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Magnepan MG 0.5 QR

88.159.127.114
Posted on February 24, 2023 at 05:34:02
vandendungenmuziek@kpnplanet.nl
Industry Professional

Posts: 45
Location: Nederland
Joined: February 24, 2023
 A friend of a friend has died and left a pair of these speakers. I always liked Magnepan 3-series as I heard them at shows. I once had a 3-series in the house but my Musical Fidelity A100X gave less power at 4 ohm than at 8 ohm. These are off course a way smaller. The friend who died was a good technician (I expect a former rebuild) and used them in his main system.
But.... I have now a Spectral DMC12 and two valve mono blocks Dynaco Mark III.
I am afraid this is not the best combination for Magnepan. I am able to try the speakers before I buy them for about $ 250. My room is also rather small, about 4,5 x 3 meters (15 x 10 feet).
I also worry about the bass with these small Maggies. My speakers are 90dB and I like my amps very much. I once had a Rel Storm subwoofer, but the DMC12 has only 1 line out. So I had to connect them by the tube amps and that sounded bad.
So, will I need other amps? f.i. a tube preamp and a solid state power amp? Will I need bigger Maggies for good bass? Can I place bigger ones in my small room? By the way, I play jazz vinyl with a Kuzma and Vanden Hull cartridge.
I hope you can and will help me with good advise. And finally I am a pro musician (brass instruments) and not rich at all.
Regards,
Wil

 

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RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 4, 2023 at 01:05:16
vandendungenmuziek@kpnplanet.nl
Industry Professional

Posts: 45
Location: Nederland
Joined: February 24, 2023
 No problem.

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 14, 2023 at 05:04:11
josh358
Industry Professional

Posts: 12332
Joined: February 9, 2010
 Maggies have low efficiency and are power hungry. They really need several hundred watts.

Also, the smaller Maggies have limited bass response.

I'd go for an LRS+ if you can afford it. You may need a subwoofer, as with any of the small Maggies -- the LDW is a good choice. Otherwise, a used LRS or .7 might be a good choice. The MMG will work with your MK III's, but you sacrifice some sound quality for that.

Of course, if you can afford a 1.7 or 3.7 you're best off with those.

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 15, 2023 at 04:58:26
vandendungenmuziek@kpnplanet.nl
Industry Professional

Posts: 45
Location: Nederland
Joined: February 24, 2023
 Thanks a lot Josh.
The 0.5 sounds pretty good in my small room. 15 x 10 feet.
Yesterday I found a dealer who has a pair of 1.6 QS. They are taller.
He's gonna check them and placing new and better condensators. The price will be 800 dollar/euro. Garantee 1 year. We are gonn compair the two sets of speakers. And we are gonna try a few amps and compair with mine.
The dealer is enthousiast about tubes like Audio Research. But new to expensive for me.
Because I am a pro musician it's great I may try these things. At YouTube there is a man called Jay, who tell's what the best amps are for little Magnepans. He mentiones Hegel, Naim and ...... These amps deliver a lot of current, not Watt's.
I realise my amps Spectral DMC12 and Dynaco III are not the best for Magnepan. Maybe a valve pre amp and a solid state power amp would be better. Than I'm changing the whole stereo set. That's not impossible to do this year, starting with the 1.6 But what amplification would be the best. I can sell the old amps and one or two thousand dollar is not that a problem at the end of te year.
What is your advice?
Kind regards,
Wil
The Netherlands

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 15, 2023 at 09:32:16
Roger Gustavsson
Audiophile

Posts: 2058
Location: Huskvarna
Joined: February 12, 2010
 Wil wrote: "At YouTube there is a man called Jay, who tell's what the best amps are for little Magnepans. He mentiones Hegel, Naim and ...... These amps deliver a lot of current, not Watt's."

The amplifier will deliver voltage. Ohm's law is still valid! If your speaker is a 4 Ohm load, it will draw more current from the amplifier than a 8 Ohm load. In the case of a typical Magnepan speaker the impedance is almost resistive. That will keep the flow of current lower as the voltage and current is in phase. 400 W into 4 Ohm is 40 V and 10 A. 200 W into 4 Ohm is 28.3 V and 7 A.

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 16, 2023 at 02:00:12
vandendungenmuziek@kpnplanet.nl
Industry Professional

Posts: 45
Location: Nederland
Joined: February 24, 2023
 Thanks for your explaination about current.

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 16, 2023 at 12:59:58
FX35
Audiophile

Posts: 151
Joined: March 6, 2020
 Wow, after reading your post's it's obvious you have limited experience in the audio world, good choice to look here........ forget about Jay at YouTube, better still, forget YouTube totally for audio advice.

Lets just run through your questions / remarks.

"I have now a Spectral DMC12 and two valve mono blocks Dynaco Mark III."
The Spectral is a quality pre but due to age you could be looking at issues, you could let More Music(importer) take a look at it to be sure before making decisions. Sell the Dynaco's, not ideal for Maggies.

"My room is also rather small, about 4,5 x 3 meters (15 x 10 feet)."
It's small, but it can work, use the 1/3rd's rule for placement and seating, speaker's placed at the short wall. Diffusion at the front wall and absorption on the back, the 1.6's will be more challenging due to the higher bass output, European(dutch) housing consists of solid (brick, concrete) materials for wall's, floor's + ceiling's which reinforces bass output, your biggest problem will be taming bass in that room.

"So, will I need other amps?"
Yes

"a tube preamp and a solid state power amp?"
No, not necessarily.

"Will I need bigger Maggies for good bass?"
No, the ideal combination of room size with bass output levels is what you need, or do you think 20.7's would have good bass in that room?


"Can I place bigger ones in my small room?"
1.6's are the max in that room.

"We are gonn compair the two sets of speakers."
Don't bother, the 1.6's are superior to the 0.5's.

"we are gonna try a few amps and compair with mine."
In your room I hope?

"The dealer is enthousiast about tubes like Audio Research."
Yes, are'nt they all, especially if they sell them. Not in your budget range.... even used.

"it's great I may try these things"
Nothing great about it, any High-End dealer in Holland will grant you a home trial with whatever you are interested in.

"But what amplification would be the best."
With such a low budget you should be looking for a high quality used integrated or a high quality used stereo amp to match the Spectral.

" I can sell the old amps and one or two thousand dollar is not that a problem at the end of te year.
What is your advice?"
Sell all your amp's, insist on a home trial with the 1.6's, insist that the dealer bring's along a high quality amp, use the set-up as described above. Decide whether the 1'6's work in that room, if so, do your homework, take your time, visit dealers, search for a high quality used amp and take a few home to see if they work with 1.6's in that room.














 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 17, 2023 at 12:49:42
vandendungenmuziek@kpnplanet.nl
Industry Professional

Posts: 45
Location: Nederland
Joined: February 24, 2023
 Thanks for your reply.
How did you get al that knowledge. Do we listen in the same way?

The room: There are no bass problems slooping ceiling. Two technical friends have measured the place of the speakers and the listening chair, by sending out sweeps. Two sub-woofers gave no problems. Also a big Burmester speaker with large bass driver, gave no problem at all. So no worries about the room.

I have listened two days now to the computer + Weiss dac en the sound is very good. But the volume must more than half open. So there must come also a bigger power amp. A decent amp costs 2000-3000 euro/dollar. A used one is no problem. It's a pitty to stop with the combination tube - solid state. A tube gives more the feeling the musicians are playing in the room. There is no solid state amp, who can do that. The bass will become better, but mid and high worse.

So can you tell me which amp is the best choice?

The following amps are the most mentioned for Magnepan;
Parasound A21
Bryston 4B3
Hegel H90
Wyred 4ST 500 mono
Naim 50 watt's
Jeff Rowland 125

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 17, 2023 at 15:33:29
FX35
Audiophile

Posts: 151
Joined: March 6, 2020
 Considering we live in the same country I'll answer your questions through private mail, but I just have to respond to the comments..... "A tube gives more the feeling the musicians are playing in the room. There is no solid state amp, who can do that. The bass will become better, but mid and high worse". and......"The following amps are the most mentioned for Magnepan;"

Never heard of Nelson Pass? If there's one amp that's most mentioned on this site it's definitely Pass, and I totally understand why, Pass amp's (especially the pure class A's) combine the virtues of a quality solid state with a house sound that leans towards what people find attractive in tubes. Add to that the beautiful design, built like a tank, no worries about tubes wearing out....... there is one minor drawback......... they don't come cheap.

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 17, 2023 at 23:08:28
vandendungenmuziek@kpnplanet.nl
Industry Professional

Posts: 45
Location: Nederland
Joined: February 24, 2023
 I cannot afford Pass Labs amps. So I always have to find equipment that is as close as possible. A well known reviewer in the Netherlands helped me choosing my amps. I have always likes their sound at my Millon speakers, but know with Magnepan they have a power problem. Is it possible to find a power amp that comes close? Otherwise I keep my amps and don't play loud.

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 18, 2023 at 01:56:39
Roger Gustavsson
Audiophile

Posts: 2058
Location: Huskvarna
Joined: February 12, 2010
 Wil wrote: "Will I need bigger Maggies for good bass? Can I place bigger ones in my small room?"

You will need bigger Maggies for good bass.
I have had Tympani IIIA (8 panels each 40 cm wide) in a small room, 3.8x3 m.
It certainly depends on what you use that room for. Today, I have 3-series in a normal living room 5.15x4.11 m.

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 18, 2023 at 06:16:15
FX35
Audiophile

Posts: 151
Joined: March 6, 2020
 I'm sure you had Tympani's in a 3.8x3m room, but I doubt if you had good bass.

That just opens the discussion as to what one would consider "good bass".

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 18, 2023 at 06:32:34
Roger Gustavsson
Audiophile

Posts: 2058
Location: Huskvarna
Joined: February 12, 2010
 The was nothing bad with the bass in that room, flat to 30 Hz without boom. Also had them in a larger room 6x4 m but no gains in bass performance. Soundstaging improved in the larger room though. I am refering to a set of mechanicly modified Tympanis where the original baffles were replaced by my own design incl. cutting down the width of the tweeters in order to have the as close as possible to the mids. Soundstaging more like the Tympani IV (compared the two).

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 19, 2023 at 12:06:03
vandendungenmuziek@kpnplanet.nl
Industry Professional

Posts: 45
Location: Nederland
Joined: February 24, 2023
 The latest development.
The .5 is bought for only 250,00.
I have taken an option at a 1.6A
An Mimetism 45.2 power amp will be here for a few weeks to try with the Spectral. It delivers 2x 360 Watt at 4 ohm. Thatīs a lot more then 2x 60 W
I have now.

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 20, 2023 at 23:49:02
vandendungenmuziek@kpnplanet.nl
Industry Professional

Posts: 45
Location: Nederland
Joined: February 24, 2023
 I read a lot of people advise a Ausio Research tube pre amp.
Which one wil bring the most for the money?

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 22, 2023 at 22:33:16
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Magnepan ARE 'valve friendly'.

In your smallish room? You should be ok if you can sink sufficient power......

Maggies ARE very low sensitivity. But generally a modest electrical load.

Your room IS small. With an 8 foot ceiling, only what? 1200 cubic feet?
Too much is never enough

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 23, 2023 at 00:59:37
vandendungenmuziek@kpnplanet.nl
Industry Professional

Posts: 45
Location: Nederland
Joined: February 24, 2023
 Itīs just a bedroom 450 x 300 x 240cm.
Yesterday I recieved a power amp from a friend. Itīs Frence/Swiss Mimetism 2x 180 Watt at 8 ohm, 2x 360 Watt at 4 ohm.
Maybe I can install him tomorrow.
The Dutch importer of Magnepan has been also the importer of these amps. He is very enthousiastic about them.

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on March 24, 2023 at 09:25:53
vandendungenmuziek@kpnplanet.nl
Industry Professional

Posts: 45
Location: Nederland
Joined: February 24, 2023
 One channel I connected with the 2x 180 Watt amp. There other channel played with a Dynaco 60 Watt mono. The difference was heard immediately. That's a lot of more power. The pre amp was put at mono. I played a little with the balance. So the mono tube's can be sold. Tomorrow I build a cable for the other speaker.

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on April 5, 2023 at 23:25:40
vandendungenmuziek@kpnplanet.nl
Industry Professional

Posts: 45
Location: Nederland
Joined: February 24, 2023
 Sorry to say, but I had expected a lot more reactions.

The match DMC12 with Mime 45.2 is terrible.
What poper amp will match with the DMC? Only Spectral(and MIT cables)?

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on April 11, 2023 at 22:18:35
vandendungenmuziek@kpnplanet.nl
Industry Professional

Posts: 45
Location: Nederland
Joined: February 24, 2023
 No problem I will find it out myself. This evening I'm gonna listen to several different amps. For members who are following this topic, I shall give a resume.

 

RE: Magnepan MG 0.5 QR, posted on April 13, 2023 at 22:58:18
vandendungenmuziek@kpnplanet.nl
Industry Professional

Posts: 45
Location: Nederland
Joined: February 24, 2023
 An Ayre power amp seems the way to go.
The V-6 is a great match with the Spectral front.

 

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