Planar Speaker Asylum

Welcome! Need support, you got it. Or share your ideas and experiences.

Return to Planar Speaker Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment

70.196.194.228
Posted on August 8, 2014 at 07:08:14
NADStereo
Audiophile

Posts: 23
Location: West USA
Joined: August 8, 2014
 Hi,

It was suggested I repost here.

My speakers are Magnepan 1.6 Q/R that I bought new in the 1990's. I used an NAD7130 to power them until we built a house 12 yrs ago that had a built in whole house A/V system. The Maggies have sat unused since 2002 and the 7130 died.

The house is to be sold and I decided to start using the Maggies again and build a good system using vintage higher end equipment. I do like NAD but am open to other equipment. 

I picked up an NAD 7240 for $100, and I also have the opportunity to get the following NAD equipment: C325BEE amp, 1600 preamp, and 2400 THX amp (all for about $200 each) I can sell the 7240 if needed.

Using the above 4 pieces of NAD equipment how would you power the Maggies? Future equipment would be a CD and/or Blu-ray player & LED TV, to blend vintage with new.

Thanks for the ideas, and thoughts on if $200 each is too high for the C325 BEE, 1600, and 2400.

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 8, 2014 at 20:09:42
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 The NAD1700 Tuner / Preamp is MUCH better than the 1600.
The 1700 has triple frequency select tone controls for bass and treble as well as a back panel selectible low-cut filter, a good tuner section, hi voltage outputs for a LONG run and MM / MC turntable inputs.
I had mine for nearly 20 years…...
Too much is never enough

 

RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 8, 2014 at 20:26:23
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 We can cut to the chase if you give us an idea what you're willing to spend for a amp.

When I had my 1.6s I ran everything from a vintage Marantz integrated 1040, Adcom 555, B&K 442, Bryston 4bst, Jeff Rowland model 5.

Cross-over upgrade along with preamp rolling will yield the sweetest results; myself settling with a Audible Illusions 3A and the Rowland amp. Hardly exotic by any stretch but brother let me tell you: 'thine ears hath heard the glory.....:)









 

RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 11, 2014 at 12:36:37
NADStereo
Audiophile

Posts: 23
Location: West USA
Joined: August 8, 2014
 Question: should I avoid the ADCOM GFA-555 mkii amps because of their issue of a lack of speaker protection? Or, if I did buy one is there something that can be done to resolve that issue? I am surprised I find a lot online about this issue but nothing on a fix for it.

 

RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 11, 2014 at 17:44:33
russ69
Audiophile

Posts: 951
Joined: December 13, 2009
 Use the 1600 pre/tuner with someone else's mega amp. The Adcom 555 will work fine. Dump the 7240.

 

RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 11, 2014 at 21:22:57
NADStereo
Audiophile

Posts: 23
Location: West USA
Joined: August 8, 2014



Thanks for the input. I have attached the NAD 1600 specs. I will attach the 7240 specs. Would you be willing to compare them and teach me why one is better than the other? Or, direct me to some place that explains all the specs? As an example, the 1600 has a phono input sensitivity of 1.3 mV and the 7240 has it at 3.2 mV. Which is better? Is that difference something that can be heard?

I liked the ADCOM for the fact it seems to be more plentiful than others, so I could eventually find a 2nd one and use one for each speaker. I like the Classe as it seems to be a higher end amp pthan the ADCOM but is it more difficult to find a 2nd Classe at some point vs. the ADCOM? Again, listening to them is something that needs to be done 1st but I definately do not have the resources to buy multiple amps, try them, and then resell the ones I did not like.

 

RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 11, 2014 at 21:25:07
NADStereo
Audiophile

Posts: 23
Location: West USA
Joined: August 8, 2014



The 7240 specs page 1

 

RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 11, 2014 at 21:25:48
NADStereo
Audiophile

Posts: 23
Location: West USA
Joined: August 8, 2014



NAD 7240 pg 2

 

RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 12, 2014 at 12:49:35
NADStereo
Audiophile

Posts: 23
Location: West USA
Joined: August 8, 2014
 I am considering a B&K EX-442 Sonata based on what I have read in the past few days. I will listen to it this Friday connected to the Maggies and if it sounds good to me I will probably pull the trigger on it. There is another EX-442 I can purchase so is that something to consider, to have one EX-442 per speaker? I believe I can get both amps for $750-$800 total. One comes with a 90 day warranty,the other, 1-owner, amp does not. Is a dual amp set up a great way to go?

