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Can I drive Magnepans with 50wpc? Should I?

isRelative

isRelative

Show Me What You Got
Hello AK'ers,

I've been entertaining the idea of trying some planar speakers now that I have the room to accommodate them. I'm currently using a pair of AES SixPac monoblocks (50 wpc, 4 and 8 ohm taps) and was wondering if they'd be able to drive Magnepans well? I've heard Maggies are notoriously power hungry, but I want to know if my amps can handle them. Specifically the MMG's (or maybe some other suggestion?)

Thanks!
 
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Sure you can drive them with 50wpc.
But you won't able to appreciate their full potential, just like many other speakers.
You definitely won't able to play them very loud without clipping-which may or may not be a problem depending on your needs.
 
automojo said:
Sure you can drive them with 50wpc.
But you won't able to appreciate their full potential, just like many other speakers.
You definitely won't able to play them very loud without clipping-which may or may not be a problem depending on your needs.
Click to expand...

Nonsense. I have Magneplanars several (1.7, MMG, and MGI Imp) The room for my 1.7's is 14x24x9 ft. I have several amps available. Conrad Johnson MF2300A (about 480 W into 4 ohms), Emotiva Upa 1 monoblocks (350 w) and a Jolida 502 p (60 w). Which amp I listen to most of the time? The Jolida even though its the lowest powered by far. It just soundsmore musical and realistic.
 
What's nonsense about that?

I have a pair of Thiels that can tax amps and they sound quite good even with a low powered tube or T-amp type deal. So, in that regard we agree. However, they certainly don't achieve their full potential, which to me includes SPL, with those small amps.
 
Maggies and some beefy tube power....I think you're in for a pleasant surprise. :scratch2: :yes:

And those AES monos are some nice lookin' amps! 50w triode power....YUM!!!
 
I think its nonsense in that a lot people are mislead regarding Maggies by the often expressed mantra that only megapower amps need apply and that is just not so. I was mislead by that mantra for many years until I finally decided to try a relatively low powered ( in Maggie Mantra terms) tube amp and frankly it just sounds so much better and more realistic that I have no desire to go back the other way.

I think the OP should try it and find out for himself. It's entirely possible that in his room/equipment/type of music SPL levels a 50W tube amp could work very well. There again, if Metalica at 110 db is the desired goal maybe the 50 watt tube amp won't do. (I would venture to say that Maggies are not the right speaker if that's the musical goal).
 
Have experimented Magnepan MGIIIa (stock) driven by 10W pentode resulting in romantic sounding system but not loud enough.

*loud enough = BODY shaking BASS
 
isRelative said:
Hello AK'ers,

I've been entertaining the idea of trying some planar speakers now that I have the room to accommodate them. I'm currently using a pair of AES SixPac monoblocks (50 wpc, 4 and 8 ohm taps) and was wondering if they'd be able to drive Magnepans well? I've heard Maggies are notoriously power hungry, but I want to know if my amps can handle them. Specifically the MMG's (or maybe some other suggestion?)

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yes, you certainly can and I bet they will sound fantastic.

:music:
 
I have a handle on some Magnepan 10.1 QR (Quasi-Ribbon) speakers. Will these give me a taste of good Magnepan sound?
 
The 10.1 Maggies will only go down to about 80hz. You will need a good subwoofer to get you lower. The MMGs go down to at least 50hz.

Jus' sayin'.
 
Planers are easier load than your typical dynamic drivers. You be fine.

Planers probably have the most stable impedance curve as well and stays completely flat and not affected by output impedances so I don't get the whole "hard to drive" thing.

You should be fine.
 
When I got my 6 panel magnepan Tympani1Ds home,
I hooked them up to ... my Jolida 502BRC - 60 watt tube amp.
They were fine for Sinatra, Jazz and lots of material, but I could tell
I'd want more power for some material (The Who, for instance)
 
Using MG-IIIa and Luxman MB3045 running KT88s, I probably have a bit less than 50 wp amp. They drive the speakers just fine to an acceptable listening level. Acceptable is not loud, Magneplanars don't do Body Shaking Bass without some help, but it is a good listening level.

I have other amps for loud and very easy to swap. You should have grabbed the 2.5/Rs that were on cl recently. True ribbon Magneplanars are special.
 
When I bought my first pair of planars (MG-I's) in 1976 I used a pair of Dynaco MK-III's (60 Watts) to my complete satisfaction. When I moved from that apartment to a larger room in a house and a pair of MG-II's I decided I needed more power for greater volume.

Maggies are not a difficult load. They just respond very well to more power.

isRelative: IMO, yes, except for the lowest frequencies. Maggie 10.1's are not full range speakers. Get a "decent" sub for the low end.
 
I bought my first (and only) Magnepan speakers (MGII) back in the mid 70's, listened to them for a couple decades, and though I adored them, I never put enough effort into powering them so that they could handle Audioslave and Alex De Grassi with equal aplomb. I have found an excellent way of having "the best of both worlds". I now have a pair of Infinity RS 2.5 speakers, which I biamp through a Bryston 10b active equalizer. I obtained a PrimaLuna ProLogue Four to drive the ribbon highs and mids,and, after a bit of tube upgrading, it probably kicks out 40 wpc, maybe a couple more. Each speaker has a 12" Watkins Dual Voice Coil woofer, and I dedicate a 300 watt SS monoblock to each one. The results have been pure magic. The valve amp drives the high pass with equal parts of delicacy and authority, and fully exploits their potential. There are no words to describe how full and luscious they sound. The Bryston 10b provides me a perfect crossover point from mids to the low pass, as well as the capability to balance gain from my various amps (none of which have gain controls). Beautiful, tonally accurate lows with gut punching authority when called for. I'm greedy. I wanted both, and I have found them. Audio bliss every day, every time. Have fun with your experimentation.
 
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