What amp to get?

[revnice]

I have the following speakers that need an amp:

2 Magnaplanar 1.6 front
2 Magnaplanar ?? (the four foot long wall mount kind) rear
1 CCR Maggy center

I've been trying to drive them with 100 watts per channel but it's nowhere near enough. With the amp at 80%, the volume is little more than conversation.

I don't need a receiver, just basic power and plenty of it.

Thanks - rev

 

[jinjuku]

Used Adcom 5503 (X 2), Emotiva XPA-3 ( X 2), Peavey IPR 1600( X 3).

The maggies aren't going to win any SPL competitions any time soon. It's not in their nature just due to design.

 

[revnice]

Thanks - what's SPL?

How do 5 speakers work with a 3 channel amp?

 

[son-yah-tive]

An 'Emotiva XPA-5', w/200 per ch. Amp only though.

 

[son-yah-tive]

Thanks - what's SPL?

S)ound P)ressure L)evel.

 

[revnice]

Thanks, I'll look it up.

 

[revnice]

SPL: is that a fancy term for volume?

Can't I just turn them up more

All the way to 11...

 

[zumbo]

I have been using an Adcom 7605 since 2003 to power five 4ohm speakers. Does a fantastic job.

175 x 5@4ohm.

The specs I read state your speakers are 4ohm. I wouldn't turn it up more. A 100w receiver isn't going to cut it.

Are you sure your avr has outputs for an amp?

 

[son-yah-tive]

SPL: is that a fancy term for volume?

Can't I just turn them up more

All the way to 11...

Yes, but you need the xtra power to get it there. Sounds like 100 watts isn't enough for you. And if your speakers are 4 ohms, the Emotiva XPA-5 jumps to 300 watts a channel. That should be plenty for Mags.

 

[revnice]

This is a cool forum! The sheer volume (no pun) of what I don't know would fill a truck.

Zumbo:
"Are you sure your avr has outputs for an amp? "

I'm not sure what you're asking there. avr - audio/video receiver?

I have speakers only. I can send the video directly from my media player or DVD directly to the 60" digital TV and the audio to a plain (huge!) power amp - correct?

 

[zumbo]

This is a cool forum! The sheer volume (no pun) of what I don't know would fill a truck.

Zumbo:
"Are you sure your avr has outputs for an amp? "

I'm not sure what you're asking there. avr - audio/video receiver?

I have speakers only. I can send the video directly from my media player or DVD directly to the 60" digital TV and the audio to a plain (huge!) power amp - correct?

avr-audio video receiver.

You stated a five speaker system.

You stated you are trying to drive them with 100w per channel.

So I assume you have an avr rated @100 x 5.

 

[zumbo]

You can get a wealth of knowledge here:
http://www.audioholics.com/

 

[zumbo]

uh-oh!

Where he go?

 

[walter duque]

Any one of these http://www.cinepro.com/Specsheets/Mk5-SeGoldCellSheet300DPI.pdf would wake them maggies up. I run an old version of Cinepro.

 

[zumbo]

Any one of these http://www.cinepro.com/Specsheets/Mk5-SeGoldCellSheet300DPI.pdf would wake them maggies up. I run an old version of Cinepro.

Whoooooly p00p!

 

[revnice]

Zumbo:

Found you! Don't know what happened there.

* You stated a five speaker system
Yes

* You stated you are trying to drive them with 100w per channel
Was - it didn't work.

'outputs for an amp' was the line that confused me.

Walter:
Checking it out as we speak.

You know, another thing since we're all chatting - I've never had the full sense of 'surroundy-ness' from my system.

I walk into any store and Toy Story always sounds more surroundy than my stuff - and I've got better stuff.

OK, I don't have many surround movies but it should still sound awesome after spending about $4,000 on speakers. I've never figured out what the issue is so if you guys have opinions - I'm interested.

 

[revnice]

Dudes - I checked out your link and my heart sank, I was crestfallen.

I have no idea what all that crap means. I'm trying to avoid another disease and I need someone to cut to the chase. I'll pay, I just want the pain to stop!

Imagine you're me, a dude with huge impressive grandiose speakers that don't sound surroundy, and no knowledge and no suitable amp.

Can't I just buy something instead of learning everything?

 

[KEW]

Used Adcom 5503 (X 2), Emotiva XPA-3 ( X 2), Peavey IPR 1600( X 3).

The maggies aren't going to win any SPL competitions any time soon. It's not in their nature just due to design.

Here's your "fat, dumb, and happy" answer! (no offense intended)
The important thing is your receiver (or AVR) must have pre-amp outputs to feed to these amplifiers.
Tell us what kind of receiver you have and we'll do our best to keep you as dumb as we can and still get the job done!

 

[jinjuku]

Thanks - what's SPL?

How do 5 speakers work with a 3 channel amp?

I figured you could use what you have for the surrounds and a 3 channel amp for the fronts as one possibility.

 

[jinjuku]

Dudes - I checked out your link and my heart sank, I was crestfallen.

I have no idea what all that crap means. I'm trying to avoid another disease and I need someone to cut to the chase. I'll pay, I just want the pain to stop!

Imagine you're me, a dude with huge impressive grandiose speakers that don't sound surroundy, and no knowledge and no suitable amp.

Can't I just buy something instead of learning everything?

Get an XPA-5...

Still need to know what you are using as an amp currently.