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Meridian have
established a strong
reputation for
preamps. The
Meridian 502 is by far
the highest
specification and best
sounding preamp
from this
distinguished high-
end company.
Technical Data Sheet
502/1 – 02-01-97
502 Analogue Controller
The 502 has been designed as a
reference quality partner to the
recently introduced 557 and 505
Power Amplifiers, which also features
balanced operation and dual-mono
construction. This preamp is ready to
receive balanced inputs from
Meridian’s 508 CD Player, 563 or 566
D–A Converters and when used with
557, 505 or the M60 Active
Loudspeaker, completes a fully
balanced analogue system.
Balanced operation has always been
used as a standard in professional
audio bringing very substantial
improvements in dynamic range –
including vast reductions in
inadvertent system noise due to
cabling and ground-loops etc. In an
audiophile setup, balanced operation
guarantees that the very best sonics
are obtained from a combination of
components.
The 502 brings the very best sonic and
musical results to an all-analogue hi-fi.
Seven sources can be controlled – four
connected as unbalanced on phono,
the other three provide fully balanced
operation with XLR inputs.
502 provides balanced (XLR) and
unbalanced outputs so it can be used
with either balanced or single-ended
power amplifiers or active speakers. A
balanced tape output is also provided
to allow sophisticated connection for
‘Pro’ recorders and processors or
balanced operation in a two-room
setup.
502 is constructed in a dual-mono
format – that means that there are
separate isolated printed circuits for the
left and right channels. Each channel
has its own high-performance power
supply which employs linear techniques,
massive storage with audiophile-grade
capacitors and multiple ultra-low-noise
linear active regulation.
No expense has been spared in the
construction – the 502 uses very high
quality components including highgrade gold-plated connectors, Nichicon
and polypropylene audio-grade
capacitors, ultra-linear amplifier stages,
four-layer PCB construction and a lowflux toroidal transformer. For vinyl
lovers, two ultra-high-end mono phono
modules can be fitted as an option (one
for each channel).
Preamps that integrate analogue audio
systems need to have a wide range of
operating levels and gains. The 502 has
enormous overload capacity and will
accept and deliver over 4Vrms singleended (8Vrms balanced). The gain
setting allows a ±12dB variation; this
gain setting is user-adjustable for each
input and automatically remembered by
the preamp. Like all the Meridian 500
Series, 502 has full remote capability
and it can control a Meridian system
when used with the MSR system
remote. The on-board controller also
has RS232 access for sophisticated
system integration and computer
control
Meridian Audio Limited, Stonehill, Stukeley Meadows, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE18 6ED, England.
Sales +44 (0)1480 434334 - Fax +44 (0)1480 432948
WWW: http://www.meridian-audio.com
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Technical Data Sheet
502/1 – 02-01-97
Performance
Distortion less than 0.01% input to output
Signal/Noise better than –96dB CCIR (1V output, normal input) Less than –70dB for MM input and –60dB for MC
Inputs and outputs
MM input option:
Sensitivity adjustable 0.5–17mV for 5cm/s @1kHz, Overload point 47mV @ 1kHz Cartridge load 47k Ohms, 10nF
MC input option:
Sensitivity adjustable 38–1200µV for 5cm/s @1kHz Cartridge load 220 ohms, 10nF
Four unbalanced inputs on phono: 27 to 840mVrms (impedance 20k Ohms)
Three balanced inputs on XLR: 27 to 840mVrms (impedance 20k Ohms)
Unbalanced output on phono: 1.4 to 3Vrms (impedance 47 Ohms)
Balanced output on XLR: 1.4 to 3Vrms (impedance 47 Ohms)
Two Unbalanced tape outputs 1.5Vrms (impedance 47 Ohms)
Construction
Two-channel dual-mono construction
High-grade components used throughout
Phono option with new moving-coil or magnetic plug-in modules for each channel
Large low-field ultra-linear power supply
Black textured enamel and glass finish
Dimensions 88mm (3.46in) H, 321 (12.64) W, 332 (13.07) D – Weight 5kg (10lbs)
Controls, Display etc.
Source, Copy, Mute, Display, Volume up/down, Off
Volume control – 99-steps of 1dB with balanced mode
Remote control, Meridian 500-Comms and RS232 operation
Two Room Plus compatible
8-character dot-matrix LED display
Meridian Audio Ltd reserve the right to change any product specification without prior notice
© Text and pictures 1997 Meridian Audio Limited
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