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How much power for Merlin VSM speakers?

I bought a pair of Merlin VSM-MMs and am driving them with a Cary SS amp. While it sounds pretty good I am thinking of switching to a tube amp. I am familiar with the usual OTL suspects most people use like the Berning and Joule. I was wondering if there is anyone out there driving these speaker with a less powerful SET amp. How powerful does the amp have to be in order to not clip? Is the speaker efficient enough and its impedence curve benign enough for low powered amps? Is 30 watts enough? Am I asking the right questions?
abrahavt
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
e, the vsm is impedance corrected and does not dip below 6.5 ohms. it is for the most part an 8 to 9 ohm load.
you will be able to generate a little over 103 db sound pressure. they are not the most efficient of speakers but the impedance correction makes them an easy load to drive. i know of a few people using them with 8 to 12 watts per, myself included. this combination is not for everyone but it is possible depending on how demanding you are. you never mentioned your thoughts in that regard. depending on the version of the vsm, you will notice a little more efficiency and room filling nature.
best regards,
bobby at merlin
enobenetto
67 posts
 
Bobby thanks for responding, it is much appreciated.

To give more insight into my listening environment habits:

My room is 22 long, 12 wide, and 9 high. I have the speaker along the short wall (which there is no way around that do french windows). The room is not lively, but it is not treated.

I rarely listen to music over 85db, at the most reaching 90db rarely.

I most listen to everything, with a lot of acoustic folk, 70's rock, soul and electronic (my friends tell me that I was born in the 70's and I'll die in the 70's :) I do listen jazz as well ranging from Ellington to Jacuzzi Jazz but mostly 60's bop and spiritual.

I listen to a lot of vinyl.

I forgot to mention before that I run my J2 with a TVC.

Any further insight much appreciated.
enobenetto
67 posts
 
...and apparently I never read through what I write for necessary corrections :(
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Eno,

After a decade and a half, I still have my VSMs mated to Cary 300 SET mono blocks in a room much like yours, except with a cathedral ceiling that hits 20 feet. Not the FW, but the Cary monos are <15 wpc SET designs that need a friendly match. FWIW, this system sounds great at the moderately loud levels I run.
bluestrings
12 posts
 
The legacy continues :)
Im a new owner of Merlin after reading all the amazing reviews through out the years. 
I had the vsm se running with 300b monos at 18wpc with great results. Then tried with leak 50 el34 25 wpc and the base definitely was deeper. 
Now I have them playing with a DejaVu set 2a3 3.5wpc and i lost a bit of base but gain a lot of the benefits of the amps design liquidity and that low power finesse. Im going to live with the 3.5wpc for now as me listening levels are not high. 
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