My Magical Merlin System

by jwells on Done For Now

Description

I have spent several years putting together this system. I feel I have finally gotten to near where I want to be. I am quite pleased at the modifications of my 777ES, and it really sings with my Enkianthus X DAC. The merlin VSM-MMs are truly beautiful; I simply can't say enough good things about them.
Read more...

Components Toggle details

    • Sony SCD-777es
    I use the SCD-777ES as a CD transport and for SACD playback. The player has been modified by Richard Kern to fantastic results
    • AudioMeca Enkianthus X DAC
    Enkianthus X Dac uses the 32bit anagram resampling chip found in the Audio Aero Capitole and Levinson 390s CD players. The sound is rich, airy,and bloomy, imaging precise, soundstage HUGE, and resolution first class.
    • Joule Electra LA-100 mkIII
    The joule has a lush, addicting sound.
    • Belles 150a Reference
    150 watts x2 @ 8 Ohms. This is the sonically best performing amp in the Belles amp series.
    • Merlin Music Systems VSM-MM with BBAM
    Two way floorstanding monitor with a Dynaudio Esotar soft dome tweeter, 6.5" custom scanspeak woofer, Battery Bam, and +/- 4db low frequency extension to ~30HZ. These speakers disappear when playing and are almost frightningly good.
    • Cardas Digital Lightning Digital IC
    Digital interconnect
    • Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Golden Reference interconnects are used throughout the system. These cables synergize in a superb manner with the Merlins.
    • Cardas SE-9 Speaker Cable
    Synergize with the merlins quite well. I hope to upgrade to Cardas Golden Ref Biwire speaker cables.
    • Auric Illuminator CD/SACD Tweak
    Kit contains a CD cleaning solution and black marker. The tweek results in a HUGE improvement in sound with deeper bass, warmer sound, removal of digital harshness, etc.
    • Velodyne HGS-18
    Used for HT only.
    • Krell KAV-500
    Used to power my center and surrounds for HT.
    • Toshiba SD 9200 DVD/DVA-a player
    The toshiba serves as an excellent progressive scan dvd player. Despite being stereophile class "A" rated DVD-a player, the DVDa performance is poor, far inferior to my Sony, even without the DAC.

Comments 6

Showing all comments by jwells.

View all comments

Sign in to comment
Owner
I only use the velodyne with HT, and for that it is very good. I wouldn't think about using it for 2ch with the merlins, as I don't think it would be anything but detrimental. I will say the velodyne is vastly more musical than an SVS sub which I owned long ago.

The belles 150a reference amp is very nice, and I can say nothing bad about it. I don't feel I am in any way missing out on the merlin experience, as I have all of the soundstaging, resolution, imagining, airy highs, etc. I could want. Whenever I finish med school, I will likely look into tubes, but with the joule pre, it really shines.

Jason

jwells

Owner
I had the transport mod and the superclock II mods put in. Kern was really nice to deal with.

jwells

  • 9 Thousand
  • 6
  •  0
© 2026 Audiogon.com