Accuracy, projection of soundstage.

mid-bass cut off, get a sub!

I must say that the Merlin TSM Milleniums are the best speaker that I've had in my system-- hands down. Previously I had a pair of Soliloquy 6.3's for about 2 years which I really did like and prior to these, Dunlavy SC II's. Now that I've had the Merlins in my system I'm hearing details and nuances in my collection that I've never picked-up before. I'm hearing accuracy of timbre in strings and percussion that I did not realize was there. Cohesiveness is dead-on. I have these set up with a Soliloquy S10 subwoofer and once I got the sub dialed-in, I was in audio nirvana. Ok, yes and even my wife said that the sound 2 rooms away sounded "less muddy". These speakers are one of the best upgrades I've done in my system since I purchased a PS Audio P300. The TSM's just reveal all of the content in the music and really allow the emotion to break through. Yes, the build quality is top-notch and setup instructions were great, but their accuracy and projection of a 3-dimensional soundstage is just incredible. I highly recommend the Merlin line to anyone looking for one of the best "windows" into their system available. Listening to the Merlins is like reading a good book-- I just can't put them down!

Similar Products Used:

Soliloquy, Dunlavy, Epos

Soundstage, refinement, musical truthfulness. Glorious optional finish.

No deep bass. Some state of the art speakers (for much more $) have a larger soundstage and a bit higher resolution.

Others here have accurately summed these up. Very refined sound, highly resolved soundstage, a small speaker that will accurately transmit the quality of the source. The best small speaker I've heard, and I've heard hundreds.

Similar Products Used:

Revel M20, Paradigm Active 20, Infinity Modulus, many, many more in 35 years.

Neurality, imaging, and engaging musicality.

At this price point I'm not going to nitpick,

First a nod to Bobby who spent a lot of time helping me set up a system. Don't believe everything you read in the high end magazines. THESE REVIEWERS ARE EMPLOYED DUE TO THERE ABILITY TO WRITE WELL NOT THEIR ABILITY TO HEAR BETTER THAN YOU. THEIR WRITING SKILLS ARE WHAT MAKE THE MAGAZINES INTERESTING AND COMMERCIALY VIABLE. TRUST YOU EARS... AND BY THE WAY WHO HAS $150,000.00 WORTH OF GEAR LAYING AROUND TO AUDITION SPEAKERS ANYWAYS? NOT ME! The TSM Monitors are a first rate speaker. Warm, full bodied, with imaging 2die4. Most monitors this size have vented enclosures because they are commercialy easier to sell giving lower frequecy response and high effiency for a given enclosure size. I'll take a sealed monitor anyday. Acoustic suspension bass simply has better transient response than most vented designs and also has a much smoother roll off. This is the foundation upon which the rest of the music is built and the TSMs have great bass in spades. Midrange is noticably smooth and uncolored. Highs are very well extended without being splashy or strident. The best attribute of these speakers though is the imaging which extends beyond the rear wll and is razor sharp....a testimony to carefull component matching and high quality parts in the crossover. Work well with a variety of recordings not just "audiophile" releases. Well worth the money and put a lot of other highly touted monitors to shame. Nice job Bobby.

Similar Products Used:

