Magnepan 1.6qr's + Pathos Classic One?

[Mike Anderson]

Ordered the 1.6qr's this afternoon, can't wait!

[Geoffcin]

I am suprised you didnt buy the B&W then too, oh well. I never buy something without auditioning it personally in my own system.

But I assure you that listening to reviewers that you trust will help clear away a lot of gear before you even audition anything.

You want a hint from me; Put your Sphinx up againt a Plinius. If your honest about your system you might see that 13k isn't nessasary to get you to heaven.

[Mike Anderson]

As I've never heard the 1.6qr's with the stands. God forbid I recommend something I've only heard on the 3.6's, or worse, an amp that didn't impress me with a different set of speaker.

Here's a review from an Audioasylum member;

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/spe...ges/85641.html

I read through quite a few of those reviews; they were all glowing, not one negative. I'm willing to try 'em for a few hundred bucks. I'm sure I could sell them for near-full price if I didnt like them, since there's about a month wait.

[Florian]

website

But I assure you that listening to reviewers that you trust will help clear away a lot of gear before you even audition anything.

You want a hint from me; Put your Sphinx up againt a Plinius. If your honest about your system you might see that 13k isn't nessasary to get you to heaven.

Way ahead of you, we compared the PJ18, PJ14MKIII, against Conrad Johnson P5 Monos, KSA250, KSA150, VS300B, Pathos C1, Ampzillas and the GamuT's incl. PL201 and the bottom line is this. The PJ18 can drive all loads, is much more dynamic with finer resolution but lacks in emotional impact and speed only compared to the P5's and 300B's. The Plinius was great but its much like the Maggies vs. Apogees. Maggies are great and i could easily live with them but they aint no Apogee.


@ MA Grats, your joining the leauge of musical bliss. Try the Pathos tough, it will show you that you dont have to buy into Stereophile advertisment to get good sound

[Geoffcin]

Ordered the 1.6qr's this afternoon, can't wait!

Your going to love them.

A few things you want to know;

Your 1.6qr maggies are going to take quite some time to reach their best. Break-in is very long. Think 400hrs if your light on the gas. My advice is to pound away with your most bass heavy tracks as often as you can stand it. Bass will continue to improve for the first 1000hrs or so. Nothing compares to planar bass, nothing!

Make sure you amp is well vented. I drove a 400 wpc amp into thermal overload with my maggies (it was fine after cooling down). Yours will take current likes it's nobodies business, so if you like to rock, make sure your amp stays cool.

Take some time, a LOT of it to tweak your location out. It took me weeks to work out the best spot for my speakers, but there's a spot where pure nirvana can be had now in my room.

Other than that it's clear sailing. Dont be afraid to pump up the volume. The 1.6qr is not only fused, it damn near indistructable. I've never heard of a failure of the QR tweeter yet.

[Florian]

Your going to love them.

Wecome to the maggie club too. As you see we are not all of the same mind, but we all do love music...(at least I think we all do)

A few things you want to know;
..........

I have nothing to add to his recommendation exept that if you drive a 400wpc into clipping on a 1.6 then the amps isnt worth a damn in my book. Also the break in is VERY important and of course, nothing touches planar bass :-)

[Geoffcin]

I have nothing to add to his recommendation exept that if you drive a 400wpc into clipping on a 1.6 then the amps isnt worth a damn in my book.

Please re-read my post. I said THERMAL overload. The amp actually sounded incredible right up at the time it shut itself down.

[Florian]

Please re-read my post. I said THERMAL overload. The amp actually sounded incredible right up at the time it shut itself down.

Ok let me rephrase, if a amp with 400wpc (paper) goes into THERMAL shutdown on a 4ohm 1.6 then the amp isnt worth a damn in my book. ;-)

[Mike Anderson]

Your going to love them.

A few things you want to know;

Your 1.6qr maggies are going to take quite some time to reach their best. Break-in is very long. Think 400hrs if your light on the gas. My advice is to pound away with your most bass heavy tracks as often as you can stand it. Bass will continue to improve for the first 1000hrs or so. Nothing compares to planar bass, nothing!

