Magnepan 1.7 to 3.7i or Pass Labs XA60.5 to X100.5


I'm in the process of upgrading my system and facing a choice. Currently I'm using an pass labs amplification (XONO, X1, XA60.5) feed by Michell Gyro, SME IV and Shelter 90x and ending with Maggie 1.7 (mye sound stands).

I've listened to both 3.7i and Wilson Sabrina, Sashas, all of which could benefit from a bit more amp.

I have a dedicated music room (12x10) and listen to late sixties classic rock, country rock, folk as well as Cash, Owen country and vocal jazz.

I have trade-up value for the 1.7 at my dealer as well trade-up value on the XA60.5. I could probably stretch to a demo pair XA160.5 but am concerned without a dedicated power outlet I'm taxing the system. Also by the way, I don't tend to push the system beyond a bit past midpoint on the pre-amp, although the XA60.5 class-A meter dances about on complex crescendos.

Two question. Upgrade amp or speakers first assuming only one change for the next 12 months? If the amp, is the XA100.5 enough of a jump?
tgonzales
I recommended the subs because I have successfully done it. The DOGMA against integrating subs with Maggies is that the Maggies' rise time (i.e., speed) is too far ahead of subs you'd put with it. That may have been true ten years ago, but there are many fast self-powered subs today.

I have two very small (9" cube) Mirage MM8 subwoofers in stereo. They aren't the deepest, but I've had little trouble integrating them with the panels and adding nearly an octave of bass extension and in-room power response.

They really popped into focus when I used a mono source and tuned the subs' phase controls (a continuous 0-to-360 deg. knob), one subwoofer at a time, until the bass snapped into focus.

The other approach as Lostbears mentioned is the Magnepan bass panels. They are so fast their frequency response can extend up to 7 Khz, so there's no problem matching speed and rise time in the 40-80Hz region. If you have the room and placement options, they're a perfect augmentation to the 1.7s. You get a piece (or two) of the 20.7 bass panel but a lot more placement options and a lot less cost than upgrading to 3.7i's.

Finally, I agree with Zd542 that the 1.7's bass quality is excellent. However, unless there's a fluke in the room acoustics or a miracle in speaker placement, you may--as I did--ultimately find the overall tonal balance a bit thin and wish for more bass quantity. One or two DWM panels or small sealed subs (such as JL Audio's Dominion d108) will do the trick.

You still won't get subterranean bass, but you'll get good sub integration and a very engaging tonal balance. You'll no longer have to listen around the 1.7's quick rolloff that starts around 55 Hz.
Not many people seem to be aware that there is an Open Baffle/Dipole sub available from the two companies who developed it together, GR Research and Rythmik Audio. It has won "Best Bass at the Show" for many consecutive years at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. It is the Rythmik A370 plate amp incorporating a shelving circuit to counteract the natural acoustical low-frequency roll off resulting from the dipole cancellation of the two opposing GR Research 12" OB woofers which are installed in an OB H-frame. It works particularly well with dipole speakers like Maggies, having the same figure-of-8 radiation pattern and a very "quick", nimble sound, with none of the typical thick, ponderous, room-loading sound of both sealed and ported woofers. You can read all about it on the GR Research website, (in the product listing for the OB woofer) and in the GR AudioCircle Forum.

09-14-15: Russ69
No brainer, 3.7. They are a big step up from a 1.7.
It's a 10x12 room. Think small, the size of a fourth bedroom or "bonus room".

A .7 would probably be better than the 1.7 in a room that size. All the more reason for very small subs to fill in the bottom. Even one DWM may require too much space around it.