Meridian 557 Specification Sheet

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 5 57 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
st
1 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