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Magnepan Owners - Need Your Thoughts Please

Spent some time recently auditioning the Magenpan 12's and 1.6's; I was very impressed with the sound, especially when you consider their modest cost.

I've always had highly sensitive horn speakers so a Magnepan is a totally new direction for me. I will keep my Khorns and consider adding the Magnepans for even more fun! Here are some questions that I need help with. Of course, I will bring them home for a personal in-house listen before I buy but any thoughts that you Maggie owners could add will be greatly appreciated! Questions:

(1)Will a pair of 125 watt VTL monoblocks (EL-34's) be enough juice to drive the Magnepans to reasonable listening levels in my large room (17.5w x 26L x 9h). By reasonable levels I mean 85db - 90db (at the most). I don't want to 'blow-up' the VTL's! They are rated at 130 watts in Tetrode mode into 4 ohms.

(2)I assume that the larger panels of the 1.6's would be harder to drive overall than the smaller 12's?

(3) Setup advice: where do I start on placement? How far from the front wall and how far from the sidewalls? How far apart? Also, are Magnepans designed to be faced straight-ahead or with some toe-in? And, what about the ribbons, placed on the outside or inside?

(4) What are the appropriate listening distances? How far do you sit back from the panels?

Would love to hear Magnepan owners' comments and advice on these questions or any other Maggie issues that I am not thinking about. Thanks!
stickman451
dsper
657 posts
 
Hi Bifwynne,

I posted earlier and made a positive comment about my Mac amp at 160 wpc into 8 ohms and Maggie 1.2's.

Since that time, I had the opportunity for an in home listen with a Krell s300i at 300 wpc into 4 ohms. The difference is amazing.

Much more detail and separation of instuments with the Krell. On occasion, the sound seemed to be emanating from outside the speakers.

I initially thought that the Krell sounded too bright but after a week of listening I no longer feel that way.

I now agree that Maggies need a lot of 4 ohm power and suspect that I am going to have to make an amp change.
crom
19 posts
 
Bifwynne, J Valin used a ARC VS-115 to drive 1.7's.
55dok
162 posts
 
If you want to run your 1.6 QR speakers on the cheap with excellent sound try a vintage luxman R117 receiver. You can often find one for around $250-$275 on Ebay. If you want to spend more try an innersound esl amp or classe.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Bifwynne I sometimes use the 122 wpc ARC VT-130 SE with MMGs and many years back paired it with Maggie 3.5s. I've run the latter full range and the former with subs, but have had great success with both set-ups. I've generally preferred 8 ohm taps. FWIW.

Marty
maplegrovemusic's avatar
maplegrovemusic
1,113 posts
 
I have put together a system based on The Absolute sound magazines 20 greatest hifi bargains and golden ear awards the system is : magnepan 1.6 speakers ,Cambridge audio 840w amp (200 watts 8ohms) modwright 9.0 se tubed preamp ,cambridge audio 840c cd player ,paul speltz interconnects and speaker wire.The maggies and the cambridge amp are in the 20 greatest bargains issue. Apply any of these to maggies for great sound !!
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