Problems with my Berning ZH270

George, I had a similar problem to yours a bit ago. I have the Merlins, the Berning and an Audiomecca Mephisto. I have been using the Golden Refs as speaker cables ever since I got the Merlins both before and after I got the Berning. My problem was solved with a switch of ics between the cd player and preamp. I moved my purenotes from between the cd player and preamp to between the preamp and the Berning and then switch in some Luminous Synchestra refs between the cd player and pre. Voila my brightness problem was solved and my system has been incredible ever since.

I think my problem was, at least in part, the room. I have treated it to a degree but can't give it a full treatment. My ceiling is on the low side and I think I get some nasty reflections off of it. If your situation is anything like mine, and based on my experience, I seriously doubt the Berning is the culprit. Rather, I am with those who posted above, it is most likely your placement of the Merlins and/or your cables.

Hi George,
I have own an EMC1 UPsampler CDP, Berning amp and a pair of Rosinante Dulcineas (Argentaudio.com from Ric Cummins). As I have expeerienced so far my system sounds awesome (detail, musical and little dynamic) to me by using Nordost Quattro-Fils XLR (I have tried RCA but it sounds lean and bright to me) and Jaden speaker cables from Ric Cummins. You should use a balanced interconnects from your EMC1 to Berning by using Cardas balanced adapter (best performed way of EMC1). Otherwise, did you use Telefunken ECC801s as the inputs to Berning amp? I am now using Shun Mook valve resonators to tweak and make my system sounds even better with more dynamic musical bass and high (I love it).

What kind of power conditioner and power cord are using for? I use Elrod EPS2-S for CDP and EPS-3S for Berning amp.
Let me know if you need help. Thanks.

I heard Merlins with quite great amp SIM-W5 but by all means never it tend to sound so bright with different speakers.
The crossover that mostly is at fault(driving system out of tonal balance) must probably be redesigned in these speakers otherwise using electronic one with removed built-in might solve the problem.
Second solution is to integrate your system with sub giving your speakers (that tend to be "bass-less" by its design) easier task for the proper tonal balance limiting "visible" freequencies mainly.

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Hi and thanks. I am comparing with my old Gryphon Callisto integrated amplifier. It sounded softer but, incredebly, the ZH270 has better low control.

What we have here is the fable of the eight blind men describing an elephant.
What George needs, is the dreaded, (drum roll and oooooh's)Brick and Mortar store guy with a brain larger than a peanut. They are difficult to find I know, since I traveled over the country for THIEL as Director of Sales for a while, and visited more than 100 stores.
Joe, er, a George, stated that it is bright sounding. I have a friend (former) who has this exact ststem, and while it is not my taste, it is not inherently bright. The Merlins lack weight below 50hz (read impact and tonality) in the room I heard them in and with this equipment. (Note the caveats there)
Disassemble the system, clean all connections.When finished first try another speaker in the system (bookshelf if you have to) and see if the sound persists. (Bookshelf since it likely has less bass) This will let you know if the problem is coming through some elevated sound/combination/flaw. Then check as someone astutely pointed out, the law of reciprocity for bass. Bass sounds the same at adjascent relative points. The former friend of mine had a low ceiling, cramped room but benefited from a nearfield experience. This won't allow for bass development, but it sure eliminates lots of other problems. Also, try something like a power conditioner, since we have headed into summer, maybe all the noise in the line generated by the hundreds of air conditioners, are coming through.
Lastly, get another opinion of someone like your wife or significant other. George's problem sounds new, not old. Connections to the BM may have become loose, the batteries low. If this is my former friend, (when I rebuilt his crossover, I may have (since I am now disabled with back problems from surgery) not done the best of jobs on some of the soldering. I know that all the geniuses out there don't want to hear it because unprovable speculation is always more fun than facts, but great dealers are worth their weight in gold.(ie, I hate this shit, take it back)
Good Luck George, but for God's sake don't run out and buy a bunch of crap. Start back from scratch, putting the system back like it was before you began the problem, then work forward til its there.
Larry R. Staples