|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
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 rbwalt@verizon.net on January 28, 2008 at 17:25:13 IP Address: 72.83.180.136 | Add Your Review for the VSM-MXe |
This is a review of the Merlin Music VSM MXE loudspeaker. I have been a fan of Merlin Music's speakers for a long time. I have known Bobby Palkovic the designer for over 20 yrs and worked for him for 10 yrs. He is one of the few true gentleman in audio today.
This past summer i had my VSM MX's upgraded to the new MXE version( all lead free) along with a new Super BAM( also lead free). I loved my MX's. They were smooth sounding, offered very very good sound staging(depth,height and width). The resolution, detail and layering of music was simply tremendous.The mids were natural sounding. The highs were sweet and airy without any of that metallic sound that so many speakers have. The bottom end was extended sounding with very good definition and weight.The Mx's are a very well balanced sounding speaker.They are coherent, life like and complete sounding.That is why the speaker is a recommended component in stereophile( class A (RL).They simply play music!
What i got after my upgrade to the MXE version and Super BAM is nothing short of amazing.The MXE is now much more smoother sounding( Liquid sounding).There is a total lack of grunge or harshness. The sound stage now takes on a more life like presentation. voices are oh so natural with none of that chestyness or hollow sound that one hears from most speakers. The highs are even more refined. delicate with even a more airy sound. None of that bright brittle metallic sound here. You know the kind that makes your ears bleed!! The bottom end is much more weighted sounding with much better resolution and definition.The new Super BAM plays a important part in this also.On full Ac the new BAM sounds much better than the old did on batteries. When you switch to full batteries you will notice how things smooth out even more.
The MXE's are much more continuous,coherent, and life-like sounding. As a result the MXE's are a more complete speaker and because of this it sounds more expansive in its portrayal of music. A speaker that is all most beyond belief in its ability to play music in a seamless, natural nature. No phony sounding mids, bloated over ex agerated bottom end and artificial sounding highs. It may be the best speaker in the world as some had suggested. I leave that to the ones that already have them.
Thanks Bobby!!
Product Weakness: | none |
Product Strengths: | seamless sounding,fantastic tonal balance,fantastic mids and highs,fantastic resolving capabilities, strong bottom end. |
Amplifier: | Music Reference RM9SE |
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Joule Electra LA-150MK2 |
Sources (CDP/Turntable): | AudioAero Capitole Classic SE CDP |
Speakers: | Merlin Music VSM MXE's |
Cables/Interconnects: | Cardas Golden Reference. JPS AC+ power cords |
Music Used (Genre/Selections): | NA |
Room Size (LxWxH): | 19 x 13X x 12 |
Room Comments/Treatments: | NA |
Time Period/Length of Audition: | NA |
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | 2 Equi-Tech Balanced Power units |
Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Your System (if other than home audition): | na |
I thought i would let you guys know how i have my MXE's set up in my room. my room is 19L x 13w x 12h. i have them set up running the width of the room. they are about 57" out from the front wall and about 42" from the side walls to the center of the woofer. they are 5'10" apart center to center of the speaker and toed in 10 degrees. i sit 10'back from the front plane of the speakers. i have corner traps and seam traps on all 4 corners and will be placing some double busters behind my rack between the 2 front windows which are 39" apart. this room is my master bedroom as when i had the house built i was not smart enough to have the lower level( that's what we call the basement here in VA)finished off. i am kicking myself over that one. i do have great sound however with nice tight solid base.
rob walters.
... someone spends their valuable timing writing a review of his experiences with two speakers, comparing them to his results with "other speakers at large," and there are those who spend their time criticizing this person?
This place is about people with similar interests with various levels of experience sharing their notes and thoughts
Thanks for the review, I just bought a pair of MXE's on Audiogon, I've never heard a pair of merlins, but I have high expectations. They may arrive sunday.
todd congrats on buying the MXE's. i hope you love them as much as all of the rest of us that have merlins do. please let us know how you like them.
rob walters.
todd, call me at the plant 585 367 2390 to make sure you got all that you need to get them sound as they should. i can also make recommendations for you on set up etc.
welcome to the merlin family.
best, b
Thanks Bobby,
I appreciate it. I will surely be in touch once I've had a chance to play with them a bit, and seen what they can do "out of the box."
I posted details about my room and system on Ian Mckenzie's post below, so please do let me know if you see any glaring non-compatibilities with the Merlins.
Thanks again
play with them and then call me todd.
use the alignment tool, a single run speaker cable to the woofer and my lead free jumpers, one rc on the tweeter after the jumpers. i would even try and get some 1/4 x 20 by 3/4 socket drive studs to use them as feet until you get them situated on the z feet.
run the speakers and sbam full range and cross the sub at 30 hz. roll it off at 12 or 24 db per octave. do not run the speakers through the sub crossover and do not use them sans bam.
see what you get and then give me a call.
i have a few question to ask.
best,
b
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?
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
Who expects posters on this forum to write "professional" quality reviews? C'mon! The reviewer compared the latest version of the speakers to the previous. I re-read the review. He did a good job of describing the differences. If you want professional format and content pick up a magazine.
Bobby P is a fine speaker designer and has created a masterpiece, IMO, but hey, I own them, so maybe I'm a little biased.
I can also tell you that Rich Brkich is a respectable dealer. I have ordered gear from him more than once. Always a pleasure to work with. Highly recommended!
_____________________
"If it sounds good, it is good."
yes rich is a great guy and knows his stuff!!! i to have ordered lots from him and will continue to in the future. you will not get any BS from rich!
rob walters.
Let's all clap for Tinker Bell.
VSM merlin or did you mix ALL speakers in it???
you had he original vsm or whatever...did it have chestiness?? grunge?? did it induce ear bleeds?? was it metallic?....
I don't get it....you make statements as if other speakers have these qualities...including the previous model vsm you had..... if not what was the point?? compare your previous vsm iteration vs this one....
it really seemed like bad propaganda
Excellent question. Please don't confuse things. There is the greatest, the more greatest and the most greatest.
