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Help me get the most out of my Merlin TSM MX

I have had these incredible monitors for over a year and I am still enamoured with there balance and refinement. I am going to sell off my second system that doesn't get used anymore and I want to put the funds into the Merlin system. I should have $1000 to spend.
My current system is as follows: Merlin TSM MX on Skylan stands,DIY parts express sub with Behringer feedback destroyer for room eq, speaker wire is Monster M-series CX2( Paul Speltz Anti-Cables on the way), Cayin A 50-T 35watt el34 integratedwith a Virtual Dynamics power cord, Harmonic Technology Truthlink ic,Macbook Pro,Apogee Duet Dac. I use this in conjunction with a HT setup so I can control the sub via Ht remote from the B&K AVR 202.
I am not sure which direction to go. Do I get the "e" upgrade done by Bobby? Do I replace the Cayin with another integrated in the $1700 range Or get into separates? There is nothing that I don't like about my current system. I just want to take it to the next level of performance. I am not interested in a cd player. These monitors are capable in reference systems and that is why I bought them to build my system around. I might move up to the VSM one day so I want my components to be in place if/when that day comes.
Thank you for your opinions!
Bob
rrboogie

Showing 8 responses by bobbyapalkovic

bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
hi rrboogie,
i would get the mod done to the speakers to take them as far as you possibly can. then you can better match other items to them. the cost is incredibly inexpensive for what you get in return. call me at the factory for this discussion. 585 367 2390
a shotgun with the anti cable is not recommended, nor is it with any cable. the speaker is critically designed and you are openning yourself up to more issues by changing the spectral balance point and making the speaker sound leaner. use my lead free jumpers so you see the improvement possible with a single run of the anti to the bass. jumpers on top, lock the nut. then jumpers first to the tweeter and rc on next and lock the nut.
the speaker is the most important part of the system other than perhaps, the room. experience all you can with your system by making the speaker sound as good as it can. maybe you will not want to upgrade anything else. but give yourself the the chance to figure this out first hand.
best,
b
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
rrboogie,
turn around time is less than a week. more like 3 to 4 days at most for this. send them and do it now because it is the january/february slow time.
if you love your mxs, you are a shoe in for the mxe. the mxe imho, will sound more real, dynamic, focused, layered, expansive and room filling.
the clearity and quietness is a big step forward as is the perceived improved bandwidth.
best,
b
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
hi ralph,
i have used the joule and atma otls at shows for 10 or 12 years now. swampwalker makes a number of points i would agree with comparing the two. the merlins have a benign impedance characteristic which makes them very friendly to any type of amp, really. my favorite are otls and certain lower powered transformer coupled class "a" amps. there is also a more powerful 100 watt stereo amp made locally that i think the world of too (cat). the speakers were definitely designed around more delicate tube amps and that is why i like to use otls at shows. their uncomplicated sound pulls on your heart strings.
i personally own the joules vzn 100 mk ivs, as many of you know.
best,
b
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
ralph, yes i first showed with jud in 1994 when i premiered the vsm. it was in chicago. but it was not for a couple of years until he had his original marquis otls in vegas. so maybe 12 years or so. there was a few years with cat amps too, thrown in along the way. maybe...3 or 4 total.
you first heard his amp on the vsm in vegas at the alexis park. i remember when i met you. then we showed for a few years together too.
yes time flies.
:-)
best,
b
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
bob, within 25 hours or so they really start to shine. after 100 i think they are pretty much done breaking in.
i would play your favorite music at a reasonable level and enjoy the process. i will put 8 hours on them here and right out of the box i think they will sound alot better than the way they were. i need the rcs too.
best,
b
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
b,
there is no doubt that an amp change could/would improve things BUT i would not do anything until the speaker is as good as it can be. with the mod it will sound better with your amp too. read what i said above about the sound improvements. the more continuous a speaker sounds the better it will be with a tube amp or ss amp. once you know what you have you can go about other changes/improvements in a more educated manner.
best,
b
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
bob, if you want to experience some of what will happen with the full lead free mod, get a pair of the lead free cardas jumpers and see what happens.
best,
b
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
bob i will not go further in this but gr is anything but crisp. it is very neutral and with it being neutral, it is showing up something else in the system that is crisp. make no assumptions here. synergy, if that is what you are after is something very different from neutrality. and absolute neutrality will win over all when it comes to playing more of your music and pleasing/easy system changes. remember to let the anti's properly break in and that goes for all the cables as well. it is best to have a complete set of the necessary cables of each brand to know what is really going on. single run speaker with merlin jumpers will give correct spectral and tonal balance. internal bi-wires and shotguns will tend to open up the treble volume and make them bright and thin imho.
good luck.
best,
b
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