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Are Merlin TSM speakers buried with their owners?

For now....I have decided to stick with my TSMs. I spent a LOT of time on the internet trying to find any discussion of speakers that people have moved on to from their Merlins. I can't find a darn thing. Someday, I'd like to move on just to try something different (the change disease is terrible with no cure). I'm sure there are probably speakers for $10k that I could buy, but I'm not looking to go that route. Very frustrating and quite perplexing.

troutbum
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
8,245 posts
 

Not always. I recall several former owners praising the amazing staging and imaging capabilities but complaining that in the end they were too treble-centric, and it became fatiguing.

sns
4,218 posts
 

Any Merlin with Hovland caps less natural than those with the Duelunds. With Duelund more natural timbre, makes all the difference. Also, tubes superior to SS with these, Bobby voiced it for this. EL 34  for push pull, 845 SET best match in my experience.

soix
11,233 posts
 

At some point I’d try a used pair of original JA Pulsars for $3500 - $4000.  I’d bet they’ll beat your TSMs as good as they are, but if they don’t you can just resell them for little/no loss so not much risk to try.  As a bonus the Pulsars look just a little better than the TSMs. 😉  Just something to keep in mind. 

marco1's avatar
marco1
706 posts
 

Ever hear of Ruby Heart Red coffins?

sfar's avatar
sfar
1,774 posts
 

More than ten years ago but I moved on from a pair of Merlin TSMs after trying a pair of Devore 8 speakers while the TSMs were away for the replacement of a woofer that failed. After a week or so of swapping between the two brands with a variety of music I kept the Devores. I thought they were better than the Merlins in every way that mattered to me.

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