Any body hear the new improved Merlins at CES?

I’ve had the opportunity to audition the Merlin Milleniums on both Joule and CAT electronics. It’s a very different presentation, I’ll grant you that. We just happen to disagree on preference.

People who use the Merlins with the Joule will tell you that they are thrilled with the ultra dynamic, super transparent sound of the system. The thing is, they haven’t really heard what the speakers can do in terms of dynamics and transparency until they hook them up with a JL2. The Joule is a sweetie pie amp don’t get me wrong. It just tends to soften and prettify things a bit. The CAT’s strengths more closely match the Merlins strengths.

In my opinion, having heard both, you haven’t heard just how good a Merlin VSM can be till you hook it up with a CAT JL2.

Actually Philgrelle I have heard 2 Bernings with the Merlins and was stunned at the dynamic output with 2 of those amps. The bass was astounding, I'll say it again to emphasis the effect it had on me, astounding.

I expect that the Merlins like mucho power although they are efficient and work well with a minimum. I would like to hear the VSM's with a pair of Joule Right of Passage amps to get a real handle on how the amps in question might compare with the power being equal. I expect the outcome might be a bit different.

I apologize for the digression. However, I am curious which of the Audio Note DACs Bobby used at CES. Anyone know? Thanks.

Brooks-- the DAC they used was an Audio Note/Ken Stevens DAC 3 Signature. It’s waaaaay beyond Audio Note’s stock converters from any series. They are rare, they are expensive and they are like nothing else on earth. Put it this way-- I wish I had one.

Kevin, thanks for the details. Wow, if that is expensive compared to Audio Note's upper end stuff, then you just redefined the word for me. That must be in the "If you have to ask..." category. It would be quite a treat to hear one. It is a bit of delicious irony that Peter Q's rarified pieces are being "modded." I am interested to know if he participated ken's project, if he listened to the result at the CES, and finally what his comments were. This could turn out be the yet to be released DAC 6 in a joint venture form.