Make sure you amp is well vented. I drove a 400 wpc amp into thermal overload with my maggies (it was fine after cooling down). Yours will take current likes it's nobodies business, so if you like to rock, make sure your amp stays cool.

Take some time, a LOT of it to tweak your location out. It took me weeks to work out the best spot for my speakers, but there's a spot where pure nirvana can be had now in my room.

Other than that it's clear sailing. Dont be afraid to pump up the volume. The 1.6qr is not only fused, it damn near indistructable. I've never heard of a failure of the QR tweeter yet.

I hear ya, on all counts. Will do.

So far I've really enjoyed my MMGs, so I'm sure I'll go ga-ga over the 1.6qr's. Just hope it's near the end of the trail for now -- I'm never going to be able to afford a house if I try to end up with 20.1's first!

[Mike Anderson]

Try the Pathos tough, it will show you that you dont have to buy into Stereophile advertisment to get good sound

I will, eventually; first I need some time to break in the 1.6qr's -- and the wife!

But I will try it - I value your opinion, you obviously know a lot about gear, so if you say it sounds good I'm willing to audition it.

PS, looked at your gallery -- friggin' incredible... And you're so young -- How in the world can you afford all that gear? (Don't answer if you don't wish to!)

[Florian]

How can i afford all this gear? Good question! :-)

I am on a quest, been at it for 6 years now. All my work goes towards my hobby and i seek perfection. Or the closest thing to it. I teach the german military in IT English, I install and administrate 2K and 03 networks and design and build custom computers wich incl. phase change cooling and watercooling.

I owned most of the equipment i comment on. Here is a short list of my audio hobby, speaker wise. NEW prices upon release in germany

1. Infinity RS3 (around 300$)
2. Onkyo THX_Ultra Fronts (around 4500 for the set) (AGE 17)
3. Magnat speakers (no clue) (Age 18)
4. Onkyo THX-SYS1 (3900) ( Age 18)
6. Magnepan MMG (still own it) (1200 used) (Age 19)
7. Magnepan MG 1.6QR/SE (3000$) (Age20)
8. Magnepan MG 3.6R/SE (7000$) (Age 21)
9. Magnepan MG 3.6R (4750$) (Age 21)
10. VMPS 626 and RM30 (Still own them)
12. Apogee Scinitlla (16000) (Age 22)
13. Apogee DIVA (32000) (Age 22)

I got very very lucky on the 3.6 and on the Scinitlla and DIVA. The Apogees are a dream come true and reference speaker. Period!. Many consider them the best speaker in the world and those who dont count them at the very top on a very short list. Personaly preference ;-)

Here is my electronics history

1. Onkyo TX-DS555
2. Onkyo TX-SV919THX
3. Harman Kardon AVR7000
4. Marantz SR7200
5. Onkyo Integra 838
6. Onkyo Integra 939
7. Onkyo Integra 989 V1
8. NAD 320BB
9. Cambridge Audio Azur 540R, C500 and P500
10. Pathos Acoustics Classic One (Still own it)
11. Jolida JD3000b
12. Krell KSA-150
13. Tact RCS 2.0AA
14. Sphinx PJ2MKII, PJ18

Things from Ampzilla2000 over Wadia to Krells......

My friends here run Maggies (MG20 fully active) plus Scintillas, Duettas, Conrad Johnson, Acoustat, Silverwald OTL's, Plinius, Krell References, Goldmund T-3, Nemisis5 or Forsell, Jadis JP80, Audio Research Reference etc...... you name and i most likely have lots of experience with it.

I tried bass traps, diffusors, build my own stands incl Maggie bass wings. I tried tons of cables and positioning and lots lots more.

My quest: To hear virtually no difference between life music and my the music in my home. From my standpoint on good recordings (vinyl) ....i am damn close!

PS: Bottom line, i work my ass off and got lucky and dont buy into advertising crap and dont listen to people who show me the latest bang for the buck or who read some idiot magazine and wont understand that this is a capitalistic world.

