Meridian Prime Headphone Amplifier / Power Supply Unit

British company Meridian Audio Ltd was founded back in 1977 by Bob Stuart and Allen Boothroyd. In 1984, following the introduction of the Compact Disc, they produced the MCD which they claimed was the world’s first audiophile-quality Compact Disc player. They also produce an extensive range of amplifiers for all uses. And here we have a nice example of the Prime Headphone Amplifier and matching Prime Power Supply. It is in very good condition and is supplied in its original factory packaging. It also comes with mains, power supply, and USB cables, plus our normal three month warranty.
Meridian Say….
Prime Headphone Amplifier
Meridian’s Prime Headphone Amplifier is a reference-quality analogue headphone amplifier that can replay audio from both analogue and USB-based sources. Built into an elegant and compact Allen Boothroyd-designed metal case, Meridian’s Prime Headphone Amplifier also provides a preamp output to drive an external audio system or analogue active loudspeakers.
The Prime Headphone Amplifier is designed to appeal to audio enthusiasts who seek the highest possible performance from conventional analogue audio sources including personal stereo players, or from a computer via USB, listening on headphones, a conventional audio system or analogue active loudspeakers.
The Meridian Prime Headphone Amplifier can be powered by the wall-mounted supply provided or, for even higher audio quality, by the Meridian Prime Power Supply. The use of this external power supply means that AC noise is kept well away from the pure analogue stages of the Headphone Amplifier.
In addition to simply replaying stereo audio at the highest possible quality via headphones, Meridian Prime’s headphone outputs also include two “Analogue Spatial Processing” modes, i and ii, which replace the typical “in the head” experience of headphone listening with a smooth, natural feeling of spatiality that is much more like listening on a pair of loudspeakers in front of the listener.
Most recordings are made with loudspeaker listening in mind. When listening to stereo recordings on loudspeakers, your ears pick up signals from both channels. The sound from the right loudspeaker reaches your left ear a little later than it reaches your right (it’s further away) and vice versa. In addition, the high frequencies from the source that is a little further away are slightly attenuated.
The Prime Headphone Amplifier’s Analogue Spatial Processing simulates these effects with pure analogue circuitry and a choice of two settings (plus bypass – useful if you are listening to binaural or coincident-pair recordings). The processing is carried out entirely in the analogue domain and is switched in and out from the front panel by logic-controlled analogue switches, ensuring that the audio signal path through the unit remains as short and pristine as possible. In addition, relays are used to mute the outputs during switch on and off.
Throughout the Meridian Prime headphone Amplifier, the highest quality analogue audio components are employed to maximise audio quality.
A 6-layer circuit board provides ground-planes and maximises signal isolation. The product is DC-coupled, for outstanding low frequency control and overall audio reproduction, and absolute phase is maintained throughout.
In addition to a pair of gold-plated phono connectors for line-level input, plus a 3.5mm mini-jack for connection of personal stereo players, the Meridian Prime Headphone Amplifier includes a USB mini-B type connector for the replay of computer music sources.
The USB conversion system is powered from the interface, so that when it is disconnected, all digital circuitry in the unit is deactivated. The fully asynchronous USB 2.0 interface supports signals at up to 192kHz/24-bit sampling and the USB input features a full complement of Meridian Resolution Enhancement technologies including an Apodising filter that improves the quality of digital signals, and upsampling of 44.1/48kHz sources to 88.2/96kHz prior to the built-in DAC.
On the output side, the Meridian Prime Headphone Amplifier includes a pair of gold-plated line-level phono’s on the rear panel that can be used to drive an external amplifier or pair of analogue active loudspeakers.
Three front-panel headphone sockets are provided. One is a 3.5mm stereo socket for the connection of earbuds and similar devices, which presents an output impedance of 2Ω to suit these devices.
The other two sockets offer an exceptionally low impedance (around 3mΩ) and are standard 1/4in stereo (tip-ring-sleeve) types, carrying both channels. They can be used either to connect two pairs of headphones or to attach a single pair of headphones wired with separate cords for left and right drivers, thus offering the opportunity to reduce headphone crosstalk.
Virtually all the active audio components are all at the rear of the unit, as close to the connectors as possible to minimise the audio path length, and are essentially remote-controlled from the front panel. This is even true of the high-quality analogue volume potentiometer, which controls the level of all the outputs. A special flexible shaft coupling is employed to avoid microphony resulting from operation of the volume knob.
In addition to its use with headphones, the Prime Headphone Amplifier is also an outstanding analogue preamplifier, allowing multiple inputs to be managed effectively and brought up to line level at extraordinarily high quality for driving external power amplifiers or powered analogue speakers.
A useful feature is the ability to turn off the preamplifier output when the unit is to be used solely for headphone listening.
