Any opinion or advice on Merlin 3B+ speakers

[vaathi]

My old colleague one time mentioned he has Merlin 3B+ speakers which he bought in 1987 but not using. I evinced interest to buy them if he wants to sell it. Recently he contacted me and sent me the pictures. He has already done his research on the price. Any opinions or suggestions are always welcome.

 

[vaathi]

Anyone?

 

[homebrew]

Look more like Vandersteens than Merlins. They are Merlins for sure. Never seen those before.

Now these are Merlins I'm more familiar with: https://positive-feedback.com/revie...systems-vsm-black-magic-edition-loudspeakers/

 

[goodolpg]

Could be AK'ers with experience have not seen this thread yet. Sometimes it takes a little time to get responses.
Depends on what you already have and why you think the Merlins might be better for your purposes.
As always, can you go listen to them and make sure all the drivers are original and working.

 

[Nat]

I didn't go into it deeply - barely shallowly - but I am curious what the seller's market research was. And what his asking price is. In my less than five minutes of poking around, I couldn't find Merlins that looked like those, but I did find dramatically varying asking prices. If he looked at asking prices, that isn't research. If he looked at selling prices, then he actually knows something.
Here is a real concern - while niche speaker makers have produced great speakers, they didn't sell in such quantities that you can be sure that drivers will still be available (even if from donor units) if something goes wrong. And time and usage age speakers. And disputes over sales can ruin friendships. So do your research also.
If he wants a lot of money, demure. If he can sell them for piles of dough to someone else, more power to him, but he probably can't. So he may come back with a more realistic price. If you listen to them, and you want them, then you can decide.

 

[homebrew]

The tweeters look like Audax or Peerless models that are still available. The woofer is probably SEAS or Vifa (Peerless) and I'd bet suitable replacements are probably available. The mid range? Dunno by looking at it. In any event, if you pull the drivers there's probably a manufacturer's tag with model # attached to the driver magnet. Merlin very likely used off the shelf units at that stage of their production. Later models like the one's in the link used Morel drivers. Check with the folks at Madisound or Meniscus. They are very knowledgeable.

 

[Nat]

The drivers that loudspeaker manufacturers use often are modified versions of stock drivers, so it would be important to know if Merlin had the drivers build to different specs than standard production.

 

[vaathi]

I didn't go into it deeply - barely shallowly - but I am curious about what the seller's market research was. And what his asking price is. In my less than five minutes of poking around, I couldn't find Merlins that looked like those, but I did find dramatically varying asking prices. If he looked at asking prices, that isn't research. If he looked at selling prices, then he actually knows something.
Here is a real concern - while niche speaker makers have produced great speakers, they didn't sell in such quantities that you can be sure that drivers will still be available (even if from donor units) if something goes wrong. And time and usage age speakers. And disputes over sales can ruin friendships. So do your research also.
If he wants a lot of money, demure. If he can sell them for piles of dough to someone else, more power to him, but he probably can't. So he may come back with a more realistic price. If you listen to them, and you want them, then you can decide.

He is the original owner and he bought it in 1988 when they were expensive. I didn't ask him how much yet but he knows they are old and not in peak condition.

 

[Audio Fan]

As noted, not a lot of information on Merlins. I believe this pair I picked up several years ago at an Estate Sale for $250 to be the Excalibur. They are all working. I need to get them re-clothed before doing an evaluation, but thus far, I find the tweeter to be a little hot for my liking.

 

[Mormusic]

Audio Fan, If after a year and some months, if the Excalibur tweeter still seems too hot for you at this point, I will buy them from you and arrange for the freight of course. On the other hand, I have no idea what electronics you have changed out since but an amplifier change, or auditions, would be the direction I would look. If you are interested and finances are not a concern but you want to be realistic… Then the best new production amplification, for the money, that I can imagine is from Angela-Gilbert.com, or if you are in the same boat as the rest of us start the search for Blue Circle Audio, which is what the Angela Gilbert electronics have been called since the beginning, (25-30 years ago?) there will only be music after that and you won’t have to think about gear.
If not, I have a place for them.
Regards,

 

[Audio Fan]

They are actually still as purchased, but I am nearing a point for getting them back into rotation. A planned "reclothing" project to make them presentable and closer to their original look. That "may" tame that tweeter a little.