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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
tabl10s's avatar
tabl10s
1,070 posts
 
Is it the the Master Bam sounds identical in A/C and battery modes?
pubul57 OP
3,712 posts
 
And if you run it on A/C do you actually have to have batteries in the unit?
tabl10s's avatar
tabl10s
1,070 posts
 
I meant to ask "Does" the Master Bam sound identical in a/c and battery modes"?
turboglo
110 posts
 
Tab, in my system, it's hard for me to discern an obvious difference between BAM a/c and battery mode. There is perhaps a bit more relaxed smoothness and realism in battery mode. But I have a good balanced power unit by Equi-tech and I think that brings a/c closer to battery.
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
tab, the master bam with the new power supply and reduced feedback still sounds better on battery but the difference is closer than ever before. many more use it on ac full time.
pub, yes u can but why would u? the battery opps still sounds best on critical listening. except maybe in a bigger room or to a few here. ac opps sounds slightly reticent in the mids, fuller in the central bass and brighter. bettery opps sound more continuous and focused with more expanse. coherence and truth verses for well executed smaller rooms vs fuller tone and more defintion perhaps for a bigger room.
bobby p
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