Well-recorded voices, such as Netania Davrath's on Canteloube's Songs of the Auvergne (Vanguard VSD 2090/Analogue Productions APC002), were rendered with an eerie naturalness free of boxy hangover—or, on the other side, thinness and sibilance.
The speaker's combination of delicacy, speed,…
Merlin VSM Millennium loudspeaker: Two-way, floorstanding, loudspeaker with battery-powered, line-level low-frequency equalizer. Drive-units: 1" soft-dome tweeter, 6½" carbon-fiber-cone woofer. Crossover frequency & slopes: 2.25kHz, second-order. Frequency response: 33Hz-22kHz, ±2dB, 1m on-axis. 4dB down at 30Hz with BAM, Impedance: 8 ohms nominal, 6.5 ohms minimum, 15.6 ohms at crossover point. Sensitivity: 89dB/2.83V/m. Power handling: 200W (music program). Maximum output: 111dB (music program). Suggested power requirements: 17W minimum (tube), 25W minimum…
Analog sources: Simon Yorke and Acoustic Signature Final Tool turntables; Graham 2.0, Immedia RPM2, Rega RB300 (Incognito-rewired), and SME 309 tonearms; Lyra Helikon, Helikon mono, Clearaudio Insider, Transfiguration Temper Supreme, and Sumiko Celebration cartridges.
Digital source: Marantz SA-1 SACD player.
Preamplification: Hovland HP-100 preamplifier, Audio Research Reference phono section.
Power amplifier: Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 300.
Loudspeakers: Sonus Faber Amati Homage, Audio Physic Avanti III.
Cables: Phono: Hovland Music Groove…
As the Merlin VSM Millennium uses an active low-frequency equalizer to achieve its target bass performance, I first examined the Bass Augmentation Module (BAM) on the test bench. All tests were performed with the BAM powered from its internal battery.
The equalizer has unity gain at 1kHz, but applies a moderate 5dB boost at 32Hz (fig.1) to extend the VSM Millennium's low-frequency response. Its input impedance is a fairly high 39.5k ohms at 1kHz, while its output impedance is a low 100 ohms across the band, both of which optimize the unit for use in a…
Fig.11 Merlin VSM Millennium, vertical response family at 50", from back to front: differences in response 15 degrees-5 degrees above tweeter axis, reference response, differences in response 5 degrees-15 degrees below tweeter axis.
In the…
When I favorably reviewed the Merlin Music Systems VSM Millennium loudspeaker in September 2001 (Vol.24 No.9), I noted that Merlin's Bobby Palkovic had been tweaking and upgrading the two-way floorstander since 1994. Back then, seven years seemed a long time to stick with a product, given the competitive speaker market, though there are precedents: for example, Wilson Audio Specialties' WATT/Puppy series (since 1986) and Vandersteen's 2 (since, I believe, 1977).
Now five more years have passed, and while…
Everything about the big Chord proclaims it a bespoke product. Normally, the SPM 14000 is built…
Description: Solid-state power amplifier with switching power supply. Maximum output power: 1000W into 8 ohms at 0.01% distortion (30dBW), 2000W RMS into 4 ohms (30dBW), >2800W RMS into 2 ohms (28.45dBW). Dynamic headroom: 1100W RMS into 8 ohms, 2200W RMS into 4 ohms. Frequency response: 10Hz–90kHz, –3dB (into 8 ohms). Voltage gain: 30dB. Signal/noise: better than –103dB, A-weighted ref. two thirds power. Output impedance: 0.03 ohm. Output inductance: 2.6mH. Stability: unconditional.
Dimensions: 18.9" (480mm) W by 12.2" (310mm) H by 26.3" (668mm) D. Weight…