Magpie(A)the review was comparing my old MX's to my upgraded MXE's. When i used the words chestiness, grunge, ear bleeds, metalic sounding i was not refering to the MX's. i was simply refering to other speakers in general that exhibit some of these qualities. The merlins do not posess these qualities. i was simply trying to point out the exceptional tonal balance that the new Merlin MXE's posess.Please try to listen to them and that will help in what i was attempting to point out.
r.
I heard them at RMAF2006 and 2007. But there were other mini monitors I liked about as much or more at RMAF (and from other shows) for less: the Harbeth Monitor 30s, the Wilson Bennesch Arc, the Joseph Audio RM7si Mk II, The Focus Audio FS68 and FS68e and even the little Swedish Guru speaker that sells for just $2K, not to mention the toy box-sized Japanese Micropure Kotaro! I think the most expensive of these is still $4-5K less than the Merlin, maybe more.
Greetings from the sunny Brønshøj riveria on the banks of the lovely Utterslev Mose
nt
My apologies in advance for the somewhat bold adjustment of the subject of your posting, but I do have a point I wll try to make here....
All the speakers you mention are very fine and good products. As well, to this listener, they are ALL very clearly VERY different than the Merlin VSMs. They all have certian similar traits (character, fingerprint or voicing depending on what terms one likes to use) which you (and many other folks too) prefer... and which the VSMs do not have. The VSMs (and the TSMs too) do without these traits in order to deliver a more uniform, continuous and pure sound in order to offer (IMO) a more honest and more and true window to the the music and the gear through which it is being played. In order to accomplish what they do, no, they are not inexpensive(though if made by the other companies you mention, the speakers would cost considerably more than what the VSMs retail for).
So, I am sure you will still like what you like independant of what I may say here, I am not trying to change your mind here but trying to give some perspective (mine) to other readers on your comments. I will close up with a analogy of sorts if you will.... You may prefer a Mustang GT, Honda S2000, Miata, or Soltice GXP as a acceptable or even preferred (less less exepnsive) substitue to a Porsche GT3 or a Corvette Z06 (or ZR1!)... but for others, there is no substitute.
Happy Listening,
Rich Brkich
Retailer & Audio Asylum Industry Liaison
"The VSMs (and the TSMs too) do without these traits in order to deliver a more uniform, continuous and pure sound in order to offer (IMO) a more honest and more and true window to the the music and the gear through which it is being played."
Having been accused in the past of being overly enthusiastic about gear that I sell, I am acutely aware of where description and even praise crosses over into promotion. That said, I expect the above description has been used by a great many speaker designers to describe their products. What Mr. B is describing here is transparency. But since most of us have heard Harbeths and Thiels and Audio Notes and Quads and Sound Labs, we know that transparency comes in many shapes, sizes, sounds, and alas, colors. Merlins have their own sound, a sound which appeals to some and not to others. It would be interesting to hear someone attempt to describe that sound in somewhat more particular terms some day. That might help prospective buyers more than simply telling them that here we have yet another speaker claiming to be absolutely transparent. No such thing, y'all. Not yet anyway.
bob,
very interesting and a comment exactly like what i would expect from you.
rich is talking about resolution and imho, that is something very different.
i am not going to cointinue this.
thanks for your thoughts.
best, b
Oh hell, Bobby, even you could give a more particular and less hyperbolic description of your speakers than Mr. B did. Your speakers have a sound, a particular sound, a very popular sound, which has stood up for a good many years now. If they couldn't be distinguished from the competition in more specific language than "transparency," "resolution," "window on the proceedings," etc. they would have flopped a long time ago and you'd be selling shoes. Whether I like them or not is immaterial. I like Reynauds, for chrissakes, which are far less "transparent," "resolving," or "windowlike" than Merlins. All I'm saying, besides sideswhiping Mr. B for being a little over the top writing as a dealer and Bored Member, is that using language like this to describe speakers these days is unnecessarily (and un-usefully) evasive. To be fair, you're not alone in this. Peter Q and Alan S use virtually the same language to describe Audio Notes and Harbeths...and none of these three sound anything like one another. So maybe we shouldn't ask designers to describe their speakers. But dealers should be able to do better if they want credibility.
i have been very open about my design philosophy for many years now. and some people know it and many do not. but my speakers are not designed to compensate for the ear in any way. as in real life, the ear should be left alone to compensate on its own. this has a number of very benefitial aspects to the tonal balance and resolution of the reproduced sound. but if i describe them here, then i will be crossing the line. and i will not do that. nor will i get in conflicts with other manufacturers.
i will be glad to discuss this with you on the phone bob and maybe then you will get a better understanding of what i do. 585 367 2390. after 11:30 am today.
thanks,
b
You are, as always, gracious, but what I was asking for was not an explanation of why or how you do what you do and what your goals are. That is your business. It is also true that designers who get their designs right hear what they intended, which is their sense of what music sounds like. So they are seldom in a position to describe their work as one might who doesn't not have their particular ears. This may finally be why most designers describe the sound of their speakers the same way: they say, in essence, that they are accurate. Meaning they sound "right" to the designer, which is as it should be. Even Jean Marie says this, as he should.
What I have always felt was needed was someone who is not you describe in comparative terms what Merlins sound like. Which is another way of asking what do Bob P's ears sound like, compared with Peter Q's, Jean Marie's, Alan S? What is Merlin's point of view on music? Not what does its designer intend, which is, as I say, to get it right so it satisfies the designer.
So perhaps I misspoke when I said "Even you" could do a better job at describing the Merlin sound. What you could do, probably better than anyone, is describe what you intend. We need - not me, the world out hunting for speakers - someone who can tell us where Merlins fit into the big speaker picture.
bob,
what i can do (if you call) is to tell you exactly where the merlins fit into the scheme of things and why. agreed, most designers describe their products in the same way but i may be able to help you make sense of what is being said and why. few work on a product for the legnth of time i do to ensure they are right and finished. my understanding of these things is constantly changing and evolving. yes we have been around for a long time with a few products and that shows people like what we do. what is different about them and what i hear i will not say here because in doing so, it will call into question other products. that again is crossing the line.
call if you want. it might be informative.
best,
b
But Bobby, I don't want to hear where YOU think Merlins fit into the scheme of things. Anymore than you want to hear where, based on what I hear, I think they fit. What you and I think here is irrelevant. Everybody knows that YOUR sense of things is Merlin-centered, as it should be. An author knows his intentions (if not objectively what he has actually achieved) better than anyone. And almost everybody knows that my sense of things has (after a long weeding out process) become Audio Note and Reynaud centered. My intellectual and emotional investment in AN and JMR is not as fundamental as yours has to be in Merlin, but it's close enough so that folks know they may be dealing with a confluence of interest when they deal with me. And finally, I don't need to know how your design got to where it is and why because I can hear the results, which is all that matters to me.
