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Prospective Magnepan Owner

74.45.90.222

richard@blueorbitstudio.com

First post here. I have a very large room that I'm looking to put in a HiFi system after years of having mediocre junk. I think I've settled on a pair of used Magnepan 3.6s. A couple of questions.

First off the room is 32x44 with 13ft tall walls that peak to about 23ft (loft space in renovated warehouse). Would I realize significant (or any) benefits by going with a older pair of the MG20s? If I really stretched things I could maybe swing them but prefer to save the money. However with the size of this room I really want to get this right the first time and would probably bite the bullet and spend the money if the larger speaker worked much better with the scale of the room. I'm looking at purchasing a Mcintosh MC352 to drive whatever speaker I get.

Secondly, what should I be looking for in a used Magnepan and more specifically the 3.6. It seems that they were in production for a number of years and there were changes to the crossover etc. I've read about the dreaded de-laminating but I'm going to guess that like many of these issues on online forums the frequency of the problem is exaggerated by an endless discussion and handwringing. Any advise is appreciated.

Richard

Follow Ups:

RE: Prospective Magnepan Owner - macmagman 12:18:54 03/26/12 (4)
I previously had a McIntosh C352 for my 3.3's and it just did not have the horsepower to drive them. I went to a pair of Bryston 7bst's and have had no problem driving them even when I upgraded to 20.1's. My other stuff is McIntosh (a c2200 pre and Mpv871) and was reluctant to change but am very happy I did. with the 3 series I feel you need a subwoofer but with the 20.1 no need for it (I also have mye stands).
- RE: Prospective Magnepan Owner - richard@blueorbitstudio.com 19:05:35 03/26/12 (3)
  Thanks for the responses. I posted the other day and apparently it didn't go through.
  
  I do have some concerns about the Mcintosh being able to supply enough juice to a pair of 20.0. I may have to rethink that decision. Any suggestions in the 2-3k range would be helpful. The power budget has to take a hit for the decision to go with the 20.0 instead of the 3.6s. I feel like used gear makes a lot more sense for me in terms of value to performance ratio. Someone mentioned the big Emotiva mono blocks as a possibility. Anyone have any experience with them?
  
  The room is a monster indeed but I do have 26 OC panels up high in the room and another ten or so made up if I need them when the system goes in. They have helped tremendously. Lots of big rugs on a wood floor. It still sounds like a big room but at least I can tell what direction sound is coming from now :)
  
  So if I do go with the 20.0s, what should I be on the lookout for both good and bad. I'll probably have to drive somewhere to pick these monsters up so I'll have a chance to look and listen to them. Thanks again for any and all advice.
  - RE: Prospective Magnepan Owner - EmailTim 18:19:55 03/27/12 (0)
    Check out the Wyred-4-Sound stereo and monoblock amps. They are 1140wpc into 4Ohms and are within your budget with some change left over.
    
    If you are not into audio-jewelry, they may just be the ticket. Good sound, good power, good reviews, good reputation, good support, good warantee and factory direct. You could start out with 2-channels of these and later biamp with the same or something different on top.
    
    Wyred-4-Sound mods the ASP-1000 boards such that they do not sound like the vanilla ASP-1000 in a box versions. They also add an input buffer to make them easier driven by preamps. I own both types and prefer the W4S implementation much better than the vanilla version.
    
    I currently have a pair driving the bass panels of my 20.1's. I tied a pair driving the whole speakers and they did a nice job (as well as the 3.6's).
    
    They are also easy on your electric bill being @ 80% efficient.
    
    Good luck on your choice. If you have that large of a venue, I would go for the 20.x's over the 3.6's.
    
    Regards,
    Tim
    - W4S Stereo and MonoBlock Amps (Open in New Window)
  - RE: Prospective Magnepan Owner - nooshinjohn 20:18:34 03/26/12 (1)
    I am running a Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature 425/5, which doubles down to 850 WPC@ 4 ohms. The pairing sounds very good, and you can get one for less than 2 grand all day long. It will serve you well until you are ready to move up the amp chain, and you will be able to get your money back out later.
    - RE: Prospective Magnepan Owner - nooshinjohn 21:00:44 03/26/12 (0)
      These willl also get the job done...
      
      http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carver-Silver-9t-Monoblock-Amplifiers-pair-575-wpc-8-ohms-boxes-manuals-etc-/140731154401?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c43affe1
      
      The Carver Silver 9t's are good for 575wpc@ 8, and about 875 @4 as I recollect. Classy looking amps, power to spare and will within the budget.
Such a large room as that ... - andyr 03:17:52 03/24/12 (0)
deserves 20.X at least. Actually Tympani IV-as would probably be better (these have the true-ribbon but also 2 bass panels per side vs. the normal 1 bass panel).

But either needs, as a minimum, to be actively bi-amped. And I would suggest by all means get the Mcintosh MC352 for the mids & ribbons ... but get a 500/100w Class D ss amp for the bass panels.

With T-IVas you may well not need a sub but with some 20.Xs,I suggest you may well want one - particularly if you like Bach organ music or techno. :-))

Good luck,

Andy
RE: Prospective Magnepan Owner - Satie 01:36:13 03/24/12 (0)
You have a giant space. Do not consider a 3.6 - it will get lost in the space.

First get a 20.x and set it up. You will soon want to get it biamped with a really powerful amp on bass 1000 watts at 4 ohms minimum. You will also need to brace the speakers with Mye stands or something DIY. They will need to be worked hard so as not to feel slightly light in your room.

After that, say a year or two from now, start looking for a Tympani IVa or IV. That will fill out the bass and midbass and give real power to electric music and large scale acoustic music.

Finally, you may want a large sub for HT or organ works, or to give hard rock rap and house a more solid foundation.
RE: Prospective Magnepan Owner - josh358 18:26:25 03/23/12 (0)
I'd go with the 20's, though as Big Guy says, 3.6's would work. The 20's are simply better speakers. And your space will be superb for them, or any planar. At 15' out from the walls, you'll have *no* early reflections hitting your ears before the reflections on the recording, and that will give you a vast soundstage. And you'll have great, smooth bass as well. You may need some room treatment, since the reflections travel longer before they hit the wall the reverb time of a large space is quite long. But I'd wait to get them before worrying about that, there's no predicting it and this way you can tune the room to your preference. The one disadvantage of the room is the cathedral ceiling, line sources prefer parallel floors and ceilings, but any problems should be solvable.
20's - grantv 09:43:28 03/23/12 (0)
Your "room" is larger than one floor of my house. :) Go big. Even at that you might want to consider a pair of subs one day. 20's would sound absolutely stunning in a room like that.
Not sure what the spec's are of that amp, but I would consider bi-amping regardless of 3 or 20 series choice (more efficient use of power bypassing some passive parts for starters).
One negative; if you buy 20's they would be older and might need work sooner. But there are many well cared for lasting many many years.
RE: Prospective Magnepan Owner - acroy 09:29:10 03/23/12 (1)
I would suggest, if you can swing it, get a used set of 20.x. The price has dropped with the introduction of the 20.7's. and they are still very very nice speakers.

Peronally, I found the MMG's sounded small in a 20x30 room with 11ft ceilings. the 1.7's are 'just right'.

You have a friggin CAVERN, not a room. Go big, man :)
- RE: Prospective Magnepan Owner - BigguyinATL 13:23:46 03/23/12 (0)
  Oh, and read up on Audyssey DSX surround decoding. Works great in a big room. Only trouble is you will need 10 or 12 Planar speakers. - 3.6 and a bunch of MMG's or MC1's. The system integrates nicely - and fits into what Magnepan is moving towards in their reproduction development and analysis.
  Three most important things in Audio reproduction: Keep the noise levels low, the power high and the room diffuse.
  - DSX (Open in New Window)
you could do wonders with a room that size - Green Lantern 08:42:47 03/23/12 (0)
20's could really sing; show their stuff.. I'm envious ;)

may the bridges I burn light the way....
RE: Prospective Magnepan Owner - Nooshinjohn 20:26:44 03/22/12 (0)
I have a set of Magnepan MG-20's and the MMG's(they are gateway drugs for sure). My speakers are being strangled by the confines of a 12x14 room at the moment, but will get bigger digs when our house is ready. Even in far less than the adeal setting your new room will have, I LOVE my big Maggies.

I also had to deal with delamination on these, and though it was no fun, with proper care and patience, it was not a difficult job to correct. On the other forum, we have an expression when it comes to speakers... Go BIG or go home. I can enthusiastically say to grab the 20's over the 3.6's and upgrade something else in your rig later. Your ears will thank you.
RE: Prospective Magnepan Owner - BigguyinATL 20:15:09 03/22/12 (0)
I have used my MMG's in a large room for local audio club meetings - the room is about your size but 16 foot ceilings. placing them about 8 feet from a back wall - a little offset from the center line of the room - they probable throw as nice as sound as I have heard from them. all kinds of depth now that the reflections are seriously delayed - a true window into the sound. 3.6's will do fine- though I've heard 20's in a 20x24 room sound great too!
Three most important things in Audio reproduction: Keep the noise levels low, the power high and the room diffuse.

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