Question for Merlin VSM/ARS Sonum owners

Yes, actually a bit unfair since my Cary pair are loaded with NOS (kenrad black bottle 6SN7s, Mullard Blackburn 5AR4, Gold Lion reissue KT88) along with Herbie tube damper rings on all tubes and Revelation Audio Labs umbilical cord - About $1500 worth upgrade

Well, you do have a preamp/amp combo selling for a bit over 3x the price versus a small, lower powered integrated "voiced" for the speaker, seems like a fair fight to me. Should not be too shocking you might prefer a $12,000+ combo (and Dennis Had is not chopped liver) to the Ars, but the question is how far does the Ars take you at a far lower price point? Pretty far I think. Ultimately, I prefered my $13,000+ Atma-sphere combo, but I sort of expected that. That being said, one could easily live with the Ars/Merlin combo, get off the merry-go-round and just enjoy the music without worrying about the next upgrade, tweak, buying expensive ICs or NOS tube rolling.

I'm totally agree with you, Pubul57
Having Cary running with Merlin for sometimes, I always feel like trying the Ars (just to make sure I don't miss anything :-))
Now I'm happy knowing the fact - I'll give it a try with Amperex PQ white label 6922 and a pair of Amperex Bugleboy 12AU7 Holland along with Herbie tube damper ring. Just want to test it out

Thuan98, you have a great system, it is time to enjoy.

t, new tubes sockets, new pc board, new chasis, lf golden ref pc, lead free solder, movement of feedback to another part of the circuit where you cannot hear it, gold pin 82 and more. the difference is remarkable.
the old one was no slouch but the new one is much better.
b