Merrill VERITAS monoblock amplifiers

Looks like I'm not the only one you thinks Merrill's amps are incredible! The reviewer echo's my thoughts on how real sounding they are. Good to know I am right. Great review!

I just did a shootout last Saturday with Merrill's new power cords vs the TWL 10+ pc's that came with the amps.

Thank for all responses guys!

The reason I’m interested in the Merrill VERITAS(or another cool running monoblocks) is because I was looking for:

Monoblocks that will fit in my rack- Cannot be taller than 8”.

Monoblocks that run cool- After spending another five hot months(May-Sep) here in Sacto(100+) with my Coda amp, I have to make a change. The reason is I cannot listen to my music whenever I want. The heat coming from the amp after a couple of hours of just idle listening make the room 80+. I have to wait until it cool off after 11PM to enjoy. Yes, even with the AC set at 72. And if I want to crank it up on my Apogees which is all the time, forget about it!

So, I bought a pair of AVM MA 3.2s monoblocks(NCore400?) from a dealer for 4K. After reading all the glowing reviews I thought what the heck, now I can get back to enjoying my music in a cool room. But no matter how much I tried(I really really tried), they just didn’t sound real to me. If I cannot feel the emotion of the music & feel it in my heart & make me want to stand up a boogie, it’s no real sounding. Coda 15.0 ate it for lunch. And this is after the dealer told me the 3.2’s would smoke it. Please.

So, my search continues. That is where the Merrill VERITAS come in. Yes expensive, but I cannot find another brand that implements the Ncore1200 module in the VERITAS the way Merrill Wettasinghe does. Parts quality is simply the best. Attention to detail is the best. I’m sure Merrill has to put may labor intensive hours to make the perfect. The only way to get better is if HYPEX comes out with a new & better module. This is not gong to happen for the next ten years I understand. You cannot do/get any better, period. Now I just hope/pray I will LOVE the way the Ncore1200 module sound. Plus Merrill is kind enough(really nice guy to talk to!) to sell me a demo pair for a reduced price I cannot pass up. But if the don’t make me wanna get up and jump around (or bring me to my knees for that matter) the way my Coda 15.0 does, much search will continue. If they do, man I’ll be one happy camper. I will enjoy them for a long, long time all year around!

Plus they draw SO much less power that class A/AB, I will save mula($20-$25 a month?) in the long run.

Timlub- Yes, once I have sometime with them I will post my findings.

Guidocorona- I have read your excellent review many times. Your review is one of the reasons I’m trying them out! I’m curios if you have them as your current reference amp?

Teajay- Thanks for your post & truth in you opinion! Yes, 12K is alot of cash & more that I can afford/care to spend.

Hifial- Glad to hear you are still enjoying them! Very reassuring since you have compared them to many amps, including my Coda 15.0! One question, I read a review they run warm? Tell me it isn’t so.

Look forward to any more replies! Thanks again! Paul

Great info everyone! Thanks much!
Question, why does it seem like Class-D amps are more 'system dependent' than Class-A amps. Meaning Class-A amps sound terrific in any system regardless equipment/cables/wires, but Class D doesn't?! Is this true?

Anyway, back to my post- I plan on placing my order tomorrow night for VERITAS amps & receiving them by the end of next week. Man I can't wait to hook them up to my system! Regarding my system, it's HT/music system:

Temporary source- Oppo 95( I'm looking for a tubed CD/SACD player with XLR outputs & a volume control to feed direct to the VERITAS)
Pre/pro- Classe SSP-800
Speakers- Apogee Studio Grands Piano black
Subs- Dual JL Audio 212
Cables I/C- Tara Labs The One 1M
Cables speaker- Audioquest Caldera(Double runs 6' each)

All info & advice is much appreciated!!!

I tried different power cords(Shunyata,AQ,Cardas) & returned to the pc that came with the amps- Triode Wire Company. I think they are great pc's! Bass is tighter & sound stage is more clear/precise with better depth. I will look into getting more pc's from Merrill!

