Question for Merlin VSM/ARS Sonum owners

I agree with you comment regarding OTLs, yet the Ars is in many ways a great entry and exit unit with the Merlins. A solid recommendation any way you look at it, but not the last word in bringing out the Merlin magic.

Yup, why kept my Atma-spheres:)

Not saying the Fila is better than what you have, but it is certainly a great pairing with the Merlin, between ergonomics and money in your pocket, I don't you will be dissapointed. I made the move from CAT amp and pre to the Ars, and in terms of musical satisfaction I thought the Ars was right up there. If you want to improve on what you have and the Ars, I think you would need to make a move to OTL amps (Joule or Atma-sphere), but for many, they could just live with the Ars and not think twice about it. I do prefere the Atma-sphere separates, but you are talking 3x $$$, alot more tubes and heat, and space.

Stick with the JJ EL34L (and I think you really need to stick with the "L"s though the standard 34s will work)and the Jan Phillips that come with the amp. The EL34Ls have quite a bit more bottom end the EL34s and the amp is voiced with that in mind.

Well, you do have a preamp/amp combo selling for a bit over 3x the price versus a small, lower powered integrated "voiced" for the speaker, seems like a fair fight to me. Should not be too shocking you might prefer a $12,000+ combo (and Dennis Had is not chopped liver) to the Ars, but the question is how far does the Ars take you at a far lower price point? Pretty far I think. Ultimately, I prefered my $13,000+ Atma-sphere combo, but I sort of expected that. That being said, one could easily live with the Ars/Merlin combo, get off the merry-go-round and just enjoy the music without worrying about the next upgrade, tweak, buying expensive ICs or NOS tube rolling.

Thuan98, you have a great system, it is time to enjoy.

Amperex Bugle Boy 12AU7 is a great tube.

If you want NOS tubes, there is no better source for testing and getting what you think your getting that Andy at Vintage Tube Services. Don't know if you will like them better than the JAN Phillips 5814s as I never tube rolled the Ars when I owned it and there is something to the idea that it might just very well be "voiced" for the JAN Phillips, even if the Amperex is a better tube in most applications.

Bobby and the designer both make the claim that the Jan Phillips is the best NOS in the ARS, any reason to doubt their claim? Well as has been said, at least spend some time with the supplied tubes before jumping on the tube rolling trail.

Excellent review T. Some times you just have to listen to something to get past your preconcieved notions. Few believe that a smallish 2-way speaker could be among the very best speakers in the world - till they hear the Merlins for themselves. 130+ "reviewers" (user reviews on audioreview.com) seem to think so too, and you can't that kind postive response through advertising and cocktails.