Re: Merlin VSM in Dallas anywhere? You guys like these?

Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

In Reply to: Merlin VSM in Dallas anywhere? You guys like these? posted by ELECTROSTAT on January 2, 2002 at 16:51:44:

I'm the guy who suggested the Merlins...and as a former, still recovering, electrostat addict (Quad and ML CLS) I can tell you that partnered with sympathetic electronics, Merlins are the only box speaker I've found that can give one the speed and delicacy of a 'stat. I love electrostats for their neutrality and transparency, but always had problems with the narrowness of the "sweet spot" and frequency extension. The Merlins are amazingly fast (and neutral)...as George Cardas has pointed out (in his Stereophile interview) but compared to my Martin Logans, the VSMs are far more full-bodied and have a huge soundstage capable of amazing imaging. But have every bit the finesse of presentation of the Quads. And are far more forgiving about power requirements...some tell me they are using as little as 8 watts of Welborne Labs to drive the Merlins to satisfying levels! That I find a little hard to believe! I sold one of my pairs of Merlin's earlier incarnations to a guy who just uses an inexpensive receiver...and he loves the sound. Nonetheless, they do reward one for high quality gear in the amplification/source stages by revealing every nuance in a recorded performance.
BTW, I had a fantastic deal on the Mahlers (less than I paid for the Merlins), and really wanted to buy them (I'm not as big of fan of the Revels) but they didn't compare to the VSMs...it wasn't even close. The Mahler's are far more fussy about set-up--I didn't want them that far out in the room--and sounded much more 'colored' and slower than the Merlins.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Merlin VSM in Dallas anywhere? You guys like these? - ELECTROSTAT 16:51:44 01/02/02 (5)

Re: Merlin VSM in Dallas anywhere? You guys like these? - Celluloid 09:51:35 01/03/02 (2)

How can it be? - JohnR 04:30:57 01/05/02 (1)

Re: How can it be? - ELECTROSTAT 16:27:06 01/05/02 (0)

Re: I'll second that! - Vince 20:15:03 01/02/02 (0)

in houston - rhyno 19:55:20 01/02/02 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Merlin VSM in Dallas anywhere? You guys like these? - Celluloid 09:51:35 01/03/02 (2)

How can it be? - JohnR 04:30:57 01/05/02 (1)

Re: How can it be? - ELECTROSTAT 16:27:06 01/05/02 (0)

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