Guiido- I use AQ Caldera wires right now. Soon I want to upgrade to Tara Labs 'One' which is the same as my IC's which I like alot. Something about that rectangular copper that just sounds right to me.

Hifial- Give me another week so I can have two weeks with them before I post my final impressions. But I will give you a hint- Muddy Waters himself came down from Heaven the night I purchased them to give me a private concert!

I’ve now owned the VERIRAS for two week, so after 250-300 hrs I’m ready to spill my guts!

The Merrill VERITAS is incredible amplifiers I have ever owned, period-and not by a small margin. I’ll be bold and say someday Class A/AB & tube amps will be dinosaurs. Yes I said it! I feel these are the future of amplifiers. The way they are so clear distinct .3Dish .free from the speakers quiet ..dynamic ...fast, you feel like you can reach out & touch them. I was & still am saying HOLY %#$@ with my mouth ajar. I think Merrill should call them ‘Holographic Virtual Reality 3D Machines’!


My review/writing skills are terrible, so today I told myself to write down 10 great things about the amps. It grew to over 40! So I’ll start my review tonight & finish it later. Below remarks are (truly) how I felt when listening, and how I feel now. The speakers used were my Apogee Studio Grands, and later the Mark & Daniel Apollo II’s. No particular order:

1. The first night I didn’t want to do any critical listening, but could help myself! So late(12AM), as I mentioned before listening to Muddy Waters MFSL was incredible- presence, speed, detail, depth, live, I could go on. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was spooky! On track# 6-‘Cold Weather Blues’ I felt like he was right in front of me. The way he was plucking/sliding his fingers on the strings, hitting the guitar, his voice from quiet to loud quick as a whip, making me jump everytime! So spooky it was putting a knot in my stomach & I couldn’t breath/sleep & had a smile on my face. I’ve owned this disk, 20-25 years & have never heard it like that, EVER on ANY system.

2. The next day the more I though about it the more I felt like Muddy himself came down from Heaven! So spooky I tell you, I still felt that knot in my stomach. So I pulled out the sample of heavy hitters: Jennfer Warnes, Mary Stallings, Katie Melva, Babatunde Olatunji Circle of Drums, Sheffield Labs drum tracks, Burmester CD-03, Telarc Great Fantasy Adventure, Telarc Thriller, Telarc Sampler V, Dorian Pictures At The Exhibition, Eric Johnson, Nirvana Bleach, Steve Va Passion & Warfare Pink Floyd SACD. The more I listened the bigger my smile got & said Holy %$#@ over & over the more I felt like: I’m going to crap in my pants, then the whole top of my head started to tingle like crazy & then my smile grew ear to ear. Like hearing them all for the first time playing in front of me. Kati Melva’s voice on Deep Purple brought me to my knees like never before & Eric Johnson’s/Steve Vai’s guitar riffs had me doing perfect pushups! Yes, serious boggie factor.

3. I love drums. I played as a teenager & lived across the street from a band member that had a wild Yamaha double bass system. Everyday he would practice I would go over a play around & listen to him play in his garage, for hours/days/weeks/months/years. I even was a ‘roadie’ for his band a number of years. Setup/tune/mic/demic/breadown. My point is I know the sound of drums pretty good. The VERITAS amps reproduce them better than I have ever heard before in my house. The Sheffield Drum track(s) were so real, precise, dynamic, perfect placement of the drum set, striking of the drum heads(make me jump!), cymbals so real, hi hat opening & closing so real(tingling of the head). I also have a Neil Peart drum solo track that hit so hard(poop in pants) not only did it feel like it could bust my jaw, it could tear a wall down! I’m not kidding, ironfisted, rockhard turn it up louder and getter harder/better BASS! Usually amps lose it when turned up, not the VERITAS! The Kodo drums on the Berm-030 cd had such unbelievable speed and impact, it reminded me of the real thing attending local Japanese Church back in my Karate days! The circle of drums SACD #1 track gets me in a trance with it rhythm I even bought an African drum. With the VERITAS, I felt like I was in Africa playing along! There drum(s) sounded just like mine! My head was spinning in delight!

