• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Trying to Build a Budget 2-Channel With Magnepans

Mustang Dude

Mustang Dude

Active Member
Greetings. I'm a new member here. An online friend at the Vintage-Mustang forum recommended this site. I recently finished building a classic Mustang and I'm an empty-nester. When I was young, I was a wannabe Audiophile and I'd like to get back into it.

I'm wanting to build a budget audio system for my basement. Back in my youth, I used to listen to Magnepans at my local HiFi store and I REALLY liked the sound. I would like to kick some Magnepan tires by trying a pair of the LRS. They seem like a good option at a reasonable price.

I understand Magnepans are somewhat power hungry, but I can't afford high end monoblocks. I have seen many examples of old Adcom 555 amps for sale used. I was thinking I might be able to pick up two Adcom 555s and put them in monoblock mode to power the Magnepans. Reviews for the Adcom preamps are mixed. I would appreciate suggestions for a decent, used preamp.

I like to listen to music on vinyl, CD and digital streaming. I listen to Jazz, Bluegrass and Classic Rock. I also sometimes like to listen to "chop-your-head-off Metal", so maybe I can pick up a good quality subwoofer to add some low-end punch?

Am I completely out to lunch with such a plan? I would appreciate thoughts, ideas and feedback. In case it might help, I'm currently running an old JVC RX-703V with JBL L100S speakers. I have a Fluance turntable and and old DVD player for CDs. I just ordered a Schiit Modi 3+ DAC so I can stream music from my iPhone. (I think I can also send the DVD player into the Schiit using the digital output.)

Thank you.
 
Register to hide this ad
Maybe, you can find some older pairs of the 20 series Magnapans in good condition. They were and can be quite fabulous. Then I would choose a pre-owned Hafler DH500 amp and a Hafler Pre-amp. A Technics TT in good condition with a modern Ortofon cartridge. And of course you will need a DAC. They seem to be essential now days if you haven't inherited a large CD collection. Personnally I would be looking for speakers with a different personnality. I don't like what the rear emission of the Magnapan speaker does to the over all sound. You have the potential of the great line array experience only to have it compromised bt early reflections off the rear and adjacent wall if you get to close to a corner. Martin-logans with supplemental woofers are another choice, too.
 
Last edited:
twiiii said:
Maybe, you can find some older pairs of the 20 series Magnapans in good condition. They were and can be quite fabulous. Then I would choose a pre-owned Hafler DH500 amp and a Hafler Pre-amp. A Technics TT in good condition with a modern Ortofon cartridge. And of course you will need a DAC. They seem to be essential now days if you haven't inherited a large CD collection. Personnally I would be looking for speakers with a different personnality. I don't like what the rear emission of the Magnapan speaker does to the over all sound.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I like my Fluance turntable. It currently has an Ortofon Red cartridge. I can always upgrade that. Yes, I have a lot of CDs from the 90s which is one of the reasons I bought the Schiit DAC. There's a HiFi store in Denver which carries Magnepans. I'll have to pay them a visit and see what the LRS sound like. If I don't like the Maggies, I will take a look at Heco speakers. They seems to be a good value.

I'm not familiar with Hafler amps. I will take a look.

Thanks again.
 
I'm not sure you can bridge them into a four ohm load. 8, yes, but dunno about 4 ohms.

in any case, 300 watts into 4 ohms should be more than enough. it was for my 1.6's
 
the skipper said:
I'm not sure you can bridge them into a four ohm load. 8, yes, but dunno about 4 ohms.

in any case, 300 watts into 4 ohms should be more than enough. it was for my 1.6's
Click to expand...

Thanks. I will look into that.

Just did some perusing of Hafler amps. They made an XL600 that appears to have plenty of power all by itself.
 
I drove pairs of MG-1's and MG-2A's (not at the same time) with a Hafler DH-200 (100WPC@8 Ohms) for several years. The Hafler was more than adequate. That same Hafler had no problem driving Acoustat ESL's or Maggie 3.1's.

As much as I like the LRS's I have to admit they need a decent subwoofer (two is better) if you want any true deep bass. Otherwise they have the bass of a good 6" to 8" woofer in a pair of decent bookshelf speakers.

Hell, my 1.7's need a subwoofer (I use 2). IMO/E even the 3.7's could use a subwoofer. The 20.x's are a different beast altogether. They have all the bass many/most would ever want. However, a perfectionist might want even more/better "Maggie" bass. Hence the 30.7's.

If you restrict the low frequencies from Maggies they will play louder with less power. I use an electronic crossover set at ~70Hz. Everything below that goes to my subs.
 
Yeah, the GFA-555's like to see around 8 ohms in bridged mode, I blew up a GFA-555II on one of my Martin Logan Aerius-is and it took out a woofer, one was enough power for them, but it is not as refined an amp as what the MLs were capable of portraying...or the Maggies for that matter...I've had modfied MG-1s and still have a pair of MG-IIa's...

But, the true parameter for deciding what kind of gear to recommend is budget...to some $300 is a lot for a piece of gear, to others not so much.

You also have to consider the number of hours a week, month, year, you will use them in breaking down the cost of ownership.

I have always been on a budget, especially now that I am on a fixed income, but the only purchases that I didn't regret were the ones where I stretched my finances to afford better gear...it was a stretch for me to afford around $2K in 1998 for my brand new Audible Illusions preamp...but 23 years later after being in use nearly constantly powered on 24/7 the preamp is still one of the great sounding pieces of American craftsmanship...amps, speakers, digital stuff comes and goes but the Linn I've had for 24 years and the Modulus still remain.

I guess the Audible has cost me the equivalent of about $7.25 a month, if you broke it down...

The Adcoms also respond well to good tube preamps.

If you are going for an Adcom 555 only look at the latest version, the GFA-555SE, as I have had all three versions and still have a 555-II and the 555SE and the SE is clearly the best sounding of the bunch.

.
 
P.S. Mustang Dude,
One of the two cars I've had in 53 years of riding or driving that I miss the most is my 1967 390GT w/toploader, Detroit Locker, Holley DP, Mallory ignition, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning and both the overhead and center consoles...headers, cam...autocross inspired suspension...highway gearing made high speeds fun!

I had to sell it when the Arab oil embargo screwed gas prices in the early '70's and I couldn't live with an 8-9 MPG car (and my lead foot)...
 
One GFA 555 should be enough but you could also vertically bi-amp with two and simply not bridge them ... just to avoid the load issue.
Vertical bi-amping achieves the same thing as mono blocks which is really just a reference to separate mono amplifiers .being used in what amounts to vertical bi-amping... Either way you have a separate amp for each channel .. and better channel separation.

Only Adcoms or are you considering other amps ??
 
Akustic said:
One GFA 555 should be enough but you could also vertically bi-amp with two and simply not bridge them ... just to avoid the load issue.
Vertical bi-amping achieves the same thing as mono blocks which is really just a reference to separate mono amplifiers .being used in what amounts to vertical bi-amping... Either way you have a separate amp for each channel .. and better channel separation.

Only Adcoms or are you considering other amps ??
Click to expand...

Thank you. Can you bi-amp the Magnepan LRS? I know a little about bi-amping, but I've never had a system set up that way.

I'm open to anything that isn't ridiculously expensive. I could pay $1,000 for an amp and another $1,000 for a preamp. Then I'd have to save up a while to spring for the Maggie speakers.
 
RickB said:
P.S. Mustang Dude,
One of the two cars I've had in 53 years of riding or driving that I miss the most is my 1967 390GT w/toploader, Detroit Locker, Holley DP, Mallory ignition, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning and both the overhead and center consoles...headers, cam...autocross inspired suspension...highway gearing made high speeds fun!

I had to sell it when the Arab oil embargo screwed gas prices in the early '70's and I couldn't live with an 8-9 MPG car (and my lead foot)...
Click to expand...

My current Mustang is a 1970 Mach 1. I completely rebuilt it over eight years. It has the factory Cleveland with a few mods. People really like it wherever I take it. I'm very happy that it makes them happy.
 
A bit of a sleeper are the Proceed amplifiers. They are produced by Madrigal Audio Labs, of which there are claims of shared engineering with Mark Levinson components. The sound quality is very good and the selling prices are a bit below average for gear of this performance level. If you shop carefully you may find one that meets your needs.
 
Last edited:
Try the PS Audio Sprout 100 with the LRS's, IF? You can find one. I'm using it right now with the magnepan MMG's and it really is quite good.
 
"Chop your head off metal" to my experience doesn't quite match Maggie's. Your other genres of music, yes. Not heard LRS, but my 1.7i aren't going to do hit you in the chest, pounding bass or mid-bass. Thier finesse, transparency and detail are thier forte. They are wonderful for jazz, vocals and acoustic music.

Maggie's are definitely demanding of a good fit to your room. They aren't a Plop them down and play, speaker.
A good description of your basement room or pics of the room. would help. A symmetrical setup to front and side wall, for a start. Is it finished or bare walls and floor?

What is your budget?

I've powered my 1.7i with:
Rogue Sphinx tube hybrid, 200wpc@4 ohms.
Rogue Cronus Magnum tube 100wpc.
Also used Bryston BP20 pre and 3B power amp 250wpc into 4 ohms . Bryston gives the best bass punch of these.
 
Last edited:
They lack the connectors for bi-amping . ..
One excellent sounding and capable amp will be better than two mediocre amps with Magnepans anyway ...
The Magnepans are sufficiently transparent to expose the subtleties of most amps ..
The difference between 150 wpc and 300 wpc isn't likely to be really noticeable at normal listening levels .. both have sufficient reserves of power at normal volumes.

Given that they're very transparent speakers concentrate on finding an amp with a reputation for musicality ...
There are some good sounding MOSFET power amps available for budget money ..probably harder to find a hybrid on a budget ..
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom