Introduction

The Merlin Z-foot is an integral part of the support system for the VSM Millennium, MM, and MX model of speakers. If not assembled correctly or if just the spike part of the foot is only used, the mids will get pushed and bass weight,   impact, and definition will suffer significantly. This How-To gives a detailed explanation of how the Z-foot goes together to ensure you get the best out of your Merlin VSMs.
 

STEP 1.

Every Z-Foot is made up of the four items shown above. From left to right, we have the Maple wood cone body with machined stainless steel insert, threaded steel spike (watch out for the spike tip - it is very sharp!), one jam nut, and one round Zorbex pad.

STEP 2.

Thread the spike by hand into the bottom (narrower part) of the cone.

STEP 3.

Leave a little bit more than one inch of the spike exposed on the bottom of the cone.

STEP 4.

Thread the jam nut onto the spike and finger tighten first. Then with a crescent wrench, pliers, or nut driver, tighten the jam nut about 1/8th of a turn. You want this nut tight, but there is no need to over tighten it.

STEP 5.

Peel of the piece of paper covering the side of the Zorbex pad with adhesive and place the sticky side of the Zorbex pad onto the body of the cone, over the spike.

STEP 6.

Your cone is now complete and ready to be threaded into one of the threaded inserts located on the bottom of the VSM. The Zorbex pad will compress as you snug up the wood body of the cone to the bottom of the speaker. Now go ahead and assemble the rest of your Z-feet for your speakers!

One last note. Assemble all eight of the feet, even though you will most likely only be using six of them. Make sure you get them all around the same length (within about 1/16" of a inch or so). Now when you go to level the speakers (which IS important), use your level to figure out which cone is to short or tall then adjust the length of one of your spare cones by removing the Zorbex pad, loosening the Jam nut, then giving the spike a twist in the desired direction (clockwise to make the Z-foot taller or counter-clockwise to make the Z-foot shorter), re-tighten the jam nut, and place the Zorbex pad back on. With your spare cone adjusted, it is just a matter of removing the target cone and placing the adjusted one back in its place.