4. How can a 35AMP per channel(VERITAS) sound more powerful than a greater than 100AMP per channel(Coda 15.0) amplifier? Efficiency?

5. I feel like I can’t go back to SS amps. It’s like going from HD to SD video. To me the VERITAS are HR(high resolution) & SS amps are SR(standard resolution). Just like HD(video) I can’t go back to SR(audio). Big difference. No comparison. Those apposed not sure what you are hearing,

MUCH MORE later guys, if you want to hear it all(35 points/questions/remarks left)!
Yes, I’m one happy camper!!!!!!!!

Sorry for the delay guys, EOM at work is crazy 12-14hr days. Plus I need the cash to pay for the VERITAS amps. The amps will be here Friday! I plan on calling in sick nextweek!

Timlub- The Coda amp is the best amp I have ever owned. It never runs out of juice & is sweet sounding. Example, I have a pair of Mark & Daniel Apollo II’s that have made every amp I owned clip when I wanted to crank it up. Not the Coda 15.0. Also, I live 5 miles from the Coda factory so I can get the 15.0 switched to a 33.0 for no charge! The only other amp I have tried at my house is the Plinus SB-301, great sound amp & can give the Coda a run for it’s money. But MUCH hotter running plus no stand by feature. Always on. The other amps I have owned are(in order) Adcom 5800/Adcom 5802/Classe 200/Classe 201/Parasound A21/Bel Canto 1000M/Classe CAM-200/ Bel Canto 1000M MK-2/Coda CX/Coda 15.0/...VERITAS?!

Guido- Thanks for all the info. I plan on using my Shunyata Python Helix Alpha 1M with the VERITAS plugged in to 20A dedicated circuit. I also have a pair of Cardas Golden REF 26’ pc’s that I will try.

Audiooracle- Appreciate your honesty & I can relate. That is why I sold my Bel Canto’s. Twice. Power galore but sterile. So I really hope all the reviews are true about the VERITAS & prove me wrong & maybe you too. Yes, the Janszen's ZA 2.1 looks like great speakers & a killer deal. I hope to hear them some day.

Yage- I haven’t heard the Anthem M1’s, but remember reading some negative reviews regarding being harsh in the treble. My Apogee’s will reveal that right away.

Hifial- Thanks! I know my system cam be better, but I really enjoy the way it sounds. Yes, I definitely need to invest in a computer so I can download HD tracks. Not the best person with computers but I look forward to the upgrade. Thanks for the tips bud!

BTW, besides the Apogee’s, I also will be trying these speakers with the VERITAS:
Raidho Xtreme’s (MTM design)
Mark & Daniel Apollo II’s
Silverline Grand La Folia’s

Keep the info coming!!! THANKS!

Correction- That's 26", not 26' pc's.

Hey Tim- The CX was nohwere as sweet sounding or as dynamic. Much more Class A power on tap. Better presence & snap on drums.

https://app.audiogon.com/listings/cd-sacd-players-oppo-bdp-95-original-owner-like-new-priced-low-to-sell-fast-2013-10-04-digital-95670

Hey guys- I will be posting my findings/review of the Merrill VERITAS amplifiers very soon. Paul

I have had them powered up with a signal on since I received them last Frday. But it only took 12hrs to come to a conclusion on there performance.

Question-Should they be powered up all the time(like other Class D amps) or shut off after use everytime?!

Don't forget guys these are demo units that reviews(Tone Audio) used so I suspect there are many hours are on them already. That is the only reason I gave them a listen so soon.

Ha, I'll loosen up the Stillpoints when I get home tonight. I really would like to install taller footers to accommodate my bulky AQ wires.

Can't wait to tell you guys my findings!!!

Cool- Thanks for the info Snopro!

Interconnect cables- I thought I had to downgrade cables when I received the VERITAS since they are now further away from my pre/pro. I went from 1/2M(Tara Labs The One) to 2M(Tara labs The Two) & thought my system would take a small step back. Boy was I wrong! The VERITAS showed me cables don't matter as much as I thought! My point- Don't waste your money on $,$$$+ cables, spend it on the equipment. No matter what the cost, if the equipment doesn't have the resolution, the cables won't matter no matter what the cost/design. Period! Thanks Merill for saving me big bucks on cables.

