Anyone using Joule Electr VZN100 MKIII amplifiers?


I´m considering the purchase of a LA150/VZN100 combo to drive Merlin VSM-M speakers in a small listening room. Any detailed comments about sonic quality of this system will be very appreciated (please, only people who has really heard it or own it...I´ve read all the show reviews but I really need first hand comments). What´s about the noise level with this preamp-amp combo? Is the combo really silent dead? If not, how much noise can I expect?
TIA.
fiuczynski2002021d

Showing 1 response by tubegroover

I believe that 100 watts of Joule OTL power would be too much heat and more power than required in a small room although you don't give specific dimensions. I had a Joule VZN-80 in my 16X18 12X9 L-shaped room and it was more than enough power but oh my, the heat!! Carefully consider this before committing to the 100 watt Marquis in a small space, it may be more than you bargained for unless you like listening to music in a sauna, only half kidding but you get the picture, 800 watts at idle can heat up a small space fast.

Sonic wise I heard that specific combo under show conditions set-up by the Master but not in my own listening space. I did listen to several pre-amps through the Merlin Joule combo, a no brainer it is so good. As Danamc notes, the Berning is also a superb alternative although the amps are sonically different enough that one will be preferred over the other. The noise level of the Berning is lower than the Joule. I found the Joule to have an unobtrusive hum from the power transformer which didn't at all interfer with the music.