portion altogether)and with the exception of the added XLR on the 588 are there any other differences?



Thanks and best regards,



Doron



Click here to report this email as spam.

Meridian Audio Ltd - www.meridian-audio.com - Registered in England Registered Office: 11 Latham Road, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 6YE, UK Company Registration No. 2710631 VAT Registered No. GB576660505


Perhaps I did not understand his answer correctly but reading this again it seems that the 588 internal analogue outputs are balanced but that is where the difference ends.
How influential this is, sound wise is beyond me since I never tried to compare.
What do you think?

Best regards,

Doron