Topic: Mixing Maggies?

[jpschust]

well im thinking, just thinking at this point, about going to a 5.1 surround system to take full advantage of sacds and dvd audio.  I've got a great set of Magnepan 10.1 QR's in front (the 10.1s later became the Maggie MG12s).  So I'm looking into rears, centers, and still at subs.  Do you think that my sound will be strange if I put MMG's in the rear?  The reason I want to do this is because a- the 12's are very very expensive and the 10.1s are very hard to come by, and b- the MMG's are wall mountable whereas the 10's are not.

LMK what you all think

[Brian Skalinder]

Interesting, Jonny - I've been considering doing the same lately as well:  move my MMGs to the back and get some 1.6QR's and replacing my current sub with a new sub (or two) up front.  I haven't the foggiest idea what I'd do for the center channel, though.  Have you sorted out what you'd like to do for the center channel?

I've been running my B&W 601s (or some such, don't remember the specific model right now) as my rears, and it's a bit of an odd combo - the Maggies aren't nearly as dynamic and in-your-face as the B&Ws.  I bet as long as you have planars all around, it'd be an okay match, but...don't know for certain.

I do think if you want slam-in-your-face surround, planar's probably aren't the way to go.  But for my tastes, and since my primary listening is 2-channel audio, I love the planar sound.

How would you wall-mount the MMGs?  And why are the MMGs wall-mountable but the 10.1's aren't?

[jpschust]

ok, let's go backwards- as per the wall mounting options take a look on magnepan's site (http://www.magnepan.com) and look through things- they have a section in there about hanging the maggies.  the 10.1s are different from the maggies in that for the maggies you must attach stands to the bottom if you want them to stand up- the 10.1s have a built in stand and some circuitry in the base.

as per the center channel im pretty sure im going to use an mmg c at this point.  the idea is that all the maggie stuff is made to generally the same sound ideal so things shouldnt be too odd i hope

[jjjewett]

why not go for the mmg-c for the center channel

im thinking of doing it with mmg's as the other 4

http://www.magnepan.com/1-800-474-1646/magazines/mmgw_mmgc.htm

ps anyone know of a good power amp for mmg's

john

[jpschust]

how much are you looking at spending on your amp?  i looked really heavily into this when looking at the maggies to begin with

[jjjewett]

well,

im going to buy a nice amp real soon.  and i have to decide if I want a 2 channel or multi channel.  I just bought dustin's firewire 410 so could I could use that to send 5.0 to and amp??  Or do I need a preamp.  I also have a lucid 2496 DA, so do I need a preamp with that too??  

It would be real cool if I could go:

Computer>firewire 410>5 channel amp>mmg's

if not then I guess I gotta get an integrated.

but to answer your question, i could spend like 450 on an amp, beit just a power amp, or an integrated.

john

[Brian Skalinder]

as per the wall mounting options take a look on magnepan's site (http://www.magnepan.com)

Duh.

as per the center channel im pretty sure im going to use an mmg c at this point.  the idea is that all the maggie stuff is made to generally the same sound ideal so things shouldnt be too odd i hope

Duh.

Thanks, Jonny.  I'm a little fried after 16-hours of volleyball tournaments the last two days.

[jpschust]

well,

im going to buy a nice amp real soon.  and i have to decide if I want a 2 channel or multi channel.  I just bought dustin's firewire 410 so could I could use that to send 5.0 to and amp??  Or do I need a preamp.  I also have a lucid 2496 DA, so do I need a preamp with that too??  

It would be real cool if I could go:

Computer>firewire 410>5 channel amp>mmg's

if not then I guess I gotta get an integrated.

but to answer your question, i could spend like 450 on an amp, beit just a power amp, or an integrated.

john

John,

you need a preamp.  for a stereo amp in that price range (approximately) i might look at the Belles 150A.  It sends a lot of power and can definately push the maggies.  Another, less expensive amp to look at is the BK-ST140.  That will run you half the price of the Belles, is a great starter amp, but i feel lacks some of the push and smoothness the belles has.

I'm sending my tube pre in for a bit of an upgrade and it will be back in about a week.  If you hang on for a bit it may come up for sale right here :-)

[jjjewett]

damm,  i figured i would need a preamp

ive been thinking about either the rotel 971/972 or the nad c350/370

john

[jpschust]

both make great pres and amps

[jjjewett]

why do i need a preamp if both the fire 410 and my lucid have an output level knob??

john

[Tim]

I run a NAD 370, love it!

[jjjewett]

now someone here on the list has to sell me their mmg's

john

[jpschust]

john, the mmg w's are really cheap directly from maggie brand new, even cheaper on audiogon.com

[jjjewett]

yeah,  i know.  can you tell me the difference between the mmg-w and the last generation of mmg's.  also, why do i need a preamp if my 410 and lucid have an output level knob?

john