Again, what is needed is to have someone who has neither your nor my specific interests here step in and provide a more (I don't say absolutely) objective or at least disinterested (as judges are presumed to be) comparative description. You and I don't need to talk to each other, here or on the phone. SOMEBODY ELSE needs to talk to all of us.
I didn't really expect you to come into this conversation - and I acknowledge you entered with reservations (!). I expected some other champions and critics of Merlin to step in and start using some interesting adjectives. Adjectives other than "resolving," "transparent," "accurate," "truthful," and the like.
So sorry to take up your time.
On another note....I really don't care one way or another about Merlins, but there definitely is a sense of the "thought police" around here whenever they are mentioned. It is tiresome and makes me feel cynical. At what point can the product speak for itself? It is odd to me when a manufacturer jumps into every thread where their product is mentioned. Kind of inhibits open discussion......like there is a Merlin club here and only members are allowed. WE GET IT! WE GET IT! WE GET IT! If only things were that simple. We would only need one brand of everything.
rob,
i can see what you mean and appreciate your feelings, believe me! but if you watched this whole thing unfold you would have found that a few said incorrect and improper things/accusations. so i stood up for my product and myself. in general i only speak up when an information/correction is needed. i like discussions to go on openly too but not at the expense of my product's reputation or mine. do not come down on me because someone decided to make this personal. the evidence is here for you to see and i only spoke up after the thing got messy.
best,
b
"if you watched this whole thing unfold you would have found that a few said incorrect and improper things/accusations..."
What did I say that was "incorrect" or "improper" and what "accusations" did I make that caused you to jump into the conversation? You jumped when I addressed Mr. B., right? So it was me that provoked you to enter the conversation. So again, what did I say that was incorrect or improper?
before my comments to you.
i was referring to things that were said before our comminication.
you offended me in no way.
drop it, let it slide.
best,
b
"It is the job of the Thought Police to uncover and punish thoughtcrime and thought criminals, using psychology and omnipresent surveillance from telescreens to find and eliminate members of society who were capable of the mere thought of challenging ruling authority."
i stand by what i said.
if you do not likle it, do not read it.
best,
b
Bob,
There are plenty of professional reviews all over the net, and accessible from Merlin's website, describing how the Merlins sound in details. I don't believe either me - as a man who loves them - or a person who doesn't like them, would be objective enough, and would bring anything more to the table than what has been written about them already.
Plus, as you very well know, describing sound is very difficult, if only because we might not use the same words. The only thing I have to say is I love the Merlins for the way they "communicate" as opposed to how they "sound". I realize how vague it is but it's this feeling that they only play for you, that they whisper to you, that they do open a black hole in front of you and drag you head first into the music. The Reynauds do the same, which is why I compared them once, much to your chagrin. And they share a generally rather warm signature as opposed to cold and analytical.
I think that for more precise opinions, one shoud listen to them and read real reviews.
JB
If all the hullabaloo is simply a need to invest one's self in a well written review of the Merlins, look no further:
"A comparison to the VMPS RM40 is in order. In spite of all the wonderful things that I have said regarding the VSM, the RM40 is still a superb loudspeaker... I am not abandoning it. Still, these are two very different loudspeakers. The one is a 6.5" 2-way, the other a seven driver 3-way. The RM40 has more authority in the very bottom octaves - multiple 10" woofers will do that for you. On the other hand, the VSM is everything the larger RM40 is in terms of dynamic range and ease under large scale symphonic assault-maybe more. In terms of tone and timbre, both speakers are superb. Where the VSM comes into its own in this comparison, and in every comparison that one would want to place it, is in terms of its coherence and "on a clear day," transparency. The VSM simply represents a new vista in terms of putting less between the listener and the music listened to. In this respect, to these ears, it is the state-of-the-art.
Conclusion
Lest you think my endorsement of the VSM as a very special product has been made against a backdrop of soft contenders, I am fully versed in the sound of the latest Magico, Wilson and Kharma loudspeakers . l have heard nothing as exciting or as uniquely absent of coloration as is the VSM mxe. Were I to guess at two speakers capable of giving the VSM a run for its overall title as the "best", they would have to be the Sonus Faber Elipsa and VMPS RM V60 with VMPS sub . I had the pleasure of hearing both of those two loudspeakers in Las Vegas in January (amongst several hundred other contenders) and they are the creme of the "money no object" crop.
Still, the no holds barred, ultra transparency of the VSM MXe will be hard to beat."
A good start, though I see we're dealing with the transparency thing again. Relative merit aside, do you feel that Merlins are similar in voice and presentation to the Magico, Wilson and Kharma loudspeakers you mentioned? That is, do you find the Merlins better at the same thing they do? I'm surprised to read Merlin and Sonus Faber in the same paragraph, though I haven't heard these particular SF's. I would have expected them to be a bit creamier than Merlins. Anyway, thanks for addressing the hullabaloo.
Mac, based on what you heard at RMAF 2006 and 2007, could you compare the voice or overall presentation of the Merlins with other speakers you heard?
Believe it or not, I did not start this sub-thread to pick on Merlins, just to see if I could provoke a more useful comparison than Mr. B's, which set Merlin purity against the competition which he finds full of character. You see I hear character in Merlins too, so I'm looking, perhaps hopelessly, for some confirmation of my experience.
OK, I'll lay out.
