New $30,000 Maggie at RMAF

SteveFord · « **Reply #40 on:** 17 Oct 2012, 11:02 pm »

Someone somewhere along the line stated that the new MMGs are different sized than the original ones but that's not the case.
Same size, same trim.

SteveFord · « **Reply #41 on:** 19 Oct 2012, 09:37 am »

A show report on the new MMGs.

http://parttimeaudiophile.com/2012/10/18/rmaf12-dealer-direct-and-the-magnepan-story/

Davey · « **Reply #42 on:** 19 Oct 2012, 02:45 pm »

It still appears to me that the only change to the MMG is the crossover??

Anyways, the $1400.00 MMG/DWM combo seems like a pretty good value.

Dave.

Rclark · « **Reply #43 on:** 19 Oct 2012, 05:41 pm »

New MMG, old MMG, all MMG reviews read exactly like that one. It's why I went this way instead of 1.6 or 3, I have a small room anyway, and I wanted to see what the fuss was over this one, with a huge number of positive user review. Such an awesome speaker, and I was actually thinking they might have tried to make it worse by downgrading it some so as to not compete with the rest of the line as much, but I see that's not the case.

There is a down side though. You need a killer amp to go with it. Killer amp + mmg =

. Wimpy cheapo amp + mmg =

. So there's the rub.

josh358 · « **Reply #44 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 01:50 am »

Wendell sent along a link to Stereophile's show report, and it's a rave:

http://www.stereophile.com/content/magnepan-amazes-%E2%80%99s-iamazesi

Davey · « **Reply #45 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 03:14 am »

Quote from: Rclark on 19 Oct 2012, 05:41 pm

There is a down side though. You need a killer amp to go with it. Killer amp + mmg = . Wimpy cheapo amp + mmg = . So there's the rub.

What's a "killer" amp?

Dave.

Rclark · « **Reply #46 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 03:34 am »

HYPEX NCORE

brooklyn · « **Reply #47 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 05:11 am »

The Bel Canto REF 500M amps sound very nice with the MMG's.

medium jim · « **Reply #48 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 05:58 am »

Why not use a Bryston amp, that is what Magnepan used with them at RMAF. I have to think that Magnepan knows what sounds the best with the mmg's....

Jim

srb · « **Reply #49 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 06:36 am »

Quote from: Rclark on 19 Oct 2012, 05:41 pm

There is a down side though. You need a killer amp to go with it. Killer amp + mmg = . Wimpy cheapo amp + mmg = . So there's the rub.

Quote from: Davey on 20 Oct 2012, 03:14 am

What's a "killer" amp?

Quote from: Rclark on 20 Oct 2012, 03:34 am

HYPEX NCORE

But you previously said ...

Quote from: Rclark on 27 Dec 2011, 08:33 pm

Well I run a virtue amp and it was less than 500 and it drives the heck out of the mmg.

So which is it? "it drives the heck out of the mmg" sounds like a pretty good thing to me.

Steve

Rclark · « **Reply #50 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 06:44 am »

that was before. The Virtue is quite good. Excellent. But it's exactly as Anand (Poseidon's Voice) put it when he was comparing the SDS class D amps to the Ncore. He called the class D amps 8/10. I would say the exact about the Virtue. 8/10 is really really really good. He called the Ncores 20/10 and for me it was the same difference to the Virtue. He has experience and money, his system is pretty jaw dropping and he could run whatever he wants. Same with Mgalusa, JtWrace, TomS, all these guys are now running the high end Ncores. Enormous, huge gulf between the Ncore and the excellent Virtue. Between the two (and the Virtue, modded, on batts, is a terrific amp) it's like dreaming of heaven or just being there. It's hard to talk about the difference between awesome or.. beyond words.

srb · « **Reply #51 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 06:57 am »

Well, then that doesn't sound at all like a "downside" to the MMG, as you stated. It simply sounds like they (and a whole slew of other speakers) sound even better with a high-end amp.

