Best speakers at show? Merlin by far

As an owner of Merlin for 5 years running, first, let me admit I am biased.
I was at the Show as well and would say that judging & comparing sounds at the Show is difficult at best. The set ups are sub-optimal, the choice of music sometimes questionable, and by the end of the day, you are just too tired to really make a good and consistent judgement. But one thing I will say, I came home to my setup (Merlin-VSM-Tube, Transcendent Sound OTL, Rowland preamp) and felt satisfied with what I have. Some setups at the show may have more bass, some more lush, but in the end, the Merlin does everything very well. Like a thoroughbred, the more you throw at it, the better it sounds. And when you throw junk at it (lesser electronics, bad recordings) it will let you hear it too. In fact, although I have owned three generations of VSM, it is the only component that remains from my original setup from 5 years ago. That says a lot in this crazy hobby.

Hey lets agree Josephs and Merlins are both great! George Cardas, whose cables I believe in owns small Josephs and big Merlins. Obviously, the Merlins are more expensive and better but the Joseph's are an excellent little speaker too. BTW, I do prefer the smaller Joseph's to the bigger ones and the previous post is true, the Esotar is just so bloody expensive, how many can afford it. I have to admit that the VSMs probably are the best non-horn speaker around, jeez they are fast! I love their colored ones and they sound more like my favorite horns and electrostats than any dynamic driver speaker I ever heard, which included the largest Sonus which would be my second choice for dynamic cone speaker and these carbon composite speakers from England, whose name I can't remember but listened to in NY and the newest Ceramique. But all of those cost so much more than the Merlins that I could buy a complete front end cdp and electronics for the difference. That's the bottom line. The price vs performance and that's where Merlin kicks ass.

I was at the NY show and I have to agree with the original post that the merlins were best of show. As an owner of the AP virgos, I thought I was satisfied with my speaker. I went to the show looking specifically for a new CD player, and by chance, I entered the sim/merlin room. Unbelievable. The imaging, the dynamic alacrity, detail. It was all there. Funny thing is that I ended up not finding a cd player (still hesitant about SACD), but I now have an order for the merlin VSM-M. Will merlin win best of show? I know which way my vote was cast. Its just that with all the campaigning in some of the other rooms, salesmanship and not necessarily performance will probably determine what wins best of show. I wouldn't put too much stock in the vote tally of the show. Do yourself a favor and listen to this speaker.

Soon Kwon