SS amps for merlin vsm

I dont think power is a problem either. I am not too up to speed on why some speakers dont match well with certain amps,etc??
I noticed in your "system" that you have Cardas cables. Do you find them to have a warm character as many desribe?

Don't seem warm with the VSMs, might with warm speakers with mid-bass humps.

The amps won't match well if it is underpowered, or in the case of a tube amp if the impedance of a speakers is very uneven and dives very low in the bass region. This doesn't speak to the sound of the amp or speaker, but simply electrical matching - you don't want to be underpowered, and you don't generally want a tube amp with a "tough" speaker load, for which SS is better suited. I don't know if the H/K amp sounds good or not, but it should not be a matter of "matching" electrically, it should be fine on those grounds.

"you don't generally want a tube amp with a "tough" speaker load, for which SS is better suited."

Agree with this statement but would add not all SS amps are equal in this regard. SOme will drive "difficult loads" better than others.

In general, Class D switching amps and other design aspects aside, beefier SS amps with beefier power supplies capable of delivering more current when needed will tend to do better driving "difficult loads".

I recall Merlins specifically use an optional special circuit called an RC to make their load more tube friendly. That might also help with lesser SS amps, but not sure.

"SOme will drive "difficult loads" better than others." No doubt. The Aleph seem to work more like tubes in that sense.

Mcpherson, can't add much to this but wanted to say that I use a $400 NAD integrated amp with my Merlin TSMs (the VSMs little brother) and enjoy it very much.

If you like the sound of your H/K then there's a good chance you'll enjoy it with the VSM. If I could move up to the VSM I wouldn't hesitate to use it with my NAD.

Cheers,

Scott