Bob,I think only you can confirm your experience. I also think the "transparency thing" is what Merlins (and what all good speakers) are about. Colorful language aside, transparency, to me, is simply the lack of artificial artifacts in the sound of a component or speaker. I have owned and compared Reynauld's Twins, Trentes and Evolution 3s to Merlin's TSM-M, TSM-SE, VSM-SE, VSM-M and VSM-MXe. There is no question in my mind that the Reynauds are enjoyable speakers (I still have the Twins in my bedroom system), but in each one of them I hear colorations absent from the Merlins. Colorations that, once you are used to the Merlins, lead you away from the actual music and back into the mechanical reproduction of music. If you are hearing a particular "sound" from the VSM-MXes, my hunch would be that you're hearing it from upstream in your system.
No, I haven't heard the Magico, Kharma or Wilson brands. I live in the Orlando area, which is void of high-end gear, and so they are not accessible to me. I bought my first pair of Merlins (and most every other speaker I've owned) based on professional reviews (of all things!) and of course also based on my budget. However if Martin Dewulf holds such revered brands in the same company as the Merlins, that too should provide enough "street cred" to potential Merlin owners to take the plunge.
Personally, compared to all of the other speakers I've owned, from Sound Lab Dynastats to the various Reynauds, Gershman Avant Garde, Joseph Audio RM25 MkII, Magneplanar 1.6, Triangle Zays, etc., I would prefer to live happily ever after with the Merlin TSM-Ms (not even the current generation) coupled with a subwoofer. Now that I have the latest VSM-MXes, I can live ecstatically ever after, with no qualms about what I'm missing from other speakers. They are all-around fantastic transducers - take up little room, look great, and are built by master craftsmen one at a time with no tolerance for flaws in finish or sound. The most technically correct term representing the Merlin's sound is indeed "transparent." They are also engaging, full of light and life, dreamy with female vocals such as Eva Cassidy's Songbird, painful when listening to poorly recorded 1980's hairband music, lucious with any well-recorded harmonies (even the new Eagles CD), faithful to bass notes as opposed to creating false fullness in that region, fully capable of rocking one's world with rock (try No Doubt's last CD), firmly entrenched in the "less is more" realm of design - which aids in channeling their increbible coherence into every piece of music in your collection, and gosh darn it they just sound good :)
DKL
Stupid me, I thought that was your review, not Martin's!
well I'll take that as a compliment - don't beat yourself up :)
I agree that JMR's (and for that matter AN's too) have more character (personality, whatever) than Merlins though to my ears it is the character of music (in both cases), not something else. But this is not the place for a JMR/AN dealer to go into that kind of comparison. You are happy with your Merlins for all of the right reasons, so let's call it a day for our exchange. What's especially interesting to me that is that very different sounds can reach different ears and produce the same reaction - that is, a sense of rightness. That should drive designers nuts.
bob.
because no matter how this goes someone will cross the line of what is fair and proper. i for one will not do that.
in closing, a designer has to do what he or she thinks is right, period. if he listens to everyone that offers opinions he will end up with no product at all because he will just keep changing to make others happy. all of the gifted and talented ones go primarily with their own feelings.
for every individual on the planet there is a potentially different opinion about any given thing.
so, to thine own self be true.
best,
b
A good start, though I see we're dealing with the transparency thing again. Relative merit aside, do you feel that Merlins are similar in voice and presentation to the Magico, Wilson and Kharma loudspeakers you mentioned? That is, do you find the Merlins better at the same thing they do? I'm surprised to read Merlin and Sonus Faber in the same paragraph, though I haven't heard these particular SF's. I would have expected them to be a bit creamier than Merlins. Anyway, thanks for addressing the hullabaloo.
Mac, based on what you heard at RMAF 2006 and 2007, could you compare the voice or overall presentation of the Merlins with other speakers you heard?
Believe it or not, I did not start this sub-thread to pick on Merlins, just to see if I could provoke a more useful comparison than Mr. B's, which set Merlin purity against the competition which he finds full of character. You see I hear character in Merlins too, so I'm looking, perhaps hopelessly, for some confirmation of my experience.
OK, I'll lay out. Thanks DK.
you need to live with a pair for a while to get to know what they do. walking into a room at a show does little for a truly qualitative assessment.
listen to all different kinds of music but primarily complex stuff and you will get the idea.
best,
b
Venice, CA: Accuphase CDP, Blue Circle BC3000 and BC2.1's, Spendor SP 1/2's and SP 100's, around an hour and a half, c. 1992?
Montreal show: Naim CDX, Berning amp, around an hour, later that decade.
And yes, I did pop in at RMAF this year, but just to say hello and see if the brief impression I got was any different from the earlier, more studied ones.
I have no bone to pick with you or Merlin, just trying to account in some concrete way for what it is that folks are hearing from your speakers, which are so different from what I'm used to. "From what I'm used to." I don't underestimate the significance of that remark!
When I come home from a live concert (local recital hall, Snape Maltings in Aldebergh, England), I have a sound in ears. And that's the one I pursue. Just like everybody else, including you. As I just said to DK, it is mind boggling how such different sounds (Merlin, JMR, Audio Note, Harbeth, Spendor, Thiel) can yield the same results in different ears. Bobby, Jean Marie, Peter, Alan, Jim all appear to be correct. Mind boggling, absolutely.
forget about the older models, listen to the vsm mme or mxe in a properly treated or large room with a nice associated system. then make a qualified judgement. maybe you'll still think the same thing. :-)
still, like i said, they are not for everyone. so don't worry if you still feel the same.
best,
b
Thank you Rich for hiting the nail on the head.
rob walters.
There are no substitutes for you, but I prefer all of the speakers I named to the Merlins. Even if the Merlins cost $5000, I would prefer the others. It's a purely personal difference. I understand that. I feel the same way about Dynaudio speakers too.
Greetings from the sunny Brønshøj riveria on the banks of the lovely Utterslev Mose
found brands you like. preference has nothing to do with cost, you either like or you don't.
best,
b
Heaven help me if I just had to have an $11K speaker! But I'd get it.
Greetings from the sunny Brønshøj riveria on the banks of the lovely Utterslev Mose
Hi Bobby,
Maybe you, of all people, can help me get clear on how/why a fairly unassuming (physically) speaker is priced at $11,500. I haven't heard a VSM for nearly 5 years, and I was mightily impressed when I did hear them in a well balanced system (BTW: I am not easily impressed). I'm sure you've made plenty of progress with them since then. Where are the $$ going/allocated in this speaker system?
