Anyone using Duelund VSF capacitor in Merlin VSM

The Bam or Master Bam in this instance is an analog device that is inserted into the signal chain either through a tape loop, (method I prefer) between the preamp and amp(s), or the source and the preamp. It can be run on all battery power (sounds best in my rig) or a combination of battery and AC power.

The BAM provides 5.2dB of bass boost at 35Hz. This extends the bass of the VSM-MXe to -4dB at 30Hz. Almost as important, the Master BAM includes high frequency filter (cannot remember the exact cutoff) and a subsonic filter at 28Hz that prevents low frequency signals from getting to the amps(s) and speakers. This allows the VSM-XMe woofer to reproduce the music without having extra low frequency junk mudding up the sound.

Hopefully I explained that accurately and correctly. If Bobby from Merlin surf through the forums he can make any corrections or elaborate more fully.

Hope this help

face, jim did a good job of explaing what an sbam\mbam is but the low freq filter needs more discussion. it is a 12 db filter at 28 hz that rids the woofer of out of band response below the woofer's low freq resonance. this keeps the woofer coil in the middle of the magnet "in linear drive" reducing the huge impedance swings that can bog down an amp. it also reduces 2nd and 3rd order harmonic distortion which is the booming we usually hear in the bass. impedance can jump up to 140 ohms on long excursions which will just bog down your amp. and by the way, this happens in all woofers unless they are filtered or have a mechanical brake built in. and when a woofer plays this out of band energy (in this case below 28 hz) there is audible im distortion induced within the usable bandwidth above.
so with the bam in place, you can play the speaker much louder, with less distortion in and out of the usable bandwidth and have the benefit of the bass augmentation so the speaker is flat into the low 30 hz range.
best,
bobby at merlin

Thanks for your response.

Bobby,

Thanks for the detailed explanation. Can you discuss the new switching power supply that is quieter than the previous one used? How significant is its contribution to the phenomenal sound of the MBAM?

Thanks,

Jim

jim, imo, the new and quieter supply takes a hint of false brightness out of the music so it becomes less complicated sounding. it is in reality 50 times quieter than the old one. it allows complex material to sound more resolved while coming from a blacker back ground. it is interesting that the ac ops and dc ops are again closer in absolute sound quality. do you think cells have a memory?
do you think having them charged by a quieter ac supply could affect how they sound?
i cannot say for sure but i have a feeling that this is one of the things that you heard in the master bam.
:-)

best, b