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SS amp for Merlin VSMs?

Is there anyone who has found an SS amp that they prefer to tube amps with their Merlins? I have most recently owned CAT JL2, Atma-spehre M-60, Music Reference RM9 Special Edition and RM10MKII, Quicksilver V4s, and the Ars Sonum integrated (In each and everyone sound terrific with the Merlins). For SS, I did try Pass XA30.5 and First Watt Aleph J, but did not prefer them to my tube amps (I now use Music Reference RM10s - summer; and the Atma-spehere M60s the rest of the year).

So, any great SS sucess stories with the Merlins up against the kind of tube gear I have owned? Or is that just a elusive chase?
pubul57
chovil
1 posts
 
Edge NL10 which sells used for just over $3000. There is a richness and detail in the sound that the Berning ZH270 just doesn't have.
masilu
89 posts
 
i think if you want a sound better than atma merlin or jule merlin sound...you may have to change merlins...i think one day you surely will do so :)
samac's avatar
samac
497 posts
 
And that's helpful to the OP because.............?
pubul57 OP
3,712 posts
 
It won't happen:)
rockadanny
1,224 posts
 
Just back from AXPONA in Atlanta. In the DCCA room they had Merlin TSMs set up with B&K Pre and an SS amp that I am sorry to say I do not recall. BUT, the sound was glorious and spooky good. Palpable, organic, deep and wide soundstage, clear, no digital hash, great mid range, smoooooth in the mids and on top without any syrup added. And I know smooth as my EgglestonWorks Fontains use the same tweeter (Esotar) and are driven with powerful SET amps. I do recall that the amp was nothing esoteric (no pun intended).

A gentleman walked in to the room and was surprised to hear how good the TSMs sounded, especially the deep bass, as he has the same speakers but never got them to sound that deep. The DCCA engineer said it was due to his cables (ICs, SC, and PCs), specifically the Power Cables. I'm not sure I can believe him, but I can say the sound was very relaxed and extremely believable, holographic. Perhaps instead of a new SS amp, give DCCA a call and speak with the engineer (Doug?) about his products? He was super nice and more than willing to discuss his cables, or even just music in general. I am NOT a high-price cable kind of guy, especially when it comes to PCs, but his (supposed) results were hard to dispute.

Anyway, just a thought. Good luck in your search.
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