Amp recommendations for Merlin VSM / TSM

I am not a Merlin owner, I just enjoy hearing them at shows, etc.. I have heard them with the CAT JL2 which was great sound and a few Joule Electra OTL amps, some like Atma-sphere as well. So to my ears, tubes rule and OTL's are even better for Merlins, as far as RCA or balanced I think that depends on what is being used in front of it. I have never heard BAT amps on them which I imagine would sound good and obviously be better balanced. ~Tim

i have used rogue 120s in triode and berning 270 (with vsm-ms). these are very different sounding amps. i am hooked on the otl sound (my personal tastes) i think what your are going to find is that the merlins will take on the amps characteristics. as for balanced i am using the batbam and it is single ended. i am sure you could order one that is balanced. so i cannot help you there.

these speakers are very neutral and i really enjoy mine.

imo

Jim

Merlin could be paired with many different amps at the shows but seems to always be paired with Joule-Electra. You can't beat the quality, service and sheer musical enjoyment of the Joule-Electra product line, IMHO.