Can I drive Magnepans with 50wpc? Should I?

[swechsler]

Actually, the technology is similar to Magnepan's (although EMIMs and original EMITs have magnets on both sides of the driver, whereas EMIT-Rs and Maggies have magnets only on one side)

 

[Dukiedook]

Massive amounts of power will bring out the true sweetness of Magnepans. Could you run them with only 50wpc? Sure.

 

[Kzoomichman]

I own a pair of MMGs. Ran them with a yaqin tube amp rated at 50 watts per channel. I eventually went with a highly modified adcom gfa555 to run them. While I'm pleased with the adcom the Chinese made yaqin did a fine job. Just couldn't hit quite the decibal level I can with my Adcom. As you are probably well aware. 50 watts of tube power is much more substantial than 50 watts of solid state power.

 

[JoeESP9]

Actually, the technology is similar to Magnepan's (although EMIMs and original EMITs have magnets on both sides of the driver, whereas EMIT-Rs and Maggies have magnets only on one side)

Most Magnepans are single ended. IIRC the Tympani series was double ended. EMIT's and EMIM's are double ended. For full range double ended planar magnetics check out the Eminent Technology line.

 

[ehoove]

Planers are a bit different in that they will play fine, but power brings them to another level. That being said, I use a 35-40 watt tube amp to drive the midrange panels in my MGIIIa's while feeding 300 watts SS into the Bass and ribbons with great results. The bass panels need the horsepower to really excel. IMHO
And yes mine are stereo subwoofered as well, and will play any genre with ease!
Regards,
Jim

 

[ejman]

Planers are a bit different in that they will play fine, but power brings them to another level. That being said, I use a 35-40 watt tube amp to drive the midrange panels in my MGIIIa's while feeding 300 watts SS into the Bass and ribbons with great results. The bass panels need the horsepower to really excel. IMHO
And yes mine are stereo subwoofered as well, and will play any genre with ease!
Regards,
Jim

Interesting, tubes for the midrange but SS for the bottom and top. I understand the SS for the bottom but why for the top?

 

[tomlinmgt]

^^^

Aren't the ribbons a slightly tougher load than mid panels? Seems I may have read somewhere they are. :scratch2:

 

[rudedogg]

It has been my personal experience that Maggies lack lower bass frequencies. That is UNLESS you give 'em a bunch of high current power! They get better much bass when given a couple hundred watts...my MGIIs did.

 

[ejman]

^^^

Aren't the ribbons a slightly tougher load than mid panels? Seems I may have read somewhere they are. :scratch2:

Maybe so but there is very little energy up in the higher registers i.e. power requirements to reproduce high frequencies is low. Very small pannel movements are needed to reproduce 10khz on up so I would think a tube amp would do well up there no?

 

[Blue Shadow]

Interesting, tubes for the midrange but SS for the bottom and top. I understand the SS for the bottom but why for the top?

Because he got a really nice turntable. Can't buy everything all at once, I don't think. But a big thing is the continual improvement in the system is satisfying to experience.

 

[swechsler]

It has been my personal experience that Maggies lack lower bass frequencies. That is UNLESS you give 'em a bunch of high current power! They get better much bass when given a couple hundred watts...my MGIIs did.

I have my MGIIIs hooked up to an Aragon 4004MkII (400w/channel into 4 ohms, supposed to be high current). I still found the bass lacking, ending up adding my Velodyne sub to the mix. Much better.

 

[automojo]

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.

Good for you.
I personally have had the exact opposite experience.
And personally don't care for the colored sound of most tubes amps (particularly Jolida's)-(exception Citation II or V), as I think they sound "loose" with little bass control-even with Maggies. Not very musical IMHO. Tubed to sound "tubey" does little for me...
My opinion of course..........."nonsense" not withstanding.....you experience may differ.....

 

[automojo]

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)

This is what I was referring to.
Unless you listen to the same type of music, at the same volume-you can't really experience what they have to offer without some clean power, IMHO.
Then again, some amps just aren't going to sound the best with Maggies regardless of their make or power.
Like anything else-equipment matching is key to get the best performance your looking for.
Bass quantity and quality is really subjective with most Maggies-that's why some add subs.
I personally prefer them as is, as my ear can adjust to their bass type after a few minutes.
As you go up in size-to the big daddy-20.1(7) even the more need for bass control (and power), as these go down low.

 

[rudedogg]

I have my MGIIIs hooked up to an Aragon 4004MkII (400w/channel into 4 ohms, supposed to be high current). I still found the bass lacking, ending up adding my Velodyne sub to the mix. Much better.

Yes the sub definately helps! I did use a 10" powered sub for a little while with mine. I pushed mine with 320wpc and never gave them full throttle, i found the bass decent enough to lose the sub when given enough juice. They dont have the same low end as my Polks did, or even my DCMs. But they were wonderful at what they did, provide a room filling airy sound when positioned well.

 

[ejman]

Good for you.
I personally have had the exact opposite experience.
And personally don't care for the colored sound of most tubes amps (particularly Jolida's)-(exception Citation II or V), as I think they sound "loose" with little bass control-even with Maggies. Not very musical IMHO. Tubed to sound "tubey" does little for me...
My opinion of course..........."nonsense" not withstanding.....you experience may differ.....

And indeed my experience differs in that I find the sound with the Jolida amp very satisfying. But really, that's exactly what is so wonderful about this hobby as well as this forum. In the end, I hope that we all end up with the type of system that we find pleasing, rather than the type that pleases somebody else just to be part of some "guru approved" mantra.

 

[automojo]

And indeed my experience differs in that I find the sound with the Jolida amp very satisfying. But really, that's exactly what is so wonderful about this hobby as well as this forum. In the end, I hope that we all end up with the type of system that we find pleasing, rather than the type that pleases somebody else just to be part of some "guru approved" mantra.

I agree.
I don't see any "guru approved" types in this thread-unless I'm missing something?:scratch2:
Opinions are what they are-just opinions.
IMHO that's the great thing about opinions-you can take 'em or leave 'em, or just take some parts.
They aren't matters of fact.
Or mobs rules beating someone over the head "Or Else!"-if you don't agree or follow.
Just opinions and/or suggestions.
No one's forcing anyone here to drink the Kool-Aid.
Relax and enjoy.......and perhaps even appreciate those thoughts that differ.
You don't have to agree to appreciate a different point of view.....
Makes for a much more helpful forum..