Steve

Rclark · « **Reply #52 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 07:00 am »

it is a downside in that you are really missing out unless you have a flat out awesome amp on there. Maggies, and the MMG is no exception, are HUGELY revealing of amps.

cab · « **Reply #53 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 12:36 pm »

Quote from: medium jim on 20 Oct 2012, 05:58 am

Why not use a Bryston amp, that is what Magnepan used with them at RMAF. I have to think that Magnepan knows what sounds the best with the mmg's....

Jim

Because there is no absolute "sounds best".

SteveFord · « **Reply #54 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 12:39 pm »

I've always said that they're aural magnifying glasses.
Reading these two show reports gave me some ideas.

A few comparisons would be interesting:

old MMG vs new MMG
MMG/DMW vs Mini Maggie System
MMG/DMW vs 1.7

as price-wise all of these are within a few hundred bucks of one another.
I suppose that room size would dictate the purchase decision as much as anything else.

P.S.
I've heard a few amps that I think might qualify as "sounds worst"!
Off to the Post Office to finally get Brooklyn's Zappa out of here.

Davey · « **Reply #55 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 02:43 pm »

Rclark,

Amplifier nonsense. There are many amplifiers that will work well with MMG's. A "killer" amp is certainly not needed.

Speakers are the weakest link in any audio system and therefore vastly more important in creating an enjoyable listening experience than any amplifier.

Dave.

rollo · « **Reply #56 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 03:21 pm »

It takes two to tango. The synergy of the amp and speaker does matter. For Maggies no different. Direct "A" to "B" comparison is the only way one can discern a sonic difference. Wether SS or tubed each amp will will have sonic traits that are noticeable to the listener.
Is there a perfect amp for Maggies, yes. The one you like, that's the one. Older Maggies say the 3.5 and down love Ar Amps. Most designs were voiced at the Maggie factory using AR.
Bryston the SST series especially works well. So does CJ, Plinius, Arion HS 500, Pass, Parasound, Odyssey and so on. All wonderfull amps.
Which one is for you and the rest of your system ? Only you can make that decision. Have fun trying.

charles

medium jim · « **Reply #57 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 04:17 pm »

Quote from: cab on 20 Oct 2012, 12:36 pm

Because there is no absolute "sounds best".

Well then your answer also applies to the Ncores wouldn't you say? I'm pretty sure that a Bryson would sound "Killer" with the MMG's....

Jim

brooklyn · « **Reply #58 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 04:27 pm »

Quote from: medium jim on 20 Oct 2012, 05:58 am

Why not use a Bryston amp, that is what Magnepan used with them at RMAF. I have to think that Magnepan knows what sounds the best with the mmg's....

Jim

I'm sure that Bryston amp's sound great with the Maggies although when I heard them many years ago they sounded bright to me, I'm sure that's a thing of the past.

I took a chance with the Bel Canto amp's and it paid off, they sound great with the MMG's and they were almost half the price of a new Bryston even though I would have bought a used one at the time if I found one but having a bad back was also a consideration. I also try to buy "made in america" even though I have no problem with the Canadian's, LOL... and the thought of having to box and ship one to Canada in the event of a repair would probably have me sitting in a wheel chair listening to music.

Like my friends dad use to say..... "there's an ass for every seat"...... I mean that in a good way.

cab · « **Reply #59 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 04:53 pm »

Quote from: medium jim on 20 Oct 2012, 04:17 pm

Well then your answer also applies to the Ncores wouldn't you say? I'm pretty sure that a Bryson would sound "Killer" with the MMG's....

Jim

Obviously, from a logic perspective, when I say there is no "absolutely best sounding amp", the ncore being an amp, I would be including the ncore. There is no metric for "best sounding", it is subjective and varies from individual to individual. I would have thought that you were aware of that.

No reason a Bryston wouldn't sound "killer" to some, as would an Ncore to others, or a Pass to still others. I fail to see any point to your post.