What is the minmimum room size for Magnepan?

I've owned two pairs of Maggies - a very early model that I bought in the mid-70's and a pair of 3.6's that I got last fall. The 1970's version sounded great until it failed when it was about 6 years old from what I was told by the factory was an overly UV-sensitive glue. The 3.6's are delightful. I use them in a room that is about 14x20 and (just to enter into the power debate) I started off running the 3.6's with a 100 watt solid state amp, decided I needed more power, switched to a 350 watt SS amp, which definitely sounded better - but now I'm using a 100 or so watts per channel tube amp (all McIntosh amps), which sounds the best of all. I'm not sure whether the differences among the amps had to do with raw power or just to better design as I moved from one to the other. Bottom line from my experience is that different things work, some better than others. I suspect that quality of design (whatever that means!) trumps raw power with these speakers. Try to buy at a price that won't hurt you if you decide to experiment with something else.
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I have a pair of 1.6s in a smaller room. That means the seating is closer to the speakers, so the speakers are closer together for good soundstaging. Patience and careful adjustment definately pay off and the maggies are just fine. In fact, I like them better in the smaller room because, to my ear, the bass sounds better. I drive them with a Sonic Frontiers Power 2 with no problem and find the maggies tube friendly if the amp is big enough. I do agree with Fatparrot and Philjolet that wattage is a concern, and with solid state amps, I think the larger the better if you really want the speakers to sing.

Lots of good amp choices out there - Classe, Aragon, Marsh Sim Audio and Bryston to name a few. Regardless of which Maggie model they all like to have lots-o-current running through them. A Bryston 3B would be plenty powerfull enough for a pair of MMGs and might do an effective job on the 1.6's but a 4B would do a better job with larger models. If you are really looking at the 1.6 model then look for an amp that does at least 300 w/ch @ 4 ohms (Maggie's nominal impedence).

I use a Classe CA 201 (400 watts/ch 4 Ohms) with a pair of the MG 1.6 QRs in a room 13 feet (width) by 27 feet (length). The speakers are 3 feet from the back wall and 1.5 feet from the sidewalls. My listening chair is about 8 feet from the speakers. I get a very good result with this set up, I am very happy. However, I have heard the MG 1.6 QRs in a much wider room (approximately 30 feet wide by 20 feet long) using the same Classe CA-201. Here, I thought the MG 1.6 QRs really sounded their best. Surprisingly, the soundstage sharpened and the detail of the sound seemed slightly sharper. Due to other considerations, I can't use the long wall in my room as a place to put my MG 1.6 QRs. Too bad, I might get a better result.

I do use a REL Storm III subwoofer to supplement the bass response. The REL Storm III allows for a full range signal to be sent to the speakers, which is how I have it set up. I can get this system to play too loud for my tastes. Volume is not an issue for me. Although I don't feel like I have ever taxed the limits of the Classe CA-201, I do feel the MG 1.6 QRs can go louder.

The one really amazing thing that I have experienced with the Magnepan line of speakers is that they sound better with the better power you send them. I have never experienced this to a greater degree than with Magnepan speakers. This explains why I have much more invested in my electronics that I do my speakers.

As far as reliability, this is the first Magnepan product I have owned. I hope the three-year manufacturer’s warranty is not an indication of the speaker's longevity. If they do crap out in three years I'll be disappointed, but not as disappointed as I was when the panels on my Martin Logan CLS Is failed in less than two years!

FYI I listen to a huge range of music full scale symphonic, chamber/baroque music, solo piano, small ensemble jazz (with and without vocal accompaniment), acappella vocal, fusion jazz (big sound fusion jazz), classic rock, grunge rock and some R&B/funk. Although I do listed to a big range of music, I am still very picky about what I listen to.

These are some of my thoughts from my experiences.

Good luck and happy listening.

I doubt you'd blow them up with good, clean, ample power reserves. I listened to the 3.6/R's at a dealer, and they'd push out SPLs if you wanted to. Granted heavy metal didn't have the *SLAM* factor (so don't expect them to slap you in the face with air, or even better, try to cave-in your chest). but they *DID* play louder than I'd ever want to listen to them. And this was a 25x30foot room (or so). So I'd say a competent sub (or two) and I doubt you'd tell the difference between the 3.6/R's and most dynamic (cone) speakers. At least *most* people would be hard pressed to!

so if you'd have to use a small room, I'd say place the speakers out from the wall. Give them a wee bit of room on the sides. And listen near-field if you have to. (up very close).