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Hi all,
Recently I bought the 3.7i's and I have a musical fidelity a5.5 integrated which I use as a power amp https://www.musicalfidelity.com/uploads/manuals/English/a55int_eng.pdf (am I allowed to post a link here?)
I am not sure if the MF is capable to get the most out of the maggies.
Can anyone here give me some insight?
Thanks in advance.
Greetz
Joost
Always curious
Follow Ups:
Okay, what does "get the most out of" mean?
Pure loudness? Very highly resolved complex music? Something else or maybe "everything"?I can only refer to my own experience with those speakers and my "low-power" amplification.
I sold my Rotel RB1590 and bought an old Accuphase A-20 instead. The former about 350W/8Ohms, the latter 20W. I nowadays use the latest version of the A-20, A-36. It is specified to 30W.
NOTHING disturbs my listening according to either power or resolution. The only music I listen to is "classical", solo piano as well as big symphonic pieces.
Other music genres does not interest me, and I have never even "tested" how loud I can play heavy rock or similar music. I am only in it for the illusion of realsim in "classic", and I have nothing to complain about. The amp even drives one DWM in parallel with the 3.7is, and nothing indicates any driving-difficulties in this - seemingly weak - set-up.
Due to the system's extremely high resolution and the planars way of generate the sound, there is no need to crank up to extreme levels. It sounds realistically large even at moderate levels. I have never experienced that with conventional box-speakers. With such speakers I have always wanted to crank up a little more, and a little more still. It gets really loud, but the realism and large scale does not appear anyway.
Edits: 12/27/22 12/27/22 12/27/22
@stroemberg what volume \ db are you listening at? It has to be a very low level. High current is the trick for Maggie's in my experience. So to make them really perform at the level they were design for I can't imagine a 30 watt amp doing the trick. Please explain your setup, size of room and listening level please.
Well, not so very high levels, I suppose.
If I remember it the dB-meter told me something around 90 dB peak. Classical symphonic music in a rather quiet room.
Still loud enough to give me an illusion of realism.
Maybe already mentioned, but this Accuphase amp is specified to class A 30/60 W 8/4 Ohms. But clipping actually occurs at 60/104 Watts respectively.
https://www.accuphase.com/technical_information/a-36_technical_information.pdf
How much current do think goes through your Maggies? As they are almost a pure resistive load you can use Ohms law. 200 W in 4 Ohm is 7 A. 30 W in 8 will come out as 60 W in 4 Ohm or 120 W peak.
From our FWIW department?
My 1.6s have a 4amp fuse which has NEVER popped......on the upper frequencies which are goverened by an about 600hz crosover....
My MG-1 panels? Had a 1.5 amp fuse which I COULD and did pop....with a Carver Cube of a little over 200 a side into whatever impedance the speakers were.....5ohm? Maybe?
Too much is never enough
@rogergustavsson I honestly don't know but doesn't room size and listening levels matter?
@Stroemberg
True!
I use to have a primaluna dialogue two paired wild my former .7's and it was very very nice. Voices and instruments sounded more emotional and vivid.
Also the threedimensionality was very good. The bass was a little bit more loose then with the MF though.
But my point is the PM also only had I think it was 38 watts at 8 ohm.
Joost
"I am not sure if the MF is capable to get the most out of the maggies.
Can anyone here give me some insight?"
The short answer is..... no, the MF will not get the most out of you'r 3.7s.
The long answer is, the A5.5 has enough power to PLAY 3.7s but to get the most out of them is a different story. The A5.5 is a 2-3k integrated, nowhere near what a 3.7 deserves. To get anywhere near the full potential of 3.7s would require a pre + class A monos from something like Pass, Boulder, Goldmund e.t.c.
You have a great pair of speakers there, but a A5.5 will do them no justice.
@FX35
I hear you.
I read alot of good things about pass/magnepan combo's. Also Brsyton seems to be high regarded. Boulder seems incredible too. I also see gryphon but oh my god the prices on these brands. How will I tell my wife.
No she would let me buy whatever I want but I'm not sure if I want to spend 'that' much. (Of course I would want to if I was filthy rich)
Bet it will be difficult to audition such high end amps at home.
Joost
After looking at the specs, the MF should have no problem driving the 3.7i. In addition to the wattage (250/8, 400/4), it swings 75 amps of current peak to peak, so it's got LOTS & Lots of reserve.
This amp appears to have enough power (400 wpc @ 4 ohms) and appears to
have a decent enough damping factor. Try it and see.
You have a very nice of speakers. Do NOT cheap out on amplification.
If the MF does not work out, consider a high power class D amp, such
as the PS Audio M700 or M1200 or similar.
Life is hard. It's harder when you're stupid.
@MikeK.
I am allready saving up for better amplification.
Will take me a while though as good amplification comes at a cost.
Allthough maggies perform highly above their price they still will get your money cause you have to spend it on your front-end and amplification.
Joost
Always curious
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