Maggie 1.6QR vs 3.6R and Room Size

First of all, the sound difference between the 1.6 and 3.6 IS worth the money ( there is a pair of 3.6 on AgoN right now). Secondly 50 watts is probably not enough. Maggies need current- the more the better, a solid state amp would probably be a better choice than tubes and 100 or more watts of that would be even better. I personally use a BAT VK500 to drive my 3.5s. I started out buying a 1.6 pair until I heard the 3.5, it was a no brainer to move up. Your room is large, the larger maggies will shine in that environment. With proper placement and power they are truly phenominal speakers. Also, the 3.5 comes very close to the 3.6 and is available at a good price here.

The 1.6QR will be fine in a room that size given enough juice. Your budget (I'm assuming you mean $4K) isn't going to remotely approach an appropriate tube amp in this context. I suggest you try to fund used Bryston 7B-SSTs although the ST model is acceptable. A 4B-SST is a possible alternative but it just doesn't transform the 1.6QRs the way the 7B does.

The 1.6s will get amazingly loud and are quite full sounding and have a well balanced sound, I think they would work well in a room that big, which would also cut down on reflections which to me is a problem with those speakers. I always felt the large Quasi Ribbon had too much output and reflected of the walls in my 13 x 22 x 8 room, even thouh I used Ficus trees and have curtains up.

As far as the fifty watts, I ran mine with a Manley Stingray for several months and was amazed at how loud and dynamic it sounded (for a fifty watt tube amp) and I would say it would work for you if you do not want it too loud. But for me the downfall of those speakers was the power issue and I just could not afford enough high quality power, I ended up using a Plinius SA100 MKIII, which is an amazing power amp with tons of guts for 100 watts and still I wanted more, I even had an Innersound ESL amp and that is the only time I was satisfied with the volume which was considerable (I am a headbanger of sorts, I believe in achieving concert volumes in the home). Those speakers will play very loud, surprisingly so.

I do not want to sound too negative about the Maggies, they are a really great bargain with terrific midrange and upper bass, but can run 'hot' if everything is not just so.

Bottom line for me is the power issue and I now have Reynaud speakers which I can run with 20 watts, I feel a whole new world has opened up for me and I have this large selection of high quality amps in my price range just waiting for me hear.

I hope this helps

Phil

Some folk, like me, prefer the quasi ribbon to the true ribbon, and then there are concerns about the reliability of the true ribbon. (But Magnepan does repair at reasonable cost).

I have three MG 1.6, which permits me to play (without strain) just as loud as two MG 3.6.

Magnepan speakers MUST be shipped in the very elaborate packing material provided with new units. Beware if you buy second hand. (The packing material is available for purchase through Magnepan).

I have run my MG 1.6 on two Adcom amps, one rated at 100 watts into 4 ohms, the other rated at 350 watts. No comparison. I even tried them with a QSC prosound amp rated at 450 watts, and it might have surpassed the 350 watt Adcom.

The Mg 3.6s are superior to the 1.6s in every musical category. For your size room it is a "no-brainer". Go for the 3.6s. If you can afford it, the 20.1s would be even better for a large room.