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In Reply to: RE: It is really, really sad all the flames this review has gotten... posted by Toddd on February 01, 2008 at 16:00:33
People always want to get all "flexomatic" when they are empowered with a keyboard, an internet connection and an opinion.
You just gotta love the way Bobby handles it......month in, month out.
Some people love to gring their axes here. If it's civil, it can be thought provoking and amusing.
Welcome to the "Merlin Club" here at the Asylum. You're in good company.
What is your front end rig?
Follow Ups:
Thanks for the welcome.
Room is 13 x 15 (the 15 is open and extends on one side), speakers will be set on the 15 x wall. Plasma screen, and a sliding glass door are unfortunate realities, but I do have corner traps, and fiberglass panels up along the front and back walls.
For digital I'm using an Onkyo SP1000 which is actually a pretty good sounding universal player. I'm mostly vinyl though, and I've been waiting to get a new table until I've got a revealing and dynamic enough pair of speakers to properly enjoy one. I had a Rega P25 prior.
Pre is Supratek, and amp (for now) is an old CJ 200WPC (doubling at 4 ohms) sonographe SS amp.
The merlins will be replacing Dynaudio S1.4s. I use a sub with them (velodyne DD15), but there was nothing I could do to remove a giant 50hz hump from the dynaudios, and ultimately a fatiguing sound with the small room length. Even tried high passing... even though these are standmounts, their gaping rear ports will cause bass problems unless they get plugged, which kills the soundstage.
I have VSM-MX's in a 13x15 room and they are sublime. I too have a Supratek preamp. My amp is a Joule Electra VZN-80 Musicwood version. Before settling on the Merlins, I tried Quad ESL-988's, Apogee Stages, Magnepan III's, and Silverline Sonatinas. The Merlins combine the legendary midrange of the Quads with the wonderful highs of the Magnepans and Apogees, with better bass than any of these speakers. I for one am that glad Bobby keeps refining this gem of a product, and I look forward to upgrading to the lead free version.
yes get the MX's upgraded. you think they are good now wait till you hear them and the super bam together. then you will understand what i was trying to say about them.please note that bob's ears and mine hear nearly the same things when it comes to listening.
rob walters.
Hi Guru,
Very good to hear a positive outcome in a similar sized room!
Do you have them setup along the 15' wall or the 13' wall? How do you have them setup in the room? (distance to wall behind speakers, distance to side walls)
It seems a lot of Merlin users are using Joule amps. I have a Response Audio modified Jolida 302B I could try in addition to my CJ SS amp, but I don't think the 50WPC EL34 will be enough to handle the bass, I've found EL34s to be a bit floppy in the bass, but I love them with smaller monitors.
Hi Toddd,
I have them centered on the short wall, 6'8" from tweeter to tweeter. That leaves about 3 feet or so from the side walls. After experimenting, I decided to put them a foot and a half from the back wall (which works well because the speakers are front ported), and 9' from my listening position. I have bass traps in the back corners, as without them I was getting a little bit of boominess (I was getting this from the Quads too, so the boominess is probably attributed more to my room than the speakers). With this setup, the speakers do the disappearing act with great imaging and soundstaging, with solid, tight bass.
I had a couple of EL34 amps prior to the Joule amp. One, a Cary V12R, had no issues with bass, IMO. The other, a Dynaco ST-70, was mushy. Both amps imparted a pleasing, warm sound. The Joule is more revealing while maintaining a warm sound, albeit less warm than what is offered by the EL34's.
Have fun with your Merlins!
i would try the tube amp because the vsm mxe/sbam has bandpass limiting in the bass so the amp will have an easier time of it and 50 watts is plenty. call me for the description of the benefits in this.
i did the stereophile show in nyc with a 30 watt tube amp and those comments are all on the main page of my website.
have fun.
best, b
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