I have a pair of TSM Black Magic Editions. I bought them new from Bobby early-2015. I had first heard Merlin TSMs in 1998 I think and bought the BMEs without hearing them because the sound of the much earlier version stuck with me—fast, open, smooth, seamless, and virtually invisible even back then. When I first heard those, they were being run with Sonic Frontiers stuff and later with Jadis. I run my BME versions with an Ars Sonum Filarmonia, as Bobby had recommended. I never got a chance to A/B mine against the older versions, but I can tell you that all the stuff that sold me originally was inherent in both versions. I’d say the BMEs might be a touch smoother, and a tiny bit more seamlessly crossed over, and perhaps the cabinets or mid-woofers are a touch less resonant or have less ring at extreme volumes, but I do not believe there’s much in it, and I think all TSMs can be excellent when set up correctly with the right separates or integrated.
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@agp75 seems about right. I’ve owned both models, just not simultaneously to A/B them. It’s definitely a can’t go wrong speaker. They improve with upstream upgrades, but do not punish less than esoteric gear. I never had an unlivable gear mismatch. They liked my VTL TT 25 mono blocks as well as a Sugden A21SE integrated. Adding a JL sub really improved not only reach but also soundstage. That soundstage improvement was weird. As stated, not a seismic shift. Best of luck. |