Focal Mini Utopia vs Merlin MXe

'57,

Thanks for the input. I suppose both used ARS and used Bent-Tap/RM10MKII combo are with in my reach. I missed one ARS sold on audiogon for $2k. Any opinion between the two..
Also, curious if Bent Tap could work with Transcendent OTL. I loved OTL with Quad989s and have learnt that Merlins work very well with OTL.
To start with, I have picked up a used TG Audio speaker cables which I guess is not widely popular among Merlin'ers, but read few people using this with Merlins and find it very musical..will see! Any recommendations on reasonably priced interconnects and PCs.

Sstalwar, congratulations! Once I discovered the VSM's, I was done with my speaker search. Can't imagine you'll be disappointed. Just wondering, did you order your speakers with the Master BAM? The Duelund caps blow the whole thing to a new level.

Turboglo,
I bought a used pair that came with Super BAM (RCA and XLR). I guess I am going to listen to my system so I can have my reference established and then compare to Master BAM in future. Right now debating between ARS and separates and some decent cables. Bobby did mention that Master BAM (RCA only for lack of space in chassis) with Master networks will take VSMs to a whole different level. In the hind sight, I still wonder if I could use XLR with certain Pre amps more successfully than RCA. I wonder if TVC or AVC preamps might benefit from XLR ... may be more experienced members using TVC/AVC can help. Also, anybody with MasterBAM experience? I am curious too about what the sonic impressions are compared to SuperBAM.

SsTalwar,

See this thread for a robust, detailed and full exchange on the MasterBam and Master RC networks with the remarkable Duelund caps.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1260044200&&&/Anyone-using-Duelund-VSF-capacitor-in-Me

Jim

I think the balanced connection is of very minimal, if any benefit, and I don't think you can get an AVC that is balanced - though it can be built at much greater expense. So far, my test have told me that AVC is better than TVC, that is I think the Bent with Slagle is better than my experience with S&B MK1 tranformers.

The Ars is warmer than the RM10MKII, more meat on the bone as they say, and it is a beautiful looking unit. Ultimately, I preferred the transparency and speed of the RM10MKII - can't say which is better, it is a matter of taste. What I like about the RM10, besides sound is that it is small, uses almost no power in idle, the tubes are cheap, and the run for 10,000 hours according to Roger - you also get to play with different preamps. The darn thing works awfully well with a passive pre - Roger sells a Pot-in-the-Box with some old Noble potentiometers for $135!!!, but it would certainly work great with the Bent. I was out of the passive scene for a while, but tried the Goldpoint again and realized the passives with the right amp are incredible, I've decided to play with some more upscale passives including the Lightspeed and I suspect Bent or an Slagle variant again - the Music Reference amps thrive on passives with there low sensitivity. For $1,300 (Passive with a used RM10, you would have one heck of a good sounding system. -Better than the Ars? that is a matter of taste, the Ars is certainly a very, very good integrated.