Merrill Audio VERITAS Amps: Any other experiances?


Despite the Sandy Hurricane interruptions, Merrill was kind enough to provide me the opportunity to audition his Merrill Audio Veritas Mono-block amps with my system. He delivered the amps and I listened for approx 48 hours over a period of three days. It should be noted that never once in this time frame did I or anyone else listening experience listening fatigue.

The Veritas units were temporary replacements for my ARC VTM200 MONO-blocks and other than a short experience with my neighbors ARC 610 Mono-Blocks which really brought my Maggies to life, it was a reawakening as to what my Maggies can do given sufficient power. It's not that the VTM200 don't do a good job, its that financially, moving up with more powerful tube amps is out of the question.

Basically , I was overjoyed with what I was listening to. With the Veritas supplying 700 watts per channel vs the 200 tube watts, which is fundamentally 3 and one half times the power I had been feeding them, it was the first time I heard the Maggies with the power they were recommended to be supplied with other than the 610 experience. It should be noted that every piece of electronic audio equipment I have is TUBE centered. The presentation of the Veritas into the system was the first time a pure solid state unit had been introduced to the system and the lasting impression was WOW...just like the web site stated!

We listened to vinyl as well as CDs...Jazz and full orchestration as well as solo piano, cello and violin. Beside myself and occasionally my wife, the listening panel included Blaine Handzus of the NJAS as well as an interested neighbor along with Merrill.

If and when I replace the ARC VTM200s, the Veritas would be at the top of the list.

Having heard Class D amps at other systems, I had never been totally satisfied with what they delivered but the Veritas units presented a completely satisfying and different audio presentation. In short, the 'you are there' effect the Maggies are famous for with the proper watts was stunning.

Simply put, the Veritas are an audio achievement, with extremely accurate front to back definition as well as a superbly accurate soundstage presentation. The holographic effect of instrument position within the orchestra was excellent.

But more to the point, the sounds of the instruments themselves were very accurate. My wife, who listens to live music on a daily basis, both strings, keyboard and horns made the comment that she "could hear the cellos and violas breath".

It was a sad hour when Merrill came back to take his amps away!
128x128jafo100
Hi AudioZen, yes you are correct. As Mr. Putzeys developed the original UCD technology while he was working for Phylips, the UCD acronym itself would likely be trademarked by Phylips. Furthermore, any patents related to UCD, which Mr. Putzeys applied to during his employment at Phylips, would be automatically assigned to Phylips. (Such is the nature of standard employment contracts in the technology sector... My own patents for example, remain all assigned to IBM, in spite of the fact that I have retired from Big Blue)

At a later time, in order to be permitted to manufacture UCD modules, Hypex would have started to pay appropriate licensing fees to Phylips for the use of that specific UCD trademark, and of the specific technology which is defined by those UCD patents owned by Phylips.

Conversely, Ncore technology, was invented by Mr. Putzeys after he joined Hypex, probably during the 2007 to 2008 timeframe, with basic development being finalized in 2010. It looks like Ncore invention disclosures were filed between 2008 and 2010, and would have been assigned to Hypex by the inventor(s) -- Putzeys et al. The Ncore word, within its applicability to the target technology, would also have been trademarked by Hypex, although there appears to be instances of "Ncore" used by other companies for totally different purposes than audio.

On a different topic, the name of the manufacturer of the power conversion modules inside the upcoming Rowland Continuum Series 2 integrated amp (and the Rowland M525 bridgeable amp) is Pascal -- just like the French Philosopher, rather than Pasquale -- which of course is a perfectly nice Italian name... But seems to remain sadly not associated with High End audio.

Saluti, G.
Guido..regarding corrected spellings, the name Pasquale was spelt to me by a Rowland dealer in California who attended the private demo at CES of the Continuum 2 integrated. I'm sure hes not aware of the correct spelling. Also, you continue to use the word "Phylips" which is incorrect. The correct spelling is Philips. One of the two articles I'm trying to dig up refers to the "Ncore circuit" in the UcD power module that Bruno developed for Philips in 2001.
Guido..thanks for mentioning Pascal. I checked out their website and Google images of their power modules. Very impressive work. It appears after looking at the photo's, that their amps look like identical twins to the amps being used by D-Sonic in Texas, even though Abletec offices in New Jersey mentioned D-Sonic is using Abletec. Could be D-Sonic is using Abletec in a certain model but their top amps are definitely Pascal judging by the photos.
Audiozen,
The Bel Canto amplifiers that are replacing the power module with a linear supply instead of a switching supply are still keeping the class d amp the same module.
This means its a class D pulse width modulated amplifier.

I wish you would stop claiming that every new class D amp is no longer a pulse width modulated amplifier - pulse width modulation is pretty much intrinisic to a class D audio amp.
Audiozen has been messing up information about the Hypex UCD/Ncore topic, and he just reaized it but does not want to recognize it yet.

>@Audiozen,
have you actually heard the Merrill Audio Veritas and/or the ARC D450M amps?<

The answer is obviosly No, he hasn't.