This is the first time I see people recommend Merlin for WAF. Any wifes that I know, including mine, thought Merlin is about as plain and ugly as it gets. No offense, but Merlin is a black box with no style of any kind. Especially if you put Merlin right next to Wilson Benesch, Sonus Faber, Chario, or Diapason, I don't think any wifes will notice Merlin at all and probably assume Merlin is a speaker stand :) |
A few of my favorites Avalon Eidolon http://www.avalonacoustics.com/images/eid-grand.jpg Wilson Benesch ACT's http://www.wilson-benesch.com/act/actlarge/act3.jpg Tidal Audio http://www.tidal-audio.de/pictures/mahagony-pia.jpg http://www.tidal-audio.de/pictures/ameabubingagross.jpg Merlin's: though Black ice blue is the best http://www.merlinmusic.com/images/PBVSMshdw.jpg Sonus Faber http://www.sumikoaudio.net/sonus/images/products/amati_pair.jpg Lumen White http://www.lumenwhite.com/whitelight.jpg Venture Audio http://www.ventureaudio.com/images/products/lexellence.jpg Dali Loudspeakers http://www.dali.dk/images/page/64_2.jpg Focus http://www.focusaudio.ca/graphics/FS888creative_original.jpg Joseph Audio http://www.josephaudio.com/gfx/photo.pearl.jpg Kharma http://www.kharma.com/_images/other/shows/ces/e.jpg Martin Logan http://www.martinlogan.com/rail_app/Speakers/PR_NC_1.jpg Opera Loudspeakers http://www.operaloudspeakers.com/listening/callas/image/Divina-MOGANO-da-alto_picco.jpg Pierre Gabriel http://www.pierregabriel.com/PierreGabriel/Image/MasterRef.jpg ProAc http://gon4.audiogon.com/i/c/f/1113169856.jpg Quad http://www.iagamerica.com/quad/22linbox.jpg Red Rose http://www.redrosemusic.com/images/rosebudII.jpg http://www.redrosemusic.com/images/rosebud_rw.jpg Totem Acoustics http://www.totemacoustic.com/english/images/photos/floorStand_forest.jpg Usher http://www.usheraudio.com/speaker-usher777.html |
The Cain & Cain Abbey is a very nice loudspeaker, but you'll have to take care in amplifier matching. Terry Cain's woodwork is exquisite. Somewhat limited in bass extension and maximum output level, but very coherent. The Abbeys would probably benefit in the bass department from close proximity to room boundaries. http://www.cain-cain.com/abby/index.html Eben makes a nice line of slim speakers that in my opinion are exceptionally coherent for multi-ways. Lower efficiency than the Abbeys, but they extend farther at the frequency extremes. Very high quality drive units. Their ribbon tweeter is perhaps the best I have heard of its type. When I heard them they were positioned only about a foot or so out from the wall. http://www.eben.dk/eben/index.htm I don't sell either one of these, but like 'em both. |
