[Paul McNeil]

Hi, I'm new here.

Well, I just got my first Maggies, 1.7s. Discovered immediately that my Adcom 5400, old but rated at 200 watts into 4 ohms was not enough. It overheated (red lights 'on') above ~ 80 dB measured at 10 ft. (radio shack sound meter), and indicated clipping at ~90 db measured output. Total shutdown altogether above that. My old NAD 2400, similarly rated, fared even worse.

So I went 'pro' and bought a JBL Crown XLS 2500 from Amazon, for $359, including shipping (and since it weighs only 12 lb, return was at minimal cost, I was thinking). This little guy puts out 770 watts at 4 ohms (or 1400 at 2 ohms).

Wow, nirvana. Total control over these Maggies. Resolution to die for, dynamics, tight bass, deep soundstage and an absolutely quiet background.

I was more than pleasantly surprised! Especially since the official Magnepan site explicitly dings class D amplifiers (despite the fact that many now like this one double output wattage, the 'gold standard', from 8 to 4 to 2 ohms!).

When I did some searching online I learned that the 'pros' would not have been surprised, D class amplifiers now rule, due to their superior accuracy and power, not to mention lighter weight and cooler operating temperatures (complements increased efficiency).

Perhaps this is redundant here! If so please forgive my enthusiasm...for rediscovering the wheel.

In any case, I'm thrilled with these new Maggies.

[FullRangeMan]

Welcome Paul. Please see our Planar Circle.

[jarcher]

I've run my 1.7s with as little as 75wpc tube amp and currently use a 125wpc tube amp. I can easily hit +90db before any tube glare / compression with the 125wpc one. So I'm a doubter of the necessity of megawatts amps with Maggie's - but I'm in the minority.

[brooklyn]

Welcome Paul,

I took a chance and bought Class D amps to use with my MMG’s.. 
I do like to listen to music loud at times and neither the amps or the
MMG’s ever flinch… The added bonus is having lightweight amps.

[Paul McNeil]

I've run my 1.7s with as little as 75wpc tube amp and currently use a 125wpc tube amp. I can easily hit +90db before any tube glare / compression with the 125wpc one. So I'm a doubter of the necessity of megawatts amps with Maggie's - but I'm in the minority.

Yes, jarcher, I heard the 1.7s demo'd on a 60 watt tube amp, and it seemed like plenty. Of course, I was only sitting 4 feet away from the speakers during this demo, whereas in my home I'm currently at least 20 feet removed. Also, who knows, the old Adcom may be 'worn out'!

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I suspect that something was wrong with the Adcom or that it was a low current design.   Also, what gauge speaker wire are you using?
I have an older pair of MMG's that I rarely use any more since I jumped up to the 1.6's.  I tried a JVC AVR rated at 120wpc and with 16g wire with 10' runs that it would clip or shut down at high volume.  But with 10g wire I can play much louder without clipping or shutting it down.  I now use an Adcom GFR 700 AVR with them rated at 226wpc at 4 ohms.

[Speedskater]

It's highly unlikely that the gauge of any reasonable speaker wire will impact the speaker volume enough to be noticeable.

[Blackmore]

Welcome and be sure to frequent the planar circle for more Maggie fans. I'd love to hear the Crowns at home.  A friend uses ClassD amps on his Maggie III and is bi-amping with about 1,000 watts total.  They do like some "horsepower".

[I.Greyhound Fan]

It's highly unlikely that the gauge of any reasonable speaker wire will impact the speaker volume enough to be noticeable.

Don't comment unless you have heard it for your self.  With 16g wire at 10' I clipped the JVC 8000 Rx-VBK amp.   With 10g wire I was able to go higher on the volume setting before clipping using the same music.  The 16g Monster wire has blackened ends on the insulation from the heat were it connected to the MMG's.  I would be happy to send them  to you.

[richidoo]

Pure silver speaker wire always plays noticeably louder than same gage copper, but pure silver SC would not fall into the "reasonable speaker wire" category.   

More important than how the resistance affects loudness, is how it affects electrical damping, or how well the amplifier controls the speaker. Damping affects the tone quality and other sonic attributes, and is easily heard, as Paul describes with his class D amplifier upgrade.

Listeners' preference for damping varies between the extremes of very low damping (inexpensive tube amps) to very high (class D amps.) Full range, single driver speakers often sound best using current source amplifiers, which offer no electrical damping at all. There are reasons why tube amps sound better in some cases, and class D amps sound better indifferent circumstances. But preference is also a big factor and music style. The best maggies I ever heard were Tympani 3s with vintage 60W Audio Research tube amps, in a barn sized all wood room, playing 60s post bop vinyl. If I were playing modern music on new Maggies I'd probably prefer a lot more power and damping.

Glad you found Nirvana with your new speakers and amp, Paul... and welcome to AudioCircle!

[mcgsxr]

Glad you're happy.

I am too, with my Crown XLS 1500 driving my 1.6's.

I do understand that there is better out there, but the ROI on those Class D Crown amps is impressive.

[Davey]

Don't comment unless you have heard it for your self.  With 16g wire at 10' I clipped the JVC 8000 Rx-VBK amp.   With 10g wire I was able to go higher on the volume setting before clipping using the same music.  The 16g Monster wire has blackened ends on the insulation from the heat were it connected to the MMG's.  I would be happy to send them  to you.

You had some (other) issue that was causing your problem.  The wires should not be getting hot at all.  Either size.
SS is correct and there should be no noticeable difference between 16awg and 10awg wires of nominal length.  (All other parameters being equal.)

Qualified people are qualified to comment even though they haven't heard it themselves. 

Dave.