Gallo 3.5 vs Merlin VSM-MXe

IME, the Merlin is notably leaner than the Gallo. The Gallo tweeter is definitely distinctive sounding, tho I've never heard it go "crisp". It does have very wide dispersion, so lots of reflective surfaces might well produce that effect. I've never heard the Gallo in such a room, so I'm just speculating.

My evaluation also could be due (at least in part) to the environment in which I heard the Gallo (I've owned the Merlins for more than decade; 4 different rooms and dozens of anicllaries in the system). The local dealer's set-up is probably inclined to diminish treble power response as the room is pretty highly treated with absorbtive materials.

Everyone hears these things in a personal way, but I wouldn't call the Merlins "rich" or "weighty". They are crazy, spooky realistic sounding in the mids, but do have a tendency to go lean in many set-ups. IMHO, careful placement and system matching are unusually critical in coaxing a satisfying octave to octave balance from the VSM.

I would add that I think that there are folks out there who take that idea way, way too far. I've successfully used SET amps, PP tubes, SS, etc with my VSMs. The 2 real points are:

1)The speaker is IME unusually transparent to everything upstream, so careful system matching is unusually important to ensure that you've optimized to your taste.

2) Many people find them lean in the upper bass and I understand that comment. In the right set-up, I don't find this to be much of an issue. However, it does take some effort to optimize your set-up for this parameter.

I'd never discourage anyone from Merlin, but your specific issue seemed to point the other way.

Just one more opinion.

Marty

I hear the Merlins the way Marty does. I think they do provide a fairly unobstruected view of the source with little editorial, you would need to find that with the amp, etc.

I used to own a pair of Gallo Strada with T3 sub. I bought it without
listening to them first because of all the glowing reviews. I waited patiently
breaking them in for at least 500 hours, all I can say about these speakers
is LEAN, LEAN, LEAN, LEAN and THIN. I sold them and lost a fair
amount of $$$. BTW. I was using Gamut D200 MK3, Pass F5, Virtue
Audio sensation and Dynaco ST-70 and nothing can fixed it, it's just a
lean mean machine. Zero Texture.

The gallo tweeters are indeed leean/bright/crisp. Lots of glass in your room is no help either. Placement out in the room will help some. Obviously, window coverings as well. The size of the Strada is not going to give you the musical weight no matter what you throw at them. If you can tame your room some, the reference series will give you more of what you are looking for. Beyond that, tube CD/DAC and Pre amp would be my next move.

I don't think lean is a right word to describe a tweeter sound. I'm talking about the midrange. My room is fully carpeted, fabric furnitures and curtain all over the windows.