Cheers

:-)

PS: Also the reason i get so upset sometimes is when i read all those comments from people who own little Paradigms with a TV smack �*n the middle of the speakers or someone commenting on some 200 buck system who then talks crap and calls us pashionate people snobs. Once you get the 1.6 give the Pathos a try and it will show you that its pointless to pump 400 watts into a 1.6 etc....

Geof. is the one of the very few on here i really respect and whos opinion i value but my experience is clearly different in terms of power requirement and equipment exept when it comes to panels where i love the Maggies but just took the next step.

[Mike Anderson]

Additional questions:

1) A lot of folks over at the MUG seem to think the various mods to the 1.6 are absolutely necessary. Would I be stupid to keep my speakers stock? If so, would I be able to find someone near me (SF Bay Area) to do the mods for me? I don't even know where my solder gun is!

2) Anybody have any experience with the Odyssey Extreme mono blocks? They also get some favorable opinions from all the reviews I've read.

[Florian]

Additional questions:

1) A lot of folks over at the MUG seem to think the various mods to the 1.6 are absolutely necessary. Would I be stupid to keep my speakers stock? If so, would I be able to find someone near me (SF Bay Area) to do the mods for me? I don't even know where my solder gun is!

2) Anybody have any experience with the Odyssey Extreme mono blocks? They also get some favorable opinions from all the reviews I've read.

1. They are not needed, yes they are a extra goody but they will sound fine without it. The limitations in your system right now are definetly not the Maggies so worry about the other stuff first. Its true, the x-overs in the Maggies are **** but the x-overs are simple and can easily be upgraded with better caps and spools and wiring. I am currently building a 6 chassy crossover for my DIVAS which will set me back about 1.5 Grand.

2. I dont know them, but dont get drawn into the lust for power. Maggies want finesse and current.

[Geoffcin]

Additional questions:

1) A lot of folks over at the MUG seem to think the various mods to the 1.6 are absolutely necessary. Would I be stupid to keep my speakers stock? If so, would I be able to find someone near me (SF Bay Area) to do the mods for me? I don't even know where my solder gun is!

2) Anybody have any experience with the Odyssey Extreme mono blocks? They also get some favorable opinions from all the reviews I've read.

Some of them are really nuts too. To spend more on a modded crossover than the entire speaker is out of control in my opinion. Then again there are people who will spend $7000 on speaker cables.....(not me!) The standard crossovers are just fine IMHO. Any tweak is going to be just that, a tweak, and is not going to radically change the sound.

I''ve only heard good things about the Odyssey monos. Never tried them in my setup yet.

[Geoffcin]

Geof. is the one of the very few on here i really respect and whos opinion i value but my experience is clearly different in terms of power requirement and equipment exept when it comes to panels where i love the Maggies but just took the next step.

Although you keep mis-reading my posts. I never said you needed heroic amplification to make maggies sing. On the contrary, my amplifier of choice is very modest indeed. That I was able to drive a 400wpc amp in thermal overload doesn't mean I think people will be doing that on a daily basis, or would need such a high powered amp at all.

[Florian]

Your not understanding me, i could easily use a 150wpc Krell that drops 50A of current and pumps out over 1.2KW of power into 1ohm and drive the 3.6 so hard that the foil hits the magnets at the back. There is no way in the world the 1.6 or the 3.6 will take REAL 400 watts and survive it.

[Mike Anderson]

Its true, the x-overs in the Maggies are **** but the x-overs are simple and can easily be upgraded with better caps and spools and wiring.

Now you've confused me - so this is something I should have done, or can do myself?

2. I dont know them, but dont get drawn into the lust for power. Maggies want finesse and current.

This is a point that also confuses me. I understand current is measured in amperes (Coulombs/sec), and power in watts (Joules/sec). But I would have thought there to be a correlation between the two, all else (i.e. voltage and resistance) held constant.

Since resistance is more or less constant at the speakers, are you saying I can get away with less power via differences in potential? Or am I confusing the impedance of the speaker with output impedance?

There was an interesting comment on the MUG which I didn't understand completely, but which sounded intelligent to me:

Maggies are low-efficiency, 4-ohm speakers so they need lots of current for dynamic peaks. On top of this, they suffer from dynamic compression, so it is tempting to crank the volume to compensate.

