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Low on Funds, but so many nice speakers to buy locally..need advice

LoudInTn

LoudInTn

Active Member
Hi all! Well this is my first thread and I hope I dont break any rules or anything. Ive been a long time lurker but just finally joined today lol. So I have a chance to get a couple of IMHO nice pairs of speakers relatively cheaply and I wanted some opinions from some folks with more knowledge and experience than I have. Ok so I have a small list of things to go look at today and wanted your opinions please. I listen to everything, so no certain music type and I also sell and trade some. So should I buy any of these for the price? They all have pics, I can listen to them first, and are within 40 miles of me. Ok Here goes........Lafayette Criterion 38 pair $25,
DCM Timeframe TF600 Speakers - $100,
micro acoustic ma 3dx speakers with new woofers and I get the old ones too - $30,
Technics SB 501 Speakers$100, Cox Enterprises "Sweet Sixteen" speakers $150( I know these are silly, I just thought they were neat and the pics look amazing and its a pair of them with a little horn tweeter in the center of each so its the later design lol), Allison Acoustics AL115 speakers with stands $100, and really what I want to go buy right this very second is these.....Magneplanar SMGa "baby Maggies" -$200 One owner since he bought them new at the store and I can listen as long as I like. Thoughts?



 
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Im building my little brother his first real stereo system for christmas and Im about to sell some of my stuff and or trade it for a few new pieces. I would be keeping the baby maggies if I got them for sure though lol
 
ramzilla said:
TF600s get my vote. Be sure that all the tweeters are playing.
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Ive been looking at the TF600s for about a week and really thinking about getting them. One of the tweeters is bad and he bought a replacement and hasnt installed it yet so that would fall to me, but comes with them free at least lol
 
I knew when reading the OP that someone was going to suggest the DCM. They have quite a following on here. I have no experience or percieved opinion on any of those specifically in relation to comparison/value. I do know that I've always wanted to hear some Maggies and they have a lot of fans on here. I'd do some research on those as well.
 
Mitkraft said:
I knew when reading the OP that someone was going to suggest the DCM. They have quite a following on here. I have no experience or percieved opinion on any of those specifically in relation to comparison/value. I do know that I've always wanted to hear some Maggies and they have a lot of fans on here. I'd do some research on those as well.
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Thanks! Ive been researching till Im about to lose sight from staring at the computer lol. I want the maggies more, but the dcms are half the price and that makes a little difference
 
Just got a callback from a guy I forgot about a couple of weeks ago that has a pair of Wharfdale speakers and all he knows is that they are in great shape with 12's and knobs on the back lol. The pics of the grill cloth look great lol. Im waiting for him to get home and give me a model number
 
TF-600 is the sweet spot for the Frames. a c-note is a lot of good sound for the money.

although Magneplanars have that special sound these date from 86-92 and will need regluing the wires if this hasn't been done. They don't have slam and the highs stop at the top of the tweeter so they tilt back so the highs are pointed up. Too close or too tall and the highs are gone. They need space to sound best and although these are more efficient than other magneplanars, they will need power. But Magneplanars have a great sound especially female vocalists and jazz.
 
Blue Shadow said:
TF-600 is the sweet spot for the Frames. a c-note is a lot of good sound for the money.

although Magneplanars have that special sound these date from 86-92 and will need regluing the wires if this hasn't been done. They don't have slam and the highs stop at the top of the tweeter so they tilt back so the highs are pointed up. Too close or too tall and the highs are gone. They need space to sound best and although these are more efficient than other magneplanars, they will need power. But Magneplanars have a great sound especially female vocalists and jazz.
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I have plenty of bottom end already so thats no concern. I also dont mind regluing wires or anything, its kind of a hobby lol. I think im going to buy the TF600s, but I am curious about the amount of power consumption needed for the magneplanars?
 
Hoover Dam is adequate, (just over 2000 megawatts). But the spec for the SMGa is 90 db so not so bad, you should be able to get them going with 50 or so. Many of their speakers are in the 84-86dB range and everyone talks about high power/current ss amps. I use that as well as 50 tube watts. I just know not to expect concert volumes using the tube amps.
 
Lol well thats a bit of power sir! I was thinking of maybe investing some money eventually and going with dual mono block tubes if I get these but Im kind of torn powerwise about some of the really powerful sort of "cheater" amps that came out of the 80s and 90s that are just basic 2 channel stereo amps that sound amazing lol. Right now I really probably dont have the space for the baby maggies, but I really want to hear them in my house lol
 
Blue Shadow said:
Hoover Dam is adequate, (just over 2000 megawatts). But the spec for the SMGa is 90 db so not so bad, you should be able to get them going with 50 or so. Many of their speakers are in the 84-86dB range and everyone talks about high power/current ss amps. I use that as well as 50 tube watts. I just know not to expect concert volumes using the tube amps.
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oops meant to reply directly to you here.... Lol well thats a bit of power sir! I was thinking of maybe investing some money eventually and going with dual mono block tubes if I get these but Im kind of torn powerwise about some of the really powerful sort of "cheater" amps that came out of the 80s and 90s that are just basic 2 channel stereo amps that sound amazing lol. Right now I really probably dont have the space for the baby maggies, but I really want to hear them in my house lol
 
I would give those Magnepans a listen ... I absolutely love mine. Re-gluing is silly cheap and easy. You don't *need* 200watts per channel, my MG-Is are fine with 50 out of a McIntosh MC502.
 
Johnny_Law said:
I would give those Magnepans a listen ... I absolutely love mine. Re-gluing is silly cheap and easy. You don't *need* 200watts per channel, my MG-Is are fine with 50 out of a McIntosh MC502.
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Yeah Im still thinking about it. Ive got amps everywhere, but theyre all a bit newer and not great lol. Youre running a nice old school mcintosh, my only old school amp Ive got the bottom of the barrel marantz 2225 lol.
 
ramzilla said:
It would be nice if you could squeeze out enough dough to get both and do a "shoot Out"
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Hmmmmm, that would be fun. I suppose I could resell whichever pair I didnt want, probably for a little bit more than I paid. Hmmm, my gears are grinding lol
 
ramzilla said:
It would be nice if you could squeeze out enough dough to get both and do a "shoot Out"
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I think I may also go ahead and sell a pair of Bose 6.2's I got the other day for $35 and an unused definitive technology mythos iii center channel that I got free with a pair of bp supertowers I picked up for $100
 
LoudInTn said:
I think I may also go ahead and sell a pair of Bose 6.2's I got the other day for $35....
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Good call. These speakers should be much better. In response to buying both and flipping what you don't want, I would guess that it could be easy to get your money back or better. Especially if you reglue/refurb the maggies that should add some easy value.
 
I have always wanted to hear Time Frames, so I would get those.

I have also had a couple of sets of Magnepans (MG-I and MG IIc) and they are worth a listen. I have run them with as little as 45 watts and they can sound good, but a lot of power is better. Fixing them is not too bad either but if you want to get the wire and glue kit from Magnepan you need to do it soon as they do not ship the glue once it gets too cold. The glue is water based and can freeze.
 
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