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How much power for Merlin VSM speakers?

I bought a pair of Merlin VSM-MMs and am driving them with a Cary SS amp. While it sounds pretty good I am thinking of switching to a tube amp. I am familiar with the usual OTL suspects most people use like the Berning and Joule. I was wondering if there is anyone out there driving these speaker with a less powerful SET amp. How powerful does the amp have to be in order to not clip? Is the speaker efficient enough and its impedence curve benign enough for low powered amps? Is 30 watts enough? Am I asking the right questions?
abrahavt
gaddy
2 posts
 
in a 12x20x9 ft room my 18wpc wellborne amps were excellent. now i have a 14x30x10ft room and i likely need atleast 150wpc.
usblues
1,216 posts
 
From powerful[Counterpoint,Ayre] down to 40 a side Rega,the sound is excellent in this 13x22 room.Great,un-demanding speakers,lots of fun , experimenting,everything is working with these so far....keep on truckin,Bob.....and,yes,I am extremely biased,hard not to be,good luck,Bob
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
how about letting us in on the size of the room, music taste and listening volume. the more complex the material the more power you will need. 75 watts will play complex music at any level but i also have 4 quad IIs at 12 watts each on them at home (in a vertical bi-amp). the speakers have a flat and moderately high impedance which is great for tube amps. they do not go below 6.5 ohms so they are really easy on delicate tube designs too.
b
abrahavt OP
101 posts
 
The room is around 14 x 25. Listen mostly to jazz, rock and classical. Lots of vocals. I am waiting for a 30 watt pair of Dehavilland 845G monos and am hoping that they will suffice. I bought it based on a conversation I had with a couple of dealers that carried Joule and Dehavilland and preferred the Dehavs on Merlins. I sure hope they were right. I also spoke with Kara the designer of the Dehavs and she said that she had listened to the amps with Merlins(minus the BAM) and it sounded great. Will let you know how it goes.
bobbyapalkovic
729 posts
 
i would be most interested myself.
but use the bam.
okay?
b
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