[JasonW]

I've had my Merlin VSM-MMs with B-Bam for about two months, and I thought I should share my thoughts on them. As with all reviews, this is just one reviewer’s opinion; your milage may vary. Before I get started, I thionk it is worth giving a little background info on myself, as I feel it demonstrates Bobby Palkovic’s dedication and willingness to help potential buyers, or just those curious about his speakers. I’m a 23 year old medical student whose audio system evolved from an aiwa mini stereo system to a pair of PSB Stratus Gold i’s in the course of about 7 years. I view the Gold i’s as fantastic speakers and an incredible value to boot. However, over the course of 2 years, I began noticing some sonic flaws in them. The highs can be somewhat harsh, the bass a bit loose, and the imagining a lacking the last bit of refinement.

Deciding to upgrade I began looking for a speaker that could offer that last degree of refinement and musicality. I listened to the Paradigm reference series and most of the NHT models, but was not at all impressed enough to replace my PSBs with any of these models. Luckily, when I moved to town to begin medical school I moved very close to a B&W dealer. I have listened to every B&W Nautilus model except the 800s and have spent several hours with the 801s. I found these bright and was generally unimpressed, as I felt my Gold’s compared highly favorably, especially considering the 801s were well over SIX times the price I paid for the PSBs. After each session, I happily went home to my comparatively modest audio system.

After much research, I decided to purchase a used pair of Merlin VSM-M’s off of audiogon. I called Bobby Palkovic at Merlin Music to be sure the Merlins would be reasonably synergistic with my [then] current system. Bobby enthusiastically greeted me, and I clearly explained to him that I was going to buy a used pair of his speakers (and consequently not a pair from him) as well as the fact I was a 23 year old. Most any other salesman, much less the owner of a speaker company, would not have given me more than a few moments of his time. Bobby spent almost and hour on the phone with me explaining the design philosophy of his speakers, component matching, and answered all of my many questions. Bobby was so incredibly courteous I decided to purchase a pair of speakers with battery bam from him.

Current audio system (Home theater components not listed):
CD transport/SACD: Sony SCD-777es (modified by Richard Kern)
DAC: Audiomeca Enkianthus X DAC
Amp: Belles 150a Reference
Preamp: Joule LA-100 Mk. III
Interconnects: all Cardas golden reference interconnects
Speaker Cables: Cardas SE-9 single ended.

The speakers/b-bam arrived in two boxes, very well packaged. After unpacking them, I installed each with the 3 spike configuration, single RC network, and set the bam to full AC power, as I had not had a chance to charge its battery. I put in the CD “Randy Travis Live at Last.” While not an audiophile recording, it is a good one, and I thoroughly enjoy Randy’s voice. Within the first 15 seconds, my jaw LITERALLY dropped. My immediate observation was the unbelieveable imaging produced by the VSM-MMs. The image, soundstage, and sense of air made the PSB Gold i’s sound almost like a boombox. While I may be exaggerating somewhat, there is NO comparison between the two. I instantly heard things in the recording I had never heard before. The Merlins are as transparent a speaker as I have ever heard and seem to completely disappear; the music seems to come magically from the air rather than the speaker boxes.

The Merlin’s pinpoint imaging, huge soundstage, and sense of air between the instruments/voices vastly surpassed the PSBs as well as the B&W 801s. I heard in 15 seconds what I spent hours listening for in the more expensive, mammoth 801s. Far more so than the aforementioned speakers, the VSMs capture the decay of an instrument or noise seemingly beyond belief. Cymbals sound like cymbals, not only with the initial strike but also as the sound disappears into oblivion. While the microdynamics and decay of the Merlins are always apparent, I was startled with my initial listening test. Of all things I had an episode of Law and Order recorded on my DVR. Usually listening to my DVR with my CAL pre/pro in Dolby Pro Logic model, I had just happened to be listening to the episode in stereo through my PSBs. I was interrupted by a phone call as I was watching a scene that had the detectives investigating a priest’s death in a confessional inside a large cathedral. I rewound the scene and watched it again. Within 10 minutes of resuming the episode, my Merlins arrived. After installing them and spending some time listening to music, I began rewatching the Law and Order episode with my VSMs in stereo. When it came to the cathedral scene, I noticed a slight echo that persisted for part of the scene, disappeared, and then reemerged. Unclear as to its origin, I reconnected the Gold i’s and heard no echo. Connecting the Merlins again, I heard the transient echo, and then it hit me. When the scene was recorded in the cavernous church, the slight echo of the voices was captured, and in scenes inside the confessional, no echoes were created. The Merlins reproduced the microdynamic retrieval and decay of the echoes with startling effect, providing and unreal sense of realism and space. The PSBs, while truly wonderful speakers, are completely outclassed by the Merlins and provided no hint of the echoes.

