Maggies...Measured Amp Power Requirements

Aroc...You could probably compensate for playing your Maggies at lower SPL by using one of the excellent and inexpensive analyser/equalizers that have appeared on the market. Check out the Behringer DSP8024, less than $250 including mic and cable. Behringer also has a slightly more expensive model that some audiophiles like, but it has many other features that you don't need. (www.zzounds.com is one of many sources for Behringer).

If price is no object, get a PARC.

By the way, Maggie crossover parts, at least in the MG1.6 that I upgraded, are far from junk. Replace the iron core inductor, but replacing the Solen caps may be overkill.

I will make some more measurements this afternoon while the wife is at work. It's nice to be retired :-)

Dolfan...The SPL of 96dB (plus or minus as the music varied) was very loud. Louder than I would normally listen. Remember I was curious about why those clipping leds were flashing. I will do it again at lower (reasonable) SPL. I am sure there is some point where a 100 watt amp would do. However, I have several lower power amps that I have used with the Maggies, 100, 200, 350, 450 watts into 4 ohms. All except the 100 watt would be "acceptable" at low SPL, but every increase in power up to the 600 watt zr1600 makes an improvement.

We all know that Maggies "like" big amps. But that's a little vague, so I am trying to come up with some hard fact numbers.

Loontoon...Of course 96 dB is too loud. Only a few of my recordings (Wurlitzer theater organ concert for example) would reach this level. Remember I was doing an experiment.

Long ago when I had MG II speakers I drove tham with a 2 X 35 watt Eico tube amp, and I thought they sounded good. As the saying goes "Been there, Done that". I am sure that the 300 watt upgrade will impress you.

Jvogt...Your experience is exactly what others have had. Perhaps my little test puts the lore on a solid technical footing.

At 82 to 86 dB...loud, but not ridiculous.

SW X/O at 40 Hz...14 vrms and 21 volts peak.
which is 49 watts rms and 110 watts peak.

SW X/O at 100 Hz...12 vrms and 18 volts peak.
which is 36 watts rms and 81 watts peak.

Note the following facts.

1...SPL measured at middle of room about 12 feet from speakers. But, with Maggies, the SPL changes very little as you move away from the speakers.

2...SPL measured with SW operating. I don't have a convenient way to drive the Maggies full range (balanced/unbalanced interconnect issue). However, since Maggies roll off quickly (MG1.6 at 40 Hz) you might as well roll them off electronicly even if you dont use a SW. My findings apply to setups that do use a SW.

3...When the X/O was increased to 100 Hz, the highest rms voltage readings did not come down much, but most of the time the rms voltage was significantly decreased, to 3 or 4 vrms. This suggests that the peak power requirements were related to bursts of sound higher than 100 Hz, and so unaffected by the higher X/O frequency.

4...Music was a DVDA played in stereo, Emmylou Harris, Producer's cut, track 1, "If I could only win your love". Selected because there is limited dynamic range. (SPL doen't change much).

5...Radio Shack SPL meter. Digital readout. No guesswork.

6...All this is for MG1.6. Maybe someone having MG3.6 can contribute another test.

The following are opinions...

1...I suspect that the maximum short term (1 second) rms voltages were, or with different music could be, higher than the values that I caught with my voltmeter.

2...I suspect that the short term peak voltages could be higher than 1.5 times the rms.

Conclusions....

1...If you use a subwoofer, and dont play Sousa marches or Wurlitzer theatre organ performances, a good 150 watt tube amp with good clipping recovery characteristics will work.

2...250 watts would be better.

3...My 600 watt amps are not overkill.

4...Sadly, the little inexpensive "Six Pac" triode amps, 55 watts, are out of the question for me.