Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Merlin Music Inc. VSM MMe Speakers by mikeyaya

Model:	VSM MMe
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	8200$
Description:	Lead Free
Manufacturer URL:	Merlin Music Inc.

Review by mikeyaya on September 04, 2009 at 18:26:20
IP Address: 74.186.103.117 Add Your Review
for the VSM MMe

I decided to recently sell my beautiful pair of refurbished Quad 57 ESL's. I have had a few pairs and have had a love affair with these speakers but the warmth began to grate on me after a few years. I always thought of my room as bright so I gravitated to warm speakers, Quads, Spendor, Harbeth. Once I sold the Quads I was not sure what to do. I did not want the speakers already mentioned and I had tried Martin Logans and Proacs and was not going back there although I really liked the Proacs. I did not know what to do but while cruising the Audiogon I saw a pair of Merlin VSM MMe speakers for sale very close to my house. I had never heard these speakers but I bought them and set them up in my room. What I heard just blew me away. I have always loved monitor speakers and these were the best I ever heard. Come to think of it these are the best speakers the I have ever heard. Anyone who thinks that the Quad 57 is the best ever has never heard Merlins. They far surpass the Quads in all areas. The sound is so clear. No added anything, just music. I now understand neutrality. I have some good equipment and use a Nottingham Dais turntable. I finally am hearing the real beauty of this table. The interesting thing is that I have not got all the cables matched up yet. I am using some old Goertz speaker cables. It sounds so good that I am afraid of messing with the system. I am using VTL TT 25 amps, Rogue 99 Magnum pre, the Nott. and a Cary 303/300 CD player. The Merlins have made this nice system really first class. This is one outstanding product.

Product Weakness:	does not plumb the lower depths partly the fault of my amps
Product Strengths:	beautifully neutral and musical. Clear and not harsh

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: VTL TT 25
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Rogue 99
Sources (CDP/Turntable): cary 303/300 and Nottingham Dais
Speakers: Merlin VSM MMe
Cables/Interconnects: various
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, Brazilian and Rock
Room Size (LxWxH): 18 x 19 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments: None
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Richard Gray 400
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	VTL TT 25
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Rogue 99
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	cary 303/300 and Nottingham Dais
Speakers:	Merlin VSM MMe
Cables/Interconnects:	various
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, Brazilian and Rock
Room Size (LxWxH):	18 x 19 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments:	None
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Richard Gray 400
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner