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Question for Merlin VSM/ARS Sonum owners

Hi all,
What did you have (preamp/amp) before convert to one piece Filarmonia ?
Is this Filarmonia sound that good with VSM?
I currently run my VSM-MXe with Cary SLP-05 with Cary CAD-120S (both are Stereophile Class A rated if that matter) - My CD player is Cary 306-200 - Using Cardas Golden Ref balanced cable thru out system.
Wonderful sounding in short -
Now I have a thought of trying Filarmonia to save some rack space (1 vs 3), cable, and $$ as well
I would like to know what you have before ARS Sonum and your comments
TIA
Thuan
128x128thuan98
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
t, tube rolling imho may or may not make it sound better but it will certainly change it's sound. think on this, years of r+d have been spent on it. it is a tuned item with those tubes. also, his amp is an older version than yours. yours probably sounds better than his without the effort.
think before you move.
b
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
If you want NOS tubes, there is no better source for testing and getting what you think your getting that Andy at Vintage Tube Services. Don't know if you will like them better than the JAN Phillips 5814s as I never tube rolled the Ars when I owned it and there is something to the idea that it might just very well be "voiced" for the JAN Phillips, even if the Amperex is a better tube in most applications.
turboglo
110 posts
 
Thanks for the input, Bobby. It would be silly for me to make any moves until the new babies arrive and I've had some time to get familiar with them, anyway.
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
right you are...
and with the mx-rs and the master bam and master rc's you will prefer what you have anyway. again, imho.
b
thuan98's avatar
thuan98 OP
117 posts
 
Mr. T
Best place for 12Ax7/6922 tubes is Brent Jessee (google it)
Like I said, spent $150 just to know your amp limit is cheap compare to buy a pair of CGR IC - If you don't like them, unload them here.
I do like my result - PS: my Filar SE is 2007 production. It's getting better and better every day :-)
And remember: a dollar spent on room tune worth more than $10 spent on equipment :-)
Happy listening
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