Merlin vsm mme owners, Cardas cabling Question.

9rw, you sound like someone with an axe to grind. You owned Merlin speakers a LONG time ago it seems and the product has been reviewed quite recently with strong observations that the evolution has been more than subtle.
Bobby and others have reported that they like certain associated gear, but I have spoken to quite a few owners of Merlin speakers and learned that they are enjoyed when mated to a wide variety of gear. You speak of a "path" that you suggest is more problematic than it's worth. Clearly a HUGE amount of owners and reviewers don't agree.
Interesting that you mention the Totem, a lovely speaker that is quite colored compared to the Merlins.

Rob

Robbob: No ax to grind at all. In fact, I've repeatedly praised Bobby for his passion and commitment to customers. Also, I really wanted to like my Merlins. His enthusiasm is contagious and he uses top-notch components.

Unfortunately, he made his best speakers in the early 1990s. The Merlin VSM represents a poor value. Also, note that Bobby failed to answer my question about Joule and Cardas. There's something inherently wrong with a speaker that requires tuning to compensate for spectral balance deficiencies. And of course he thinks people should ignore my posts. If I were him I would want that, too.

As for the alleged night-and-day sonic differences he's achieved by taking the lead out and through other tweaks, please provide me with even one example of another speaker that uses the same drivers, cabinet and crossover design yet sounds nothing like its predecessor. Perhaps, though, he's doing all of this with that equalizer. It is possible, I suppose.

9rw, a quick look on-line reveals positive professional reviews with such amps as...

ARS Sonum, (my fave)
Musical Fidelity
Marantz
Atma-Sphere
and of course Joule

didn't bother to look too hard for more examples...

and if you look through systems here at Agon, you'll see what I can only assume are happy users with...

Joule, Atma and ARS Sonum, (the usual suspects), but also...
Lamm
Conrad Johnson
Jadis
Berning
Musical Design
Music Reference
Pass Labs
AES
Arcam
Marantz

and others but I can't be bothered to type anymore.

The point is, there doesn't appear to be one or two or ten for that matter, ways to musical bliss with Merlin speakers. Sure, there may be more common matchings with some brands with others but that's the case with every speaker/amp combo.

I think the "problem" is that Bobby is just free in offering his opinion of what he feels works well and I appreciate it. Sometimes I take him up on it, (ARS Sonum), and sometimes I go my own way, (Stealth cables). I think some people misinterpret this as, "You must use Joule and Cardas or your system will suck". A cursory review of what people are using would indicate that's not the case, or at least the people using today's version of the speakers certainly don't seem to think so.

The only "tuning" as you put it, that appears to be going on is to each individuals perception of what they want out of their systems and there appears to be many ways to achieve it.

Cheers.

Unfortunately, he made his best speakers in the early 1990s.>>>

I'm afraid you do have an axe to grind with the above statement. I've had the chance to listen to an "old" set of Merlin TSM speakers vs. the quite recent MMe version. Right away the MMe was a better speaker, more coherent and flatter sounding. Both sets were powered by Rogue gear.

Are you even aware that he's changed the tweeters and altered cabinet construction?

But it is your comment about spectral balance deficiencies that rings truly false. EVERY speaker suffers from these and everyone tunes their system to THEIR taste. As I said, the Totems are COLORED far beyond the Merlins. It is the Merlins quest for tonal accuracy, transparency and resolution that drive owners to further tweak their systems. I understood this very well when I recently compared a pair of Focal Diablos to the Merlins. The Merlins were more balanced by a clear margin, though the Focals "impressed" more initially with their presentation. It was the Merlins that sounded more like real instruments in the room.

Finally you speak of value. High end audio has very little to do with value. It's a pursuit of arguably ever diminishing returns relative to cost. Since the majority of reviewers and owners don't seem to agree with you, perhaps you should let it go. The comment about his speakers being at their best may only be your opinion, but it's patently absurd. Your only defense of your position is that everyone is caught up in some sort of audiophilic religious fever over the Merlins. Yet virtually every review is in awe of these designs used with a wide variety of gear. My friend recently auditioned Merlin VSM's in LI and said they were in the top 10 speakers he's heard at any price.

You should consider letting this go. Bobby makes a high end niche product that is highly respected. Who exactly are you? Just one guy with an opinion and that's all. I know people who prefer Canton to Snell. And they're entitled to say that. But when you say that Bobby built his best speakers 15 years ago it begins to sound like you have an issue with HIM and not the product.

Rob

As for the alleged night-and-day sonic differences he's achieved by taking the lead out and through other tweaks, please provide me with even one example of another speaker that uses the same drivers>>>

Frankly, I'm SHOCKED that you asked this. My previous speakers, Magnepan 1.6's were altered quite completely by changes in the fuses!
Improving the bracing in Spica TC60's made the speaker utterly world class...same drivers.
Heck, even my old Heybrook's sang better with the wiring changed. Same drivers and cabinet.

There is a big industry built around this. Fine speakers respond better to small changes because they are more revealing. On the other hand I don't worry that much about cables and associated gear for my Definitive Technology home theater system.

When I get the Merlin TSM-MXrs I will have the chance to put a older pair on the same stands with the same amp and CD player. The new version has a lot of changes. Do actually think they'll sound the same? Ridiculous.

I will post a full and detailed review with photos when they arrive.

Rob