Merlin VSM-M and Bass

can I ask how much the upgrade cost you?
were there options along with the upgrade?
I'm considering buying an SE set and upgrading it myself
Thanks,
GE

Tmoran:

Just be happy you had a carpeted floor for the speaker to land on becuase this will abosorb a large amount of the impact/shock. I have seen a speaker fall hard on a plain concrete floor... the shock of the impact snapped the voice coil assembly off the back of a cast frame woofer. I could've cried.

Rich

Bobby,
My flooring is wood with pretty decent carpeting/padding. I just feel lucky it didn't go the other way and nail my VAC amp or gouge the finish by hitting something on the way down. When it fell it just landed perfectly on the side. I'm going to try 4 feet just for safety's sake.

Tmoran,

I have my Merlin's on four feet. I, too have pretty decent carpeting/underpad AND a five year old boy. I found that when I gently held his head in my hands, bent over with my face about 6" away from his and softly said that these speakers are worth more than my car, he understood. Unfortunately, he mentions this to guests.

Geoffgarcia,

Give Bobby a call at Merlin (www.merlinmusic.com). He is more than helpful.

Regards,

David

Just looking at my old thread and thought that I should make a posting of what has occured over the year.

I still have the same speakers. They are just too damn good to let go. I did have an "affair" for a short while with the likes of Gershman Avant Garde RX-20's (sorry Bobby!) and also tried the Merlin's with a REL Storm III while still having the SF Line 2 SE preamp.

They are now set up with two of the Z feet on the front left and right and the third is center back. My preamp is now a Joule Electra LA 100 Mk III, and the rest is the same EXCEPT I have changed where the speakers are situated in my room about 6 months ago.

The biggest improvement? The replacement of the preamp. OK, Ok Bobby you were right. A more fuller, relaxing, overall a more musical sound to me. Once I replaced the preamp, I sold the REL that I had for about 2 months. It simply was not required anymore. Next the three toe installation about 2 weeks ago. I had it via 4 feet, but decided to live life in the fast lane (now also have a 19 month old walking around) and, again, as Bobby says, just a more "there" bass. With Stereophile Test CD #3 and my RS digital SPL meter where my head usually is when listening, I get a full output response to 31.5 Hz. There is some output at 25Hz (about 7 dB lower than 31.5) and really none at 20 Hz.

As stated over and over again, match these speakers up to great (not necessarily very expensive) equipment, and these speakers shine.

Regards,

David