I could go on for days talking about my initial observations. Instead, I will try to provide a review and my further observations and comments about the VSM-MMs’ sound.

Sound: Invariably in any discussion of the Merlin VSM series, concerns of the Merlins being bright and/or lacking bass are raised by those who have never heard them, heard them only briefly, or heard them improperly setup and/or using poor equipment/recordings. I strongly feel that neither of these concerns are justified when the Merlins are properly set up using compatible components and good recordings. Without a doubt, the Esotar tweeter is a work of art. The highs on the Merlin are smooth as silk, displaying absolutely no trace of grain or harshness. An instrument’s natural decay is carried into infinity giving an unparalleled sense of realism. Even at uncomfortably high volumes, no sense of distortion or breaking up is apparent. Poorly recorded sources will sound poor when played through any semi competent system; even so, the Esotar tweeter is incredibly non fatiguing to listen to, completely lacking in the mechanical harshess that so often plagues metal dome tweeters. It almost doesn’t bear mentioning that decent quality source recordings through the Merlins’ tweeters displays a sense of realism, air, and resolution that is completely non fatiguing, lacking all harshness, and utterly addictive.

Bass wise, the VSM-MMs produce an amount of bass that seems impossible for the 6.5” woofer. With the battery bam (all serious listening done in battery only mode), bass output is taut and exquisitely layered. The Merlins reproduce the amount of bass present in the source recording without adding a layer of coloration. Bass shy recordings are quickly revealed for what they are. With proper setup (Bobby P. is always ready to help with this aspect) and quality recordings, the Merlins produce deep (down to the bottom of the 30Hz-ish range) that is cleaner than any I have ever heard and lightning fast.

Imaging/Soundstage. The first quality of the Merlins that grabbed my attention was their pinpoint imaging along with massive soundstage. Instruments and vocals are clearly separated and defined in a soundstage that projects slightly forward and far behind the speakers as well as beyond their borders. The end result is that the Merlins completely disappear in the soundstage, a truly beautiful experience. I had a non audiophile friend listen to the beginning of a rendition of Carmen’s Toreador Song, which features a broad array of vocals at nearly every conceivable place in the soundstage, some in motion and some remaining still. With the VSM-MMs, the vocals were precisely placed within the enormous soundstage, far better than my PSB Stratus Gold i’s, and even considerably better than the B&W 801s. After listening, my friend asked me to play it with my center channel, and whatever other hidden speakers I was using, off. Using test track 4 of Stereophile’s test CD 2, the acoustic guitar solo, I asked a friend and guitar player to listen with the lights off. He remarked that he could be convinced that a real guitar was being played in the room. When I asked him to point to the speaker or speakers playing the music, he promptly pointed to the image and said the center channel speaker was the only one playing. When I informed him only VSM-MMs were playing, he asked me to repeat the track. Doing so, he still did not believe the Merlins could produce such a precise image and realistic sound, while themselves seeming to be completely invisible. Only after putting his ear to the Merlins to verify they were playing without the center channel’s help did he acknowledge his amazement.

Other Thoughts: The Merlins are incredibly beautiful and revealing speakers, and any weak links in the component chain become obvious. Sonically flawed components and poor recordings(I've hooked many of these up to my speakers just for kicks) reveal themselves and contrast with the seemingly perfect sound these speakers are capable of. Even with the flaws of a noticably weak link the merlins are capable of a beautiful sound that greatly outperforms my PSB Gold i's. The silky smooth tweeter and 6.5" driver remain cool under the less than optimal conditions of a poor source component, never becoming harsh or piercing due to the quality of the speakers' construction and drivers, though flaws can be heard. To ensure optimal performance, care must be taken to ensure compatible component selections are made. This is not to say that only expensive equipment is adequate. On the contrary, Bobby is eager to help a potential buyer or owner select high quality, relatively inexpensive components to maximize the Merlin experience. Anyone, regardless of musical tastes or budget, considering purchasing the Merlins or any owner who has never spoken to Bobby really owes it to his/her self to call him. Bobby is incredibly helpful in making component, placement, and setup suggestions to get the last ounce of enjoyment out of the speakers. I view these speakers to be one of the best purchases I have made, ever. They provide a level of realism I never knew was possible in a speaker. In the hour I spent talking to Bobby and the first 15 seconds I spent listening to his speakers, I have become a customer for life. This says more than this review ever could. I'll say what Michael Fremer couldn't quite in his Stereophile review; the Merlins are magical.

