[Ektalog]

Here's part 1 of the low-budget plan to enjoy my SACDs at home:
Part 1:
- My current Denon 2106 receiver (100w/ch into 8 ohms but yes, barely good for MMGs 4 ohms) driving:
- initially, stereo set of MMGs (promptly going bi-amped using the "spare" 2 amps in the receiver)
- plus, two 10" (or maybe 12") subwoofers, ideally front firing, under and raising the MMGs.
All in a 12'Wx25'Lx8'H room. MMGs about 4 feet from the back, 6ft apart and about 2 feet from sidewalls. Equipment & TV in the middle. Sofa is 8-10 feet away.

QUESTIONS:
- the BIGGEST issue: what low-cost subs to pair with the maggies ? It is about better matching MMG speed and musicality NOT about movie subwoofer impact. I do want 2 woofers (the "sub" is optional); each will be driven as part of the corresponding speaker (stereo). I also thought that two 10" sealed passive boxes could possibly do the trick with a spare amp I have, if I can find such a set.
- MMG users experiences, please. (Any owners in South Florida that would trade a bottle of JohnnyW Black Label scotch for a chance for me to audition these at their place? Ok, right, a decent Merlot... )

Ok, I'll sign off here -- I went way overboard writing so, I moved the rest below, for reference -- and thank you for any input.


Thanks!


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other related details
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Part 2: If the above works, a set of MMG-W and -C(enter) or CC3 speakers for 5 channel surround. I hope this to allow me to have decent multi-channel SACD playback. Part 3: A good stereo amp (<$2k) for the MMG's that would still work with larger maggies later. This would be the next question, assuming the above works.
Part 4: Kids out of college in 2 years...less budget issues



To understand why the MMGs, here's some background: 'till 1989, I had a decent LP-based transistor/tubes system with bi-amped dynamic speakers. No CDs, I didn't like them then (still don't). That year 3 things happend.
1. Early on, I tried Acustat speakers (now discontinued electrostatic planars) for 3 weeks (loaner) and loved them despite planar shortcomings -- limited sweet spot, compressed dynamic range and low-end. (The owner changed his mind about selling them, though.)
2. Later in 1989, playing Telarc's original 1812 Overture LP record -- whose cannons had already blown 3 sets of my 10" woofers -- my amp system blew up in FLAMES. Long story, but if you ever saw the cannon track grooves on the vinyl surface, you'd understand part of it. I used to blow woofers for the joy of it all.
3. Shortly after, I got transfered. My big LP collection was damaged in transit. Never bought a high-end system later on because...

... early in 1990, I spent a whole day listening to a TOP-end system playing CDs. It confirmed my worst fears...no CD was ever going to get me involved in music the way LPs did. Anyway, I didn't have time to listen to music because of my heavy international traveling work schedule.

FAST-forward to now: When SACD's came along, I helped a friend put a new system together. I almost cried the first time I heard it playing an SACD...music was back!...from bar one. Now I drive 20 minutes to my friend's to be able to listen to my SACDs. At home, I only use headphones. The cheap speakers I have barely do for movies.

With kids in college, I can't replicate the B&W speakers-based system I got for my friend...so, I need to buy some champagne with a beer budget. Having liked planars, the MMGs seem like a good risk-payback ratio.

[Skynyrd]

Ektalog,

I have had a pair of MMG's and woofers since 1998.  Woofers are NHT1259's, each box is six cubic feet internal volume, and weigh about 200 pounds each.  Overall Q is around .7 per the standard sealed box calculations from my Radio Shack book.  The MMG's sit on top, fastened down with some L-brackets that fit where the original feet are.
 I tri-amp with a non-audiophool approved crossover--a fully adjustable unit made for Madisound by TDM (I can't recall what the acronym means); MMG's measure and sound best with the panels and quasi ribbon crossed over at 800 hertz, and the woofers to panels crossed around 100 hertz.

This is a giant killer of a system, expansive and deep soundstage, with excellent low bass transient response.  Weaknesses include harshness from the quasi-ribbon, and extreme finnickiness regarding room placement, especially reflection points.  The NHT1259 woofer system is a great thing to have around--great transient snap to 30 hertz with gradual rollof thereafter in my 12 x 20 room.  I use the NHT's as a base (and bass) for numerous speakers. 

I also have a Magnepan center channel-the $300 one.  It has a nice warm tonal balance, warmer and less revealing than the MMG's.  This is crossed over to a Parts Express Titanic3 woofer in a five foot long PVC tube of 10" i.d.  I guess that makes it a woofer in a tube, there's some name for this, I just tried the tube idea because it was "Free and Easy"...and it works; I've done zero math or measurments with this woofer... Output is similar to a single NHT1259, these Titanic3 woofers are nice!

I'm a big fan of the Magnepan sound, as my age increases I prefer the mellower tones of the all-maylar versions.--check out the posts at www.audioasylum.com--the planar/stat/ribbon section is 50% Magnepan posts.  Lots of wacky capacitors and wire "upgrades", though.
skynyrd

[watersb]

Wow, Skynyrd's reply is a lot more informative than mine would be..

I just want to chime in and say that my pair of Maggie 1.6's driven by a RWA-modded Teac (~30 watts) sound just fine by me.

After getting Vinnie to mod the Teac, I had a friend over to listen, his first words were, "Well, I see that you've solved your bass problem."

(With no sub-woofers, mind you...)

[Ektalog]

Skynyrd, a quick look around -- before going to work -- revealed that you may have something very good. At first glance, large boxes seem to be my only issue...WAF, really. I'll be looking closely into this one!

Watersb, how long have you had the 1.6s?

Thanks!

[Parnelli777]

You could wait for this one from Magnepan:

http://blog.ultimateavmag.com/ces2007/011107MaggieMC1W/

[Ektalog]

Interesting concept. It still is not showing in their website over a month after announcing it  .