Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Merlin Music Inc. VSM-M Speakers by JRGTR

This is the absolute VERY BEST speaker that I owned or listen to, end of affair.
My speaker is the Merlin VSM-Millenium "T" (tube version)with the Battery BAM. First of all I want to say that I am a long believer of "less is more" approach. I owned passive pre-amps (Audio Synthesis among them) and I have a purist approach to audio. I thought that a "strange box" in the signal path only could deteriorate the delicate audio signal. Well, the BAM is the exception. I only can say that I plug and unplugged the BAM a few times and the sound with the BAM is waaaay better, more spacious, relaxed, coherent and without any detail or transparency suffering that I could detect.
Another strong point of the Merlins is the quality of components and finish. This is REALLY a "no compromise design". I´m very familiar with megabucks audio gear and maybe this is the only speaker that follows the ultra esoteric Audionote Ongaku philosophy to put the rarest and costlier components available (VSM and BAM use Hovland Inductors and caps, Caddock, resistors, Scanspeak carbon woofer, Dynaudio Esotar tweeter, cardas, cabling and posts to not mention cabinet design and building)...but the Merlins of course doesn´t have the Ongaku price.
All of this means nothing if the sound is bad...but what a sound!!
This speaker has it all...Transparency, ultra detail, mids to die for, bass deep and unusually detailed, and the more extended soundstage (with a live recording) I experienced ever. But above all, this speaker is supremely NATURAL, all this is revealed in a coherent and unhifi way. I said unhifi cause this speaker is a strange mix of spectacular and delicate and intimate sound, spectacular if the CD is spectacular recorded and intimate or delicate if the CD is intimate or delicate recorded. All this means this speaker is absolutely faithful to the signal and neutral to the maximum. In my job I am very familiar with Studio monitors like Genelecs, Westlake, JBL, Yamaha etc and I think the VSM is the dream come true for the Sound Engineer with audiophile heart due to an absolutely neutral and hyperdetailed sound with all the emotion and naturalness of the very best audiophile designs.
BTW this speaker is one of the easiest loads to drive among conventional dynamic speakers manufactured today. They are a true 8 Ohm load (6,5 minimun) and 89-90 dB sensitivity. I use SET amps for the past 6 Years and now my Merlins are driven by 15 Watts of Cary SET power producing an absolutely relaxed and unrestrained sound plenty of magic.

I know this speaker is not cheap, but if You´re looking for the very best regardless of price, this is the end of your search...and It´s a SET lover too.

This is REALLY the greatest bargain in ultra hi-end audio based in dollar-sound ratio.

REVIEW: Merlin Music Inc. VSM-M Speakers Review by JRGTR at Audio Asylum