[nocrapman]

Hi folks,
I have a BP26-4BSST2 setup as balanced with a gain of 23db powering a Magnepan 1.7.

I was listening to Eagles - Hell freezes over - Hotel California and when I cranked it up to unusually loud levels (LOML was out), it started clipping - especially at every drum-bass hit. The sound was breaking and the led changing red and blinking. Decreasing volume to comfortable levels resolved it.

I am dismayed as I thought the 4B was ample power with 500W at 4ohms that the 1.7 poses.

Is this expected?
Are these speakers underpowered?
Is my amp behaving out of the norm?
I tried the higher gain setting and hit the same ceiling!

Please advise.

[James Tanner]

Hi folks,
I have a BP26-4BSST2 setup as balanced with a gain of 23db powering a Magnepan 1.7.

I was listening to Eagles - Hell freezes over - Hotel California and when I cranked it up to unusually loud levels (LOML was out), it started clipping - especially at every drum-bass hit. The sound was breaking and the led changing red and blinking. Decreasing volume to comfortable levels resolved it.

I am dismayed as I thought the 4B was ample power with 500W at 4ohms that the 1.7 poses.

Is this expected?
Are these speakers underpowered?
Is my amp behaving out of the norm?
I tried the higher gain setting and hit the same ceiling!

Please advise.

Hi

Yes the Maggies are inefficient and they can take all the power you can give them.  If the lights are blinking you are clipping the amplifier and will do harm to your speakers.

james

[nocrapman]

Aren't Maggies commonly demoed with Brystons in a lot of shows?
What are they usually powered with?
Do i need to go monos like the 7Bs to get the headroom?
Or consider changing speakers (would be a shame cause I really like them)?

[TJ-Sully]

hey NCM, i'm no expert but the answer to moving to 7B's should always be YES!
i'm in the same boat with the 4BSST^2 and BP-25 preamp. running Mini T's.
it's a beautiful combination. when i really crank it up, the amp clips for me too. but it is really loud! this is a good thing as
the last thing i want is damage to my speaks.

for what's it worth, there's a nice pair 7B's for sale on the Trading Post site on Audio Circle. at a great price!
keep the speakers you love and go for Bryston mono's.

good luck.

TJ