Meridian America 557 manual Background, Stereo Power Amplifier, Meridian Audio Limited

Background

Meridian have maintained a strong reputation for their power amplifier technology for over 15 years. Until now, their power amp developments have concentrated on high-transparency low-power models or on the custom amplifiers in their renowned active and digital speaker designs.

Meridian 557

The 557 takes the Meridian 500 Series into new territory – with 200W of clean clear power – for the first time allowing the option of a complete Meridian front end for large passive speakers. The Meridian 557 can be used with the 502 or 501 preamps, or with a Meridian DSP Surround Processor.

The Meridian 557 houses two powerful amplifiers in a dual mono construction. The amplifiers are both rated at 200W into 8 ohms. Each over-specified output stage uses 8 h igh-power transistors. These, combined with a massive low- noise 1.6kVA toroidal transformer, permit this amplifier to deliver currents in excess of 30A, ensuring no loss of performance even into loads that dip below 2 ohms. The massive power delivery of this amplifier makes it ideal for driving difficult loudspeaker loads.

557 can be operated in bridged mode giving power in excess of 680W into 8 ohms, 1000W into 4 ohms.

The 557 provides balanced and unbalanced inputs as well as twin outputs for bi-wiring.

The topology of 557 is very much in the Meridian tradition. A high-precision fast DC-precise input stage is combined with a fully complementary amplification and output stage. Also, the 557 uses Meridian’s well established self-adjusting bias and error-correction output topology.

The 557 is fully protected against DC and thermal overload. A proprietary Meridian soft-start circuit is also fitted.

557

Stereo Power Amplifier

Sales information

1st December 2001

∙Dual-mono 200-watt design

∙Balanced and unbalanced inputs

∙Massive low -noise 1.6kVA toroidal transformer

∙Current delivery of over 30A into difficult loads below 2 ohms

∙Fully protected against DC and thermal overload.

∙Soft start using proprietary Meridian circuit

Meridian Audio Limited

Stonehill, Stukeley Meadows

Huntingdon

Cambridgeshire PE29 6EX

T +44 (0) 1480 445678

F +44 (0) 1480 445686

Meridian America Inc.

Suite 122, Building 2400

3800 Camp Creek Parkway

Atlanta GA 30331

T (404) 344 7111

F (404) 346 7111

www.meridian-audio.com