ATC vs Merlin

l, what version of the tsm did you have?
when was this?
thank you.
b

I am a professional violinist, no way affilitated to either companies. I own Merlins, both VSM at home, and TSM in studio.
So addmittedly biased ;-)
I friend of mine uses ATC active, which is an extremely appealing way of using theses speakers, dont know which model.
For ATC, you will need an absolute first class amplification, rather more, than stated above, imo. Then you will get an extremely full and powerful sound, but my friends room is pretty dead, it being a professional studio..

My merlins go far with small amplification, and I mean very far.. My own room is from early last century, so wood/plaster, the VSM comes along as naturally fast, slim but full, agile but blossoming.

So, be sure to think about room and amplification. I use Merlin with Berning ZH270 to full satisfaction.

In the end, the results are not so far off, funnily enough. hope this helps anyway.

..sorry forgot the TSM's
I find them amazing, using them as monitoring speakers for my own recordings (you'll find me) so here I can unreservedly recommend these speakers as best monitors I ever used!

(This includes Sonus Faber Guarneris, which I loved, playing an instrument not by the same maker, but with the same name ;-))

I heard ATCs many years ago, so I can't compare, I will say the Merlin speakers (I own VSM-MXEs) are the best two-way speakers I have ever heard. I suspect that but for the lowest bass, their monitors are likely to be in the top rank as well. I'm not sure about the comment above regarding SS amps, I think that as the Merlins have evolved over time they have become more and more SS friendly, but I also suspect the vast majority of Merlin owner use tubes for which the Merlins are ideally suited.

BP- You asked "when". My TSM were purchased 12, or so, years back. Truly sounded awful with great Naim kit. It's interesting because we spoke several times and you phone-consulted all you could but nothing changed the fact that the speakers just did not interface well with Naim. The only issue I have is I cannot find another speaker which does not LOVE Naim other than single-driver Fostex abortions. From ATC to Linn to Rega to Harbeth to Spendor to Vandersteen all sound amazing with Naim so...?