signaturesound

Responses from signaturesound

Class D for Repatriated Merlin TSM MMI
@sbank @derekw_hawaii  @marco1  Sorry folks, I do not check these forums often so I am often late to comment.... If packaging tracking holds correct, a pair of the Atma-Sphere Class D amps will be here tomorrow (9/10). I will have them for sever... 
Gain Matching - need advice
Gain spec of Joule preamps in product lit are not accurate. I have actually measured many different Joule preamps.... in default shunt to ground volume control configuration, a Joule LA-150 has little bit more than unity (i.e a few tenth more than... 
How much does a Zobel network and its components affect the sound of speakers?
@pmboyd  - Sorry, hard for me to comment on something I have not tried (trial/error listening of RC Networks with various different part types/designs) as my experience is limited to the Merlin Standard RC network, the Merlin Master RC's. BUT ther... 
How much does a Zobel network and its components affect the sound of speakers?
A few thoughts about the Merlin RC Networks (or Zobels).Merlin made two types of RC’s. The “Standard RC” was made with the Hovland cap and the Caddock resistor. The “Master RC” was made with a custom spec Duelund VSF type cap and the same Caddock ... 
Ars-Sonum And External Preamps...
@bradf The Armonia power amp is 30W/ch. Like the Filarmonia integrateds,  the output transformer has a single output (no various output impedance taps as Ricardo feels he gets better sound when he builds/winds/optimizes the transformer for one out... 
Ars-Sonum And External Preamps...
@tabl10s and @bradf FWIW, next week I should have the first Ars Sonum Armonia POWER amplifier! The Armonia is NOT a integrated amp, but a power amp based on the new Filarmonia (SM version) integrated amp with some very special/improved output tran... 
Upgrading path from Merlin VSM black magic
@twoch In regards to mono block BAMs (for RCA based systems - i.e not balanced gear), not a worthwhile upgrade as the design of the BAM is dual mono after the raw batteries/external DC supply (any gain there is likely small given the cost).  Now i... 
Whats the FATTEST sounding Tube amp to warm up Lean speakers?
@tzh21y CAT amps do sound great with Merlins. I have heard the combo several times (Merlin and CAT demo’d Together at shows HiFi shows in the mid 2000’s) and I know of at least one VSM owner off the top of my head who has CAT amp on his Merlins.Jo... 
Whats the FATTEST sounding Tube amp to warm up Lean speakers?
@xti16 Nothing wrong with sharing your impressions! Lots of nice 6550/KT88 tubes (new and old) types to chose from - I hear some of the new production (reproduction?) stuff being made today is quite good.:-)With the 6C33 all we got are those tubes... 
Whats the FATTEST sounding Tube amp to warm up Lean speakers?
@xti16 All Joule-Electra power amplifiers (excluding the very few hybrid integrated amps Joule made which were solid state ouput) used the Russian 6C33 output tube. Most all were made in the Soviet era IIRC.Rich 
Speakers to pair with the Ars Sonum Filarmonia tube amp?
@tzh21y  Yes - it IS still possible to upgrade your Merlins to the last/latest Black Magic version. I have been doing Black Magic upgrades on VSM and TSM speakers exactly to Bobby's (Merlin's) specs (down the the solders used and the torque settin... 
tube rec. for Joule- Electra VZN 100 amps
bopper,The VZN-100 uses the Russian 6C33 output tube. They are generally pretty sturdy and good sounding tubes (especially as used in the Joule OTL amps! IMO) ... actually I find ones with some good hours on them sound better than fresh/new ones. ... 
Upgrading path from Merlin VSM black magic
@sstalwar Glad to hear it sounds like you are making some progress...A update from some customers on a few things that may interest you (and others here):One customer just got a JL subs (one of their e-sub models) and is running them from the spea... 
Early Merlin Speakers
 The most early models, had a foam wrap around all sides of the speaker.   These  would be models like the two way  model 1B or 2B, 3  way model 3B or the big 5 driver 3 way, the 4b. Later on they went to a cloth wrap tape design with a solid wood... 
Upgrading path from Merlin VSM black magic
Sorry for being off topic again, but I want to point something out for Ars Sonum Filarmonia (and Gran Filarmonia) owners that may see this thread. The designer of the amp (Ricardo Hernandez) does not recommend using KT77's in his amp.This is not a...