 

RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 13, 2014 at 05:35:38
NADStereo
Audiophile

Posts: 23
Location: West USA
Joined: August 8, 2014
 Actually, what I meant was not one amp for each speaker but one for the highs and one for the midrange and lows. I was corrected on that last night.

So, let me ask a question.
If the Maggies like a lot of power and I go with a 2 amp system do both amps need to be the same or can one amp be smaller? I was told this last night and to use the smaller amp to drive the highs, the tweeter. Thoughts?

 

RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 13, 2014 at 09:26:04
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Amp power per 'way' generally depends on crossover point. If you wanted an amp, even for Maggies, which are considered 'power hungry' and have it for 10k UP, you'd still only need a little power which your NAD would easily supply.
The 50:50 point is generally considered to be AROUND 400hz. That means, SAME amp(s).

I use 2x Parasound stereo amps. ONE per speaker. The 2 main schools of biamp are 'Horizontal' and 'Vertical'. In one method, for example, one stereo amp runs the BASS and another stereo amp runs mid/tweet. You can mix/match amps here but be careful of gain. With one stereo amp per speaker, they should match.

The advantage, IMO, of one amp per speaker is that of SHORT speaker cable runs. The DISadvantage is longer run from preamp TO amp. But my amp has a linelevel OUT and IN per channel, so I JUMPER the amp and run only ONE cable to the amp. Channel 'a' out to 'b' in! And I also have level controls which I don't use, if I were to think it a little 'off balance' in frequency response.

The MG1.6 has a 600hz crossover which is VERY close to the 50:50 mark. What I DO, is offload some of the bass to a sub which reduces some stress on the bass amp.


Too much is never enough

 

RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 13, 2014 at 11:01:49
NADStereo
Audiophile

Posts: 23
Location: West USA
Joined: August 8, 2014
 OK, so I was thinking semi correctly with one amp per speaker, and both being the same type of amp, because of the two schools of thought. I am unsure if the ex-442 has a line level in & out per channel as I cannot find a manual or a back panel pic of it.

I also came across a ADAM GFA 5800 last night. .. funny how things pop up when you start reading & looking...

Sorry, my background coming thru.. what did you mean by this "have it for 10k UP. $10,000. $10k... money, or ?

 

RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 13, 2014 at 11:56:26
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 By '10k up' I mean FREQUENCY.
The actual amount power needed for normal music (a real can of worms idea) is a fraction of the total needed.

According to the article I link here, the actual amount of power needed for 5000hz up is only 10% of the total. so you can imagine how little is actually needed for 10,000hz and up.

It is unusual for amps to have the looping function of the Parasound amps. And even MORE unusual to include level control.
Too much is never enough

 

RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 13, 2014 at 14:40:17
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 Yes that would be a good idea and you are getting a pretty good setup for rather little money. Biamping is a good idea whether you use active (or passive) line level XO or use the internal speaker level XO.

The 442 on its own might be somewhat limited in output, but biamping with two is unlikely to ever have you run out of power.

 

RE: Build System to Power MG 1.6 Using Vintage Higher End Equipment, posted on August 17, 2014 at 18:38:50
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 The B&K EX442 was an unfamiliar model number so I looked it up!
Apparently, there were 2 runs. First was with Hitatachi output devices and the 2nd was with Toshiba.
Minor spec differences so I doubt it REALLY makes a difference, but I'd want ALL one device If I biamped with a pair of these. It MIGHT be as simple as swapping output transistors (socketed?) and rebiasing.

B&K thought it was a small enough change NOT to add a 'rev b' or 'mk II' to the model name.

Any preferences? Being a (roughly) 25 year old amp, I'd have it recapped as a matter of course.
Too much is never enough

 

Page processed in 0.027 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]