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In Reply to: Behringer and MG IIIa posted by bullfrogg on April 18, 2007 at 22:58:42:
Please don't take this the wrong way, but you need to significantly improve your amp and pre-amp, and probably the sources too.You have a Porsche with walmart tires and bad gas.
I had that same amp with my MMGs, and an Hk receiver as a pre amp. I had no problems running the MMgs, but as I upgraded, I realized just how much the entry level maggies were capable of when fed a first rate signal.
In my case, the HK was the weakest link, then the carver.
I am assuming that things are set up correctly, the speakers are in phase, and the amp worked fine on other speakers. Is this correct? YOu may want to check for some frayed wiring if you are using bare wire. Also, do you have it bridged by chance? And are the volume knobs set to THX?
The Behringer may solve some loudness problem but IMHO you still have very revealing speakers that need to be fed a much cleaner signal.
You may be able to passively bi-amp. ANDYR is the IIIA guru around here, and he may have better suggestions.
BUt, I really feel bad for your IIIas, they are thoroughbreds, and they are penned in and can't run like they should.
Again, I am not trying to be mean, its just that your speakers are capable of so much more, and Maggies can suck all the current you can give them, so feed them well.
Here is what I suggest: Look at the links below and see what 3 series owners are using (III, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6, etc) Contact them and ask their opinions:
http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/search.mpl?searchtext=mg+III&b=OR&topic=&topics_only=N&author=&date1=&date2=&slowmessage=&sort=score&sortOrder=DESC&forum=systems
http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/search.mpl?searchtext=mg+3.3&b=OR&topic=&topics_only=N&author=&date1=&date2=&slowmessage=&sort=score&sortOrder=DESC&forum=systems
http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/search.mpl?searchtext=mg+3.5&b=OR&topic=&topics_only=N&author=&date1=&date2=&slowmessage=&sort=score&sortOrder=DESC&forum=systems
http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/search.mpl?searchtext=mg+3.6&b=OR&topic=&topics_only=N&author=&date1=&date2=&slowmessage=&sort=score&sortOrder=DESC&forum=systems
Follow Ups:
In defense of HK: When I got my first pair of maggies,(2.5r), I ran them with a Harman Kardon MK25II receiver. Unless I was listening at ear splitting levels, it didn't clip. Then I upgraded to the MG3a's. They were rebuilt fresh from Magnepan. I sent the speakers back 3 times thinking there was something wrong, that HK receiver could not do anything with those speakers, every time I put any volume in to them, the panels would flap. I had also purchased a HK Signature 1.5 Amp, this was the light at the end of the tunnel. I've since moved on to Classe M350's. I still have my HK for backup, but I've listened to a few higher end amps connected to my maggies and for the money none of them did any better than the HK. The Classe is in a completely different class, so we won't go there. I was so happy with the way the HK sounded and so sure they could handle the load, I removed my fuses and never looked back. If you can find a HK Signature 1.5, I'd get it.
THe Classe is in another class!!!THis is the point I am making, that these speakers really deserve quality. SUre, the Behringer will work, as the HK did, but get the most out of your speakers, get something like a Classe.
THose panels need an amp that can drive them and still be refined.
FWIW, I had the AVI-200mkii which is the integrated version of the 25mkii. I am not saying that HK is bad...hell I owned it...but it is midfi and the Maggies deserve hifi!!!
I too had to send a panel back to Magnepan...funny how I haven't had that problem since I ditched the HK.
I am not trying to be snobby here, if you can find a good used amp, then spend $500 or so, but by all means get a good amp on those speakers.
YOu yourself are using an amp that is "in a different class" if the HK was so good, why did you change???
If I can answer for you, it is because the speakers deserve it!!!
LOL,you're preaching to the choir. I paid $3000 for my Classe, ($10,000) new. I paid $450 for my HK, ($1800) new. I love my Classe, but if I had to buy it new over the new price of the HK, then I'd still be listening to the HK. With that said, each amp has to be judged on it's own merit. As I said in my earlier post, I compared my HK with McIntosh and other amps, not saying the the Mac's where bad amp, just not made for maggies. I would have to agree with you though, crap in, crap out...
I'll add to what gumby had to say about the Signature 1.5, as you can now find used HK Citation 5.1 and 7.1's out there at very attractive prices ($500 and up). I have two 7.1's and a 5.1, they are an excellent match for all the Maggies I've run with them (MGIIIa, MG1c and MMG's), and were built by Madrigal here in the good old USA.
FWIW, I am using a B&K receiver as a preamp since like many of us I have to combine HT functions with my music system. It has a 'direct' mode that frees up the signal path for stereo listening, and an 'ultra' mode to allow subwoofer control......which is wonderful since I can control the sub volume with the remote ;^JBest of luck,
Brian
'Into the Red'
Better yet, try:http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/search.mpl?searchtext=mg+IIIA&b=OR&topic=&topics_only=N&author=&date1=&date2=&slowmessage=&sort=score&sortOrder=DESC&forum=systems
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