Speakers Like Merlin VSM?

My son has a pair of Rosewood N.E.A.R. 50Me II's for sale. One amateur reviewer on the net favorably compared these to Merlin VSM's at one time, actually preferring the N.E.A.R.'s over the Merlin's. These speakers previously belonged to me and sounded fabulous with Atma-Sphere OTL's. Unfortunately I've never heard the Merlin's myself to give you a personal comparison between the two.

Okay im going to see what the nears sell for!

TubeGroover.... Man I'm jealous as hell of you man!

Merlins are definitely a speaker "of choice". I found the TSM-MXs a bit fatiguing and rather uninteresting. Tried three different amps (an Air Tight 300B actually worked the best) and still could not get interested in listening to music through them. Since selling them over 1 1/2 years ago (and I had 4 Audiogon buyers in 2 days!) I've been contacted by 3 other previous Merlin owners, TSMs and VSMs alike, with the same experiences.

However, based on statements from other owners, lots of people love these speakers. They just weren't my cup of tea.

However, Avivey, if you liked the Merlin sound you may want to check out Dynaudio. My experience with them is that some of their models sound similarily detailed and open, but with genuine musicality.

>> I once heard my Merlins hooked up to a Berning ZH-270
>> and it knocked me out.

I've heard this exact combination (VSM-MM with the ZH-270) & I cannot say anything good about it!!
All I can say is that it had good sound but zero music. Good amp to use if you are debugging a speaker problem.

I did like the VSM-MM sound. I have not heard the TSM speakers.
If you like the VSM-MM sound, then I think that you will like Green Mountain Audio speakers even more! No kidding & not trying to do a sell job on you.
when I heard the VSM-MM speakers I felt that they were 2-way versions of my 3-way Green Mountain audio speakers. My Green Mountain speakers have more vibrancy, more transparency, more bass (expected from a 3-way) & more coherency.
From the Green Mountain website http://www.greenmountainaudio.com you can find out the nearest dealer near you to audition these speakers. Listen to the stand-mounted Callisto - they will knock you out IMHO. Also search the archives of this forum for other users' opinions of this speaker.
The 3-way Callisto is also reputed to be very good sounding but I have not heard it as yet.
The flagship C-3 was demo'd at the Rock Mountain Audio Fest in 2004 & AFAIK, it was a hit at the show.
IMHO you will be very pleased with the Green Mountain speakers.

well tom,
if i had a buck for every odd comment (imho) describing the sound of the vsm and tsm in the past ten years, i would own a lear jet. i've heard them described as dull/bass heavy to lean and bright. this is what a neutral piece does, it brings your attention to the rest of the system and its character. if the speakers are used the way they they were designed to be used, the odds are better than 95% that you will have found a keeper. still, (and i would be the first to say this) these speakers are not for everyone. we have thousands of each model in the field and an extremely high satisfaction rate.
the speakers are exceptionally linear and continuous sounding. they are not bright imho, just resolved with maximum resolution and contrast potential.
you would probably really like the new e versions (lead free) which are way more room filling and relaxed sounding again. i describe them as just more complete sounding.
those who have received them are really really happy with them and know the difference, immediately.
regards,
b