[SteveRB]

Hello,

First post in this forum. I'm looking around at speaker options these days. I have been really into the open baffle DIY approach for the past few years. Now I thinking about a pair of Magnepan (1.6).

I hear different reviews and opinions on amps and power necessary for these. I have a fully restored Eico HF-81 that I love. Just wondering if the Magnepan's would leave me wanting more power...?

http://home.earthlink.net/~eico_hf81/

I'm all over the map with music: 60's folk, 90's hip hop, all types of pop and off the wall stuff.

Currently I'm running a Visaton B200 (96dB 6ohm) open baffle with a Alpha 15 for bass. I never turn the dial up further than 1/8th.

Any opinions from actual owners...?

[SlushPuppy]

Try to arrange some time with them and see if there's any magic. I don't think there will be. I wouldn't own anything less than 80W for my 1.7's, and I don't listen very loud either. I wouldn't spend a dime until I've heard the combo at a lengthy audition.

[Emsquare]

Not so easy to predict. The 1.6 is listed as 86dB/2.83v/m @500Hz and recommended amplification is 50-250Wrms @ 8Ω. That's a little ambitious for an Eico 81 @ 14 Watts. Most Magnepan users will find that wanting but not everyone is going to think so. Magic 8-ball says ...  'Outlook Doubtful'.

Magic 8-ball has been known to be wrong on occassion.

[SteveRB]

Thanks for the opinions.

There are a couple 1.6's in town on the used market; I may try to crash in on one with amp in hand. The Eico has been known to be more than 'acceptable' for medium efficient speakers (88-92dB). It really does sing with high efficient speakers.

I've had mine rebuilt from the ground up, and as i said, I use very little of it to drive my current set up.

I'm a little tight for extra cash these days, but I may also be able to get a decent SS power amp. Then I could use the pre amp outputs of the Eico to the SS then to a pair of 1.6 or 1.7's...

We'll see, I'm kind of eager for a speaker upgrade but not ready to drop $3K on a pair of GR Research V2's.

[andyr]

There are a couple 1.6's in town on the used market; I may try to crash in on one with amp in hand. The Eico has been known to be more than 'acceptable' for medium efficient speakers (88-92dB). It really does sing with high efficient speakers.

Have you tried your Eico yet with the 1.6s?    (I really think you will have trouble making them sound good with a lousy 14w!)  I heard some 1.7s - which are supposed to be more efficient than 1.6s - sound superb with a Magtech amp ... but that's 500w into 4ohms. 

Regards,

Andy

[Davey]

If you change speakers you always have to consider changing amplifiers.
You select an amplifier based on the speakers you prefer.  It doesn't work any other way.

A 14 watt tube amplifier driving 1.6's would be like expecting your riding lawnmower to pull a 30 foot travel trailer.
Now everyone laugh at my silly analogy. 

Cheers,

Dave.

[brooklyn]

I'm a little tight for extra cash these days, but I may also be able to get a decent SS power amp. Then I could use the pre amp outputs of the Eico to the SS then to a pair of 1.6 or 1.7's...

Having used Maggies many different times over the years I would say to go with the solid state amp and use the preamp outputs like you suggest. Maggies need power to sound their best.

[SteveFord]

A little blurb on the 1.7s in the current TAS said "they eat power like King Kong eats breakfast" or words to that effect so I think they'd make the Eico release the Magic Smoke.