Jason

Similar products
B&W Nautilus 801, 802, 805
PSB Stratus Gold I
Paradigm Reference 100
NHT 3.3

[zybar]

Jason,

Very nice review.

While I don't necessarily get the same feelings when I listen to the Merlins, I do agree that Bobby is one of the good guys in audio.  You constantly hear the same story time after time about how helpful he is and how he will spend tons of time on the phone or via e-mails helping out customers OR potential customers.

Enjoy your speakers and thanks again for sharing your thoughts.

George

[mcrespo71]

Jason,

What a killer review!!!  Thanks for that- it was an enjoyable read.  I've heard your Merlin's twice and the first time I really loved them, but at this years 2004 HE show, I thought they didn't sound so great, but you know the room problems from these shows.  Anyway, I'm glad you like them so much- it's always nice to see someone satisfied with their gear for a change.  BTW, you have a GREAT system for a 23yo Medical student.  You are going to have to upgrade big to improve on what you have.

Michael

[WEEZ]

Jason,

Great review. As a TSM-MM owner, I can almost relate to your VSM-MM experience. Merlin speakers are very refined. I have found that while the Merlins are very revealing- they still allow good listening with less than perfect recordings.

There isn't much talk about Merlin here at Audio Circle like there is over at AA, so it's especially good to read your review here. I can echo your comments about Bobby @ Merlin- super guy.

(I will probably be sharing my thoughts on the TSM-MM's in the form of a mini-review her on the critic's circle myself, soon)

Congratulations on your VSM's and thanks again for posting the review.

regards,

WEEZ

[zybar]

As luck would have it, my favorite local dealer has become a Merlin dealer and I listened again to the speakers today.

Although the do image well and have a very nice top end, I personally find them outclassed by many speakers that cost a lot less - YMMV.

For example, my VMPS RM 40's provide more detail and are more real sounding to me (voices sound more like a real voice as do instruments - also the image size is bigger and helps to create the illusion of th eperformers being in the room)  The bottom end between the two isn't even close!

I also feel that at $8K the speaker truly needs to be full range and capable of energizing a decent sized room (which I feel the Merlins can't do - even with the BAM).

Just my two cents...

George

[WEEZ]

Zybar,

Which dealer did you hear the Merlin's at?

WEEZ

[zybar]

I must have been having a senior moment...

The Merlins I heard were not fully broken in and still need some time before they should be critically listened to.

George

[Jon L]

JasonW, having been a poor med student myself, your list of gear must mean either you have very generous family or you are being "creative" with your student loans  

Congrats on finding speakers you like.  Speakers are probably the most "personal" choice an audiophile makes, and the MOST important thing is that you like them.  There are many audiophiles with $40-100K speakers who are not happy with their speakers

Also be careful about listening to gear/speakers at dealers and making conclusions.  I've seldom heard a dealer setup that I liked, and most well-thought-out home setups sound far better than thrown-together dealer setup no matter the total cost.  In other words, don't be shocked if other people prefer the Nautilus all over the Merlins given THEIR tastes and setups... (do try to listen to N800 with good setup, though.  I think they are special)

[Carlman]

I've heard speakers sound better in the shop than when I got them home... It happened twice.  Both of them had better rooms than my own.  So, you never know anything until you're hearing them in your own home.

I really don't ever want to buy new speakers again.  It takes 500 hours for them to fully break in.... I can't have music blaring all day and night in my house.  It's used all the way from now on... just buy it, hope it works, and sell it if doesn't....

Glad you found a speaker you like.  I'd be interested in hearing them....

-C

[JasonW]

Dr. Jon L, I do have a very supportive family, but my audio system does indeed come from some good stock market decisions and very "creative" use of my student loans   You give great advice about listening and choosing speakers as well as personal preferences.  I'll try to find a pair of N800s one day and give them a listen.

