ARS SONUM FILARMONIA - QUESTION

Ayre amp, Counterpoint pre? If so must be no NFB on the Ayre. One of the SS I want to try with the Merlins.

In terms of price, and in some ways in absolute terms, you cannot beat the Ars Sonum with the Merlins. I switch between my Joule/CAT and the Ars Sonum and enjoy both immensely. If you can get yourself to only spend $4000, you won't regret it. If you are thinking of going Joule, you have enough money to get the Ars for the summer months, if you know what I mean.

I think one of the reasons there are so many happy Merlin customers is that not only is the speaker a highly refined design improved and perfected over time, but as a Merlin owner, you know there is nobody in the busines more willing to discuss his product and how to make it work with the appropriate amplification to bring out the best in it. While Bobby will make specific recommendations, he will also explain it a bit more abstractly in terms of the type of amplification and designs that will work, and you can find other amps that will work well with that grounding. If you own Merlins and don't ask Bobby for advice on the electronics you are doing yourself a disservice, he has never lead me down the wrong path.

Is the Ars technically and autobiasing amp? That is not clear to me.

Bobby, I want to thank you for being an important part of bringing Lucinda, Allison, Patricia, Bach, Beethoven, Shostokovich, Art, Lee, and Gerry into my living room. I know it is an important part of my life to have this access to music, and your speakers enhance the experience. The musicians I love are artists, and so are you (and Ricardo). There is business and there is passion and you are fortunate to have found both. Have a good year-end "break": and a great 2008.