Amp auditions

[Georgi]

Just a stupid question, what is the idea behind the wooden blocks under the equipment?

I'm a huge fan of isolation. The benefits for the cost can be huge. I recently stuck cork sanding blocks (€2 each from hardware shops) between speakers and speaker stand and while the improvement wasn't huge it was worth it - nice bit of air and space around instruments.

........

I agreed with all and support any type of improvements. Don't get me wrong.

Ivor, in my opinion, the improvements you get, were mostly from changing the hight of the speakers from the ground, but that's a different conversation all together. ;)

[Cyndale]

Just a stupid question, what is the idea behind the wooden blocks under the equipment?

I'm a huge fan of isolation. The benefits for the cost can be huge. I recently stuck cork sanding blocks (€2 each from hardware shops) between speakers and speaker stand and while the improvement wasn't huge it was worth it - nice bit of air and space around instruments. Isolation is obvious for turntables or CD players, moving parts and all that, but also works under heavy amps. The purpose built isolation products do, in my experience, make a bigger difference but can be quite expensive. Pulsar points, Ceraballs, Black Ravioli etc.
My first experience was using old "blown" squash balls - halved - under a heavy Copland power amp. I honestly expected nothing but the improvement was very obvious. Worktop savers /chopping boards from Argos under speaker spikes are another cheap tweak - clearer treble and tighter bass - my experience may not be reflected in yours!

I read a great article about isolation and the general consensus was that spikes couple whatever they are put under, so no isolation. The best suggestion that I read was putting ball bearings under a product gives you isolation. See below, these are professional ones, but you get the general idea. I put ball bearings under my turntable and the difference was amazing. I can tap the turntable with the volume turned up and the thud is negligible. Without them the thud is noticeable.





I used three bakelite volume controls from an old radio I had. They are slightly concave so that any vibration will allow the ball bearing to soak up the energy!

[Cyndale]

PS: Absolutely beautiful looking amplifiers, long may you wear!

[Steve]

Best of luck with the amp auditions! Some really serious candidates on your list. From reading reviews it appears that each of the three have quite a different sonic character, with the Momentum perhaps having the 'warmest' sound of the three? Will be very interesting to hear your thoughts if you still plan on comparing the three. Enjoy the journey!

As a matter of interest, is there a particular area that you were looking to improve on over your current amps? Scale, resolution, style of presentation, etc?

[HiFiFan]

As a matter of interest, is there a particular area that you were looking to improve on over your current amps? Scale, resolution, style of presentation, etc?

No one thing, but if you were to press me, I would probably say scale and soundstage. I am a sucker for resolution but thought the Veritas did a very good job there. You know how is with equipment after you have something new in your system for some period you start to think about where is the next weakest link. Having gone from the Sophia’s to the Sasha 2 (I envy you your Alexias), from the Berkeley DAC to the DAVE it was time to rethink the amplification. I just knew the system was capable of more.

[HiFiFan]

Here is my review


Equipment Used:
Speakers: Wilson Audio Sasha 2
DAC: Chord DAVE
Source: MacMini, Roon, Sonore microRendu with Uptone Audio UltraCap LPS-1.2
Music: Mixture of redbook and hi-rez via HDTracks, Tidal and Quboz

I’ll start this review by saying that at the end of our listening period we contacted Merrill to purchase the amplifiers. I have had the Merrill Audio Veritas since January 2014 and have definitely enjoyed owning them. In parallel to this recent home audition we had also arranged with my local dealer to audition some other amps and we didn’t end up pursuing that option. I felt bad about this, but he understood our decision and admirably said about Merrill “They have treated you well and deserve your support”.

Some high-level thoughts
• Beautiful looking amps, very solid, seem well put together and aesthetically pleasing
• Overall these are a major upgrade: here are a few quotes from my wife
• "I feel I am hearing it the way it was meant to be for the first time"
• "I have heard people say it was almost like been there but this is the first time I have experienced that”.
• "I was expecting some small improvements here and there but this is big s..t"

The Element 116s use 20A power IEC connectors (though don’t require 20A feed) this meant I couldn’t use my usual Lessloss DFPC cables with the amps, so all my listening was done using the stock cables supplied. I am going to change my cables to use Oyaide C-236 20A IEC connectors, so they work will with the amps.

My preference when listening is for a sound that is true to the recordings without any added coloration. Having heard many of my favorite artists live, some only as recently as the last few months back I think the amplifiers do a great job of delivering on this and in a way that is engaging and never tiring. There is a slight extra presence to vocals now that elevate things in a subtle but noticeable way. The flip side of course is that the amps do no favors to poorly recorded material – they tell it as it is.

When introduced to our system these amplifiers represented a significant improvement. Our week-long listening session was peppered with exclamations such as “did you hear that?”, “I never knew there was so much going on in that song before” or “that is the best I have EVER heard it”. The amps may lose out ever so slightly in terms of overall punch compared to a much more expensive set of monoblocs I listened to a few weeks back but from my memory they are close. That listening session was in a different room with similar but different speakers so it is difficult to really compare but I remember on one particular song we stopped playing because it just didn’t sound great yet at home on the 116s it was better. I am not an expert reviewer so can’t tell what the amps might not be excelling at but I didn’t notice any negatives and the following improvements were abundantly clear.

Bass was more evident and tighter; bass lines came through in ways they have never before, the sound was more cohesive then ever and everything had better separation and incredible detail. Voices had more air to them and in harmonies instead of just hearing a chorus you could pull out spatial details and male vs female separation. They produced a very full sound and enveloping soundstage that was engaging, had a real depth to it presenting a more 3D rather than 2D experience and one that was full of detail and really impressive transients and decay.

[cybot]

Just a stupid question, what is the idea behind the wooden blocks under the equipment?

I'm a huge fan of isolation. The benefits for the cost can be huge. I recently stuck cork sanding blocks (€2 each from hardware shops) between speakers and speaker stand and while the improvement wasn't huge it was worth it - nice bit of air and space around instruments. Isolation is obvious for turntables or CD players, moving parts and all that, but also works under heavy amps. The purpose built isolation products do, in my experience, make a bigger difference but can be quite expensive. Pulsar points, Ceraballs, Black Ravioli etc.
My first experience was using old "blown" squash balls - halved - under a heavy Copland power amp. I honestly expected nothing but the improvement was very obvious. Worktop savers /chopping boards from Argos under speaker spikes are another cheap tweak - clearer treble and tighter bass - my experience may not be reflected in yours!

I read a great article about isolation and the general consensus was that spikes couple whatever they are put under, so no isolation. The best suggestion that I read was putting ball bearings under a product gives you isolation. See below, these are professional ones, but you get the general idea. I put ball bearings under my turntable and the difference was amazing. I can tap the turntable with the volume turned up and the thud is negligible. Without them the thud is noticeable.





I used three bakelite volume controls from an old radio I had. They are slightly concave so that any vibration will allow the ball bearing to soak up the energy!

That's the best and most sensible explanation about isolation I've heard yet! Your LP12 is wearing rather well too.

[Cyndale]

I'm a huge fan of isolation. The benefits for the cost can be huge. I recently stuck cork sanding blocks (€2 each from hardware shops) between speakers and speaker stand and while the improvement wasn't huge it was worth it - nice bit of air and space around instruments. Isolation is obvious for turntables or CD players, moving parts and all that, but also works under heavy amps. The purpose built isolation products do, in my experience, make a bigger difference but can be quite expensive. Pulsar points, Ceraballs, Black Ravioli etc.
My first experience was using old "blown" squash balls - halved - under a heavy Copland power amp. I honestly expected nothing but the improvement was very obvious. Worktop savers /chopping boards from Argos under speaker spikes are another cheap tweak - clearer treble and tighter bass - my experience may not be reflected in yours!

I read a great article about isolation and the general consensus was that spikes couple whatever they are put under, so no isolation. The best suggestion that I read was putting ball bearings under a product gives you isolation. See below, these are professional ones, but you get the general idea. I put ball bearings under my turntable and the difference was amazing. I can tap the turntable with the volume turned up and the thud is negligible. Without them the thud is noticeable.





I used three bakelite volume controls from an old radio I had. They are slightly concave so that any vibration will allow the ball bearing to soak up the energy!

That's the best and most sensible explanation about isolation I've heard yet! Your LP12 is wearing rather well too.

A lot better than me at this stage!

[cybot]

Unfortunately you're not the only one :)

[Steve]

Congrats on the new amp decision HiFiFan! Obviously build very well on the strengths of your previous Veritas amps. Sounds like they're getting the absolute best out of the Sasha 2's which is great.

I know exactly what you mean when you upgrade some components and start wondering about the new potential weak link. But your setup appears very well balanced now. Hopefully the itch is scratched and that's that, you can just enjoy the music now!