I too was suprised when I saw the Ars, they are small, but you will not think so listening to them. Something very appealing about a small, compact unit that can give you great sound. |
Pedrillo, based on your price range, I think you should talk to Bobby about the Ars Sonum Integrated. Do a search, you'll be surprised at the amplification some other Merlin owners have used before making the switch. Mine is on order. It sound fantastic at the NYC Stereo show. If you want to stick to SS, I would look for a used Ayre V5x. |
Atmasphere, Joule, and Berning for OTLs - they all work well (very) with the Merlins. CAT JL2s for P/P (good reports on VAC). Ayre and BEL for solid state. Ars Sonum or Manley for an integrated. |
Bhoage, what did the fuses do to the sound? Send me an e-mail so we don't sabatoge this thread. thanks. |
Any Merlin SS amps users out there? What are your experiences? While I use two tube amps with the Merlins, I find the Pass/First Watt Aleph J works very well indeed, though frankly the Atma-sphere OTLs are at the top of my list after having tried many with the VSMs. Perhaps the Aleph J works well because it behaves a bit like OTL in having dropping wattage into dipping impedances (not a problem with Melrins), very low NFB, and tube like damping factor (2). |
I don't know if it is the case with all speakers, but to my ears, the Merlins clearly and consistently show the superiority of tubes, no matter how good the SS. That being said I can live with the Pass gear. But at the end of the day, they're still not tubes. Just my personal preference, some may actually like SS better. But for me, Atma-sphere and Merlins are a world-class combination. Still, I would like to have an SS "back-up" or option and the best I've heard so far are the Alephs and the XA30.5. |
There is a 2002 designed in the early 80s by Richard Brown; in fact, one is up for sale now, apparently rebuilt in 2005 after UPS totalled it in transit. |
Bobby a while back (earlier this thread) you mentioned the Manley Snappers which use the EL34 for tube which you have said elsewher you like (and found in the Ars Sonum); have you had any experience directly or through your customers with EL84 based amps? |
Arj, I agree the Ars is excellent; I owned one for six months or sold, but preferred the CAT JL2 and Atma-sphere (a bit more expensive). Based on reviews and reputation, I bet the Leben is well worth trying. |
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Not surprising that you are having success with an EL34 tube based amp and the Merlins. This tube seems to be a winner with the speakers; and then there are the OTLs.... |
Jim, I have been using the Music Reference RM9 Special Edition and the Atma-sphere M60s, and while different, I like them both and no way I can decide to sell one off, they both work there own kind of magic with the Merlins, there is something special about OTLs and I'm sure you know exactly what I mean with your Joules. For someone on a relative budget, I would strongly recommend the Music Reference RM10 amp, or the Ars Sonumn or Manley Stingray integrateds. |
