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I should probably have my Merlin late next week so give me a week or two to get used to the sound and then I will compare it to the Ground Grid tube preamp and my Luxman preamp. Then I can post a review here on the forum and on Audioreview. Xman

The main problem I have with reviewing the Merlin and when I got the GG is that the amps I have are good but I need to find someone in Central Texas that has some really great amps, tube or solid state. I have a Cayin TA 30 tube int amp which I use only as a amp. 2 Monarchy Audio SM 70 pros which I'm selling and a 2004 Luxman int amp which I always use as a preamp but sometimes I use the TA 30 for the amp and sometimes use the Luxmans power amp. So good amps but there are many that are better. Next year I'll get some very good tube amps. When I used the GG with the 3 types of amps the 2 SM 70 pros had the best sound. The SM 70 pros are very detailed, fast, good soundstage, and great imaging. Add in the Ground Grid and it helps the soundstage and takes away the very slight SS harshness. You are getting the best of both worlds with this combo. Xman

I have a Ground Grid tube preamp and just today ordered a Merlin so my problem is I need better tube amps but have to pay bills. So next year when the bill are caught up I can try better tube amps. If anyone in Central Texas has a nice pair of tube monoblocks and wants to hear the GG and Merlin in their system let me know and I'll bring them over. Xman

Just ordered a Merlin today so once I get it I'll post a review. Xman

I bought a Cayin TA 30 from Paul last year. Great guy but I have not heard it. Did you try a search on the TAD-150? Xman

The back.

I forgot to offer these two 80 watt Solid State monoblocks here first before I put them on Audiogon but just in case if anyone is interested. The best sound I got out of these amps was using a Ground Grid tube preamp with them. It gives you the best of both SS and tubes. Selling them cause have 2 credit cards that have gotten out of control and it's time to bring em back down. For Klipsch forum members I am willing to sell them at $700 buyer pays shipping. Thanks! http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?ampstran&1130504071&item

I forgot to offer these two 80 watt Solid State monoblocks here first before I put them on Audiogon but just in case if anyone is interested. The best sound I got out of these amps was using a Ground Grid tube preamp with them. It gives you the best of both SS and tubes. Selling them cause have 2 credit cards that have gotten out of control and it's time to bring em back down. For Klipsch forum members I am willing to sell them at $700 buyer pays shipping. Thanks!

What part of the US you in maybe someone nearby would be willing to bring over a tube preamp for you to try. I live in Austin, TX and have a Ground Grid tube preamp and just ordered a Merlin from Mark. If by some chance you are in Central Texas I could bring both over. If your not near me them maybe some other forum member is. Xman

I have the NAD C542 and had the NAD C540 for 3 years before it. Pick some of the cd players mentioned here and find dealers for them in your area. Then ask to demo them at your house. You will have to leave a deposit but that is what I did with the Jolida. Picked it up from the store on Sat right before they were closing and brought it back on Monday. I'm glad I did cause it saved me $950 since I did not get the Jolida. Xman

put the other one in and enjoy!! Bob made me a single A/AA crossover for my 1976 La Scala center channel. He does great work. Xman

You were right I missed your post about hearing some of Marks products but WHAT preamps were you talking about? WHAT is better about them? Are they more expensive, the same cost or cheaper? I'm trying to learn about tube gear and the Cayin TA 30 was my first piece of tube gear. It is not the best or the worst but I am happy with my first tube amp. The Merlin will probably not be the last tube preamp I buy. This is why I read the forum to learn. I was speaking in general and both sides sometimes takes their responses too far but this response sounds a little less like a discusion "This place has taken on the looks of a "me too" club. You are not cool if you don't gush over the products that are built by board members. Once you are in the "me too" club, there is no other piece of gear that will ever be as good or heaven forbid better. The answer to ALL questions regarding an amp is the same. JM or VRD. No other gear will do YADDA YADDA YADDA BLAH BLAH BLAH!" and more like a attack. I understand the statement about people not comparing their old preamps to the new ones. I understand being tired of hearing about these products. I am not very articulate when trying to describe the sounds I hear but I will compare the Merlin to the Ground Grid tube preamp and my Luxman preamp. I'll make this offer to anyone in Central Texas or is coming through Austin, TX that once I get my Merlin I am willing to bring it to a gathering or someones house or let them hear it on my system. Again I'm trying to be open to both sides and not offend anyone but it's not alway possible to do. Xman

