Why so many Merlin VSM's for sale??

Danner, why didn't you use the BAM with the Merlins - even with the sub? I have never heard the VSM-M with a sub but if I were ever to add one I would surely be inclined to use the BAM with it. I would think the BAM should make the sub easier to integrate and you get the added value of lowered distortion throughout because of the subsonic filtering the BAM does. Just curious.

Jim

That is why Danner found the VSM needed more warmth. They lose their tonal accuracy without the BAM or if they are crossed over at higher than 30 Hz. By removing the out of band subsonic energy, the woofer can play in linear excursion at much higher levels, at lower distortion and provide much greater dynamic contrast. The system is also more phase accurate and filtered for ultrasonic ringing. Some think of the BAM as just an equaliZer but it is really a speaker management system. One listen and you know how much better things are with it, that is if you use proper interconnects and a real amplifier. I am afraid Danner never really experienced the VSM at its full potential.
Regards,
Bobby@merlin

Royy,

The Merlin VSM M speakers are anchors to build a system around IMO. The past three + years, with some suggestions from Bobby@Merlin, I have put together a world class system that is extremely musical and very satisfying.

http://cgi.audioasylum.com/systems/1912.html for system details.

The right size room, careful upstream component selection, low damping ampliphication, wire selection and detailed system set up has yielded some amazing results in my Rig.
The Merlin's can do "venue" like no other...transporting you to the club, the hall, or the studio.

Perhaps the greatest benefit is you are taken off the constant path of "upgrade-itis". This hobby is filled with audiophiles who don't really like their systems and are always obsessing/chasing the next golden component that will take them to audio-nervana. It feels very good to be off that path. I have my rainey day fund for VZN 100 monos going put have poured a lot of resources in building my record and software libaries that otherwise in the past were allocated to "chasing the upgrades".

Are there speaker systems out there that are better than the Merlins? Sure, but they cost tens of thousands more dollars and with kids in college are so far off my radar screen it ain't even funny! Besides, the support from Bobby and his staff at Merlin is the best in the industry bar none in my 30+ years experience in this hobby.

I agree with Tubegroover's conclusion. A musical system that is hard to beat at ANY price.

I can't really add anything that wasn't mentioned above. The Merlins really are amazing speakers if you have (or are willing to find) matching amplification, good upstream components, good wire, and prefer a balanced, neutral presentation rather than a hyper bass sound. I also second the notion that they are best suited for small to medium sized rooms. When everything is in place and the recording is good, the Merlins completely disappear and leave you with nothing but music. On less than perfect recordings they still manage to present the music above all of the extraneous "character". I've had mine for four years now (I think??), upgrading my original VSMs to the VSM-M model, and I haven't felt any urge to buy any other speakers. Like someone said above...the only speaker that I heard with any advantage over the Merlins was a Soundlab electrostatic model (which I believe retailed for $20,000 or $30,000??).

To build on Bobby's comment regarding "is there one speaker to make everyone happy?"

When I look at the short list of speakers that come to mind as the most talked about, praised, successful(at their price point) high end speakers ever, I get a short list...
Wilson Watt/Puppy Series
B&W 800 Series
Vandersteen 2 Series
Maggies (pick your model)
Quad ESL 63 & successors
Merlin VSM

All of these have many fans. All, except the Merlins, seem to have nearly as many detractors. To me, that says plenty.
Spencer