Meridian Director DAC, from my collection. Used for about 1 year. replaced by a PS Audio Direct Stream (sold to raise $)
I found a Metrum HEX ($2700) at a great price, which is slightly better than this Meridian, so it has been sitting in the box for over a year.Comes complete with all wire adapters and packaging.
Free shipping in the USA.
Simply a great DAC at this price point !! The signature Meridian sound is smooth, detailed and musical. The fact that you can get this house sound in such an affordable package is quite amazing. I've owned quite a few Meridian components over the years and the price of entry is on the high side. The emergence and maturation of computer audio seems to be democratizing the world of high end audio at least in the digital realm. We were easily paying multiples the cost of this little DAC not long ago for this sound quality. I would say the Meridian Director is a bona fide high end piece. It may not be equal to the PS Audio Direct Stream I've owned, but it's immensely enjoyable at producing music. There is a naturalness and ease to the sound that allows that emotional connection and sustains that immersive experience we are all chasing. Great gear no matter the cost does this. Sure, it could be more dynamic. It can tend toward a slight homogenization. It can be slightly laid back, but it does the music thing right. It has great air, space and detail. It nearly never sounds bright and allows long listening sessions without that nagging irritation that creeps in with flashier, but lesser gear. I quite appreciate the industrial design and it's small footprint. If that's how they've achieved cost saving, then I'd say the right compromises were made. https://www.audiostream.com/content/meridian-audio-director http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/meridian-direct-dac/ http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/meridian-director-dac/ https://www.soundandvision.com/content/meridian-director-usb-dac
From the SoundandVision review, “The Meridian Director USB DAC, at $699, costs more than twice as much as the Meridian Explorer, at $299. Is it more than twice as good? I’ll say yes, and then some. I’m saying it bashfully because a few of you may already have bought the lesser product. But the shock I felt when I first heard the Director, and the gratifying hours of listening I’ve logged since then, allow no other conclusion. The Director is the best under-$1,000 way to improve computer audio that I’ve heard so far.”
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