Merlin owners who have modified x-over?


Who has modifies or would like to modify the merlins, which caps have been used or considered.
pedrillo

Showing 15 responses by bobbyapalkovic

p, from what i can remember, you have an older pair of vsms. there have been considerable changes in the product since that time. the addition of an hf q circuit, hook up wires, terminals, lead free upgrades, the cryoing of the filter caps and the litz inductors all made for imho, really significant changes for the better. putting the duelunds in a speaker of early vintage would be a waste imho.
now, i have been in contact with frederik at duelund and he has made proprietary capacitors for my needs. so far i have made a pair of rc networks which are again imho, very superior to the standard rcs we supply.
today, i am receiving an sbam with the duelunds installed. after 100 hours i will offer my opinions.
next step after the sbam is the tsm with the duelunds and last of all the vsm. i like to take my time with these experiments.
these caps are very large so there will be considerable changes necessary to make them work. they are also in the area of 8 times more expensive than my cryoed hovlands so please keep that in mind.
the rcs i have them in, their improvements were obvious if not, amazing.
stick with me.
best, b
pedrillo, i now have the sbam playing with the duelund copper foil capacitors in it and after about 8 hours i would say it is very superior in every way possible. the sbam being an ac circuit shows a faster break in than the passive rc network. the sbam uses them in the signal path, full bandwidth and the rc, above 100 khz. so it makes sense.
best, b
howard, after about 40 hours on the duelund sbam i am really amazed at what i am hearing. wider bandwidth with a less forced sound. more expanse. fuller tone and more complete. greater dynamics both in a micro and macro sense and just a totally inviting, natural presentation. there are things happening in the sound that i never knew were there like harmonies, toe tapping etc. nothing bright, just clear from a very black background.
should be totally broken in ar 120 hours
best, b
i was asked for a description of what i am hearing after about 120 hours on the sbam with duelunds.
the sound is more real and clear. the background is quieter. better focus, layering and expanse. less congested sounding in a way. wider bandwidth, better pitch variation in the bass and chunkier too. top end more precise and real. the mids are vivid and relaxed.
all mho.
best, b
jim, more magic happened when i finally got some cardas clear at the merlin plant. in about 2 hours the sound was way more real than i had experienced at the factory before. this wire is uncomplicated, dynamic and natural sounding. and yes it sounds very clear. because it sounds so continuous from top to bottom, it is slightly more immediate in its presentation but with no hot spots, it sounds more relaxed at the same time. i like it!
i know you and one of my other friends have the clear and are saying the same things about it.
what a great tool for my kind of work and your listening too.
best, b
Sherod, i use a sigle run of clear to the woofers with my merlin made/cardas lead free jumpers to the tweeter.
my jumper wire is 15 gauge radially wound cardas copper litz soldered to copper tinned o-ring connectors with the cardas tri-eutectic lead free solder. did the same in vegas at the ces.
best, b
i misunderstood sherod.
this is a question you should ask the cardas folks. 1 541 347 2484.
the wire itself has a different internal geometry with different terminations. i do not know what they will offer in the future.
best, b
jim, yes all that resolution with a fuller tone and more balance.
remarkable cable for sure.

af, i am sorry, but what am i advetising? the duelunds? i was asked by two people to tell what i was hearing and kept my answers short and sweet. i have said nothing about using them in my product and what the cost would be. nothing mentioned on my site either. only that they sound great, are very large and very expensive. my r&d is not finished yet.

the cardas cable i do not sell and i think there are only three dealers in all of the usa that do. i was just letting jim know that i got some and what i thought of it. what i was implying to those that are serious about their system is that they should make very attempt to listen to this wire. this is not just a little better or more of the same. i do not consider this advertising but useful information to those that care. that is what these forums are for.
best, b
af, you seem to want to keep this going. even when i have responded to people asking for the information that i have given or people above have expressed gratitude for the same, i am advertising. well i disagree with you. but we do live in a great country and you are entitled to your opinion, as i am entitled to mine.
have a nice day!
bobby
af, then how about this, when i get some clydesdale horses you will know i am really advertising.
:-)
best, b
david, everyone knows who i am here, just as you do.
i have posted on this site for years.
i have nothing to post on my site about this because the r&d has not been completed and duelunds are not used in my product at this time.
i reponded to pedrillo and told him what i was doing. he knows me because he owns merlins. this conversation started between the two of us. there was no need to be more transparent.
i was asked by two individuals to say what i have found. they asked so i responded.
i am working with some other cap brands too. no comment.
i elected to go with the vsf because my speaker systems are q circuited and the size of the cast versions. it was my call.
you may not think so but i am very transparent and have always been. why else do people know what i am doing.
you cannot make everyone happy obviously but i will continue to do the right thing for those that are interested.
and david, there are many here that seem to be.
best, b

david p, once again, pedrillo is a merlin owner and we know each other. most of those posting in this string are merlin owners as well. there was no need to mention my identity, even you knew who i was. if i remember to, i will try to post as bobby@merlin like i do when i think people do not know who i am. i am very sensitive to this. you are preaching to the choir.
*replacing the hovland inductors in the vsms will get you into a lot of trouble because they work in conjunction with the q circuit to provide the needed resistance to negate electrical resonace in the hf. these are very sohisticated pieces, hand made for me by bob hovland. for this application you will not find better regardless of the make or cost. any attempt to change them will surely degrade the sound unless you completely understand the circuit's opperation. dave garretson, i am sure does but he has elected to keep them in the circuit, as well he should.
sherod, i spoke to frederik of duelund about the cast version. i know what they are are and how they are made. they are too large to even put into the vsm's crossover chamber so it was an easy call for me. the benefits of their use "may not" even apply here because my networks are q circuited and shock mounted.
happy 4th to you all!
bobby@merlin
yes it would howard but that would be self defeating because the wire the follows the networks to the drivers would be many feet longer. i have found that rfi and emi affects this cable length to the greatest degree. i also found dynamic compression evident. that is why i elected to have the networks as close as possible to the drivers. good question howard.
bobby@merlin