An affordable upgrade - the improvements are big enough to make it a worthy buy
Smooth grasp of motion
dynamic, wide sound
great value for money
Nothing
We liked Merlin's three-pin Tarantula so much we gave it an Award – and its reassuring to see that its figure-of-eight version has the same qualities.
This mains lead gave our reference setup a natural colour palette and a smooth, supple grasp of motion, even during taxing scenes.
It's no slouch with sonics either, and its wide sound is bang on, although top-end finesse could've been better.
The Tarantula offers the most bang for your buck.
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What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.