2. amps-preamps
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Basic question about power/watts

Hi everyone - I have a question that I can't seem to wrap my head around.  

I purchased a pair of Magnepans a few months back. Honestly, I do not like them. They have their moments but overall, pffft.

So, related to this, I keep reading from various Maggie owners you need TONS of power to make these things sing rather than squawk. I bought a new amp that is rated at 80 wpc at 4ohms. This, I realize, is low power when I see these guys saying they are running some crazy amount like 600 watts per channel. Here is my actual question:

When you are listening to your speakers at a normal volume, the wattage you are using is not near the POSSIBLE output, correct? My 80 wpc is unbearable with the volume at the 11 o'clock position. Why does a person need or want 600 watts? I suspect I am missing something here. Maybe this has to do with why I dislike my Magnepans. Somebody take a moment to set me straight?

Thanks! 

timintexas
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 

tim - add’l info useful

couple other questions

- what stands supporting the lil maggies? - the stock stands under the lrs/lrs+ and .7 really do the speaker no favors... see/search magnarisers

- a pic of your room and setup would be immensely helpful to help us help you

one overarching thing i would say to you, is that the unfortunate truth of the matter is that lil maggies need EXCELLENT ancillary equipment upstream, especially the amp (yours is entirely insufficient at this point to let the speakers show what they can do, sorry to say... the pioneer receiver, used as amp or preamp, needs to be replaced) --- it is one of the huge ironies of maggies and their low-cost-of-entry speakers at 800-1000-1500 a pair... the customer buys them, then they need 3--5 thousand bucks of upstream gear to make them do what they are capable of doing... 😥

ghdprentice
6,465 posts
 

OP,

There is a place to put photos under your user ID… create a virtual system. This would be very helpful.

winnardt
170 posts
 

Whoever told you that Maggies don't pair well with a sub was extremely confused. In fact, Maggies (except maybe the 30.1s) should ALWAYS be paired with a sub so the sub can handle the low Hz and the Maggies don't have to work as hard. Then that ribbon tweeter will really sing (pun intended) for you.

terry9
2,243 posts
 

Consider a used Bryston. I had a Bryston 3BSST on Magnepan Tympani II and MG IIIAs, which both sounded wonderful. The SST even drove new Quads reasonably well. Haven't tried the previous ST series or the later SST squared, but the first series, 3B, is dull by comparison.

But I have also used DIY 40WPC Class A on an MMW-DWM combination for the HT, and it too sounds wonderful.

It's the quality of your power, much more than the quantity. JJSS is absolutely right - the speakers are a high end product, and precisely transmit the signal they are given. That is where you need to spend money - on your electronics, not cables, not speakers.

IMO.

soix
8,808 posts
 

I’m afraid at a $1000 budget you may be doomed to failure.  Not only because of the amp, but also because you apparently also need a preamp — do not neglect the importance of the preamp.  Your most cost-effective option is probably an integrated amp.  Here’s a Plinius — it puts out 120Wpc into 8 Ohms and I can’t find its output into 4 Ohms, but Plinius amps tend to have pretty robust power supplies so it’s probably close to double the power down there, which should be adequate.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649854543-plinius-9100-integrated-amplifier/

FWIW, and best of luck. 

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