Upgrade from Merlin VSM-M to What?

Thanks Dave. I'm going to give this ARS integrated a try. I know that Bobby knows his speakers inside out, and had this integrated developed/optimzed for the VSMs (not that it would not sound good with other speakers); is very promising indeed. As you say, there is the price difference, and one is tempted to think this $3,500 integrated unit could not possibly be as good (or real, real close) as my $20,000 seperates - but if my experience ends up being like yours, who would not want to save the money and own a much smaller, lighter, and less expensive to buy and maintain, alternative to the Joule/Atma/Berning/CAT combos that have long been used to make the Merlin's sing. I'm sure I'll have to wait a while to get them, but I'm very interested in the possibilities. I'm ready to be "schocked". Thanks for your comments.

Try the Devore Fidelity line!!!!!

Pubul
Its going to be interesting to hear your feed back on Filarmonia. As ive discussed earlier that im really sold on VAC gear but if i can save and get very close to the same quality sound with the Fila integrated, then its a no brainer for me sound and value wise. I still might be interested in the placette active you've had in your system.

Chaz

" but if my experience ends up being like yours, who would not want to save the money and own a much smaller, lighter, and less expensive to buy and maintain, alternative to the Joule/Atma/BERNING/CAT combos that have long been used to make the Merlin's sing. I'm sure I'll have to wait a while to get them, but I'm very interested in the possibilities. I'm ready to be "schocked". Thanks for your comments."

Well, Pubul I can understand most of what you say above relative to the amp in question but while the Berning is a bit higher in price, IT IS light (10 lbs), efficient (only uses 100 watts at idle and 300 at full power, extremely inexpensive to maintain (is 20,000 output tube hours enough to qualify?) and flexible (it can be used directly from a line source but sounds better to me through a preamp). I can't add too much more other than, oh yes, it is a world class component regardless of price although preferences do come into play in this hobby so YMMV.

It may or may not be more preferrable than the ARS Sonum Filarmonia with the VSM. Just wanted to set the record straight. My enthusiasm can become overbearing at times and those that see my comments on this amp pop up so frequently just might think I have some vested financial interest in The David Berning Co., don't, just want to point out that this amp is a tour de force in design, efficiency, performance but decidedly less so in roadside appeal.

Thanks for listening! :)

I saw where you were acknowledging the jumpers on the speakers stink, they need to be killer quality and as neutral as you can get, AU-24 or JPS SC2. I have some wire that is Nordost Valhalla category that I can send you a foot of to make jumpers that are as good as it gets.

The guy who does the design work on JPS has Merlins so he knows how to make them fly. Don't mess with anything until the wire is right. How are the speakers supposed to have a balanced sound if they aren't getting a balanced input signal?