B&W Signature 805s v. Merlin TSM-Ms ?


I am looking for small, monitor-type high-end speakers to sit on end-tables in a 18x20 foot room. Wife doesn't want large and loud; I like clarity. I have a sub if necessary. I've heard the 805Sigs. and liked them, haven't heard the Merlins, though recommended to me. Suggestions/comments re these and/or others most welcome.
mgoldmd
Couldn't agree more Jwells, as my original post states. Unfortunately, it sounds like he cannot demo the two side by side. My suggestion was that if he likes the sig. and can't demo the two together then why not go with the sigs? Better to have what you like than buy the unknown.

JWH
If the spouse who won't allow speaker stands gets a vote, she'll probably like the Merlins much better than the "eyeball" tweeter array on the B&Ws.
I'm sure if Mgoldmd posted an "Any Merlin owners near X" post, he'd find a place to check them out pretty easily...
Cheers, Spencer
I have not heard Merlin speakers, so my input may not directly help the posters question, but I wanted to address one response. Someone said that the S805's don't do old rock and roll and have no real PRaT, I take issue with both these statements. I have no problems with PRaT nor would I expect a company like B&W to send out a speaker, especially from their Signature line, to lack this, just my opinion.

It has been awhile since I have spun some old rock and roll, with exeption to Segar and Elvis a couple times when checking things. This led me to dig out the few r&r cd's I still have and I actually have to thank the poster for making the comments because I heard these better than I have before. Being R&R, would it be more 'fun' with some bigger woofers? Yes, but what it did it did better than I've heard these CD's before, not that these recordings are anything to write home about.

All that said, if B&W speakers aren't for you, so be it, they are for me. Just remember that the more juice you give them, the happier they are.
You might want to do a word search on the Focus Audio FS688 speaker posts. A current post "What is the best mini monitor?" has a post by one who owns the FS688.

He owns the FS688, B&W Sig. 805, Green Mountain Europa, Dynaudio 1.3SE and a Quad bookshelf.

He does a comparison between the 5. The FS688 is the same speaker that was listed as #1 in a article entitled "Best sounding stand mount speakers ever" in a Hong Kong Audiophile publication.

Much higher WAF then the Merlin or B&W IMO. Much smaller (13x7x10) then the Merlin or B&W and better finished.

Probably a little biased since I own a pair.