Merlin Music Systems Published Reviews

[PUBLISHED REVIEWS]

PREFACE - The below review is of the 1st generation of the Merlin VSM loudspeaker, after its introduction in mid 1994. In the years since this review, the speaker has undergone a few refinements and price changes. Please read other, later reviews or refer to the specification page for a more current look at the VSMs genesis.

A REVIEW ON THE MERLIN VSM SPEAKERS

By Y.L. Lee
Published in Hi Fi Review, #108, April 1995, Hong Kong
Translated by Tony Chow

THE BEAUIIFUL SOUND WILL MOVE YOUR HEART!

Merlin has a definite reputation in the States, but for some reason, it has never really made it to the major league of the top speakers in Hong Kong. In term of sonics, Merlin is after the "body and soul", a sense of realism, and harmonic richness. Merlin has always utilized special cabinet designs and construction to come up with the sonic character that the designer was after,

Over the last couple of years, I have listened to a variety of Merlin models - from the small EXL-1 to the flagship Excalibur. They were exclusively floor-standing models. All were supplied with cone feet in a 1-front, 2-rear configuration. From personal experience, Merlin speakers perform their best with faster-sounding equipment and shorter cables.

Recently, Merlin came out with a radically different design. From the concept to the materials used, this new model is a total departure from its past. The new model is called the VSM, signifying a change of course for Merlin towards a direction of exceptional performance.

The Merlin VSM is sold for $3,500 in the U.S. The factory stated that this model betters designs several times its price. It is possible, but I do not necessarily agree totally. Of course, I am saying this prior to a serious auditioning or study of its design philosophy. Merlin may have come across some new techniques, and it's quite possible for the VSM to exceed other, more expensive designs in certain specifications. But given its limited size, it would be difficult for it to exceed other, "more expensive designs", say in deep bass, energy across the spectrum, and sheer acoustic power.

IT TOOK SIX VISITS TO KNOW THE REAL VSM.

The soul of a speaker is not in the driver elements. It is in the design, the careful integration of a large number of elements and factors. For instance, the crossover network divides the work load among the drivers and shapes the response. How well it controls the drivers determines the ultimate performance. In the VSM, the cross-over frequency is set at 2150 Hz and rolls off at 12dB/ octave. The choice of 2150Hz was carefully selected to be 1 and 1/2 octaves above the resonance of the tweeter. Resonance is something that is always present. The questions is how you control it and avoid its undesirable effects. The crossovers use all no-holds-barred, low sonic-signature components such as hand-wound air core inductors, metal foil Polypropylene capacitors, and premium-grade metal film resistors. Staying in line with the Merlin tradition, all internal connections are exclusively Cardas wired.

It is common knowledge that crossovers contribute to coloration. High-order crossovers can filter out some of the undesirable effects of the individual drivers. But, there are other schools of thought (like Sonus Faber) who advocate simple 6dB networks to achieve the best phase linearity. On top of that, fewer components will contribute less coloration. Obviously, Merlin has its reasons for using 12dB networks. It can reduce distortions, improve power handling, phase correction, and driver control. I do think that simple 6dB crossovers have their advantages, but 12dB and even 18dB networks may also have their own merits. How extremely high-order designs (such as the Audiovector) maintain stable operation is a fascinating topic. Since this is not the thesis of this article, I shall leave this to the experts ....

The VSM employs a tweeter that is virtually the best in the world - the DynAudio Esotar. This driver costs over HK$4,000 a pair. Its heavy-duty structure requires 6 screws to secure it to the baffle. It has an ability to reproduce the most minute transients, an ultra linear high-frequency and phase response, and the distortion is exceptionally low. The superior dispersion is also another of this tweeter's merits, effecting a sound stage and image height that is unparalleled. Of the six times that I listened to the VSM's (under different set-ups), there was never any doubt of its potential.

The bass driver is a brand new, carbon-fiber paper unit (this seems to remind me of the Venture). According to the factory, this element has good self-dampening properties and very neutral sonic characteristics. In the center is an inverted 2.5" dust cap, effecting a virtually flat sound-producing diaphragm. The woofer has a 2" voice coil. This size voice coil is not small for a 6.5" driver. I think its controllability should be pretty outstanding. The rubber surround is also carefully designed to have low diffraction and mid-band dampening properties. Computer software located the 2 drivers, and all cabinet edges are rounded to ensure the best phase characteristics and minimize diffraction. All this was done to effect the least colored and most accurate sound.