This is achieved by holding down the power button. When in standby, the power indicator within the power button is blue; switched on with all outputs enabled it shows white; and when the preamp output is disabled it shows green.
Specifications:
Analogue Inputs:
1 x 3.5mm: Gain 12 dB; 500 mV rms in for 2 Vrms out
1 x Phono Stereo: Gain 3 dB; 1.4 Vrms in for 2 Vrms out
Analogue inputs overload capability > 40 dB
Digital Input:
1 x USB: Asynchronous, 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz at up to 24-bit; jitter <90 ps p-p; Apodising filter and upsampling of 44.1/48 kHz inputs to 88.2/96 kHz
Outputs:
1 x phono pre-out: maximum output 3.1 V rms @ 1 kHz; THD less than 0.001% @ 1 kHz up to 3 V rms; crosstalk below – 70 dB @ 1 kHz. Output can be disabled
2 x ¼” phone jacks: Maximum output 3 Vrms off load; THD below 0.002%; output impedance < 100 mΩ; power output 250 mW up to 42 Ω; short-circuit protected
1 x 3.5 mm stereo phone jack: Max output 3 Vrms off-load; THD < 0.002%; Output impedance 2.2 Ω
Output noise (input A): < -100 dBV CCIR or A weighted
Frequency response: + 0/- 1 dB DC to 70 kHz; + 0/- 3 dB DC to 200 kHz
Headphone Compatibility: Suitable for impedances in the range 16 Ω – 1 kΩ or more; Suitable for open, closed, in-, on- or over-ear models
Recommended Sensitivity: higher than 80 dB spl/mW or 96 dB spl/V
Processing: Analogue out-of-head processor on phone jack outputs only
Power: 12 V DC
Power Consumption: Less than 0.5 W standby; Under 1 W in quiescent
Dimensions: 160 (W) x 150 (D) x 50 (H) mm
Weight: 0.9 kg
Prime Power Supply
Meridian’s Prime Power Supply is a reference-quality, high-current design based on the new linear power supplies developed for Meridian’s 800 Reference Series and specifically built for audio applications.
Built into an elegant, compact metal case designed by Allen Boothroyd that echoes the G Series, with no visible screws, and is double-skinned for lower noise, the Meridian Prime Power Supply can be used to power a range of Meridian products including the Meridian Prime Headphone Amplifier, Audio Core 200, Meridian Director and Media Source 200.
The use of this special low-noise, highly regulated linear power supply will help to deliver the highest possible audio performance from these and other systems requiring 12 V dc power at up to 500 mA. In addition a 5 V USB supply is included with audio pass-through.
By affording a single input connection the unit can power several devices, reducing clutter. More significantly, an outboard power supply keeps AC noise away from sensitive audio circuitry.
At the heart of the Prime Power Supply is a hand-assembled true toroidal transformer. The transformer is a high-mass, low-profile, low magnetic field design. In addition to its integral magnetic shield, it’s mounted on a metal plate to shield electronics from noise.
Each output on the Prime Power Supply includes multi-stage regulation using a total of six extremely low noise linear regulators. Both the 12 V and 5 V USB outputs include pre-regulators prior to the output regulators. Even though the 12 V outputs are rated at just 500 mA, they utilise heavily over-specified 5 A linear regulators, selected by a rigorous evaluation process including extensive listening tests.
Meanwhile, the USB supply features a new high-efficiency low-dropout (LDO) linear regulator design that features less than 5 μV rms output noise in the range 10 – 100 kHz.
The design also employs multiple capacitors for noise filtering along with Nichicon audio-grade reservoir capacitors.
The rear panel of the Prime Power Supply features a C3-type power input socket. The mains input is carefully filtered. On the output side are five high-current 3-pin mini-DIN connectors, with a positive latching design to limit the chance of accidental disconnection.
Each socket provides 12 V dc at up to 500 mA, ideal for a range of Meridian products including the Meridian Prime Headphone Amplifier, Audio Core 200, Meridian Director and Media Source 200.
In addition there is a USB 5 V 1 A output designed to drive USB audio devices with reliable, low-noise power. A corresponding USB input is also provided, allowing USB data from a computer or tablet, for example, to be passed through the Power Supply to an output device like the Meridian Explorer, Director or Prime Headphone Amplifier.
The Power Supply cleans up power for any USB device, not solely audio-related items, potentially improving their performance.
Specifications:
Inputs: 1 x IEC C3 3-pole connector; 1 x USB input for audio pass-through
Outputs: 5 x latching 3-pin mini-DIN connectors providing 12 V dc at up to 500 mA; 1 x USB output for powering external devices, delivering 5 V dc at up to 1 A
Power: 110 – 120 VAC and 230 VAC; Consumption: 60 W max
Dimensions: 160 (W) x 150 (D) x 50 (H) mm
Weight: 1.6 kg

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