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Merlin vsm mme owners, Cardas cabling Question.

HI, just purchased an used pair of merlin vsm mme,replaced my Von swheikert VR3, my Question is, why cardas cables are so critical for this speakers, had cardas cables before, speakers and interconnect, and heated the sound of those cables, very muddy and slow, bass all over the place,coulnt'pull them out fas enough,
my preamp is joulet electra 150mk11, and I'm really scare to spend $3000,or more on used cardas GR,cables,now I'm using KCI silk worm with analysis solo cristal I/C, sounds good, but a little thin, great midrange, but not full body sound, that I'm acustom to, what will cardas bring to the table , in this situation.

your coments wil be apreciated;

thanks:

Cheers:
juancgenao
9rw's avatar
9rw
318 posts
 
It's the same speaker with some tweaks and TONS of marketing. Same basic cabinet, same woofer, same tweeter, same basic crossover design. To you it may sound way different but blindfold a dozen audiophiles and let them hear all 15 versions of your speaker and they'd be hard-pressed to hear much if any difference. I love your passion, though.
brf
1,715 posts
 
Another proven cable that works well with Merlins is the Audience Au24.
juancgenao OP
64 posts
 
Wow, I'think I'opened a can of worm here, will follow Bobby's advice, after all he was the one who recommended the MMe to me a few months ago, very skeptical must admit, but will take the plunge,and get some cardas GR speaker cables, and one set of interconnect first,and if get satisfactory sound will follow up with two more sets for the Bam, and DAC, Silkworm sounds preatty good from DAC to preamp, but not from pre to amp, very thin and bleached out sound, phenomenal soundstage and immaging,
this speakers scared the crap out of me when firt played a
track of (Jacques Loussier)Plays Bach, never heared clarity
and coherency the way this speakers portrays it,
if I'can get them to sound a little fuller will be very happy with them:

Cheers:
9rw's avatar
9rw
318 posts
 
I followed Bobby's advice and bought Cardas Golden Cross speaker cables and interconnects and the Merlins did indeed sound way better; however, when I got a pair of Dunlavy SC-IV/A's and then switched from Cardas to Acoustic Zen it was actually startling. The speakers just got a whole lot quicker, more revealing and the soundstage improved by about 100 percent.

And, oh, by the way, John Dunlavy knew a little about speaker design. His speakers were among the best when it came to measured and perceived performance. He just wasn't the best at marketing his product, which were big and looked pretty ordinary -- not what many audiophiles who care about looks instead of performance are seeking. Good luck, Juancgenao.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Juan,

I own VSMs. They sound very good with a wide variety of cables/amps/sources. However, ownership of this particular product puts you in a circle of folks who are so passionate that some embrace certain cult-like rituals, among them strict adherence to system matching commandments. Bobby P, the owner of the company is enthusiastic, vocal, and a frequent poster here. He has his preferences (naturally enough), but these seem to take on great philosophical weight and meaning among the coverted. My advice: experiment away. Some very unorthodox combos work very well, including (GASP!, oh no!) solid state amps. I am sure that Bobby's annointed components work well with VSMs, I'm also sure that they are not the only such components. Just don't limit yourself to the dogma.

Marty
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