Magnepan 1.7

[Mrnybluesman]

For those of you who own these, I am curious as to what you are driving them with. The room they would go in is roughly 20x18 wood floor open. Amplification has not been decided yet but will be tube. just moved and dismantled my old system and want something simpler. Integrated amp or mono blocks, preamp and cd player. This is a music only system. I have a feeling the amps I am looking at may not be powerful enough but I do not want to color your answers.

Thanks

 

[markw]

Well, I used a Rotel RB-991 (300 wpc @4 ohms) to drive my 1.6's. This replaced my trusty NAD 214 (80 wpc @8 ohms, more @ 4), which easily and often ran out of steam on moderate peaks with them.

 

[Mrnybluesman]

That's quite a bit of power. Probably sounds great. I think a more efficient speaker in that price range will be in order. I previously had the Quicksilver Silver mono's which were 90 watts per channel. For the system I am putting together now I was looking at the Quicksilver Mid Mono....The Cary Integrated SPI 80...or perhaps the Rogue integrated Chronos Magnum I think it is called.

Thanks for the response

 

[Pyrrho]

I think you should pick the speakers you like the best, and then get an ąmplifier that is appropriate for them. Speakers make more difference in the sound than anything else, so they should be your top priority. If you like the Magnepans, get an ąmplifier appropriate for them. If you prefer other speakers, then get whatever ąmplification is appropriate for those other speakers.

 

[cpp]

That's quite a bit of power. Probably sounds great. I think a more efficient speaker in that price range will be in order. I previously had the Quicksilver Silver mono's which were 90 watts per channel. For the system I am putting together now I was looking at the Quicksilver Mid Mono....The Cary Integrated SPI 80...or perhaps the Rogue integrated Chronos Magnum I think it is called.

Thanks for the response

I got this friend that has the 1.7's, and I took my Quicksilver Mid's and my ATI over to his house... The Quicksilver will drive it, but the ATI just had more grunt to it when we cranked up the volume while listening to passages that had sax's, bass and piano. Of course placement is critical not to mention not against the wall as that listening window is not that large, but they sure sound nice...Lower volume the mid's did pretty good.. He tried Emotvia XPA-2 which had the power but was to clinical for his taste, he finally went with a used Bryston 4B-ST he got on-line for $1,600.

I'm really thinking of adding a pair of the 1.7 to my 2chl room later in the year... Dire Straits 'Brother In Arms' sounded great through them

 

[Mrnybluesman]

I got this friend that has the 1.7's, and I took my Quicksilver Mid's and my ATI over to his house... The Quicksilver will drive it, but the ATI just had more grunt to it when we cranked up the volume while listening to passages that had sax's, bass and piano. Of course placement is critical not to mention not against the wall as that listening window is not that large, but they sure sound nice...Lower volume the mid's did pretty good.. He tried Emotvia XPA-2 which had the power but was to clinical for his taste, he finally went with a used Bryston 4B-ST he got on-line for $1,600.

I'm really thinking of adding a pair of the 1.7 to my 2chl room later in the year... Dire Straits 'Brother In Arms' sounded great through them

I agree that placement is critical. It sounds like the Quicksilver Mid-Mono's will drive them but may not get everything out of the Maggies. Brothers in Arms is one of my favorite cd's of all time. Both Dire Straits and Knopfler solo get plenty of play. Not to hijack my own thread but how do you like the Quicksilver mid-mono's? I had the quicksilver Silver mono's and preamp driving a pair of Vandersteens. Loved the sound.

 

[cpp]

I agree that placement is critical. It sounds like the Quicksilver Mid-Mono's will drive them but may not get everything out of the Maggies. Brothers in Arms is one of my favorite cd's of all time. Both Dire Straits and Knopfler solo get plenty of play. Not to hijack my own thread but how do you like the Quicksilver mid-mono's? I had the quicksilver Silver mono's and preamp driving a pair of Vandersteens. Loved the sound.

I like them, a lot when matched to the Rogue pre-amp... they are feeding my Ushers which need some power.. the Silver 88 should work depending on your music choice and volume level, I'd try it first.

 

[bharp]

I have Maggie 1.7s, you have chosen a GREAT speak.
My experience: They like good power with no dips at 4 ohm output impedance
Pair them with with decent Pre Amp
Power Amp the bigger the better
What I am using:
Emotiva XPR-2
Jaton RC2000S
SCHIIT Audio DAC
For Subs:
B-52 US4000
When you cross the Maggie at 40 HZ or higher it really lets them shine and takes a load off your main amp. For low volumes the amp idles in Class A crank it up and you notice the added headroom is fully utilized.
Can't stress enough the need for adequate power I tried Forte 1A 50 Watt Class A sounds great but needed a little more, same thing for Parasound HCA 1200 ll, old Bryston 4B sounded dry and analytical.
Tubes are nice for a pre but may be not so suited for power.
Have fun the Maggies are very revealing, best thing to happen to me.