Doak
doak, forgive me please. i really do not want to discuss my actual cost of the vsm mxe on this forum but i will tell you that my mark up is exactly 3.5 times on cost. industry standard is 4 to 5 times with some being higher as you know. the esotar tweeters, scanspeak woofers, crossover parts, super bam, z feet, cabinet finishing and packaging costs thousands of dollars and we still do not have any overhead factored in. all of the parts in this product are as jb indicated, first class, as they should be. everyone's preceived value rating is different because we all have things that are more important/exciting to us. all i can do is go by what they cost me to manufacture.
perhaps you heard a vsm m five years ago. nice speaker. but the vsm mme or mxe with a super bam are many levels above them. the best value is the vsm mme/sbam. at $9020 it is $2500 less, sounds virtually as good and is easier to make sound as it can. certainly a better value for many. i wonder why people talk only of the mxe?
best, b
Thanks for your candid response Bobby - interesting and informative indeed.
I guess Bobby will answer better than I but as an owner, I can tell you that the VSMs use top quality parts all the way through. Cardas, Hovland, you name it. Then there's an external box, the BAM. Finish is first rate and the MXE take something like 12 layers of lacquer (or maybe I just made that up in my enthusiasm by the ballpark is correct). Factor in that it's a small operation, with each speaker handmade, tested, and pre-burnt, add to that an amazing service, and you'll understand the price a little bit better. I would put up the VSM against anything at twice or three times the price. Yes, ideally, I'd like them to be cheaper, but Bobby claims he has quite a low mark-up on these. I'm pretty sure that brands like Wilson, Magico or even Avalon, with all due respect for them, have a MUCH higher mark-up.
JB
Are manufacturers and retailers aloowed on this forum??
If yes it does not make any sense.
Industry participation is permitted within the rules linked to by DKL. You can easily identify industry members by the letters following our moniker, and you are of course welcome to disregard our posts accordingly. And if you see one of us breaking the rules and being overly promotional, go ahead and bust us on it!
If you disagree with industry members being allowed to participate, or if you disagree with the rules we participate under, feel free to open up a thread on the subject.
Duke
It couldn't make more sense, and it's been helpful to all of us here to have people like Bobby Palkovic or Charlie Hansen around to answer questions.
JB
Yes, manufactures and dealers are allowed to post on all Asylum forums (and do so every day). Members of the trade do have to follow the Asylum Rules for members of the trade as listed in the rules portion of the Asylum's website. For example, I have been posting here on the Asylum ever since it was established (I don't post much though, but I am here a few times every day). It makes perfect sense... manufacturers and dealer can (and have) provided valuable information to the inmates over the years from interesting technical info (like Gordon's posts PC audio forum) to clarification or direct answers to owners questions about thier products (like Charile Hansen from Ayre).
Members of the trade posts are clearly identified by the letter after thier name (M for manufacturer, D for dealer etc).
Cheers!
Happy Listening,
Rich Brkich
Retailer & Audio Asylum Industry Liaison
Yup - as long as they abide by the rules
There are lots of speakers that I have "liked" - including the Joseph Audio RM-25 Mark IIs that I owned (the only brand from the list you mentioned) but there is no comparison between the Joseph Audio and VSM-MXe speakers. The RM25's certainly had ample bass response but it was wooly and poorly defined compared to the MXe. The mids and treble were very nice - but not nearly as boxless, nuanced and realistic as the Merlins (IMO of course)...
Other speakers I " liked " (and owned):
• Tyler Acoustics: Linbrook Signatures, Ref IIIs, Linbrook monitors, Taylo;
• JM Reynaud: Trente's and Twins (still own the Twins)
• Magnepan 1.6
• Triangle Zays
• Gershman Avant Garde 20
• Soundlab Dynastat
Other speakers I owned and loved :
• Acoustat Spectra 1100 (hybrid with 8" woofer)
• Merlin VSM-SE, VSM-M
• Merlin TSM-M
No doubt that this is really good speaker ,,, butt at $10.5K for a smallish 2 way, not quite full range speaker it sure ought to be.
With speakers we choose what compromises we want to live with.
Pick your poison?
I am sorry "A really good speaker". Try a great speaker. lets see we could add a few more drivers for those that think 2 is not enough but then the midrange clarity , resolution and the beautiful highs will suffer.i want a speaker that simply plays MUSIC better than 98% of the other stuff out there.I do not want to hear boom boom HI-FI!I do not need a spasmatic colon thank you very much.
rob walters.
Yeah, at $11,500 I like my poison a little more full range. YMMV.
you know, if i had a $1 for every different comment about the vsm over the years i would own a lear jet, :-). and believe it or not, many have commented that the bass was too deep and too strong. there is no way to ever make everyone happy with a given design. what a person needs for a big room in bass quantity and extention is very different from what most of us need with our more moderate room sizes. a percentage of vsm owners use a sub/subs in a large or damped room to extend the bass and add tonal fullness. 90% are used as they are. but if you are the type fixated on bass you probably wouldn't get the magic they have to offer in other areas.
best,
b
they're now 11,550.00 for the MXe with single ended BAM. But have you heard them? If so, you might agree that the number of drivers and size of the cabinet means little compared to the grand musical illusion that they portray. Truly stunning speakers. I love 'em and I own 'em.
DKL
I have heard earlier versions of the VSM. I agree it is a REALLY good speaker - for what it is. I do have some trouble with the pricing structure... but that's my opinion and my perogative, right?
blah,blah,blah,blah. yawn. and not a single word about MUSIC!
that fail to acknowledge any limitations. Regardless of performance or price, there are always tradeoffs with every product. Not knowing what they are illustrates a lack of understanding.
rw
.. I usually don't end up flaming a guy who has posted a less than perfect review. The original poster mentionned very honestly he'd worked for Merlin, which he could easily have hidden. I don't have a problem with him, his review, the product or its manufacturer just because his opinion on the product doesn't look like it's out of a magazine.
There is freedom of speech here. The poster was very honest, and that's all there is to it. It's not because he worked for Merlin that he can't express his views about their products (as long as he discloses his past). Pushing your logic a little further, every non-professional review should be forbidden, because anybody who buys a product is by definition biased towards it.
Now it's your right not to trust his opinion, but don't go blasting the guy for being honest and sharing his enthusiasm. This is not Totalitarian Asylum.
I usually don't end up flaming a guy who has posted a less than perfect review.
Nor do I. In fact, this is the first review on which I've commented.
The original poster mentionned very honestly he'd worked for Merlin...
Actually, he merely said he "worked for him [Palkovic] for 10 yrs".
Pushing your logic a little further, every non-professional review should be forbidden, because anybody who buys a product is by definition biased towards it.
That's ridiculous. The Bored does, however, forbid members of "industry" from posting sales information about a product he makes or sells. Can you find another example where an employee of a company (current or former) has posted a review of their own product?
rw
"The Bored does, however, forbid members of "industry" from posting sales information about a product he makes or sells. Can you find another example where an employee of a company (current or former) has posted a review of their own product?"
I wouldn't even have a problem with that, as long as I know who the poster is and what his background is. Then I would apply the proper "filter" to his/her "review".
I think your irritation would be more than justified if the guy had tried to hide he'd worked for Bobby. Since he hasn't, I don't have a problem, he's free to express his point of view IMHO. Yes he likes the speakers and their designer, that doesn't mean his comparison isn't helpful for people who want to upgrade their VSMs.
JB
To address your question, "What kind of review do you expect here?", the answer can be found immediately below this one. So what's different?
1. The reviewer provided background information as to the product, his preferences and "sonic revelations".
2. The reviewer made comparisons to other products, even if not directly competitive models as points of reference.
3. The reviewer actually talked about what he liked about certain musical selections (if you recall, it was the observation by OpenBaffle as to the lack thereof that triggered my response).
4. While the reviewer clearly liked the speaker, he noted a couple of weaknesses. He lives in the real world.
5. He does not work for the company or designer of the product.
In short, I found it to be very well written and immediately useful given the points of reference. Sorry if you found my observations "rude". I consider them constructive criticism.
rw
there are infinite full range choices as well.....and classic top-o-the-line oldies for way, way less.
true, but very few compare in a qualitative sense at any sum you want to mention, imho. this is not a quantity thing but one of refinement and balance. still though it is not for everyone. and i can see what you like best.
best,
b
you build wonderful loudspeakers. i used to call on hi fi sould in St Paul who carried your products back in the 80's. any 10k loudspeakers however (as you said) aren't for everyone.
NT
but those tradeoffs can be very aligned to the reviewer's personal tastes and experience - especially if the reviewer hasn't heard anything "better" or more to his/her tastes. In this particular case, the reviewer may not deem any of the speaker's characteristics to be a tradeoff, especially if he's got it properly setup and in a suitable environment that showcases the speaker's abilities.
personally, the only issue I have with the Merlins is assembling those extremely sharp spiked feet and leveling them properly. If I had them in a larger room I'd add a sub, but the latest lead-free super BAM is an order of magnitude better than the previous version I owned, and there is now excellent depth, weight and "growl" in the bass region. The mids and highs are seamless and totally coherent with the bass. Think QUADs with much more jump factor.
...but those tradeoffs can be very aligned to the reviewer's personal tastes and experience - especially if the reviewer hasn't heard anything "better" or more to his/her tastes.
I think an essential requirement for reviewing (of any sort) is exposure to a range of different choices and an awareness of one's priorities. Since I don't have any experience with the speaker in question, such an unsubstantiated "review" provides little useful information.
rw
Dude, go grind your axe on something productive.
All I hear from you is drivel and bile.
I respect your opinion, just please don't enforce it as law. Respect the individual and the favor will be returned to you.
my point was that you attached "a lack of understanding" to the reviewer instead of to yourself :)
Go hear 'em - that's the only way to validate what's important in this hobby...
we use reviews very differently. I use them to learn information about new products or those outside my experience. Additionally, I find it useful for the reviewer to provide comparisons to competitive products as a point of reference. At least, that is what the three audio reviewers I know do. To not have an understanding of what else is available greatly hinders one's ability to place the review into any kind of perspective.
rw
How I "use" a review depends on the reviewer and the product. If you provide some baseline information (what speakers you like and dislike), maybe I or someone else can help you to compare and contrast the Merlins. Point being that no one has heard everything, and your point of reference will likely be different from mine or the original reviewer in this post. I also rely on comparisons in reviews - but if I'm not intimately familiar with the comparison speakers (i.e. have owned them, heard them, or at the very least read about them in several other reviews), then there's still a void in the final assessment of the speaker under review. I typically purchased used gear to experience it first hand, and if it doesn't suit me, I resell it at little or no loss. I trust my ears more than any reviewer out there, no matter how impressive their pedigree.
My point in this thread is that you can't assume someone has a "lack of understanding" simply because they don't mention other speakers in a review. For all we know, the reviewer may have owned Wilsons, Soundlabs, or Magicos before he bought the Merlins - so you can criticize the lack of comparison data, but not the man's intellect.
DKL
...the reviewer may have owned Wilsons, Soundlabs, or Magicos before he bought the Merlins , then he would clearly know there are some weaknesses. Tell me a $10k speaker that doesn't. Get real.
Similarly, a ten year employee of the designer may not possess the most transparent objectivity of the product! :)
rw
so if I follow your logic...there isn't any
So, we'll just leave it that a (former) employee of Merlin has proclaimed his speaker to be perfect.
rw
e-stat,
rob has not worked for merlin for over ten years since his move to virginia. he chose to be honest and mention the fact that he worked for us. i can see how you would have reacted if he never mentioned this and it was brought to everyone's attention that he had been an employee. "damned if you do and damned if you don't."
thank you for finally being tranparent and letting us know what was eating at you.
best, b
I agreed with another poster that is was a non review. Read the real review below for contrast.
