Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Merlin Music Inc. TSM-MMe Speakers by spindrifter

Model:	TSM-MMe
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$2800.00
Description:	2 way sealed box monitor
Manufacturer URL:	Merlin Music Inc.
Model Picture:	View

Review by spindrifter on October 18, 2008 at 00:39:54
IP Address: 218.215.51.222 Add Your Review
for the TSM-MMe

After initial curiosity and on-line research, a calculated risk was taken to invest in a pair of Merlin TSM MMe loudspeakers, sight unseen, sound unheard. Merlin's extended history of long-lived, amplifier-friendly products based upon intelligent design principles (that dovetail with my own experiences in audio over 30 years), a low-volume company that basically only builds simple two-way speakers but applies craftsmanship to each and every step, lack of hype and emphasis on musical outcomes, all contributed to my decision to proceed.

Approachable Merlin CEO Bobby Palkovich facilitated shipping to Australia, as there is currently no agent Downunder. There was an unavoidable delay of several weeks before my TSMs arrived, after which there was a lengthy running-in period accompanied by fine-tuning of system components. So, for those of you weighing up your options, Merlin TSM purchase requires patience, trust and utter conviction that they are *the* speakers for you. Suggest you look elsewhere if you lack such wherewithal, and are easily swayed by other speakers' sheer size and elaborate cosmetics, multi-driver arrays, loudspeakers as status symbols, price tags as indicators of quality, and so on.

THE VERDICT
Merlin TSM monitors represent for me, up to this point in time, the most out-of-box, uncoloured, unforced, literal, neutral, natural, seamlessly-integrated, multi-layered, airy, spacious, nimble, dynamic compact dynamic speaker system it has been my privilege to audition. One is drawn irresistably to the music, away from concerns of "hifi" and "equipment". TSMs are also a self-effacing window to system chemistry - you hear precisely what lies further up the chain, warts and all, including wild extremes of recording/mixing/mastering quality, mostly ghastly red book CDs. Magical with properly-sorted analogue front end. It is a credit to Bobby Palkovic's design skills, component selection and engineering - a highly refined product.

Product Weakness:

Demands sympathetically-matched components for optimal performance, plus appropriate cabling. Does not reproduce lowest octave, but which compact dynamic speaker system does? Benefits from meticulous set-up. Warning - will fiercely spotlight less than ideal recording/mixing/mastering. You must be prepared for the truth, and a lot of it ain't pretty, including a large proportion of red book CD releases!

Product Strengths:

Transparent, self-effacing, literal reproduction of all input signals. A true monitor in every sense of that category's definition. Wickedly, spell-bindingly draws this listener into the music from which one becomes oblivious to distractions. A benchmark audio product, perhaps already on the cusp of legendary status in North America?

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Modified Consonance M800SE tube monoblocks, modified Atoll AM100 HEX FET power amp.
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Modified Shanling PH-300
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Roksan Radius 5, Nima arm, Lyra Argo, JLTI phono stage
Speakers: Previously - Vienna Acoustics, Linn, Monitor Audio, ProAc, ATC
Cables/Interconnects: Custom cryo twisted pair ICs, PNF Icon, PNF Symphony, Supra Ply 3.4S
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, World Music, Reggae, Dub, Hiphop, Drum n Bass, Electronica, Folk, Classical
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Powerware DS3 mains filter, Cardas Golden Reference AC cords, Custom AC cords
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Modified Consonance M800SE tube monoblocks, modified Atoll AM100 HEX FET power amp.
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Modified Shanling PH-300
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Roksan Radius 5, Nima arm, Lyra Argo, JLTI phono stage
Speakers:	Previously - Vienna Acoustics, Linn, Monitor Audio, ProAc, ATC
Cables/Interconnects:	Custom cryo twisted pair ICs, PNF Icon, PNF Symphony, Supra Ply 3.4S
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, World Music, Reggae, Dub, Hiphop, Drum n Bass, Electronica, Folk, Classical
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Powerware DS3 mains filter, Cardas Golden Reference AC cords, Custom AC cords
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner