New $30,000 Maggie at RMAF

medium jim · « **Reply #60 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 05:33 pm »

Quote from: cab on 20 Oct 2012, 04:53 pm

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.

Funny, I failed to see any with yours other than trolling. That said, I stand by my comment that Magnepan would know what sounds best with their speakers as they're a pretty smart bunch of folks and could have used any amp they wanted. Call it inductive logic.

Jim

cab · « **Reply #61 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 05:42 pm »

Can you define "best"? No....Magnepan has no idea what sounds best to me or most other people. If they did, they would make speakers that sound best to everyone, but they don't and they can't...I can see that logic is ineffectual here.

Rclark · « **Reply #62 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 05:50 pm »

A) I doubt Magnepan is even aware of Ncore.

B) I also doubt they test every single amp that comes along, especially SS.

C) the Ncore is DIY, the retail amps are just barely on the market now. They aren't going to recommend or run a DIY amp at a trade show. Lol.

D) Magnepan already has longstanding relationships with certain companies.

E) I highly doubt there is just ONE brand of amp and no other that will work. Clearly that's not what I found. Or others.

Rclark · « **Reply #63 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 06:19 pm »

And for the record, I never said one absolute amp, I don't know where that came from. Just gave my pick. Just don't run a lame, low powered amp and you're in business. It's common knowledge that Maggie's respond to good power.

medium jim · « **Reply #64 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 06:30 pm »

Quote from: Rclark on 20 Oct 2012, 06:19 pm

And for the record, I never said one absolute amp, I don't know where that came from. Just don't run a lame, low powered amp and you're in business. It's common knowledge that Maggie's respond to good power.

Funny thing, I don't recall ever saying one absolute amp either! I merely induced that since Magnepan opted to display their product using Bryston Amps...then came a troll.

Jim

Rclark · « **Reply #65 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 07:02 pm »

Damn trolls.

SteveFord · « **Reply #66 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 07:04 pm »

If I were in the market for a "big" amp, it'd be easy: a pair of VTL MB450 monoblocks.
I'm easy to please as I know what I like - an even presentation of the audio spectrum, a 3D soundstage with a hypnotic quality and some balls to back it up.

For a smaller amp, that's not so easy.
I'm currently mired in solid state amp purgatory for the wife's MMG system.
I want a close proximity of that Manley family sound but that's easier said than done when there's no tubes allowed and the budget is low.
A write up will follow once the dust settles.

No squabbling, you trolls.

No trolling, you squabs? I dunno.

medium jim · « **Reply #67 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 07:21 pm »

Steve:

I will take my wimpy Marantz 9's, but that's me and not a practical choice for most, even if the synergy with Maggie's is there in a big way. I bet the VTL's are wonderful as well.

Jim

SteveFord · « **Reply #68 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 07:44 pm »

David Manley has (had?) a really good ear. For my tastes he nailed it.

I haven't heard everything, though, and there's a ton of great stuff out there.
Besides, everybody knows that Bose is the best. They're the official sound of the NFL.

I can't have any tubes w/ the MMGs because it's 90% wife/television and then I come along and listen to some tunes during dinner.
I'm also trying to keep the MMG-based system semi vintage but I'll get something that I can be happy with, it's just going to take some screwing around which is half the fun.
Goldilocks and the Three Amps...

brooklyn · « **Reply #69 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 08:18 pm »

Okay, hears another can of worm's.. Does anybody remember what speaker cable was used at the show for the MMG's? I read it somewhere but can't remember.

SteveFord · « **Reply #70 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 08:21 pm »

The Stereophile article said it was Kubala-Sosna.

The model wasn't specified but it looks like you could buy a few sets of MMGs for the price of the speaker cables!
What is wrong with this picture?

SteveFord · « **Reply #71 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 09:35 pm »

Josh found this one and I've been meaning to post it over here but have been kind of busy.
Here's the new MMGs without the socks - all foil.

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/rmaf2012/rmaf2012_arc_magnepan.htm

Rclark · « **Reply #72 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 09:58 pm »

Yeah, looks like the same design, same feet, everything. When I run out of things to do I'll get a used pair and yank out the panels to try in my frames.

medium jim · « **Reply #73 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 10:41 pm »

Quote from: SteveFord on 23 Oct 2012, 09:35 pm

Josh found this one and I've been meaning to post it over here but have been kind of busy.
Here's the new MMGs without the socks - all foil.

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/rmaf2012/rmaf2012_arc_magnepan.htm

Very interesting that there is only one tone ring on the right channel speaker?! What's up with that?

Jim

Davey · « **Reply #74 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 11:32 pm »

Normal and correct for the MMG speakers.
This is to "distribute" resonances for both speakers so the system will not drone at any particular bass frequency.
You'll note there are six different sized transducer areas on both speakers created. I've run impedance sweeps on both of mine and overlaid the results and the peaks are equally spaced through the bass region.

Dave.

medium jim · « **Reply #75 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 12:58 am »

Quote from: Davey on 23 Oct 2012, 11:32 pm

Normal and correct for the MMG speakers.
This is to "distribute" resonances for both speakers so the system will not drone at any particular bass frequency.
You'll note there are six different sized transducer areas on both speakers created. I've run impedance sweeps on both of mine and overlaid the results and the peaks are equally spaced through the bass region.

Dave.

Davey:

Mucho Gracias, learned something new today about the MMGs!

Jim

MaggiesAndCats · « **Reply #76 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 02:08 pm »

Quote from: SteveFord on 23 Oct 2012, 09:35 pm

Josh found this one and I've been meaning to post it over here but have been kind of busy.
Here's the new MMGs without the socks - all foil.

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/rmaf2012/rmaf2012_arc_magnepan.htm

Any idea what the devices are on the speaker cables? Zooming in they look like capacitors. Interesting connections. At first they looked like alligator clips...College was SO much fun...

Regards,

Steve

Davey · « **Reply #77 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 02:43 pm »

I see capacitors and inductors. They've just flown out all the components for R&D purposes for easy changing/experimenting. This is standard practice when designing crossovers......I do it all the time.

Dave.

SteveFord · « **Reply #78 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 09:38 pm »

Maggiesandcats,
No, I don't think that's Wendell's roach clip.
Forget you saw anything.

MaggiesAndCats · « **Reply #79 on:** 25 Oct 2012, 10:17 pm »

Quote from: SteveFord on 24 Oct 2012, 09:38 pm

Maggiesandcats,
No, I don't think that's Wendell's roach clip.
Forget you saw anything.

I've never met Mr. Diller, but he is reputed to be rather intense. If he chilled with a joint the place would probably fall apart. Then again, who knows where they get their ideas!

Davey's comments took me back to the days when I used to breadboard guitar effects from Guitar Player magazine. Rat Shack was the place to be back then. Come to think of it, I lived in Minneapolis at the time. I was too college-poor to have the Magnepan and Audio Research gear I have today. Still, I'll have to carve out a pilgrimage some day and maybe look up some old buddies.

Regards,

Steve