Upgrade from Merlin VSM-M to What?

Dave, what were you conclusions regarding the ARS. I'm contemplating making a similar move to yours, although from CAT to ARS. What are you impressions? How did the "test" go?

Thanks Dave. I'm going to give this ARS integrated a try. I know that Bobby knows his speakers inside out, and had this integrated developed/optimzed for the VSMs (not that it would not sound good with other speakers); is very promising indeed. As you say, there is the price difference, and one is tempted to think this $3,500 integrated unit could not possibly be as good (or real, real close) as my $20,000 seperates - but if my experience ends up being like yours, who would not want to save the money and own a much smaller, lighter, and less expensive to buy and maintain, alternative to the Joule/Atma/Berning/CAT combos that have long been used to make the Merlin's sing. I'm sure I'll have to wait a while to get them, but I'm very interested in the possibilities. I'm ready to be "schocked". Thanks for your comments.

Tubegroover, I agree with your comments regarding the Berning, in fact some very good reasons to own the Bernings. I was thinking of my 180lb CAT Jl2s with 22 tubes, etc. I've not heard the Bernings, but one cannot argue with the ergonomic factors of light weight, long tube life, and low heat - very good attributes in any amplifier. I'll tell you one thing, if the "tiny" simple ARS can compete with my CAT, I'll be talking about it an awful lot to anyone willing to listen. I get the sense (hasn't happened yet) that a long term audiophile who as tried many pre and amp combinations finally finds an integrated that performs to the level of SOTA separates will like get off the equipment merry-go-round. Well, maybe I'm kidding myself. Although for me the VSM-MXs has really stopped me from considering different speakers. For my taste in music, sound, and room they never make me wonder about my "next" speaker. If the ARS could do the same - well that would be something.

Well, I did it. My order is in for the Ars Sonum. It will be interesting to A/B against the Placette Active (which I prefered for the CAT SL1)/CAT JL2 combo. I don't believe for one second that the Ars Sonum is the equal of the CAT Amp, which IMHO is one of the great amps on the market and perhaps the very best P/P amp. The CAT will sing in ANY system, with almost any speaker. In that sense the CAT is clearly better, because it has wider, more universal application. That being said, I'm buying into the idea that an amp that is highly optimized to perform very well with a specifc speaker in mind is very promising - while I suspect (know?) the CAT is the greater amp overall, the Ars Sonum just might be able to provide just what the Merlins need to sound their best. If after A/B the two, the Ars Sonum is close to my current $20,000 worth of separates, I will be selling my Placette and CAT on Audiogon, pursuing a simpler path to musical enjoyment. If it can't beat them IMO, I will tell you that to. I suspect it will be several months before I get the unit for evaluation, by which time this thread may indeed have a expired. But then I'll start a new thread in the Pre/Amp category where that discussion should probably take place. Thanks.