Anybody considerered Merlins?


Noticed they got a room nod by Fremmer in a column and when I saw that they only sell two models plus the fact that like 911 (still since '64 a rear engine/drive flat line 6) th3ey have not reinvented the line only made it evelove.They use top products like Scan Spec and Dynaudio tweeters (though their monitor uses Morell drivers- a companies whose own offering I thought competent not earth shttering.Anybody out there listened to them and what did you think.
chazzbo
VSM's are great sounding speakers...which is the main reason lots of people use em in tade shows for demo's!...that and they're compact!
However, if you're into loud/hard rock, percussion, regae or home theater(especially), you should DEFINITELY cross em over with a home theater pre/pro for those purposes at 80hz, and let a good ACTIVE POWERED subwoofer handle bellow that! You'll then haver a superb, hard hitting, powerfull full range sounding speaker that will sound marvelous with those mediums! When you need ultimate clarity, refinement, etc, for other music, you can then run em full range on their own!
good luck
quackmacky
you better have a damn good home theatre pre to not hear the circuitry via the merlins. and i don't just mean when the x-over is active...

fwiw, i use merlin vsm's w/ entecs, using a passive x-over at 100hz. its seamless and dynamic as hell. the entecs are fast enough for the merlins...but i doubt anything else is (rel is not).
rhyno
Chazz

Like everything else, what you listen to, how you listen and what virtues are important in the reproduction of music are paramount in making a decision as to whether the Merlins are the right choice for long term enjoyment.

I've owned them for 2 years now. I echo everything Phild says. They are not headbangers but refined, fast, revealing and naturally balanced speakers. They are very room friendly but prefer small to medium sized rooms. If going in a large room, a sub should be considered. After attending the NYC audio show in May, I didn't hear a system that would encourage me to supplant them. Part of the reason is that it has taken me a while to get the refinement and enjoyment they give through systematic trial and error. The only component still around since I've owned the speakers is my trusty JVC 1050 Zn used as a CD transport.

They really are as good as the press says but like everything else in this hobby, won't make everyone happy. What does make an audiophile happy? A new toy for a short time and then what, another new toy? Whoa nelly, time to settle in and listen to some music. What is the point of components if not to serve the music? The Merlins do serve the music very well and I dig them for just that reason.

Virtually everyone that has listened to them in my home, casual listener to audiophile has commented on the "clarity" and "sounds real" aspect of the system. No, they don’t do micro dynamics quite as well as the best stats but certainly as well as any dynamic speaker I’ve listened to only to improve with what is upstream. If you consider them you may have to re-evaluate the rest of your system. While they work well with a wide variety of components, to realize their true capability will require patience and commitment. I’m not sure that I’ve found the limits of this design and that is one reason they are so amazing.

The mids are full, rich and there. The highs are as extended and clear as the recording and upstream components will permit. Soundstaging and imaging, which is not at the top of my priorities is, again as good as the recording and upstream components. On some recordings the speakers and walls will disappear. Off axis listening is a joy. The stage doesn't collapse away from the sweet spot as do many speakers. These speakers sound great in the next room. The bass is taunt, fast and natural if not having the bass energy of larger systems. The BAM in battery mode is enough for me most of the time except for those headbanger moments that are becoming more infrequent as I mature :^)

PS Stay tuned, the long awaited subwoofer to match with the VSM is just around the corner. I understand that Bobby is currently designing it.
O.K., tacs, I had a smart answer. Here's, hopefully, a smart question. What dealer in Houston, Texas has a high-sensitivty speaker to audition? I'm ready. All I've ever heard were Klipschorns and VOT Altecs so I'm guessing I don't know what you're talking about. But speaking of that, am I hearing you recommend a speaker for high sensitivity bass that you've never heard, the "pi"? And how big a space is one supposed to have to get this bass? It always seems to be a problem with horns. Hey, I'm a planar man myself (know you hate to hear that!) so I don't really know from Merlins except by the excellent reputation and a couple of informative and tempting phone calls with Bobby, the Merlin wizard. And if you mean live music, as in rock concerts, I'll skip the bad PA if you don't mind. Give me a horn-loaded speaker that captures the sweetness of the strings, the rich mid-range of the brass, and the thunder of the bass drum and I'll meet you there. But it all has to be for 6K and under. Any suggestions?
as usually is the case, tubegroover is right on the money. these speakers are most special.

within their constraints (room of moderate size, no ultradeep bass, and no 110+spl), they're unequaled below $15k.

rhyno