Speakers for Large Music

[wire]

It would be good to point out that I love doing the research. I've learned an incredible amount since posting this thread. I hadn't even thought of planars or electrostats before, and I found I should have checked them out years ago.

Thanks for all the advice.

John

Im glad your having fun with it .
Planars and Electorstats are gonna need some big power to make them sound good . I would look on Audiogone for a good used amp of 250 x 2 or better .

 

[william]

I hear all these comments about needing lots of power for Magnepans. However, in my own listening tests with both 1.6s and MMGs, along with discussion with dealers and the factory suggest that you can get by with moderate Power and have a very satisfying audio experience with Magnepans. John, let your ears be the deciding factor with the music and listening levels that you like. By the way, the price for MMGs is $550 plus $24 for shipping. Pretty reasonable. In my testing they were very satisfying for stereo listening with amps rated at 85-100W into 8 ohms. The Magnepans are a 4 ohm load. I did test them with an amp rated at 174 watts before clipping into 4 ohms, but did not notice a difference at volume levels that I would typically listen at versus the lower Power receivers (Denon/HK).

 

[John Bailey]

I hear all these comments about needing lots of power for Magnepans. However, in my own listening tests with both 1.6s and MMGs, along with discussion with dealers and the factory suggest that you can get by with moderate Power and have a very satisfying audio experience with Magnepans. John, let your ears be the deciding factor with the music and listening levels that you like. By the way, the price for MMGs is $550 plus $24 for shipping. Pretty reasonable. In my testing they were very satisfying for stereo listening with amps rated at 85-100W into 8 ohms. The Magnepans are a 4 ohm load. I did test them with an amp rated at 174 watts before clipping into 4 ohms, but did not notice a difference at volume levels that I would typically listen at versus the lower Power receivers (Denon/HK).

As was stated, the dealer used a 50 wpc Cambridge Integrated for most of the audition. They sounded great to me, and even better when he changed to the Arcam integrated with 80 wpc. I'm sure they will sound better with better amplification, but I'm going with what I feel comfortable with for the time being. I've owned two NAD C3020's, a C3150 and a C320BEE. I've sold all my better equipment and have currently moved my shop stereo to my listening room. It uses a Yamaha RX-596 stereo receiver with 80 wpc. While I believe the Yamaha to be a good amp for what I use it for, when I get the new speakers I plan to get a NAD C370 or NAD C372 to drive the speakers while I get used to them. After that, I'll get a new amp when, and if, I find something that makes the listening better. I'm a listener, not a techie, so I think this is a good plan.

John

 

[highfihoney]

Look for some older Polk SDA models . They can handle hords of power ( you will have to look for a bigger amp ) and the SDA effect will open up the soundstage .
Maybe some Klipcsh Lascalla's or Cornwalls (used)

BINGO,every speaker i would reccomend is in this post,The sda's from polk or klipsch cornwall would do the trick,i was never greatly impressed with the lascala,sounded very close to the cornwall but takes up twice the floor space plus the cornwall can handle allmost unlimited amounts of power for long periods of time.

 

[dave1490]

BINGO,every speaker i would reccomend is in this post,The sda's from polk or klipsch cornwall would do the trick,i was never greatly impressed with the lascala,sounded very close to the cornwall but takes up twice the floor space plus the cornwall can handle allmost unlimited amounts of power for long periods of time.

im gathering that the cornwall,s are not the cornerhorn,s cause the horn,s are much larger then the la scala,s.besides they are 104db @1watt\1meter.

 

[jaxvon]

You definitely need some juice for Magnepans, and Vandersteens aren't exactly efficient speakers. I would say that for the smaller Magnepans (like the 1.6s you're interested in), 200wpc is a minimum. They're power hungry speakers. For the 20.1s, 1000wpc isn't outrageous. Yes, seriously. Anyway, I think a Behringer A500 would be an excellent low-cost high-performance option. Pair it with a good, quiet preamp and you'll have a killer combo.

 

[Warpdrv]

Now everyone has stated some good quality speakers here, and there are a ton of others that have not been talked about at all... It seems like John Bailey is on a mission for some great quality speakers.. revealing/efficient, yet are we talking about a budget here.. ? John did you have a budget or did I miss that..

Everyone knows what I would recommend for a speaker, as I have bought it..
but I would really like to hear the Paradigm Sigs... but hey they are expensive But I do truly love my studio's.. and I second the thought of adding into your budget some acoustical treatments... best money I have spent... (updated pics in my sig)

Now to the point.. you could do well by reading the link posted earlier by swerd... http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/pjay99/guruscordell.htm all about quality amplification benefits/drawbacks.. the OP should consider this when buying power hungry revealing/(a bit less efficient) speakers...

Its also nice that you don't get the neverending assault from the B&W fanboys like over at AVS... but hey in my eyes, you really have to dump a boatload to get the sound from those... like the 803's (Bankroll)

Good luck in your hunt... don't give up til you find "THE ONE"

Warp

 

[jaxvon]

Now everyone has stated some good quality speakers here, and there are a ton of others that have not been talked about at all... It seems like John Bailey is on a mission for some great quality speakers.. revealing/efficient, yet are we talking about a budget here.. ? John did you have a budget or did I miss that..
[Snip]
Warp

John said his budget was around $1000.

 

[highfihoney]

im gathering that the cornwall,s are not the cornerhorn,s cause the horn,s are much larger then the la scala,s.besides they are 104db @1watt\1meter.

In the Klipsch heritage line there are 5 speaker designs,all are very efficient & all are over 101db @8ohms.The Cornwall is basically a K-horn in a different cabinet,so are the Lascalla & the Belle Klipsch.

The Cornwall.
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1179968002

 

[wire]

BINGO,every speaker i would reccomend is in this post,The sda's from polk or klipsch cornwall would do the trick,i was never greatly impressed with the lascala,sounded very close to the cornwall but takes up twice the floor space plus the cornwall can handle allmost unlimited amounts of power for long periods of time.

Thanks Highfi
I think on the used market he can pick up some good Klipsch or Sda's for a very favorable price for the money spent and pickup some good very upper midend speakers , that will do what he is asking them to do . Just my opinion though , also the polks are sometimes hard to find and both speakers are Heavy .

 

[John Bailey]

The budget was $1,000, more or less. The Vandersteen 2's, and all the Magnepans up to the 1.6's are in that price range used, and, in some cases, new. I'm still wanting to try the Martin Logans.

John

 

[rumble]

You definitely need some juice for Magnepans, and Vandersteens aren't exactly efficient speakers. I would say that for the smaller Magnepans (like the 1.6s you're interested in), 200wpc is a minimum. They're power hungry speakers. For the 20.1s, 1000wpc isn't outrageous. Yes, seriously. Anyway, I think a Behringer A500 would be an excellent low-cost high-performance option. Pair it with a good, quiet preamp and you'll have a killer combo.

I'm running the mmgs with a Behringer A500 and I am quite happy with it. I would say that any amp that is stable with a 4 ohm load would be fine as long as you don't want party room type sound volume.

I have driven the A500 to clipping and the speakers certainly appear more than able to take more power.