I use the AES SE-3 and AES SE-1 with Merlin VSM-Ms and love the combination. Welbourne Labs lists the Merlins as SET friendly and I've found this to be true. There are several VSM-SEs and VSM-Ms currently on Audiogon ranging in price from 1950 to 4900. I don't use the BAM (bass augmentation module) but rather have a sub for the bottom. You could try it with and without the BAM since all those for sale come with it. I believe the BAM provides a 5dB boost at 35 Hz but may be OK at the levels you'll be playing.
Speaker that
I have Maggies 1.6 on my system with 7W 300B SET amp. (I can hear the laugh all the way from CA :)
As my environment doesn't allow me to play a loud music (very tiny room, sensitive neighbour and so on.), I have to lesten at very low level (9-10 O' O'clock on the Volume of AE-3 pre that control 7W SET amp to drive Maggies. I am satisfied with the soud I hear though.
AS Maggies sing when played loud. I feel that I just waste it's potential and space in my room with them. So I am looking for another alternative that can "sing" at low level.
I know it will be hard to go back from Maggies to boxes, but I will be happy to if I have to. I was using Axiom M22ti with good result
Any suggestion out there? Budger should be right a round the maggies.
My system:
AES SE-1 SET amp (300B tube, 7W)
AES AE-3 Preamp (tuvbe rectifier)
CAL Ikon2 CD player
ZU Oxyfeul interconnect
ZU Julian speaker cables
As my environment doesn't allow me to play a loud music (very tiny room, sensitive neighbour and so on.), I have to lesten at very low level (9-10 O' O'clock on the Volume of AE-3 pre that control 7W SET amp to drive Maggies. I am satisfied with the soud I hear though.
AS Maggies sing when played loud. I feel that I just waste it's potential and space in my room with them. So I am looking for another alternative that can "sing" at low level.
I know it will be hard to go back from Maggies to boxes, but I will be happy to if I have to. I was using Axiom M22ti with good result
Any suggestion out there? Budger should be right a round the maggies.
My system:
AES SE-1 SET amp (300B tube, 7W)
AES AE-3 Preamp (tuvbe rectifier)
CAL Ikon2 CD player
ZU Oxyfeul interconnect
ZU Julian speaker cables