[Fadem]

  Make sure whatever source you use has a very low output impedance. 
 
The Merlin only has an impedance of 10ohms, so it can be a little bit "fussy" with sources. 

On the frequency response chart that was given with mine the impedance is listed at 15.3 Ohm. Is this a design change or is the variability between different Merlins this big?

 

[psygeist]

I am so undeniably happy I finally found my lost Merlins. I thought I lost 'em somewhere on my flight back to home country. Been almost over 1 year now.
 
I searched through the luggage bag but couldn't find it. Turns out I searched the wrong bag. It was right there along with my clothes in the other bag. Right there for all these 12 months !
 
Haha...it's so much fun listening to this. It adds the fun in the music.
 
In the sweet reunion of my orangered Merlin's

 

 

[White Lotus]

  On the frequency response chart that was given with mine the impedance is listed at 15.3 Ohm. Is this a design change or is the variability between different Merlins this big?

 
The website lists them as 12ohm.
 
To be honest, 10-16ohm is negligible to us end-users. At any rate, it's difficult to measure precisely, but we buyers should be aware of it when choosing a source for our babies. 
 
Choose a source with a very low output impedance! 
 
Here are two of my favourite Merlin sources:
 
 
FiiO E12A IEM edition:

 
Galaxy Note 4:

 

[FidelityCastro]

My Merlins (universal not custom) have always been loose on any cable - to the point where they would fall off when I take them out of my bag or pocket, or the cable would pull out when I wrap it around my ear. Have sent them to UM for repair (in Shanghai, I believe). Will report back when they return.

On the plus side, I'd like to pay tribute to the customer service person. Rachel, if you are reading this, you do a great job and it really does make a difference to us customers.

 

[Gosod]

Hi friends I began to wheeze left speaker, I wrote in support but they do not meet somebody knows how to contact the company or throw off my mailing address repair!

 

[Bazirker]

Has anyone tried using the Fiio E18 with the Merlins?  I'm wondering how well they pair.
 
Thanks!

 

[zeissiez]

Has anyone tried using the Fiio E18 with the Merlins?  I'm wondering how well they pair.

Thanks!

The E12/E12A has a deep soundstage. The center stage is pushed back a bit. The Merlin's vocal is a bit recessed for some people, that can lead a to recessed vocal. The E12A itself is a very good amp, more treble details and more neutral than E12.

 

[Bazirker]

Any thoughts on the E18 though?  I'm interested in a USB DAC/amp that can also charge my phone.
 
Thanks!

 

[White Lotus]

  Any thoughts on the E18 though?  I'm interested in a USB DAC/amp that can also charge my phone.
 
Thanks!

 
E18 is great with the Merlins. Excellent pairing.

 

[Gosod]

   
The website lists them as 12ohm.
 
To be honest, 10-16ohm is negligible to us end-users. At any rate, it's difficult to measure precisely, but we buyers should be aware of it when choosing a source for our babies. 
 
Choose a source with a very low output impedance! 
 
Here are two of my favourite Merlin sources:
 
 
FiiO E12A IEM edition:
 
Galaxy Note 4:

do you like it?

 

[White Lotus]

[COLOR=111111]do you like it?[/COLOR]

The Merlin?

It's still to this day my favourite IEM, and the IEM I use as a standard to hold all other IEMs to.

 

[prercursor]

Do you guys think that the treble can get a bit too harsh with a silver cable? been thinking of getting one.

 

[PLUSSOUND]

  Do you guys think that the treble can get a bit too harsh with a silver cable? been thinking of getting one.

You may consider silver + gold which in our experience reduces the harshness commonly found in pure silver.

 

[ddaktiv]

Do you guys think that the treble can get a bit too harsh with a silver cable? been thinking of getting one.

Never noticed any harshness from my songs thus far but the quality, depth, and punch is so much better w an 8 core silver than a 4-core version. With gold and silver I found its more like an improved copper version, so still like the silvers better..ymmv though it's a very subjective matter
Play around w the source to ascertain.. I found the differences is minimal but noticeable depending on the source as well. (E.g. iPhone-cable-merlin vs dap-cable-merlin, iPhone/dap-amp/dac+amp-cable-merlin)

 

[PsiCore]

  Do you guys think that the treble can get a bit too harsh with a silver cable? been thinking of getting one.

 
Sometimes a little tiny, but you have to be very sensitive to harshness (like I am) and the album has to be badly recorded. In 90% of cases everything is perfectly fine and I can hear with the Melins for hours without noticable fatigue.