To view the complete 2003 CES articles, click on the logo above to visit
Positive Feedback Online. All excerpts reprinted below with permission.

Excerpts From Issue 4 (December/January 2003)
and 5 (February/march 2003)

                                                                POSITIVE FEEDBACK ONLINE - ISSUE 5

Good Times at CES 2003: A Photo Essay, Part 1
by David W. Robinson

Year in and year out, Bobby Palkovic of Merlin Music and Jud Barber of Joule Electra have consistently some of the finest sound at CES. Note that they use Cardas cables throughout — can you spell "synergy"?! The amps in this photo are the same ones that I had been reviewing just the week before…broken in they were! The Marquis Mk. III at 100WPC of OTL power and the Merlin Music Millennium speakers seem to have a special affinity for each other, and like making love via Cardas cables. There are lots worse ways to go, amigos, believe me...

Good Times at CES 2003: A Photo Essay, Part 6
by David W. Robinson

Couldn't resist another few moments with the Merlin Millennium/Joule Electra Marquis Mk. III's. The synergy between Bobby Palkovic's designs and those of Jud Barber are unmistakable. Certainly one of the best rooms of the show for me!

Music, Sound and Personalities: The 2003 CES and T.H.E. SHOW
by Dave Glackin

Bobby Palkovic, gracious as always, was demonstrating The System That's Consistently Outstanding in the Merlin Music Systems room. Bobby was exhibiting the latest incarnation of the Merlin VSM Millennium loudspeaker, powered as usual by electronics from Joule Electra. A TNT turntable with a 12-inch JMW Memorial arm and Cardas Heart cartridge was spinning the vinyl, while an Audio Aero Capitole CD player was spinning the poylcarbonate. I've been captivated by every system that Bobby has demonstrated at CES, and this one was no exception. I heard a combination of delicacy and power, truth of timbre and dynamics, transparency plus "jump", and utter cleanliness and articulation, that were indeed captivating. We spent quite a lot of time in the Merlin room happily playing tunes, quite unmotivated to leave and see the show. That's the sure sign of a great system. Bobby has fine-tuned the Merlins to great effect, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next (perhaps the much anticipated subwoofers ... ?). Pictured is a proud Bobby Palkovic, and below is Stan Ricker and the author after a satisfying listening session. (And I didn't "accidentally" walk away with any of your CDs this year...you think...)

                                                                POSITIVE FEEDBACK ONLINE - ISSUE 4

CES 2003
by Roger S. Gordon

Merlin Music Systems, Inc. The Merlin room at the CES has always been a place for good music and usually excellent sound. This year was no exception. No system that I heard threw a deeper, more layered soundstage. Playing the Sanvean track from Lisa Gerrard's The Mirror Pool ⁽⁵⁾ was incredible. The recording was made in a concert hall—I suspect in the home of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra which provided the musicians for the track. With the Merlin VSM Millennium speakers you were surrounded by a cavernous hall. No other system that I listened to came close to reproducing that feeling of being in an immense hall. Stunning. The system also does a very good job of playing rap music. (Some of the more interesting music is played after hours at the end of the day.) The Merlins were driven by Joule-Electra electronics including the 100wpc VZN-100 Mk.III (Marquis) OTL monoblock amplifiers. Wiring by Cardas.