There are probably more but you may not know it. Xman

I am going to buy a Merlin this week. I own a 2004 Luxman int amp and while it is not the best int amp in the world it sounds very good to me! I have wanted to try tube preamps and have bought a Ground Grid tube preamp. With my Monarchy Audio SM 70s it sounded very good but not as good as the Luxman. So for $600 I'll try the Merlin. If I don't like it I will send it back! But yes I will post a review on the Merlin on this forum even if I send it back cause I did not like it. I live in Austin, TX so once I get the merlin I'm going to see if anyone in my area wants to try it in their system and get some Klipsch meeting going here in Central Texas. To bash people for using this forum to post their views and experiences with their systems is not really fair! Have you or any of the others heard the Blueberry, Peach, Merlin, and VRDs? What other gear was used? What other equipment did you compare them to? What speakers were used? What did you think they did great and how did the other gear sound better? I don't think people on this forum who work hard for their money and spend it on products from Mark and Craig are just wanting to join the ME TOO CLUB. Then they are stuck with a product that is just okay after spending $600-2400 but cannot return it or sell it because they won't be in the club anymore, PLEASE. Can you say you have never bought a amp, preamp, and any other gear partialy based upon first reviews of the product and then listening to it? What was your first pair of Klipsch speakers? Since then have you upgraded them partialy based on reviews by other people and your own listening tests? I don't own the Merlin yet but I have enjoyed reading posts from other people who have bough these preamps and amps and gave their opions on how it sounded. Yes people are trying them because of the reviews they have read and actually hearing them in friends and their systems. You all are perfectly within your right to post your thoughts on this forum that is what it is here for. But to attack people for posting on gear they have bought and really like is wrong. If anyone has issues with another forum member send them a email about it and please keep it off this forum. I have been as honest as I can without trying to offend anyone. If I did offend someone it was not my intention. Xman

I had a similar experience with my Denon 4800 shutting down after a few minutes. One of the hundreds of little coper wires in speaker wire was toching the other wire. It is amazing how something about the width of a human hair could do that. Got ride of the single tiny little wire problem solved. Xman

Yep and thought They could have gotten a better lead to play Alexander. Xman

That is okay I spent a year in Hofn ,Iceland when I was in the Air Force. Very beautiful contry and great people! Right now 20 hours of sunlight and around 60 degrees. When I get home I'll post some pics. Xman

Kev I understand that most people don't have $7000 for new KlipshHorns or $3500 for new La Scalas so they do the next best thing and buy used I would to. I've been paying $88 a month on my 2004 La Scalas for almost a year and a half. Dec 2007 I'll be finished paying them off. Klipsch is a business first and if the Heritage line gets to a point that it is costing the company too much money then they will be discontinued. So if anyone is able to afford new Heritage then support KLipsch and buy new Heritage. Xman

That is a good point Seti! Maybe part of this big announcement in Sep is that Klipsch will start marketing the Heritage line again. Hey Amy and Trey Klipsch should open "The Klipsch Store" and all they would sell is Klipsch. They could have a room for Heritage, Reference, and any other lines. They would have total control over how things are presented, what gear is used with the speakers, all aspects of it. Basicilly target the people who are able to spend the money on their home theater and 2 channel systems. I know won't happen. Xman

Enjoy your new Toys!! I'm ordering a Merlin Monday or Tuesday. Xman

I bought 2004 La Scalas so they are still keeping the Klipsch Heritage alive. I understand why people buy the used Klipsch Heritage speakers but they should not complain if Klipsch stops making the Heritage line cause no one has bought one in 6 months. I don't know how many new Heritage speakers they sell every year but I don't think they make a huge profit from new Heritage speakers. Xman

I'm ordering a Merlin on Mon or Tuesday. I bought a Ground Grid tube preamp last month and have tried it with mixed results so far. It sounded best with my Monarchy Audio SM 70 pro monoblocks but I'm putting them up for sell on Audiogon so I won't be keeping them. My Luxman int amp which I use sometimes as a preamp to run my Cayin TA 30 or just use it as a int amp is going to be very hard to beat. I'm one of those audio sinners who likes having tone controls so for me the Merlin will have to be really good so I won't want to use tone controls. I also listen to music very early in the morning, 3:00 -7:00 AM, so being able to turn the bass down is a plus. If I like the Merlin then next year I'll try and get some of Craig's VRDs. If your tired of reading about these products that everyone is enjoying just don't read any of the post! Xman

If you decide to buy a cd player what is your budget? I have a NAD C542 which has HDCD but that format in the US seems to be almost gone. I know ebay has a lot of HDCD titles from Asia so I guess it was more popular there. If on a budget and really want HDCD watch Audigon and ebay for a used NAD C541i. A new C542 should cost between $400-550. Xman

You've got a great system listen to more music!! Bring some friends over!! Xman

I've learned in my 15 x 15 living room with my La Scalas angled in toward a center point then I move my couch just forward so the speakers are aiming at my sholders with me sitting about 8 feet back sounds very good! You don't have to turn the volume up to very loud levels but it sounds louder than it is. If I want to play at louder levels I angle the speakers out more and move the couch back. Best thing to do is angle the speakers move your seat back and forward until you get a sound you like. Then angle speakers farther out or in and repeat proccess. You might find you like the way the speakers sound in a couple of places or no matter what you do it does not sound right and have to try a different speaker. Xman