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Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Merrill Audio Advanced Technologies Veritas Amplifier (SS) by Mr Peabody

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REVIEW: Merrill Audio Advanced Technologies Veritas Amplifier (SS)

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Model: Veritas
Category: Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price: 12,000.00
Description: monoblock power amplifiers
Manufacturer URL: Merrill Audio Advanced Technologies

Review by Mr Peabody on September 06, 2015 at 22:31:31
IP Address: 71.81.87.182
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for the Veritas


Bottom line first? The Veritas are excellent. You'll eventually find out if you look further into these amps, so I will tell you, they are Class D monoblocks. I hate to say that because of most people have preconceived ideas about Class D. Honestly, the Veritas are Class D that don't sound Class D, they simply sound great. In communication with Merrill he once stated he wants his amps to sound like live music and I think he comes real close.

The Veritas outside is constructed from a solid block of aluminum, so no seams or screw heads showing. The Veritas are differentially balanced and only a XLR input is provided but two sets of binding posts are available. I like the Cardas binding posts, one knob for a set of binding posts, and no provision for bananas. No real power button, just a button on the bottom front that puts the amp in sort of a stand by mode, it really just mutes the inputs. This also means be careful to plug the power cord into the wall first then the amp to prevent an arc at your outlet. The amps are rated at 400 watts into 8 ohms and are stable down to 2 ohms at 1200 watts. Noteworthy is the fact that the Veritas are the first amps to me, to come with Stillpoint feet, a high quality power cord and fuses.

Once hooked up the Veritas like to be plugged in and warm up fully on for about 24 hours. Yes, I did experience this is true in my audition. The amps eventually changed quite a bit for the better after that period.

The Veritas have a very low noise floor and very low distortion, as well being quick on their feet. What this means to you, and, what I heard, was more space between notes, so things like drum rolling, strings strummed, backing vocals, and the like, didn't smear so you got a better sense of realism and more detail. On music in general, but really noticeable on large orchestral pieces the Veritas have a nicely coherent and controlled soundstage. Solo instruments were quick and agile, leaving nothing but air between notes, the music flowed with such melody and structure I gained new admiration for the composer. Also, coherent to where the individual instruments came together to form the performance as a whole, I got more of a sense of inner melodies. For instance, I got more of the melody on Chick Corea's backing piano on Return To Forever, more emotion from Patricia Barber's piano. The notes from piano, cymbals, and even bells rang with a pristine beauty. Brass had the growl and bite without ever being offensive or fatiguing. The Veritas have a way of unraveling complex passages, there was a track from Christian Scott that on a couple of friends systems sound fairly congested but the Veritas were capable of picking it apart. Same with the instrumental intro on Stevie Ray Vaughn's Couldn't Stand The Weather, with the Veritas the bass line stood out and the track was generally more distinguishable than I've heard. The Veritas bass response is excellent in all aspects, if more than one source for bass they could be heard separate and distinct, like kick drum from stand up or electric bass, the latter from synth, extreme low bass from pipe organ on my Reference CD of Pipe & Organ played low, controlled and powerful. The Veritas delivered drum strikes with tight realism and impact.

The Veritas give you an emotional connection to your music, whether it's sultry like Patricia Barber or Vanessa Williams, or, boogieing with the likes of Christian McBride or SRV. The Veritas did give me an excitement while listening, similar to live music, that something that makes you want to dance in your seat.

The rightness of the Veritas is something you really have to hear to understand, it's difficult to fully put their ability into words.

Remember at some point a lot of tube gear began to shed tube stereotypes by keeping the desirable qualities of tubes while coming closer to the desirable attributes of solid state? Merrill Audio has made a similar statement by shattering stereotypes of Class D, bringing amps that can provide stellar performance regardless of it's technology.


Product Weakness: The long warm up period before sounding as it should is more of a concern if a user wasn't aware.<br>No weaknesses found yet
Product Strengths: High level of performance, the amps are quick, detailed, exhibit good control and power. Low noise and distortion. High level of build quality


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Pass X250
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Pass XP10
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Mark Levinson #512 SACD & Clearaudio Performance DC with Maestro cart
Speakers: Revel Ultima Studio 2
Cables/Interconnects: Clarus Crimson
Music Used (Genre/Selections): variety
Room Size (LxWxH): 24 x 13 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments: carpet over concrete, drywall, tapestry on wall about 1st reflection, media racks and such in room helps diffuse
Time Period/Length of Audition: a week
Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition




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Topic - REVIEW: Merrill Audio Advanced Technologies Veritas Amplifier (SS) - Mr Peabody 22:31:31 09/6/15 ( 104)