Tenor Hybrid v. VTL MB-450 Sig.


I am planning on replacing my VTLs with the Tenor stereo 150 hybrid . Since I will not be able to hear them first and since they are a substantial outlay over what my VTLs are worth, I am hoping that some of you may have heard both. Would you mind characterizing the differences that I should expect to hear? I have Merlin VSMMs, a First Sound preamp, and an Audio Logic 24mxl DAC. Other amps that I am considering are the Joule VZN-100s, or a CAT JL2. My pre-purchase buyers remorse is that they will be better but maybe not commensurate with the extra cost. I am aware of the higher cost/diminshing returns reality. However, from what I have read, these hybrids seem to be a huge step up. If I audition a piece and hear an improvement that meets my personal cost/benefit ratio, I buy it. So, with no personal experience with the Tenors, I am finding it is a bit difficult to make the leap to buy the most exp. piece of gear in my system. Any input you may have is greatly appreciated. By the way, JTinn and I have had several conversations about this subject. He had been very helpful and generous with his time. In this post, I am looking for more of a comsumer point of view.
brooksl

Showing 1 response by tireguy

This thread is amazing I love it!!

We have manufacturer's posting: 3+/-
TG audio/CTC engineering,
Merlin(btw Bobby we met a few years ago at Mario's place in White Plains- I still liked how that room sounded with the prototype JL2- that was my first experience with your speakers) and
Shunyata!

We have Brian the super cool guy from Essential Audio. I have never seen this much interest in a thread from so many people in the business.

On topic I am a Tenor fan, I feel they are possibly the finest amplifiers available, but clearly they are not for everybody for obvious reasons(price comes to mind). VTL's are great amplifier's as well, but not in the same league of performance as the Tenor's. There are a few questions you need to ask yourself before you jump in any one direction, how much are you willing to spend? It seems like it would be worth while to get your speaker upgraded if that is an option from Merlin. I spent a long day of listening with Bobby at Toys from the Attic a few years ago and was really impressed with what his speaker's are capable of- the tweaks and adjustments he made to the system all day were amazing(after 8 hours it sounded like a completely different system). I can understand why you like them and feel that it would be worth looking into upgrading them. If your still not satisfied and want to continue on down the upgrade path I would urge you to arrange an audition on the Tenor 150s hybrid dual mono amplifier. I have listened to the original 75watt otl's and the 300 hybrid mono's and what they do NO other amplifier can do better- transparency and resolution must be heard to be believed. If you are happy with your speakers and are looking for that last bit of performance the Tenor's would be the way to go- IMO and they would be able to power your speakers with aplomb(though I don't think that is a high priority for you). In any case the advice given to you on 1-16-04 from Grant at shunyata(aka Samuel) was the best advice I have heard in a long time- don't put a lot of stock in what any one says here, including me. Good luck with your voyage and please keep us up to date with what you decide.