You got it 4orreal!

SO now after a month of listening(600+hrs), the VERITAS continue to sound better & better. They never fail to amaze me. The way they control my Apogee ribbon panel is incredible! Transients are so lighting fast to where I find myself jumping out of my seat! My Apogee's never sounded better, by a wide margin. The VERITAS also make it seem like I'm bi-amping. My Mark & Daniel Apollo speakers had the same effect. So much power on tap that is so clear & quiet, very additive!

The other day on background music(directv#855&856) there was a upright xylophone being played that stopped me in my tracks! So real sounding it was scary! Every tone coming out of complete blackness & moving perfectly left to right with every strike of the mallet. Un-frickin-real! I-LOVE-IT! Also New-Age music benefits so much from the quietness of the VERITAS! You have to hear it to understand what I mean. If anyone of you cool audionuts in Nor-Cal, stop by for a listen!

BTW- Merrill is sending me some of his cables(interconnects & speaker) to try out.

Much more later guys!

You bet Seadogs1! They will be here Monday.

Hey Seadogs1!

Now that I have had Merrill Audio ANAP cables(1M & 1.5M) in my system break in for a week, I sat down today to compare to my reference Tara labs the ‘TWO’. I have had the ‘ONE’ in 1/2M in my system as my reference, but since I have installed VERITAS monoblocks which are further away, all I have in 1M is the ‘TWO’.

So, to tell the truth I really love Tara Labs cables & expected it to be better. The ‘ONE’s’ have beaten every other cables I have tried. Until now.

I used my Burmester CD-03 as my reference cd for my comparison as it has a little bit of everything & is one of my better if not the best sounding cd’s I have(better be for $45 bucks!). I played it over & over enjoying it immensely with the ANAP cables thinking the difference won’t be very much & I wanted to be sure to hear the Tara Labs is better once I place it in the system. I was really being biased towards the Tara Labs & was not looking forward to telling Merrill I like the them cables better than his! Boy was I wrong.

Once I place the ‘TWO’ in my system, it was like a blanket over the music. So I wanted to be fair & let them ‘break in’ for a while playing. So I came back 4 hours later, no better/same thing. Not even close as clear/real sounding. I couldn’t believe it, my patent ‘rectangular’ copper Tara Labs where being smoked, no way. I could hear the midrange/treble was better on the ANAP cables, but I was starting to believe the ‘TWO’ bass was better. So I put the ANAP cables back in, not even close. Pitch, punch, decay, was better with the ANAP cables. So from the bass to the treble everything was better! Bravo Merrill!

I will be placing my two pairs of Tara Labs the ‘TWO’ 1M XLR I/C’s on Audiogon for sale.

Review of Merrill’s ANAP speaker cables will be coming soon!

Bill-k- Yes, $499 up to 3 meters(!) interconnect or speaker cable is VERY resonable in today's insanely priced cable market.

The new power cord offered by Merrill are better. Voices have better focus & definition- before they were kinda vague & had a slight resonance to them. Not anymore & I wouldn’t have known if I didn’t hear the difference between the two pc’s. Soundstage is much cleaner more dimensional now. Upper bass pitch is also now more distinct & tighter(which I thought was a strong point of the TWL 10+). Dare I say, you haven’t heard the true potential of the VERITAS until you have tried his new pc’s. No Ultra SS footers will do this. Next weekend I want to try them on my subs(JL -F212) which I have TWL 7+’s on them now.

Another great review on the VERITAS:

http://parttimeaudiophile.com/2014/01/12/merrill-audio-veritas-monoblock-amplifiers

Now that I have owned the Merrill VERITAS amps for close to six months now, I would like to elaborate my findings & system changes/upgrades I have done. All upgrades were purchased(except for new source) thru Merrill Audio. BTW- Any owner of the VERITAS get’s an automatic discount! First, the system:

1. Changed all my(6) receptacles to Furutech GTX-D which match the TWL 10+ power cords that came with the amps & match my Harmonic Technology Magic Reference II special edition power cords that I use on my pre/pro & source. Both products utilize Furutech plugs.
2. Changed the VERITAS feet from Stillpoints Ultra Mini’s to Ultra SS. Made everything more precise plus bass & treble is cleaner. Soundstage is even wider & deeper on my Apogee speakers now. Just amazing.
3. Changed all my interconnects(two 3.5ft pairs, 10ft pair) & speaker cables(two 4ft pairs) to Merrill’s ANAP cables. I thought my Tara Labs The One & RSC Sub I/C’s & AudioQuest Caldrea S/C’s were my final stop. Boy was I wrong once I heard/compared Merrill’s ANAP cables. Much more clean/musical, fullrange & dynamic as ever. My JL F212 subs the bass is so deep & bass waves are cleaner with much more impact! Plus they are1/4 the price of the other cables I used! What a killer deal Merrill’s ANAP cables are. I’m finally off the crazy Audiogon buy/try/sell merry-go-round!
4. Changed my Oppo-95 to the new 105 which has variable volume control so I can go direct to the VERITAS amps. Nothing better than a direct connection. Period.

So now that I have made all those changes my system has never sounded better in my 29 years of audio. That is a BIG statement for me & I couldn’t be happier. Never did I expect when I was looking for a cooler running amp than my Coda 15.0 Class-A I would find my dream amp- much cooler, smaller & better amp. Not that my Coda was bad, it’s a great amp! But the VERITAS stole my heart. The cooool running really is the clinger. BUT, if they did ran hot like Class-A, forget about it- I would have returned them without a doubt no matter how great they sounded. Does it sound like a Class-A amp, no. I did notice the VERITAS have a little lighter/faster tone than my Coda. Or you can take it as my Coda was sluggish. All I know is I haven’t not stop listening nor shut off the amps since I bought them! I’ve almost have goin’ thru my 500+ CD collection & it’s like hearing them for the first time. Yes I said it. I’m listening my old Nazareth ‘From the Vaults’ CD right now & every tune never sounded better! Man I LOVE the way my system sounds now! I’m really looking forward to high definition DSD downloads. One of my audio/music friends did let me borrow three SACD’s: Stockfish Records Sara K- Made in the Shade, Capitol Records Nat ‘King’ Cole- After Midnight, Proprius Sound Cantate Domingo. All sound so real/lifelike with the Oppo-105 to Merrill VERITAS amps with the direct connection via Merrill’s ANAP cables. It’s like Nat is right in my livingroom playing in front of me. So cool! But my fav is the Cantate Domingo, what an incredible voice & recording.

If you still think I’m crazy, check out the latest online stereomojo review. The reviewer echo’s a lot of my original thoughts I wrote about when I first bought them. Quiet, dynamic, lifelike, cool, small & Merrill’s incredible built quality, Too funny! It even won the MAXIMUM MOJO award! I every review I have read has been nothing but positive, bigtime. I look forward to reading about them in the Absolute Sound or Sterophile someday, I hope. BTW- Merrill is a first class guy all the way- nice as came be to talk too & a very sincere honest person. He could charge ALOT more for his ANAP cables, but he doesn’t & I respect that very much.

So as you can see yes, I’m totally smitten with my VERITAS amps in the six months of use & don’t plan on changing anything in my system for years to come. Great feeling content wise & money($$$$$) wise. Many thanks & great job Merrill!

Later guys!

Hi Guido- thanks for chiming in again! Yes I would love to own the Siamese Twins. But being that Merrill was kind enough to sell the VERITAS amps to me as a demo pair, I was able to them at a reduced cost. Maybe someday(3-5 years) I will be able to afford that hot dish. Thanks Guido, now you have me wondering.... ; ) Any Siamese Twins owners out there?!

Hey Matt- thanks for the compliment & chiming in again! Looks like you have a killer system there. VA The Music speakers are awesome looking/sounding speakers & must very dynamic with the VERITAS driving them! Do you have any inclination to try the Twins someday?!