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How well do you know your merlins?

Just thought I would let the audiophile community know that these speakers are killers.
I improved my source again and the merlins are doing a great job of letting me hear all that there is to be heard from the record's grooves.
I did some tweeks that are not so common, but it works and what can I say I am hearing full tight and accurate bass and the transparency is PHENOMENOL!
I will not be looking for another speaker for a very long time!
By the way I will mention again how important it is to get the source right, there I said it.
pedrillo
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
marty,
i'll bet you the most organic sounding is the el34. 88s and 66s sound a little pushed in the lower treble.
the 6550s perhaps fuller but a little sparkley.
try an eqitech power conditioner on the amp, you may be amazed. 2q or sone of q.
i think the hovland cable is perhaps a better interface with the sfs and the verity than the mxe. try cardas golden ref just for comparison sake. it will sound fuller and more relaxed. nothing against the hovland but i really think it is better for the other 2.
best, b
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Bobby,

I use Equitech conditioners.

Your characterization of the tube sounds is spot on-I would have written it exactly the same way. I'd only add that the el-34 benefits come at the cost of a little bass impact.

I've never tried the Cardas cables because I screw around so much with other stuff that the Hovlands have been a happy constant in my otherwise ever-evolving equation.

Maybe one day I'll ratchet the disease up another level and give the Cardas a shot.

Marty
tabl10s's avatar
tabl10s
1,090 posts
 
What brand of bungee cord and eyehook's do you use? When you say the speaker's are killer's, do you mean before or after the mod's? have you compared them to later model's?
have you tried suspended speaker's with non-suspended ancilliaries and vise-versa?
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
marty,
i have a dealer friend that would loan you some to try.
it would be a reasonable comparison i supose. certainly for the sf the hovland is the cable of choice but the verity you may or may not prefer the golden ref but on the merlin i would think it a sure thing unless i have misjudged you.
what power cables are you using on the equitechs.
and which equis do you have.
i like copper litz like golden ref on line level equi and jps ac+ on power amp equi.
best, b
on power amps.
best, b
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I have recently had a few "philes" come over to listen to my system using a Joule LA150 MKII and either a CAT JL2, Music Reference RM9 SE, or my Ars Sonum through my VSM-MXes; I can say, and I hope they were not just being flattering, that they consistently said the VSMs were best speakers they have ever heard. I don't know, I have not heard them all, but the speaker is truly a work of art and with the cohesiveness and dynamic impact combination that is only possible with two very high quality drivers.
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