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SS for Merlins VSMs?

Is there anyone who has found an SS amp that they prefer to tube amps with their Merlins? I have most recently owned CAT JL2, Atma-spehre M-60, Music Reference RM9 Special Edition and RM10MKII, Quicksilver V4s, and the Ars Sonum integrated (In each and everyone sound terrific with the Merlins). For SS, I did try Pass XA30.5 and First Watt Aleph J, but did not prefer them to my tube amps (I now use Music Reference RM10s - summer; and the Atma-spehere M60s the rest of the year).

So, any great SS sucess stories with the Merlins up against the kind of tube gear I have owned? Or is that just a elusive chase?
pubul57
gmuffley
132 posts
 
Paul,

Tubes are Tubes and SS is SS.
pubul57 OP
3,712 posts
 
So, based on my experience, and having tried some pretty good SS, and still preferred tubes, there is unlikely to be any SS that will satisfy me. I lean towards believing that, but I am always hopeful that I will find an SS amp I will fall in love with; but as you say tubes are tubes and.....That has been my experience too. I was hoping to see if someone who has used them with tubes (someting like the Joule, Atma, Berning, CAT or Fila) and found SS that they found to be just as good with their Merlins - might not be possible.
gmuffley
132 posts
 
Paul,

I'd recommend you try and audition the new Quicksilver 88 monoblocks; I think they may be better than the V4s and you certainly don't need the power. They wouldn't throw much heat into your room in the summer either.
pubul57 OP
3,712 posts
 
I have my eye on them:)Have always loved QS amps, started with the 8417....
samac's avatar
samac
419 posts
 
Pubul57, Just wanted to add that I'm getting very enjoyable sound from my TSMs with a NAD c320BEE budget ss integrated. Now that in its self my disqualify my comments (might just prove that I have a tin ear). But my thoughts are that if I can get good sound from the NAD then there must be some ss gear that would sound amazing with the Merlins.

Now, like Gmuffley said, tubes are tubes and SS is SS. But both can sound fantastic.

Scott
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