LC >
1) The history of Merrill turntables can be easily found on various websites but could you please summarize it for our readers, starting from your early days of "tweaking" the AR turntables?

GM >
At the age of 14 I got involved with the reproduction of sound as a hobby. I started in the audio business in 1974 and became curiosity as to why turntables produced different sound. After conversations with the turntable manufactures of the period I discovered they were not sure what caused the difference.
I started experimenting with the AR and developed methods and tests to verified my changes. This lead to AR Modifications. The next step was to design a turntable based on the suspension principal. The Heirloom was born in 1978.

LC >
2) The legend of the Merrill Heirloom turntable still lives on thanks to the new MS21 and MS2 models by Merrill-Scillia Research. Which are the main ideas behind these turntables?

GM >
The new generation incorporates the exact design as the original. Anthony (Scillia) has enhanced the design with innovative twenty first century materials and manufacturing methods. Also a ingenious spring system.

LC >
3) One of your credos was (and still is, I assume) the use of acrylic plastic as an ideal material for a making turntable parts. Which are, according to you, the advantages of this material?

GM >
I was the first to use acrylics and it was the choice material of the period. I discovered a new material to machine the motor drive pulley from. At the time this was very limited in the physical size available. Now this polymer is manufactured in almost any size and shape imaginable. This is far superior to acrylic and is use exclusivity in the manufacture of the Merrill/Scillia turntables.

LC >
4) Vinyl playback is living a new era, many teenagers contact us asking for advice on which turntable to choose. With the usual amount of cash a teenager has it is not easy to suggest something reasonable. Do you think is it still possible to enjoy vinyl playback with a constrained budget?

GM >
Yes! With the right choice of new or used a very satisfying system can be assembled on a limited budget.

LC >
5) Many vinyl first-timers are puzzled by record care (storing, cleaning etc). Washing machines are normally expensive and not so straightforward to use. Given your experience on vinyl replay (and care) what would you suggest?

GM >
On my website I expound on the care of the LP and stylus: GM Analog

LC >
6) We devoted several (controversial!) articles to VTA. Some experts believe VTA adjustment is one of the "fundamentals" for proper vinyl playback, others claim it can be neglected. If memory serves me well you designed some kind of special VTA adjuster. What's your point of view on this topic?

GM >
VTA can vary from one recording to the next. After 40 years I discovered that adjusting the arm to the parallel point with the playing surface of the LP is fine. You can louse sight of the purpose (enjoying the music) with fussing and worrying about VTA. And it generally takes a fair amount of change to notice a difference.

LC >
7) Another "key factor" for good vinyl playback seems to be quality of the power supply that feeds the turntable motor. For example, you claim to be one of the first to employ a digital push button speed control/power supply. May you explain your views on this topic?

GM >
The quality of the power applied to any part of an audio playback system will effect its performance. The turntable is no different. The AC synchronous motor needs a low distortion pure sign wave to perform at its best. The Merrill/Scillia power supply is as good as you can get. More on this at Merrill/Scillia website

LC >
8) You've been the first to use lead to dampen platter resonancies. Many manufacturers think it is better to reduce vibrational energy by using stiff and light material like carbon fiber (e.g. in many tonearms), instead. May you tell us how did you choose lead for your designs?

GM >
Simple. Light stiff materials vibrate. Heavy dense materials do not. Hold a piece of carbon fiber in your hand and strike it. Then try a piece of lead.

LC >
9) You started your carreer by "tweaking" standard commercial products. An entire section of our online mag is devoted to this fine art of tweaking. What would you suggest to someone who wants to tweak his turntable? Which are the areas where one should focus his attention?

GM >
The platter damping, the arm mounting platform damping and isolation from mechanical intrusion from the platform the turntable is resting on. These are good starting points.

LC >
10) A speculative mind is always looking for new projects and ideas. What's on your desk right now? Have you ever planned to apply the same approach to a digital player, for example?

GM >
My latest projects are the GEM Dandy Hydraulic LP Cleaning Apparatus - The 60 Durometer Feet

Courtesy George Merrill for TNT- Audio.

Copyright © 2009 Lucio Cadeddu - www.tnt-audio.com