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

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REVIEW: Merlin Music Inc. TSM-MMe Speakers

24.19.134.241


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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 jonbee on September 18, 2011 at 17:19:29
IP Address: 24.19.134.241
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for the TSM-MMe


As I've divulged here before, I've had many quality standmounts to enjoy. In the last ten years or so I've particularly enjoyed these models- AAD 2001, Aerial Acoustics 5, Selah Audio Tempesta, Sequerra met 7.7 mk V, Soliloquy 5.0, Silverline SR11, GR Research Paradox 1, GR Research N2x, Spica TC50, Thiel PCS, VMPS 626R, Volent paragon VL-2, Nohr 9.0 Mini(dennis murphy xover), Monitor audio GR10, Merlin TSM-M, Merlin TSM-MME, KEF XQ1, Joseph audio RM7si mkii, Buggtussel Cingulate, Revel M20, Paragon Jubilee, and Swans M2.1SE.
I've owned at least an equal number that I did not care for as much, or that were less ambitious designs.
Of these my 3 favorites had been Merlin TSM-M, Volent VL-2, and Selah Tempesta.
I sold the TSM-Ms several years ago, which I later regretted, and decided to revisit the TSM now that there have been a few more iterations of the design.
Now that the TSM-MMi and -MXr are on the market, I've been amazed at how low the prices on used -MMEs have gotten- far lower that used prices on what I consider to be their direct competition. I jumped at the chance to buy a nice pair of MMEs.
It only took a few minutes to validate Bobby Ps claims for the -MME. They are indeed notably better than the wonderful -Ms, from my memory. Bass is deeper, soundstage definition is better, and they are much more dynamic. The -M model, in my living room (a tough room to drive- it eats bass energy), was a bit polite and small sounding, with less midbass and bass than I could live with, and subs didn't make up the shortfall for me.
To the newer model- the -MME has very punchy and clean midbass, and enough bass, to at least 50 hz. in my room, to sound credibly weighty on music. Supplemented by my James EMB-1000 sub it is a solid full range performer.
This extra muscle is matched by exquisite balance and integration, so that the soundstage is presented with top to bottom evenness, without emphasis or obfuscation across the range. The spatial aura surrounding the instruments is very audible and engaging.
In total, this presentation meets my requirements for a true high end design in every way.
I also own Selah Tempestas and Volent VL-2s currently so I've been comparing all 3 in different rooms and with different amps, etc. The Tempestas and VL-2s are my fave small speakers, and among my faves of any size, and are more expensive than the -MMEs, so this company is tough.
Both the VL-2 and the Tempesta go significantly lower in the bass, both having solid output to well below 40 hz. in my living room. They sound more full range for this reason. In the midbass, all 3 have great clarity and definition, but the -MMEs present a slightly more solid midbass image than the Selahs, but are flatter sounding than the Volents, which are a bit over rich in this zone.
Detail retrieval in the mids is very similar, but there are differences in the presentation. The Volents and -MMEs are very wet sounding- very ambient in the mids, very engaging but maybe a hair too much in comparison the the Tempestas, which transmit the ambience in even greater detail, but in a drier way that allows even more distinct inner layering to emerge.
Moving higher, the differences get larger. Both the Selahs (RAAL) and the VL-2s (LCY) use ribbon tweeters, which the VL-2s match to a titanium/foam composite woofer, and the Selahs to an Accuton 2" ceramic "dome" midrange. From the upper mids on up, both the VL-2 and the Tempestas offer a larger, refined, and more filigreed sound. They get out of the way more, and let the music hang in the air more freely outside the speakers. The Tempestas also are a couple of notches above the Volents in top end purity, and have a flatter, yet more lifelike upper midrange. I must add here that I've been very partial to ribbon tweeters, starting with my experiences with Apogees in the 1980s. I've never owned a speaker with dome tweeters that I enjoy as much as good ribbons, and I know that not everyone shares that opinion.
So- taken purely on their own terms, the MMEs are terrific, and I won't make the mistake of selling the TSMs again. They sound terrific in my office nearfield, powered by my Magnum Dynalab MD208 receiver (another sleeper bargain).
While they don't reach the qualities of either the VL-2s or Tempestas to me, note that I paid around 3 times the price of my used -MMEs for the VL-2s and Tempestas, and feel that on their own terms it was money well spent given the quality received from them.
At the current used prices, that makes the used -MMEs one of the greatest bargains in high end speakers I've ever seen. Getting high end performance for a mid-fi price is a rarity.
I wouldn't draw any conclusions about the new -MMi and-MXr models from this. I've read they offer a newly designed tweeter and other major changes, and I wouldn't bet that Bobby P hasn't made real strides in improving the top end, given another 3 years of development.


Product Weakness: No true low bass, visually unimpressive cabinetry.
Product Strengths: Uncolored, balanced, spacious sound. Great soundstage and instrumental definition.


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: cullen modded PS audio GCC-500 (Icepower)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Sony 9100/modwright sig. truth CDP
Speakers: see review
Cables/Interconnects: Zu- Libtec, Mission,and Mother
Music Used (Genre/Selections): lots
Room Size (LxWxH): 17 x 20 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: two walls of glass- eats bass
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 week
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): PS audio Quintet
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Merlin Music Inc. TSM-MMe Speakers - jonbee 17:19:29 09/18/11 ( 2)