Best,
Jason

[Bobby Palkovic]

Well George,
you are certainly entitled to an opinion but I really think you missed the point and perhaps the fault is not yours. Your dealer should have explained that the two speakers that you are comparing were designed to do completely different things, with different equipment and in different sized rooms. In fact, I would say that there is no room size or combination of gear that would ever make for a logical and or fair comparison of the two. Still, your feelings of what a speaker should or could be for a given price is noted. But over ninety percent of the rooms people use as a listening environment would be on the smaller side and better suited to a product like the VSM. And there is no reason why an individual with a small room shouldn't have the highest quality reproducer he can afford. That is where we come into this.
One last thing, if I wanted to generate huge subteranean bass, I wouldn't have sent a 7 inch driver to do the job.
I'm afraid that this is not a break in issue but one of using the right tool for the right job.
Regards,
Bobby

[zybar]

Bobby,

Thanks for your response.

I am aware of the limitations of smallish drivers filling a room.  I did mention that I prefer things other than bass when I listen to the VSM.

Let's leave it at they are not my cup of tea and I "personally" feel they are not a good value for what they provide.  You have legions of customers who disagree with me and are very passionate about your product (which you should be proud of).

I am just not one of them...

BTW, the dealer did explain things and is a good person to represent your product.  What I have written are purely my thoughts.

George

[Bobby Palkovic]

and after having looked at the photos of your system I better understand you point of view.

Bobby

[WEEZ]

Hmmm...

Must have been some PM's outside this thread.. some dicontinuity. Maybe some disagreements-?

Whatever..

I have been a music listener since childhood and have studied piano and trumpet; and have been an audiophile geek for a long time. I have owned some "big stuff" and some "small stuff" over the years. One thing I have grown to appreciate is a natural sound from a music system- and buddy that's hard to find. There is equipment available that sounds larger than life and equipment that sounds enemic- and everything in between. And there is probably no "perfect".

Sometimes we audiophiles tend to get caught-up in jargon that we think describes nirvana in music reproduction. Nirvana is subjective, folks.

All I can say is that Jason did an excellent job describing the VSM-MM speakers from his perspective- and my experience with the "baby" Merlins is very similar to Jason's experience. If you want to reproduce 'music' in your listening room- the Merlin speakers are a 'must audition'. They are very refined and natural.

Some will desire different characteristics. And who's to say they're wrong? For me, neutral and natural will satisfy in the long run.

Thanks again to Jason for the review.

WEEZ

[JasonW]

I just wanted to thank everyone for the kind words.  Even though everyone may not agree with me, I hope this review will lead some people to giving the merlin brand of speakers a shot.  These speakers, in the first few secods of listening to them, turned me on to a level of musical reproduction I never knew was even possible.  I just wanted to post a few further thoughts and insights.

Ultimately in almost any purchase, long term satisfaction remains a key benchmark. After all, what can be worse than an expensive purchase, initially received with accolades, that progresses to a terrible case of buyer's remorse? I've passed my initial "honeymoon" period where the VSM-MM's reproduction of music was new to me and feel I've become accustomed to them and their sound. As every day goes by, I'm actually much more awed and pleased with the Merlins than I was when I first reviewed them!

It seems that as each day passes, I discover a new nuance to a song or piece I've heard a hundred times before. I felt I was incapable in my initial review, and feel even more so now, of expressing the true beauty of these speakers. The soundstage has widened even more and increased in depth. The highs are smoother and more resolved; the bass is even fuller and more detailed. The mids just defy description. Microdynamic retrieval and imaging create an even more realistic sound now than before. Even the macrodynamics have improved, often leaving me speechless with the transition from a delicate vocal or instrumental solo to full blown orchestral or opera or heavy metal performances.
I couldn't be happier with these speakers.

The Merlin VSM-MM's are among the best purchases I've ever made in my life, and I couldn't be happier with them. These speakers present music the way it was intended to be presented. I'll say what Michael Fremer couldn't quite in his Stereophile review; the Merlins are magical.

Finally, I want to thank Bobby Palkovic again.  His service truly is phenominal, and having him available to answer questions, give advice, etc.  is just amazing.  I've lost count of the number of emails sent or calls placed to him.  Each time, he greets me with enthusiasm and spends all the time needed to answer my questions.  You just can't put a price on the value of that level of service.

Jason Wells

[DARTH AUDIO]

Jason, Great review and nice system!! I agree with your assesment of the Merlin speakers and your comments about Bobby. I owned the TSM-M's when I had a smaller listening room. I think he builds a great speaker and well worth the money. They sounded like live music. Bobby was a joy to purchase speakers from. He was so helpful with my system (even when it came to questions that had nothing to do with his speakers). If you ever feel the need for more bass, try a pair of Rel Strata subs.

Enjoy,

Gary

[JasonW]

Darth, I sent you a PM.

J