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Have you heard the latest Merlin VSM-MXe speakers?

Have you heard the latest Merlin VSM-MXe Speakers? — "Wow!!!" That's what I said after setting up these wonderful and beautiful speakers and listening for about one minute to a very familiar CD. I mean straight out of the box with only about 8 hours of playing time at the factory they simply overwhelmed me! Where have they been all my audiophile life? Why did I not find Bobby Palkovic's masterpiece before now?

How could he make this kind of music with two drivers in not so big, but absolutely drop-dead gorgeous piano black lacquered, cabinets, and an electronic box called a 'Super BAM'? I don't know! Wow!!! In my 50 years of putting systems together... including such speakers as double KLH-9 and Martin-Logan electrostatics... Fulton Premiers... the biggest of the Magneplaner speakers with the four bass panels... Wilson Watt Puppies with the Whow... and, on and on. Merlin VSM-MXe's are the BEST!

I've had them breaking in for 10 days now, and they have compelled me to listen to one favorite CD after another into the wee hours of the night. They are so musical! They have just the right texture... female vocals have that "slobber" factor... strings twang with all the nuances. They are coherent and transparent... and, oh so dynamic! The soundstage is deep and wide with the right height. And, when you close your eyes they simply disappear, leaving you with the people and the instruments performing right there in your living room. They make music!

Folks, don't ever listen to these speakers if you can't buy them... you will be sick until you can. Bobby, you did it!

I first purchased the Merlin TSM-MMe Monitors about one year ago after a respected dealer told me I should try them. I was totally satisfied with the sound, even though I was missing a little on the bottom end. They are the best monitor speakers I've ever had. But, I kept thinking, "If the TSM's are this good, how could the VSM's be so much better?" So, I just had to see... you know... the audiophile thing.

If you have never had Merlin speakers, the TSM's are a good place to start, and they will wet your appetite. But, just know that one day, as I was compelled to do, you will have to step up and get the big ones. They are complete! You will instantly hear what you have been missing in other speaker systems.

Now, I can sit back, relax, and enjoy the music. It's all there!
Skooks
skooks
dgarretson
2,594 posts
 
Fosse, your experience mirrors mine with an Atma-Sphere MP-1 preamp. However, as the tape loop on this preamp is RCA only, and the LS output to amp is balanced differential XLR, it's not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison.
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
i have read through this a few times now and i think fosse and daveg have a handle on what makes them happy. their specific preference is imho because of what they have in their system. since we are all different in how things affect us, it is possible that we can differ in our opinions. when a sub is used it tends to make less difference where the bam is used because of the added fullness. but in a sub-less system the additional fullness and relaxed nature of the buffered sound makes most happier.
now, if you do not have a tape loop and use multiple sources, use of the bam between the pre and power amp will still benefit the sound much more so than not using it.
try it both ways to see how you like it best.
my very best regards,
bobby
casouza
239 posts
 
Bobby, I am a huge fan of your speakers, my friend Dr. George has a pair of VSMs + BAM and he is very happy.

I would like to point out that not all tape loops are optimal, for example the Audible Illusions Modulus 3 preamp uses a 50 cent op-amp as a tape loop buffer. I do not recommend wiring a BAM through THAT loop, it would degrade the system's sound. The AI's tube outputs sound much better.

On the other had some Jeff Rowland preamps and a few upscale tube preamps use output transformers, which reduce noise and provide a very symmetrical balanced signal. Technically, connecting the BAM to an output transformer should sound cleaner, due to galvanic isolation from preamp / source RF noise and better output signal simetry, specially when using the balanced BAM.
These are exceptions...in general your advice to use the tape loop is a solid starting point.
Best wishes
Carlos
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
hi carlos, thanks for your thoughts.
most times this is the way i prefer it but there are always exceptions and those too, are personal.
dr, george you say, in brazil?
:-)
thanks,
b
joneill
112 posts
 
Having owned 4 versions of the VSM speaker (VSM Gen 3, VSM SE, VSM M, VSM MX), I called Bobby at the factory to discuss the MXe upgrade. The VSM has been a labor of love for him and with each version of the speaker, they have improved substantially.

To wet my appetite, he suggested I have my Cardas GR internal bi-wire cables re-terminated to single wire and give the lead free jumpers and LF BAM power cord a try in the interim.

Off to Cardas my cables went and a few days later they were back. Bobby's jumpers and BAM PC installed, I let my rig burn for 50 hours before I sat down to do some serious listening.

It is difficult to believe how much difference this simple change has made. There seems to be a real match between the energy of the drivers. It is like they have taken a deep breath and mellowed out. The speakers are fuller sounding top to bottom, have more and better bass control, stage is deeper, wider and higher. There is better layering in the SS and images are denser and much more palpable. Very sweet indeed. After wetting my appetite, I called Bobby to arrange an upgrade to MXe.

My MX are off to the factory later in the month for the "full Monty" MXe upgrade.

Current Rig

VSM MX
JE LA 150 mk 2
JE VZN 100 monos
AA Cap SE
VPI Super Scout Cardas pick up
Cardas GR wire, power cords
Sound Application PLC w/ Elrod Statement
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