EL34 Integrated

Hands down the E.A.R 834 !

The EAR is certainly a nice piece, but it is very unlikely to be as good as the Ars for the Merlins; but an excellent integrated nevertheless.

Pubul57, your enthusiasm for the Ars as the only and best int amp for Merlins has to be admired, but you have not heard the Jadis DA 88 Signature with them (I have) - and how do you know the Ear isn't a match? Anyway, the questioner is talking "bargain", which to me means a lot less than $4K, so to answer Jamesw20, I have owned and heard the Onix and the TAD-60, and there is no comparison - the TAD-60 with EL 34s blows it away, as well as anything else I've heard for $800 used. If one input is enough, it has a volume control and can be used as an int amp; if not, I'd get a Manley Stingray and use it in triode mode or a Cayin. (as Bobgates suggests)

Have you heard the Merlins with the Ars?

On the EAR, I don't know if it would beat the Ars with the Melrin, which is why I said "unlikely". I've heard the EAR gear and love it. The reason I suspect the Ars is a better match for the Merlins is that it was a collaborative effort between amp designer and speaker designer and voiced for each other. When we speak of synergy between components, one would think the Ars would be at an advantage here; not that the Jadis is not a spectacular piece; but so is my CAT JL2 and in that context the Ars is very competive driving the Merlins (of course the CAT will sound great with a wider choice of speakers). At below $2000 new, I'd have to agree with you on the Stingray, never heard the Cayin gear, but there are certainly good reviews and comments on their gear.