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Had 3.7s 5 years ago. Loved 'em. Bought 1.7s recently - amazed at how good they are.
Especially considering that my "high power" amps at the time were a pair of LM3875 gainclones - 50W/ch into four ohms.
I knew that would not do long term, and picked up a Pass X350.5. (By "picked up" I mean that I tried to lift it, then when I got out of the hospital I called some friends over to get it on the rack.)
Is the Pass better? Yes. Does the added power make an audible difference for my listening conditions (very large room but 10' from the speakers, peaks low 90 dB range)? Yes.
Is it a huge difference? No, not at all. Even the little chip amps can do perfectly respectful, dynamic jazz percussion.
At this point I am wondering about all those guys that say Maggies "eat power" and want 500W/ch, etc. I am really wondering. I am sure I could do with less amp here.
Then again, moving that thing again is out of the question.
Follow Ups:
Eating power and at the same time sucking current, hmmm?
Multiply milk shake flow by big mac height to get power requirement.
Don't forget the Fries!
Too much is never enough
The "Milk Shake Flow" factor can't be overlooked. If a merely "200 watt" rated amplifier might be inadequate to drive some Maggies (which fact my Magnepan dealer learned the hard way).
So I gather he turned the milk shake into a baked Alaska? Or did he end up with tweeter fries?
Big macs and milk shakes aside, that which I related applies to a 'blanket' claim that 200 watts are not needed to drive a Maggie, and that 25 watts are enough. In the case cited, some 200 watts didn't suffice, not for either its tweeter, midrange or bass driver.
(The dealer took the speakers back, refunding my payment.)
50 watts gets you approx 105dB PBC(S)(2.5) (Peak before Amplifier Clipping - Stereo at 2.5 meters)
500 Watts 10dB higher....
Given the dynamics (Peak limiters and Compressors) of most recordings result in a 1 second crest factor (Peak to RMS ratio in one second intervals) of less than 15dB - you are pretty good with 50 watt, if the amplifier doesn't clip of clips "gracefully". Go to a wide dynamic range recording greater then 25dB and the 50 watt amplifier puts you at the rear of the house on average levels. Not bad if you have a sub, Bass Tone or real loudness control that can adjust the base to compensate a bit.
I'm really happy I have 350 watts for my lowly MMG's!
"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius
On the issue of low dynamic range recordings on CD vs. the much greater dynamic range on old LPs. I have been meeting more people who recently introduced LP to their systems and quickly found either their speakers or amps fried. They all just tried to play at the same levels they played CD at. Some used SPL meters to match levels. That same thing happened with folks who introduced SACD to their setups 10-20 year ago.
In a direct comparison, the Pass amp does sound more muscular and controlled.
But, believe me, those little gainclones are no slouches, even on Maggies!
Always depends on your listening habits room and source content.
If you are trying to get the conductor's vantage point you will need much more power. More power if you want to reproduce a Mahler megalithic construct at believably real levels. If you are trying to get the balcony sound, then you will need far less power. Even less so for a chanteuse with a guitar.
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