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Focal Mini Utopia vs Merlin MXe

Is this a fair comparision(sound quality wise ignoring price)? Looking for comments from people who owned both speakers for good length of time. I own mini utopia and Quad 989s and love them both. Trying to simplify and get full range speaker which will better both mini and quads (bass, imaging, stage depth & width, seamless in crossover transition) for 50% jazz and 50% Classical. This is new system building so open for amplifiers choice but leaning towards Transendent sound OTL. Please keep this discussion limited to these two speakers. Space limitation is making me sell my quads. Thanks.
celestial_audio
tabl10s's avatar
tabl10s
1,090 posts
 
I'm glad I was/we were able to influence you.
nicodemix
90 posts
 
Not to stray off topic but does anyone have any input or experience as to how well the Merlin TSM's match with a Vincent SV236 MkII Hybrid Integrated?
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
which tsms n?
reynolds853
386 posts
 
Sstalwar,

I've owned Merlin TSM speakers and loved them for jazz but not so much for orchestral music. I switched to Silverline SR17.5's and am very pleased with how they handle both genres. The more current Silverline model is the Silverline SR17 Supreme which lists for $6000. That's more than the Merlin TSM's, but less than the Micro Utopia - if I am thinking of the correct Focal speaker. If the Silverline is available in your area, you might want to add them to your audition list.

Also, my amplifiers are Rogue Audio M180 monoblocks which I run in triode. I am very happy Silverline/Rogue combination.
reynolds853
386 posts
 
Sstalwar,

I wanted to add that the reason I suggested Silverline is that in an earlier post someone had suggested Dynaudio speakers to you, and Silverline makes excellent use of Dynaudio drivers.
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