Dead or Alive

[edshull]

I've put together what I think is a decent system for the money and space.

Bluesound Node 2
Parasound Halo 2 Pre-Amp
Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 3
Magnepan MMC2's with a DWM on each
REL Strata 3 Sub
Signal Cable Silver reference speaker cable

On the right tracks, it's magic. Live stuff is wonderful with a solid soundstage. Some albums like Michael Jackson and Leonard Cohen just pop right out of the speakers into my living room, giving me that thing I always loved about Magnepan.

But other albums, like Van Halen's 1984, and other rock stuff, just falls flat. The drums just slush into the music, and sometimes the sweet spot just makes it sound like a well placed crappy radio in the center.

I'm getting some amazing big sound of these, so I know they're capable. And I've had Magnepans before that rocked out regardless of the track, so I know these tracks can sound better. Any advice? Or has anyone ran into the same thing?

 

[JoeESP9]

Bigger Maggies?

 

[Johnny 007]

I'm not at all familiar with the MMC speakers, but I do know that Magnepan 1.7s or 3.7s can sound very very nice in the proper setting.

 

[loopstick]

.

 

[E-Stat]

Any advice?

Perhaps you have a phase issue. Either the DWMs are out of phase with the mains or you are noting that some recordings vary with absolute phase.

I might try reversing absolute phase of both speakers with your speaker cables.