Proac,Joseph, NHT,Magnepan,Soliloquy B&W

I’m a pianist with degrees from Juilliard and Eastman, am currently the music department chair at Grinnell College in Iowa, and along with my wife (a violinist), direct a summer chamber music festival in western New York State. Our passion is performing and hearing live chamber music; Schubert, Brahms, and Dvorak are among the composers we enjoy the most. Until last Monday, we’ve had almost no contact with the subculture of high-end audio, convinced that even expensive systems couldn’t compete with live music, not just in terms of sound quality, but especially in creating an emotional experience of great intensity. Last Monday was when the Merlin TSM speakers arrived. Bobby Palkovic, the enthusiastic mastermind behind Merlin (whom I met last summer after one of our concerts), spent 45 minutes on the phone with me making sure I had everything connected properly. The first thing I listened to was the Clarinet Quintet of Brahms, a piece I know well from many live performances. The sound quality had me smiling in astonishment: the strings had a gorgeous natural patina – no high-gloss finish here -- and the clarinet sound was completely devoid of stridency or distortion, again very natural. The clarity was uncanny; I was able to distinguish the inner lines (second violin and viola) with such vividness that writing each line out in musical notation would not have been difficult. Later, hearing our live CD of Schubert’s B-flat Piano Trio, my wife swore that the strings actually sounded better in tune than with our old speakers (maybe less distortion makes for a more centered pitch?) It is remarkable how “organic” the sound from the TSM’s is: warm but not fuzzy. The silence out of which the music emerges is like a midnight sky viewed from high up in the Rockies – completely black except for the stars. Listening to movements of Mahler’s 5th and 9th symphonies, we turned up the volume and the sound was just fantastic. Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra was overwhelming; the low C on the organ had real visceral impact, without the distortion I’ve come to expect from recorded performances. Especially interesting for us was the album “i Violini di Cremona” on which the violinist Salvatore Accardo plays five different violins: two Amati’s, two Guarneris and a Stradivari. The individual personalities of these wonderful fiddles came through vividly. I think that the Merlin TSM's are made for serious classical musicians. For me they are now an indispensable tool: they allow me to really hear the timbre and nuance of recorded performances (our own and others’) and in so doing to refine my own sense of sound as a pianist. And incidentally, I’ve never enjoyed listening to recorded music this much.

Resolution, clearity, imaging, soundstaging

Lowest octave is missing-matches well with a Rel sub

Recently replaced my Revel Performa F30's with Merlin TSM-M's (millenium)and oh boy am I glad I did. It's just unbelieveable how much better the TSM's are over the Revel's and they are only about 1/10 the size and cost less to boot. Bobby at Merlin sure knows what he is doing. These speakers have brought the enjoyment of listening to music back into my house. I can't get enough. It may be due to listening to the Revels for over two years really drained me. They color the music more than any speaker I know of. Merlins are the complete opposite. They just play music as it was intended (recorded). Pure, beautiful sound. The better your other components the better the sound. None of this "you have to have the right components for the speakers to sound good". Why would you need $20,000 worth of compionents to make your speakers sound good? I've read this several times about the revels. Anyone interested in a great mini monitor speaker should check out the Merlins. You will be glad you did. Matched with my Rel Storm III it is absolutely awesome. Other components: Theta Data Basic (upgraded) Link DAC w/power supply Audible Illusions L1 (tungstrum tubes) McCormack DNA1 deluxe Rel Storm III sub Rega P3 All cables are Acoustic Zen Power wedge

Similar Products Used:

Celestion SL700

Detail, full sound body you can enjoy forever.

None. if any, please first check your other gears. There must be...

Hello, Are there still anyone who couldn''t decide to upgrade you TSM speakers to Millenium? Trust me, oh my... trust Bobby. He is one of the great guys in high-end audio world where you can easily spend your hard-earned money only for hype. But here at Merlin, your money will be worth every penny. I''ve recently upgrade my TSMs to Millenium edition. At first it looked same speaker, but it sounded different, much fuller, more resolution, much deeper bass. With this amount of change, it''s not an upgrade, it''s difinitely buying new ones. What a good deal! I''m happy with TSMs. And if there''s one chance to change my speakers, it will be VSMs. Why? only because I trust Bobby, and I am very happy with his service. Good job, Bobby. I appreciate your service. Equipments: Sim Audio P3/W3 Cary CD-301 Harmonic Tech. Truth Link Analysis Plus 9/12 Cableplex power cables

Similar Products Used:

PMC TB-1, Proac Tab 50 sig.,

Imaging, sound stage, accuracy, build quality

none for there size, if you need more bass ck. out the vsm

These speakers impressed me from the moment they arrived. The packaging is first rate in fact the best I've seen after removing the speakers from the inner box you had to remove the masking tape that completly covered the speakers.
The build quality and finish is excellant and the new style
Cardas binding posts really hold the cables. Out of the box these speakers sounded good and they only improved with time
Imaging, detail, soundstage, etc. these speakers do it all,
the bottom line is there musical. I sold my last system, I wanted to downsize for my smaller room. The last system consisted of Cary 805C's Bat VK5I Verity Audio Parsifal
Nordost SPM. My first move was for an EAR 834 Intergrated and the Merlin TSM W/ Osiris stands, I later added Acoustic Zen speaker cables. My goal was to get to 90% of my previous system on a much smaller budget, boy was I surprised when it at least equaled it and in some ways surpassed it. All in all this is one great speaker and is
hard to beat at any price

Similar Products Used:

Verity Audio Parsifal, Alon 2, Alon 5, Proac Response 2

Just about everything but the lowest octaves

Need tube to get the most out of it

For those of you who have already read my previous review of the SE version back in March of this year elsewhere in this column. Here I am again with another review as my TSM has recently been upgraded to the Millennium version. After spending a considerable amount of time listening to its so-called 'new' sound I felt somewhat obligated to post this review on line in order to spread the words how the Millennium really sounds like as compared to the previous SE version, especially to other TSM Non-Millennium fellow users out there. You know after having read the review from RK also posted elsewhere in this same column I thought it'd have been much easier for me just simply copy RK's post and add my name to it and that would be it. Done! Well, I had to admit RK had said most of what I'd have said this time because these 'new' speakers are simply that stunning!
The listening music materials I used in this review are mostly acoustic instruments such as piano and flamenco guitar plus some jazz vocals and some SACD material as well. First, I'd like to make a note that I must be one of the few Merlin users out there that use solid state instead of tube to drive the Merlin lines of speakers but I do not think I've missed out much. My first listening impression after setting it up, as Bobby had warned me prior to the upgrade that be prepared to be impressed. Well, not only was I impressed, I was completely in shock. He was absolutely right! These are not the same speakers I used to listen to. Just about everything I could think of (from the previous SE version) was improved sonically by the Millenniums. How was it possible? You've got to ask the man. Somehow the overall music representation's pace feels more relaxed or may I add, more 'liquid' than ever with both stunning transparency and immediacy that rival electrostatic/planar sound, IMHO. During playback of the newly released Jesse Cook's Freefall CD or the Gino D'Auri's Flamenco Mystico (Gold CD). The acoustic guitars from both CDs never sounded this good not even with my reference Gershman GAP speakers, so lifelike that I could not help but thinking whether I was in the same room with these artists. Both guitar and piano string vibration and ambience or air around the strings seems fully flushed out with chilling accuracy. When playing back the XRCD Audiophile Reference III, the piano in track #4, Misty sounded so real that my wife who was in another room asking whether our daughter Amy was practicing her piano. As for the soundstage besides the TSM usual disappearance act it feels like a bit more extended but also slightly deeper than before, it often feels like it does go beyond the front wall and this must be contributed by a more silent TSM-M, I think? Fuller body sound along with deeper bass extension plus the TSM being more efficient as I do not have to turn up the volume on my preamp like I used to, are among the other major improvements over the SE version as I've too discovered this time. In the nitpicking department, I have one very small complaint to say the new speaker termination posts that came with the upgrade, while it accepts no banana plugs. During the hook-up, it took two people, to terminate all the speaker cable spade, the cardas bi-wired jumpers and the RC zobel network into their respective polarity posts. However, the new termination speakers posts should pose no problem to those of you who connect the speaker cable in bi-wire mode or in 'shotgun' configuration.
The small fee I paid for the upgrade is no doubt by far the best dollars I've ever spent in my audiophile life so needless to say I'd very highly recommend this Millennium upgrade to other TSM users out there. My hat is off once more time to Bobby and his folks at Merlin Music.
My associate equipments:
Gershman GAP-520X Full Range Speakers
Sony SCD-777ES
Simaudio P5/W5
PS300 power synthesizer w/ Multiwave upgrade in SF4 setting
Osiris speaker stands
Audio Magic Sorcerer speaker cables & Interconnects
Shuyanata Sidewinder p/c
Ensemble Mega Flux p/c
ESP p/c

Similar Products Used:

Gershman GAP & Avant Garde, NHT, B&W801, ML-SL3

The poor little Merlin TSMs. Their more expensive, bigger brother the VSMs seem to garner all the attention from the press, show reports, and reviewers. I have never heard the VSMs, but then again I could never afford the VSMs. I have no doubt they are every good as they are said to be. But the TSMs seem to get overlooked with all the praise showered upon the VSMs. The TSMs have received rave reviews (see the Merlin website), but the VSMs seem invariably to get a disproportionate share of the attention. With the new Millenium upgrades available for the TSMs (which are also available for the VSMs; see the reviews popping up), I believe that the TSMs will garner more attention and praise.