Employees, former or otherwise, conducting a product review? Not appropriate, period. Disclosing the connection doesn't change the obvious conflict of interest. Shoulda' just made a post.
rw
e,
just as you have every right to express your opinion about the review, rob walters, had every right to write the review. he did in fact write a disclaimer in the second sentence of the very first paragraph where he said he was an employee for 10 years. at that point it was up to you whether you read on or not. no one forced you to.
a lot of people may agree that having an ex-employee state his or her feelings of a product is going to provide in most cases, biased opinons. but the vast magority of people knowing that the man in question mentioned this at the out set would want to be given the chance to read it at their own discretion.
i pride myself in being a balanced and fair man. and i am absolutely sure that if 10,000 people were polled, that the vast majority would agree with my take on this and want to read on.
i know robert walters and he is as honest and fair minded as they come. he only wanted to tell others what he was hearing. he also has a magnificent system with much potential for discerning these things.
so i'm afraid, we have to agree to disagree.
best,
b
Either in the lack of any useful comparative data or in the obvious conflict of interest? Such would be prohibited from use with any commercial audio magazine. Aczel was run out on a rail for doing the same thing and immediately lost all credibility.I have every reason to believe yours is a fine product. Regardless, I think you'll find there are others who would immediately dismiss this "review" out of hand given the circumstances.
Good luck with the mixed messages you send to the buying public.
rw
DKL - A comparison to an earlier version of itself does not a review make. Ever read Stereophile? The Absolute Sound? Tone? etc., etc.Did you expect a comparison to the a pair of B&W 802's? Maybe some Gallo 3.1's?
SOMETHING OTHER THAN ITSELF! Take your pick. Or others. Now you're beginning to understand the role of a review !
Ozzy - It's really no better than me saying I like speaker A instead of speaker B. Who cares? Do you?
If I know the reasons driving the preference, then the answer could be yes. My initial comment was dittoing that of another - this is a joke.
Bobby - i did not write the review or ask him to do one
True, but your "damned if you do, damned if you don't" comment suggests condoning what on the surface is bogus. Good luck!
Waddya say we drop this whole thing guys? Jeez.
rw
e,
as long as you keep saying nonsense and taking things out of context, i will respond.
DKL - A comparison to an earlier version of itself does not a review make. Ever read Stereophile? The Absolute Sound? Tone? etc., etc.
michael fremmer of stereophile reviewed the vsm m to the vsm mx and super bam in january of 2007. do you ever read stereophile?
Bobby - i did not write the review or ask him to do one
True, but your "damned if you do, damned if you don't" comment suggests condoning what on the surface is bogus. Good luck!
wrong again but very imaginative! "damned if you do and damed if you don't" was in reference to rob, who told the truth about his being a past employee and was getting shit on for it.
Waddya say we drop this whole thing guys? Jeez. by e
dropping it is a good idea as this is going no where.
best,
b
Guess you failed to notice. :)
rw
and yet he made no comparison to them. what's your point? he only referenced them because they too chose to keep the same model in production rather than change every year (Wilson and Vandersteen) or use the same tweeter - thought implemented differently (Rockport) - not a word comparing the sound of these speakers to the Merlins.
guess you saw them in print and that was good enough...
you're just digging yourself into a deeper ditch of desperation :)
d,
agreed, not one word of any comparison in sound to other mentioned products...period.
he keeps twisting the facts to suit his statements.
he is making himself look foolish as i pointed out earlier.
fremmer's review was a review on the vsm millennium compared to the mx. what the original product had become if you will.
and that was exactly what rob was doing comparing the vsm mx to the mxe.
e-stat is familiar enough with the product and my reputation and i take exception to some of the things he said about me and rob and his implications.
he should step back and read all this very carefully again and again until it makes sense to him. or, just drop it until he digs an even bigger hole.
best, b
Amen Brother Bobby, Amen :)
D
First of all, this is a follow up to a previous full review in which he most certainly compared the sound to other products and used musical references. Begin by reading at page 1 before you jump to page 8.Within the follow up, however, he pointed out that the Merlin uses a variation of the same ScanSpeak 854506 woofer used by the Wilson WATT. Later, he points out that the Dynaudio Esotar D330A tweeter is also used in the Rockport Antares. Then he observes that the Merlin faces "serious competition" to the Vandersteen Quatro.
Gee, some might consider these to be valuable points of reference.
Back to your rant!
rw
"First of all, this is a follow up to a previous full review in which he most certainly compared the sound to other products and used musical references." I commented on the review you specifically referenced in your last post, so try keeping apples to apples
"Begin by reading at page 1 before you jump to page 8."
I have read both reviews several times over the years - you however made the crazy leap in logic that because he mentioned other speakers at the beginning of the followup (you know, the one you referenced) he was comparing their sound quality (he did not)
"Within the follow up, however, he pointed out that the Merlin uses a variation of the same ScanSpeak 854506 woofer used by the Wilson WATT. Later, he points out that the Dynaudio Esotar D330A tweeter is also used in the Rockport Antares. Then he observes that the Merlin faces "serious competition" to the Vandersteen Quatro." Yes that is certainly riveting information, particularly since he specifically wrote that the tweeter is implemented differently in the Merlin, and the woofer is another variation. What do you discern from those facts in terms of comparing the sound of those various speakers? Yeah same here - very little. Yep the Quatro is a well reviewed speaker - but again no comparison was written between the two speakers. Again, "mentioning" something is not the same as "comparing" something.
I only joined this thread because you (and others) disparaged a well meaning reviewer/contributor - not to suffer through someone's dialectical breakdown, so I'm off to listen to my wonderful, magical Merlin VSM-MXes and will leave you to your own devices.
DKL
Conclusions
When he set out to design and build the VSM Millennium, Merlin Music Systems designer Bobby Palkovic told me, one of his goals was to build a "device that controls its destiny"—in other words, a well-damped speaker that would be able to successfully react to a wide variety of acoustic environments. While my room is probably somewhat overdamped compared to the average listening room, and the VSM is designed to be overdamped, the combination yielded outstanding performance. A more lively room might offer somewhat better bass, but I have no complaints about what I heard during the month the VSM Millenniums resided in my listening room. The VSM is a highly evolved speaker capable of successfully handling every kind of music. It combined the tactile thrills of the Amati Homage with the linearity and detail of the Avanti III. That's a winning combo in any music-lover's book.
