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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
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,341 posts
 
COrrection:

The tube in the TAD125 Hibachis is apparently used in the power supply for noise reduction purposes, not the input section.
masilu
89 posts
 
.

i found SOLID STATE audiolab 8000 pre / power ..better than ARS sonum fila se
socrates7
77 posts
 
If you're still interested in trying out a great amp on the Merlins, try a Luxman L-505u. Outstanding.
pubul57 OP
3,712 posts
 
Interesting you should mention the L-505u, on my shortlist for an SS integrated, do you also have experience with the Mac integrated, 6300 or 6600?
socrates7
77 posts
 
IME, the Luxman Class A/B amps are a lot more linear than the Class A amps, which tend to be rather smooth, which is exactly NOT the thing to do to a Merlin and adding Cardas cables into that mix is a hot mess.

I like the Mac integrateds quite a bit. Well, I'm totally fascinated by the chunky dials/buttons and the big blue meters, which I just love, but then, the Luxman has them too, so there you go. Totally my opinion here, of course, but I think that the Luxman has a much higher build quality and wrt the sound, I think Lux has a (significantly) more extended and linear presentation, both in bass and in the treble. Both Mac and Lux have a very fine mid range presentation, however.
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