I’ve recently had my pair of Merlin TSM-SEs upgraded to the Millenium version. For details on what the upgrade involves you can call or email Bobby at Merlin. Before the upgrade, Bobby told me that it would sound like a different speaker after the upgrade. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical that such seemingly “minor” changes and tweaks in parts could yield such “major” differences in sound. To cut to the chase, he was right. Right out of the box, I was struck by the differences from the SE version. What struck me most at first was that the sound was more relaxed and smoother. The SE versions of the TSMs imparted a very highly detailed transparent sound, which is not a bad thing for me. However, that quality could make them sound a bit analytical and cool at times, which is not a good thing always. With the Millenium upgrade, I still get all the detail and transparency, but the music sounded more relaxed and musical sound to me (which seems a bit contradictory to some). Or as Bobby asserted, it sounds like a different speaker (and ultimately a better speaker, IMHO). So what specifically made them sound “better” to me? After spending a little more time with the upgraded speakers and listening to a range of musical styles, I’m able to discern the differences between the SE and the Millenium versions a bit more. The TSM SE are great speakers, but they were a bit on the lean side. I was even considering looking into fuller sounding monitors like the Spendors to see what I was missing. With the Millenium upgrade, that tendency toward leanness has been transformed into a warmer, fuller, richer sound with greater body and weight to instruments and voices. It is really amazing the changes wrought by the upgrade. I no longer feel the need to try the Spendors. Everything from top to bottom has improved. The speakers sound more dynamic and more spectrally balanced. Most noticeably, the bass is tauter and fuller sounding. The highs are also more relaxed, without sounding rolled off or veiled. All these things add up to more presence and a more timbrally accurate sound. There have been a few times in the last few days where an acoustic guitar is strummed during a song, and it is really scary how much it sounds like a real acoustic guitar being strummed right in front of me. It is really exciting to hear!! I have to admit, I never experienced that kind of excitement with the SE version (and this is in a listening room that is much less optimal than my previous room used for the SEs; I can only imagine what the upgrades would sound like if I had a better room). One more final observation, the SEs sounded really good at lower listening levels, which was a major reason for my purchasing them. But I have to say, they sound even better at lower levels now. All the details still come through like before without sounding veiled, but it is more dynamic and fuller sounding at those same levels. I am sure they play great loud too. Bobby says they do and can really fill a large room with rich sounds. I trust him on it. But, my living arrangements make it difficult to listen at loud levels 99% of the time. Moreover, my small room is not well suited to play at high levels. In any case, the TSMs will work in a lot of different listening environments.

I would have to say the SEs were more cerebral sounding, while the Milleniums really moved me on a more emotional level without losing any of its cerebral qualities. I really feel like I have the best of both worlds. These are still initial impressions, and I know that I am in for more pleasant discoveries with my “new” speakers.

Lastly, I am really impressed with how Bobby and the folks at Merlin are so committed to improving their products and making those improvements available to owners of previous incarnations through upgrades. The price was very reasonable; a lot less than having to replace them with a newer, more expensive Mk. II version. I understand that all the current production models are of the Millenium version. So if you already have a pair of TSM-SEs, I encourage you wholeheartedly to get the upgrade, and if you are in the market for a high quality mini-monitor, the Millenium TSMs should definitely be at the top of your list.

This is my first posting of any sort on an audio product though I feel that I have a very fine sounding system. I just felt so strongly about the TSM upgrade that I was compelled to share my experiences with others so that the TSMs get the props it so deserves. Oh yeah, Bobby provides the best customer service. He has always answered my questions from day one thoroughly and honestly without ever a trace of impatience or condescension.

Image, Tranparency, Style

Will keeps you upgrading the upstream components

With proper front ends and speaker placement. No doubt, it is the one of the most musical small monitors out there. Imaging and sounstage are first class, with the transparency that keeps me shaking my head every time listen to a good recording source. Perhaps, the TSM acronym should stand for Totally Serious Monitor. My hat is off to Bobby!
My associated gears:
Osiris stands
Sony SACD1 source
SimAudio P5/W5 (peramp/Amp)
Audio-Magic Excalibur II xlr interconnect
JPS Labs SC2 xlr interconnect
H.T. Prosilway II interconnect
Audio-Magic Excalibur II speaker cables
PS 300 Power plant
Will consider upgrade to tube electronics when budget allows

Similar Products Used:

B&W 801, Martin Logan SL3, Gershman, NHT