This latest and, probably, last iteration of the VSM—Palkovic told me he's "closed the development book" as of last July—is a graceful-sounding speaker that should offer any audio or music enthusiast years of listening pleasure, regardless of musical or sonic tastes. It impressed me whether playing softly or scaling the SPL heights, though it did its best at medium volume levels, where its tonal and dynamic balances were most effective.
Some speakers can play louder without strain and/or go deeper, but in terms of overall balance, the VSM Millennium's strengths would be hard to beat at any price. $8150/pair is a lot to pay for a two-way speaker, but with the BAM included, the VSM delivers everything but the very deepest bass in a sleek, compact package. This is one music-lover's speaker you need to hear, however much you're prepared to spend. The brand name doesn't lie: The Merlins are...
You'll have to finish that sentence yourself. I can't bring myself to use the m word.
geo,
i would like to thank you for posting this, fremmer's vsm m conclusion. i have not read it in a while.
vsm m pricing actually took effect in the end on 1999. and as i told you a few weeks ago, we were trying to lift the prices so we could make a fair profit over what was made on our early offernings (where no profit was made at all to get a foot hold). that being said, if you do the math and see that a 3.5 time mark up is from $1000 to $3500, this price increase reflects an additional $1000 in material cost and overhead. have we had this increase? hell yes and then some! between the cost of the euro almost doubling and everything else going up, my last price increase of january 1, 2008 or 10% just put us back at 3.5 time mark up. consider the difference in my cost and the associated mark up to the dealer, neither the dealer or merlin is making any more on the product. costs are costs and that is a realistic point of view. i certainly appreciate they sell for more but i need to stay in business.
right now (not knowing what will become avaiable in technolgy) i think the vsm is far beyond what i ever expected it to be, at the pinnacle of its performance if you will. i have nothing else planned and may start on another project before i get too old. :-)
best,
b
I liked the favorable comparisons made by Fremer. At the time of the review, I think I still owned my VSM SE. The $3,150 increase does not really seem out of line given it has been 6 years. This thread has meandered along way from E-Stat's initial observation which I believe was that a review should at least make some comparison to what may be logical alternative products. Fremer seemed to do that at least in his conclusion. I did not go through the whole article. The audio business is tough. Many names have come and gone because it is not easy. I have a customer that manufactures cables, interconnects, power conditioners,power transformers and other audio related stuff some of which is OEM for speaker manufacturers. It is a well known name. The cables and audio stuff are only a small part of the business and we talk audio all the time. I do know that audio isn't easy given changing taste / lifestyles.
i agree geo.
the vsm m was the same price in late 99 and early 2000. the fremmer review was done in 2001. so its not like we just keep putting the prices up every so often. with it now being 2008, the elapsed time has seen a lot of things change, none of which i can control.
my reference was to the vsm mx follow up review where fremmer made no comparisons in sound what so ever. both dkl and i, said this many times.
rob's review was primarily a commentery of the mx to the mxe. a consumer does not have a great many things to compare to like a published reviewer would have. so he did what he able to do and discuss the difference in his two vsms. if e-stat did not like his appraoch he did not have to read rob's comments. let alone infer the crap he did about me and rob.
but he does not know me, does he?
anyway...thanks geo.
best, b
e,
as long as you keep saying nonsense and taking things out of context, i will respond.
DKL - A comparison to an earlier version of itself does not a review make. Ever read Stereophile? The Absolute Sound? Tone? etc., etc.
michael fremmer of stereophile reviewed the vsm m to the vsm mx and super bam in january of 2007. do you ever read stereophile?
Bobby - i did not write the review or ask him to do one
True, but your "damned if you do, damned if you don't" comment suggests condoning what on the surface is bogus. Good luck!
wrong again but very imaginative! "damned if you do and damed if you don't" was in reference to rob, who told the truth about his being a past employee and was getting shit on for it.
Waddya say we drop this whole thing guys? Jeez. by e
dropping it is a good idea as this is going no where.
best,
b
E - the point has been clarified several times that the review DID include comparitive data, and in essence the BEST and only pertinent data was used! For crying out loud, go back and re-read the initial review! This was a review of the newest version of the speaker in question compared to the older version - how could you make any other comparison?? Did you expect a comparison to the a pair of B&W 802's? Maybe some Gallo 3.1's? How would a reviewer corrolate iterative product improvements between wholly different manufacturers? Your argument had no essence in the beginning and repeating it does not give it any validity. At this point I trust you realize you're only talking to the hand. Worst misunderstanding I've seen in this forum in quite a while - and this is my last word on it.
Bobby - you're a patient man...
Dennis (DKL)
Ok, now let's think about this for a minute. The "review" in question is hardly a real review. It's really no better than me saying I like speaker A instead of speaker B. Who cares? Do you? Hardly.
I agree with your potential conflict of interest concern. But c'mon. Who is taking this guy's "review" seriously anyway? You? Me?
Oz
e, i did not write the review or ask him to do one. what he wrote was motivated by what he was feeling at the time because of "his" findings.
you seem to have the two of us mixed up.
i know him and his character and he is not dishonest or irrational.
and i am totally familiar with the axcel situtatioin and there is no similiarity unless you twist this in some way to make it fit for yourself.
a reviewer who writes for a publication is under different scrutiny, surely.
this was a man who voiced his own personal opinion with a disclamer and it was not published in a magazine or on a webzine but in a chatroom.
and i send very specific messages to the public. one of stability, hard work and honor. a little bit of reading on your part and you would know this. maybe you do alread?
and last of all, there may be some who feel as you do. i can see that but not everyone does or will. perhaps you should remember that before you make accusations that make you look unreasonable.
best,
b
Well, actually he never said that :)
What he really wrote was a comparison between two different speaker systems (must include the new lead-free BAM and lead-free BAM power cord in the equation), explaining the delta between them in terms most audiophiles can understand.
He never described the newer version as "perfect" - but chose " more refined " and similar terms to describe the many improvements as compared to his previous speaker system.
The fact that he found no faults or "tradeoffs" to his previous system should not be a surprise. Occasionally, a manufacturer does develop a new product that actually is inferior to a previous model, but Merlin has a documented record of providing new-found excellence in every iteration of their VSM and TSM speaker systems.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: