Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Merlin Music Inc. TSM-MXe Speakers by mkletecka@gmail.com General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

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Model:	TSM-MXe
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$4000
Description:	2-Way Monitor - No lead Version
Manufacturer URL:	Merlin Music Inc.

Review by mkletecka@gmail.com on April 09, 2008 at 04:30:52 IP Address: 72.219.167.134

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For reference and comparison, over the years I have owned SF Concerto’s & Guarneri’s (not the new memento version), Magneplanar 3.6, Spendor, JMR, and Vienna Acoustics. Also, if I had to choose which I liked best, it would be the Mag. 3.6’s, Guarneri’s and Vienna’s, which I preferred equally for different reasons and only sold them due to various relocations/space issues.
When deciding on replacement speakers and integrated amplifier this go around, a sincere “cost conscious, get the best I can” approach was utilized to address my smaller 1000 sq. ft. living environment. After carefull consideration, I decided on the Merlin’s TSM MXE’s based on having listened to them a couple of years ago, combined with the many favorable reviews from both professional and hobbyist reviewers who have had/used similar speakers/equipment that I was familiar with.

THE SOUND: After approximately 120+ hours of usage, I find the TSM’s are the best that I have owned thus far, strong statement buts it’s because they just do everything “right” in a perfectly balanced, neutral /seamless manner, allowing me to totally enjoy and explore the proper placement & size of various instruments, hear the lead singer, back up and/or chorus in a life sized 3D presentation, along with the emotion, color & texture that the music being played has to offer. Because of this, I just forget about them and embrace the musical presentation (something, my above three favorites lacked in some degree or another). Also, the TSM’s are very “revealing”, but at the same time no way harsh and can be listened to 24/7. In addition, the TSM’s have no boundaries of H, W, D and provide a virtual wall of sound, if the music dictates and I can almost sit/stand anywhere in my room and not be out of their sweet spot. Some have said that the TSM’s bass can fall short; however, because I find the TSM’s to be perfectly balanced/seamless, they don’t miss capturing the essence of the lower octaves (a subwoofer might be in the future for me, but I don’t find myself thinking or missing it when the music is playing, if ya know what I mean).

LOOKS/FINISH: Let’s face it, for most of us this is a factor, particularly if it is being placed in one’s everyday living environment. With this in mind, I find the TSM MXE’s in “Black Ice Blue” are visually stunning and possess a timeless, handmade craftsmanship, heirloom quality about them, which visually complement and not overtake my living environment. Because of this, I rather prefer the looks of the TSM MXE’s on an everyday/live with em basis compared to the more elegant, visually stunning, Italian themed, Guarneri’s. In closing, I highly recommend to anyone who is looking for speakers in this price range or regardless of price to try to take a listen to the TSM’s, for to me anyway they have proven to be “one” of the few, far and between “best” all-time purchases I have made in this hobby of ours and most importantly they have exceeded all my expectations!

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Product Weakness:

0 to 5 Hrs of break in the TSM’s were dry/thin/lifeless, then begin to show their stuff around 20+ hrs. & fully blossomed at about 120 hrs. Although not a problem for me, the color “Black Ice Blue” almost appears gloss black in low/ambient light conditions (unlike the flash photo sample on Merlin’s website) and to achieve that color, naturally bright light rooms/dedicated track lighting/or other lighting options are required

Product Strengths:

a trully balanced/seemless musical presentation

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Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier:	Dialogue II
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Cary CD 303/200
Speakers:	Merlin TSM mxe
Cables/Interconnects:	Audience AU 24
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	all forms
Room Size (LxWxH):	15' x 15' x 20'
Room Comments/Treatments:	none
Time Period/Length of Audition:	120+
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	PS Audio outlets
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

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