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REVIEW: Merlin Music Inc. VSM-MXe Speakers


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Model: VSM-MXe
Category: Speakers
Suggested Retail Price: $10,500
Description: Two-way floorstanding speaker system
Manufacturer URL: Merlin Music Inc.
Model Picture: View

Review by JamesV on June 18, 2007 at 14:06:10
IP Address: 63.199.123.12
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for the VSM-MXe


First things first…the following is my humble opinion…your mileage may vary.
This review is completely unsolicited and I have never felt compelled to write a review here before and in fact have not. I’ve been lurking around here for a few years, but rarely comment.

Some background on me... I’ve been in this hobby for longer than I like to admit. It’s over 35 years ago now that I put my first system of separate components together purchased at Pacific Stereo. Every year for several years I traded in my speakers for new ones. They would give you 100% of the original purchase price if you upgrading within 12 months. I’ve had so many different components…the list would go on and on and on. Just in the last 10 years I’ve owned speakers by Celestian, Martin Logan, Apogee, Revel, Maggie’s plus some others I have wiped from my memory.
This is really more than a hobby for me. I grew up in a very musical family. My parents were professional singers during the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. My dad was also a big band drummer for many years. All of my brothers were and continue to be musicians. We always had several instruments in the house from grand piano’s to guitars, flutes, bass, all sorts of percussion instruments and of course drum sets. I began playing the drums at age 5 and play almost daily to this day. I currently have a beautiful set of DW drums with several zildjian cymbals that are over 40 years old. I’ve played in every kind of band or group possible from orchestra’s to rock bands. I’ve also spent countless hours in recording studios. Enough about me and on to the review.

About five years ago I was introduced to Merlin speakers. Those were the TSM’s. I was immediately drawn into their seemingly neutral tonality and lifelike imaging. Soon after purchasing the TSM’s I sent them back to NY for the M upgrade. Things just got better and I started dreaming of owning VSM’s. A couple of years later that dream became a reality. Then I started on the VSM upgrade path which leads us to today’s review. I still own the TSM’s and in fact have 3 that are the center of my HT set-up.

My VSM’s were originally Millenniums. They were upgraded immediately to MX’s. I then did the Super BAM upgrade and now finally the “piece de resistance” the “E” upgrade. “E” is the removal of most of the lead solder in the speakers.

I say the “piece de resistance” because for me the “E” upgrade is by far the most dramatic. It doesn’t just change the speakers a little, it is huge! For me they changed so dramatically that I called Bobby first thing on the Monday morning after receiving them the week before and asked him “what the hell did you do to my speakers?” I truly thought he had made some major component changes and was pulling my leg. How could solder make such a difference????
It’s like Bobby fed them steroids…bigger, wider, louder, deeper, sweeter, fuller, all harshness and congestion is gone. They have become totally CONTINUOUS, from top to bottom like a one-way. It’s like the tonality has been shifted down. Where before the most energy seemed to come from the tweeter it’s now the woofer. The speakers now have REAL bass that will vibrate the furniture in your listening room. You can feel the music which makes them much better for rock then before. Their personality has changed form a mini monitor on a stick to a true full range speaker. Believe me, this is not subtle. It is a DRAMATIC change. If you have any reservations about Merlin’s being this or that (lean, bright, not enough bass) you owe it to yourself to listen to the new versions. If you own any other version you MUST go for the “E”. They are so tonally perfect now it’s hard to explain. IMHO they are without fault.

The speakers were always a work of art. They are now an absolute masterpiece!

P.S. The TSMM’s are on the way to Booby to have the lead removed from them as well.


Product Weakness: None for me...some may want louder (false) bass below 28hz.
Product Strengths: Tonally perfect. They have really no personality of their own...neutral...Continuous.


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Manley Snappers
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Cary SLP 98
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Audio Aero - Nottingham Space Deck
Speakers: Merlin VSM-MXe
Cables/Interconnects: AU24
Music Used (Genre/Selections): All but mostly progessive rock
Room Size (LxWxH): 20 x 30 x 12
Room Comments/Treatments: none-my living room
Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 weeks (plus 3 years)
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Son of Q
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner



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