Introduction

Single wiring the Merlin VSM and TSM speakers with the Merlin jumpers is an excellent way to maintain the proper balance between the speaker's drivers. This is an excellent alternative to bi-wiring, especially if your bi-wire speaker cables use the same heavy gauge wire on the tweeter as on the woofer. Of course, we recommend you use Merlin's jumpers. If your Merlins did not come with a set of jumpers (as is the case for most older versions of the VSM & TSM), you can purchase a new set from Merlin or your Merlin Dealer/Distributor for a modest fee.

STEP 1.

Remove the knobs and clamping blocks from your speaker's binding posts and place the jumpers on the posts as shown above. Note that the Blue jumper is on the right (the plus terminals) and the Yellow jumper is on the left (minus terminals).

STEP 2.

Put the binding post clamping block on the lower set of binding posts. Thread on the knurled binding post knob onto the lower set of binding posts, but do not tighten it - just get the thread started a few turns so the clamping block holds the jumpers in place. Note that the terminal blocks on the Cardas no-stress binding posts on your Merlin speakers are keyed to only fit one way - with the Cardas logo and the plus and minus signs facing upwards as shown in the picture above.

STEP 3.

Install your RC (Zobel) network on the top set of speaker terminals (this assumes your amp is not terminated with such a network and hence your system benefits from use on the RC networks on the speakers). Note that the yellow thingy (the capacitor) on the RC network goes on the right binding post terminal which has the blue jumper wire attached to it AND note that the O rings (or spades on older RC networks) for the RC Networks are on top of the jumper's connectors as shown in the picture above!

STEP 4.

Install the clamping block onto the upper binding posts, then thread on the knurled knob and tighten it up snugly.

STEP 5.

No you are ready to attach your speaker cables. Insert your speaker cable's spades so that they fit underneath the jumpers, leaving the speaker cable spades closest to the speaker cabinet. If you have problems fitting in the spades, loosen up the knurled knob on the lower binding post a bit so you can get slide them in there. While holding the speaker cable up with one hand so that the spades stay in place, firmly tighten the knurled knob to secure the spades and jumpers in position.

STEP 6.

You're done! This is what the final set-up should look like. The spades of the speaker cables are fully seated (with the bottom U of the spade up against the copper terminal posts) and the knobs a firmly tightened so that the cables cannot wiggle loose.