The cabinet is a heavy-duty creation. The front baffle may not compare to the premiere Avalon, but it still has a respectable 1.5" thickness. The side walls are meticulously braced together and then dressed with some unspecified dampening materials. I have checked the cabinet by tapping along the cabinet sides, and this is certainly a "dragon" and not a "snake". The cabinet comes with factory-supplied cone feet for mechanical coupling to the floor, for which there is no need to elaborate.

THE BASS WASN'T TOO IMPRESSIVE DURING THE FIRST 3 VISITS!

The VSM is a bass reflex design. The front facing port makes placement relative to the rear wall somewhat more forgiving. The lower part of the cabinet is completely enclosed, with no visible hole for filling sand or whatever. The distributor has promised to show me some pictures of the interior in the future; I am eagerly looking forward to this.

Whether you consider the cabinet or driver size, the VSM resembles an oversized bookshelf or a mini floorstanding design. The driver types suggested that it may require a pretty long break-in. In fact, during the first 3 visits, the bass performance was somewhat lackluster. The bass quantity was not sufficient, making it slightly imbalanced tonally. In addition, the harsh highs of a fresh tweeter made the whole speaker rather unfriendly to listen to. In retrospect, the VSM never sounded identical during the 6 visits. It wasn't entirely because of the changes brought about by the break-in, but more because of the distributor's effort to optimize the set-up, matching equipment and fine tuning the room acoustics. The gradual but profound changes produced an image that the VSM had unfathomable potential.

The potential of the VSM was quite evident during each of my visits. The sound stage was very succinct, imaging was crisp and clear. Transient response was astoundingly incisive. I have listened to the VSM with the latest edition B. MAD Companion with M225, D60, and even Monrio Cento-HP. I have also listened to it with the venerable Connoisseur 2.Ohp Phono preamp, playing long forgotten LP's. The VSM has a very distinct sonic character. Through its exceptional resolution and transparency, we can appreciate the musicality and liveliness of LP's. I am not sure if LP's have lower distortion than CD sources, but LP's sure have a way of displaying a sensuality that is so much more lifelike. When we tried the VSM with CD sources (in the distributor's showroom), the VSM did show more dramatic dynamics. With the Connoisseur Phono preamp, LP's displayed a musical spirit of the highest degree.

Merlin stated that the VSM can reproduce effortless and explosive dynamics. I fully agree that the VSM has a superior transient response. It can leap from 50dB directly to 90dB without even blinking. But in terms of total energy output, convinciblity and authority, there is still room for improvement, Drawing on a close-by example, the Excalibur of the same family can move the mountains and shake the earth. The VSM may not have the same power, but it is well-suited for rooms of 200 sq. ft. or under, with great SPL and perfect sound stage recreation. I think the VSM's capabilities and moving musicality would be especially outstanding in rooms of this size.

Under the amplification of the B.MAD Companion and Monrio Cento-HP, the bass goes pretty deep, with a tangible and lifelike feel. The "quantity" is also just right, not excessive, not lean and not so that it swamps out the transparency of the mid's. The outstanding resolution of the VSM certainly places it at the tip-top of its price class. During one of the listening sessions, we moved all the equipment racks from the front center to the side. The sound staging was even more expansive. My only criticism was perhaps too much granite was used under the equipment, and the highs sounded a touch too bright. Such things confirm that the VSM can be sensitive to the sources.

The frequency response of the VSM is extremely flat, from 55Hz - 2OkHz (+/- 1.75dB). It is 6dB down at 37Hz. The impedance is very well behaved, with a nominal 8 ohms and never goes lower than 5.6 ohms. That should go very well with a lot of electronics. The sensitivity at 9OdB should pose little problem for most amplifiers. In practice, the more powerful the amplifier, the better the dampening and control. This will get the best out of the speakers. 60W is fine, but 225W is even better. Whether I played it with a Krell KSA 100S or a Cento-HP, the VSM took the power with flying colors. I can almost say with certainty, that this woofer requires more than ordinary electronics to exploit its best. If you have a high current amplifier, you will discover a different world with your VSM's.

In conclusion, the VSM is an outstanding speaker. Some efforts will be required if you want to bring out the true soul of the speakers. But no matter what you do, you will not get any kind of "coloration". What you will get is a heightened state of musicality, and a rhythmic portrayal of the most artistic proportions. This is the Merlin VSM!

I believe that the VSM is the stepping stone in a new direction. If successful, Merlin will follow this new path. Perhaps come out with a sub-woofer, or even some newer, bigger models. Otherwise, the everlasting beauty of the Excalibur may well remain unscathed into the next century. This will be in your hands!

VSM

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