Merlin vsm mme owners, Cardas cabling Question.

I recently acquired Merlin VSM-mme's, which are driven by a modified Pathos TT RR, with a Modwright-Sony 5400ES front end, and Bybee Power Purifier 'Stealth' AC power conditioner. I tried many different cables with this setup including Cardas Golden Reference (have not tried Clear). The Cardas cables were not in the top three based on my listening and the ears of several audiophile friends. I settled on the extraordinarliy transparent Cerious Nano Reference speaker cables with Harmonix HS-101GP or Vitus Andromeda (have both) interconnects. I have Isoclean Supreme Focus, Lessless Signature, Kubala Sosna Emotion, and Audio Magic Clairvoyant Liquid Air AC cords. This cable combination blew away an all Cardas loom, and the substitution of one or several Cardas Golden Reference cables cleary degraded the sound.

Yes, my comments only pertain to my system. Don't know the age of the GR's I listened to, but they belonged to audiophile club members/friends who bought them from dealers so I assume they were authentic.

Don't know if the GR's I listened to were cold forged, but both the Harmonix and Vitus Andromeda interconnects with the top of the line (there are two models) Cerious Nano Reference speaker cables were so much better than the GR's in my system, that I'd be surprised if cold forging could close the gap. I would like to try the Master BAM and RC at some point, but didn't make it a priority because in my system the VSM-mme's sound better without the Super BAM (I am using the RC). Even in full battery mode the Super BAM has a slight but audible electronic signature. Based on what I've read that would not be the case with the Master BAM, but I wanted to focus on cables first. In my small room the bass is more than adequate without the Super BAM. In use the Super Bam is OK with acoustic bass, but electronic bass is sometimes too much for the room. With the cables I have the VSM-mme's sound glorious in my system and I am very happy with them.

I think the reason the VSM-mme's sound better to me without the Super BAM may be the single ended, zero negative feedback Inpol circuitry in my modified Pathos TT RR. Both in circuit design and sound the TT mimics an SET amp. I have seen several references online over the years to the VSM's sounding better without the BAM when used with an SET amp. For example: Part 3 of the July 2005 Six Moons.com "Industry Feature" on SET amps ends with a list of SET friendly speakers (see http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/set/set_3.html). This list includes the Merlin VSM but it specifically says "Merlin Music Systems VSM without BAM". It is probably an oddity of my system and particularly the Pathos TT that the VSM's sound better without the Super BAM, and I wouldn't be surprised if VSM owners not using an SET or Inpol amp experienced opposite results. I will report what I hear when I try the Master BAM and RC. As for the GR cables, I did my cable comparisons both with and without the Super BAM. I have also heard the GR's in other systems. The GR's weren't bad in my system, at their price point, and in a different system their synergy with the VSM's might be the deciding factor. But their performance in my system was just not on the same level as the cables I settled on. I will also report what I hear if/when I try the Cardas Clear cables. Not intending to be controversial - just sharing experiences. I also want to be clear how pleased I am with the VSM-mme's. I spent three years auditioning speakers to replace my Ars Aures monitors. Among the speakers that would fit in my small room, the Merlins are the best I've heard. They are world class small room speakers, and are my first recommendation to anyone who asks for advice regarding speakers. Note that a complete description of my system can be found at Audio Asylum, Inmate Systems, under "CBernardino's system". Perhaps there is something else about my system that is contributing to the results I'm getting.

Yes - the Six Moons piece was an "Industry Feature", not a review.

I will keep an open mind with regard to the BAM, and at some point I will try the Master BAM.