Further, stock Maggies suffer SERIOUS loss of resolution from the connection hardware, fuses, and wire. As good as you think stock Maggies sound, they sound MUCH, MUCH better with upgraded connectors, wire, and crossover components. Part of the improvement is the ability to resolve details at quite low listening levels, limited more by room background noise and your volume control than the driver static friction. Again, the temptation is to crank the volume to compensate for the lack of detail in stock Maggies.

Finally, Maggies couple to room air more effectively than cones. This means they are important in damping room resonances through dynamic braking. This requires the amplifier to have very low output impedance and the ability to sink current generated by the speaker. Such amplifiers are typically also very powerful, so people make the post hoc fallacy and think they need lots of power to get cleaner bass.

http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/MU...ges/90001.html

Is this accurate? If what he says about low output impedance is correct, then I understand what you are saying about power not being necessary (since lower output impedance gives you more current w/o more power, if I understand this correctly).

[Geoffcin]

Your not understanding me, i could easily use a 150wpc Krell that drops 50A of current and pumps out over 1.2KW of power into 1ohm and drive the 3.6 so hard that the foil hits the magnets at the back. There is no way in the world the 1.6 or the 3.6 will take REAL 400 watts and survive it.

The amp in question was not driven up to 400 watts

I'll give you a hint;

Your Krell can deliver plenty of current, but if it was asked to give 1/2 of it's rated power after a few hrs it would get so hot you could cook knockwerst on it. Eventually something would give. Stereophile nearly cooked the Krell 400ix when they tested it at 1/3 power for only 45 minutes! They had to shut it down because it started to smell like burnt insulation, and was so hot it couldn't be touched.

[Florian]

The amp in question was not driven up to 400 watts

I'll give you a hint;

Your Krell can deliver plenty of current, but if it was asked to give 1/2 of it's rated power after a few hrs it would get so hot you could cook knockwerst on it. Eventually something would give. Stereophile nearly cooked the Krell 400ix when they tested it at 1/3 power for only 45 minutes! They had to shut it down because it started to smell like burnt insulation, and was so hot it couldn't be touched.

The 400 i is trash and you know it too. I am talking about the KSA150 and KSA250. I used them to drive my Scinitllas (0.8 to 1.2ohm 78db sensitivity) for many hrs and trust it had to work its ass off. Yes the Krells get hotter then hell but they never shut down or break or go into a thermal load.

Bottom line, if a amplifier with 400wpc or even 200wpc goes into thermal clipping and shutsdown on a bloddy 1.6 or 3.6 then the amp is crap. End of story.

[Geoffcin]

The 400 i is trash and you know it too. I am talking about the KSA150 and KSA250. I used them to drive my Scinitllas (0.8 to 1.2ohm 78db sensitivity) for many hrs and trust it had to work its ass off. Yes the Krells get hotter then hell but they never shut down or break or go into a thermal load.

Bottom line, if a amplifier with 400wpc or even 200wpc goes into thermal clipping and shutsdown on a bloddy 1.6 or 3.6 then the amp is crap. End of story.

Gear youv'e never heard before either. How disapointing.

[Florian]

Gear youv'e never heard before either. How disapointing.

For ****s sake, you guys really know how to completely missunderstand every single person. I speak purely of power capabilites. Some of the best amps i have heard are tube amps with only 16wpc. But this doesnt change the fact that any good SS amp should not clip on the Maggies. End of story....doesnt have crap to do with sound quality. But a 400wpc rated amp SHOULD NOT shut down on a Maggie exept maybe the 20

[GMichael]

What do you guys think of the PS Audio GCA-250 Amplifier? Have you heard it hooked up to anything?

http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/pr...20--%20B-Stock

[GMichael]

It seems, on paper anyhow, to have a better power supply than the Parasound
Halo A21.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/pr...tory-Refreshed

[Florian]

Sounds like a half emulation of my Sphinx or the Ettalon. The damping factor is ok and it can handle the 1.5 ohms for a little while. The rest sounds good but one has to hear it personally of course.