CDLehner
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Sharks...I am pleased to share, an exciting opportunity that has been presented to me. In our recent talks of AXPONA...I wondered aloud, if anyone saw and had a chance to hear...Merrill Audio THOR monoblocks.
I've been on a "class-D" kick, for some time now. Don't get me wrong: I just moved, about the furthest thing away...from a digital amp; Nelson Pass' class-A behemoth, the XA-30.8. But while I continue to shuffle amps with traditional topologies, in and out of my system...I keep a watchful eye, on digital units as the upstart of the future.
I've tried a handful of digital amps now; with mixed results. They were all, technically proficient (except maybe one very, very early unit I tried). You know the drill: light, efficient; dead-black quiet, and powerful. The difference, between "technically proficient" and more-so...has always been about soul and musicality to me. Some...were just so lifeless; flat...and non-involving. Others...kept all the good, digital amps have to offer; yet were still soul-stirring and satisfying.
As such...the Merrill THORs, have been on my radar for some time. So when he saw me ask about them...and obviously, with the fore-knowledge that they weren't represented at AXPONA; Mr. Wettasinghe reached out to me...and asked if I'd be interested in demoing a pair. Price of admission? Share my thoughts, with my fellow 'philes.
As I told him...hell; I would have done that anyway! I have to say...I feel a little, like Srajan freaking Ebaen
Unless things change, by the time they're set to arrive (Cinco de Mayo, according to the good people of FedEx)...I'll be able to pair them with the Aesthetix Calypso, Pass XP-10, and Wyred4Sound STP pre-amps; and give them a listen, driving KEF Reference 1s, PMC FACT 3s, and ScanSonic MB-1s...and compare them, against quite comparable W4S mAMP monos :audiophile:
So stay tuned! I'm already pretty impressed, by Merrill's approach. A) Who does this kind of thing!? B) It looks like, he takes great care...with some hi-end, after-market parts (Cardas connectors, Furutech IEC...and a custom built PC, spec'd with Furutech silver coated conductors and Cardas plug). C) Looks...sexy as hell!
He was also kind enough...to send along, some pretty stout looking speaker cables and ICs, for me to try out Merrill Audio Cales - Speaker and Interconnects
All kidding aside: I am not, Srajan freaking Ebaen. I am not being paid...and I'm just a excitable hobbyist, like most of us...here in the tank. I'm honored, to give a listen...and share my opinion.
I've been on a "class-D" kick, for some time now. Don't get me wrong: I just moved, about the furthest thing away...from a digital amp; Nelson Pass' class-A behemoth, the XA-30.8. But while I continue to shuffle amps with traditional topologies, in and out of my system...I keep a watchful eye, on digital units as the upstart of the future.
I've tried a handful of digital amps now; with mixed results. They were all, technically proficient (except maybe one very, very early unit I tried). You know the drill: light, efficient; dead-black quiet, and powerful. The difference, between "technically proficient" and more-so...has always been about soul and musicality to me. Some...were just so lifeless; flat...and non-involving. Others...kept all the good, digital amps have to offer; yet were still soul-stirring and satisfying.
As such...the Merrill THORs, have been on my radar for some time. So when he saw me ask about them...and obviously, with the fore-knowledge that they weren't represented at AXPONA; Mr. Wettasinghe reached out to me...and asked if I'd be interested in demoing a pair. Price of admission? Share my thoughts, with my fellow 'philes.
As I told him...hell; I would have done that anyway! I have to say...I feel a little, like Srajan freaking Ebaen
Unless things change, by the time they're set to arrive (Cinco de Mayo, according to the good people of FedEx)...I'll be able to pair them with the Aesthetix Calypso, Pass XP-10, and Wyred4Sound STP pre-amps; and give them a listen, driving KEF Reference 1s, PMC FACT 3s, and ScanSonic MB-1s...and compare them, against quite comparable W4S mAMP monos :audiophile:
So stay tuned! I'm already pretty impressed, by Merrill's approach. A) Who does this kind of thing!? B) It looks like, he takes great care...with some hi-end, after-market parts (Cardas connectors, Furutech IEC...and a custom built PC, spec'd with Furutech silver coated conductors and Cardas plug). C) Looks...sexy as hell!
He was also kind enough...to send along, some pretty stout looking speaker cables and ICs, for me to try out Merrill Audio Cales - Speaker and Interconnects
All kidding aside: I am not, Srajan freaking Ebaen. I am not being paid...and I'm just a excitable hobbyist, like most of us...here in the tank. I'm honored, to give a listen...and share my opinion.
