I tried SF3's based on Greenhill's review. Not good to these ears. Very slow, dynamics were gone. ML 336...pretty good but the mids and highs just did not have the "magic". Tried several others(Pass, Sim).Rzemkoski's idea of tubes & SS might be the ticket but I know dual modded Bernings worked! The magic is there. I bought the Bernings for my Merlins and was ready to sell the Salons on Agon until I set them up for test with the Bernings. Amazing sound. I would not have guessed the difference could be so large. Speed, dynamics, tone, bass, its all there.