2. speakers
  3. 175334-171760

Maggie 1.7i's lack detail. Ideas?

Hi,
In about 1979 I had a roommate who had a pair of Magnapan's, an amp, pre-amp (at least one of which was NAD, and a fairly high quality turntable.  I was shocked and amazed about the feeling the singers were present in the room with me.   The accuracy and detail of the sound.

Fast forward 40 years and I purchase a barely used 1.7is.   I have a new Marantz NR1200.  A 15 yo BK EX-440 Sonata (350WPC @ 4 ohms), and optical bit stream out Sony DVD player.  I use optical cable between the DVD player and NR1200.   I have fairly high quality cables between the pre-out of the NR1200 and the EX-440.  I have somewhat high gauge copper stranded cable, about 6', between the EX-440 and the speakers.

The sound is not bad but very much lacking the detail and immediacy I remember in the highs and mid-range.  A great disappointment. My question is what the most likely culprit?

Some possibilities:
1. My hearing has declined.
2. I've a romanticized memory of the sound quality.
3. What I was hearing was the mushrooms.
4. The speakers my roommate had were a bit wider.  Maybe more like the 3.7s.  Maybe 40 year old 3.7s are just that much better than current 1.7is.
5. Stranded wire cables.
6. Turntable that much better than CD.
7. ????
 

jros

Showing 1 response by bassdude

bassdude
461 posts
 

I have the 1.6’s modified by "Peter Gunn" into Magnestands and they are great!

I generally drive them with Parasound Halo JC-1 monoblocks, or the Halo A21 - which provide the high power, current and damping factor the Maggies need to sound their best.

As other’s have noted... Magnepan will often show them driven with Bryston amps, and I think I’ve seen them use Parasound amps as well. The Manufacturer will always be the best guide for the proper amp to use with their speakers for obvious reasons.

If I were you... I’d likely get the Parasound Halo A21+ to drive them - you will be very pleased. You can try one out from Audio Advisor and return it if you don’t like it... but... you will. Or, if you want to save a some bucks you will find a used A21 or A21+ for less on either AGon, or USAudiomart.  I might even be willing to part with one of mine - I've got 3 A21's - and an extra pair of JC-1's - all sound great with my Maggies. I'm a real fan... but... can't use them all.

Or... if you want a great integreated preamp / amp combo, the Hegel amps have much the same high current, high damping factor specs to drive the Maggies well, also. I also have the Hegel H590 integrated, which not only has preamp and amp, but also a great DAC - the H390 and H590 are true bargains and you eliminate the interconnect cables. Again great sound with Maggies.

But... you... should be considering something like those with at least 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms / 400 watts per channel into 4 ohms - more is better with Maggies.

Marantz typically has a bit warmer sound - not likely a good match.

I also have the Parasound Halo JC-3 preamp, which is great with the Halo amps.

And... I use Bryston BDP-3 digital player / streamer and Bryston BDA-3 Dac, as well as, the Schitt Yggdrasill R2R Dac which provide ultimate clarity and dynamics for the Maggies. I would always use a AES/XLR, or BNC, interconnect, or even a coaxial cable, between the my DAC and preamp - provides much greater clarity and dynamics than other options.

But... you will want to make sure you have sufficient current and damping factor to control the Maggie’s mids and bass - to achieve greatest clarity and dynamics in the mids and bass.

Prolly not what you want to hear - "go spend some more money" - but, unfortunately you will have to do that to achieve what you want from your 1.7’s.

Here are some links to consider with some good info...

https://www.magnestand.com/ (lot of good information about Maggies here).

https://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PAHA21P&variation=SIL

 

 

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