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Tyler Signature System versus Merlin VSM-MM

For those who have compared these systems, I would be interested in comments.

Use is two channel, but surround speakers may be added using these as fronts for HT.

Room is 19x33. Listening positon is about 11-13 feet from 19ft wide wall. Total room volume is about 5000 cubic feet.

The room can eat low frequencies (basement with carpet, insulated walls and acoustic ceiling). If I do the HT, I definitely will be looking at a 15" or larger sub.

I have a pair to Tyler Taylo Reference Monitors in a small A/V setup and I like the sound for that purpose. They would be far short of the weight needed in the bigger room and lack the lower bottom end.

Amp is a Plinius 8200p (175 watts) and preamp is 20-year-old PS Audio which will be replaced. Arcam CD.

In the used market, the Merlins are slightly more expensive (roughly 4k vs 3K+). I tend to keep equipment a long time, so the price difference is not important.

I would be interested in comparisons. I'm in the Denver area and can't demo either system. My guess is that I would have to integrate a sub with Merlins based on what I have read.

The system will be on at all times since the the TV sound is run though it.

Thanks in advance.

Jerry
jerrym303

Showing 3 responses by bobbyapalkovic

bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
hi jerry,
and thank you for considering the vsm mm. your assumption is imho, correct. the volume of your room is a little on the large size and when you couple that with your listed ancillaries i think the tonal balance would be a on the light side for you. with less damped sounding electronics and cables you would definitely have a chance as my old demo room at the ces in vegas had 5280 cubic feet and there was plenty of bass extention and punch imho. a sub with second or fourth order slope potential is advised.
good luck,
bobby at merlin
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
paul,
first of all, i have heard tylers and they are very fine speakers. and i think you should get them for yourself.
i would consider taking you up on your offer if you seemed open minded and were able to consider that there are many more important aspects of speaker design than the size of the woofer, the quantity of them or the tweeter brand. drive components in reality are only a small indication of the potential of a given design. it is far more important how you use them. the truth of the matter is that if you have a system capable of getting great things out of tylers, it probably won't do the same for the merlin. they like to be used with completely different gear. they are also designed to do different things and be used in a different manner.
regards,
bobby at merlin
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
paul,
first of all, i have heard tylers and they are very fine speakers. and i think you should get them for yourself.
i would consider taking you up on your offer if you seemed open minded and were able to consider that there are many more important aspects of speaker design than the size of the woofer, the quantity of them or the tweeter brand. drive components in reality are only a small indication of the potential of a given design. it is far more important how you use them. the truth of the matter is that if you have a system capable of getting great things out of tylers, it probably won't do the same for the merlin. they like to be used with completely different gear. they are also designed to do different things and be used in a different manner.
regards,
bobby at merlin
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