Magnepan MMG's just arrived

Congratulations on your new adventure. I too am quite a happy Maggie owner. Somehow they bring on a level of musical enjoyment that can be quite captivating. They typically need to be played at a middle volume level to bring them alive.

Loontoon brings up many important tips. Perhaps the Maggies are the toughest speaker to find a matching amplifier. I still am hunting for that ideal high powered / affordable amp that does not break the bank. After trying many ARC tube amps, I found the Counterpoint NPS400 to be an all around winner. I am thinking a second NPS400 might just be the ticket.

As for losing the wife, I keep mine in the basement in a music-only setup so my family does not care. I'm not sure their presence in the family room home theatre setup would be "allowed". But then again, I find the Talons and other dynamic speakers to be better suited for surround sound movie presentations.

So let us know how you feel at the end of 2 months. I suspect Albert is right: they will not be coming back to Minnesota.

John

I agree with all posting above, most with Loontoon. I drive my SMGc (older version) with Classe CA201. My amp is 4-5 times more expensive than the speakers, that is not included the front ends, cables etc... No regret, they do sound lot lot lot better than $2k range speakers out there. The warning of Maggies about the loss of wife from Loontoon is right, but I have learned that I might lost the love of my wife but I have found the love of music again or fall in love with music deeper whenever I sat in front of them. Enjoy your time with them and for your happiness don't forget your love one. She might not soud sweet like Maggies but she fill you up on other areas. :-) Share your toy with her.....

Congrats on the Maggies Dave43.I heard the MMGs at a friends house on a vector integrate 60 wpc also paired with a Adire active sub. Sounded damn goood!!!! I am using a Panny SA-XR25 on a pair of 2.5Rs. With very good results. Had to take the silver cable off thou..too much of a good thing with the ribbon tweeter. Plan to sell but have seriously considered keeping them. Hard to replace the sound of Maggies! Depending on the room your trying to fill it doesn't take a lot of power to get great results.

Happy Listening!!!!

Loontoon: Thank you for your entertaining,true post.

Dave43: If this has not happened yet,sooner or later,you will hear a sound seeming to eminate from the side or the back of your listening room. It is an example of artificial reverberation.http://ccrma-www.stanford.edu/~jos/waveguide/Schroeder_Allpass_Sections.html This "colorless" reverberation is created by maggie singing forwards and backwards at the same time. Sooner or later,you will get the distance from your rear wall correct. Paradoxically,the correct distance for the reverb MIGHT ring. If(when)it does,deaden the rear wall. Go to the wallpaper place and check the sample book for acoustic cloth wallpaper and paper the wall behind her.

When you get it right,the soundstage will have height,width,and depth. You'll be able to follow contrapuntal lines without the speakers getting in the way.

I use a medium power/high current,low feedback, solid state,integrated amp and believe that once you get the imaging correct,everything else will start to fall into line.

I agree with others' posts about upgrade itches but believe that getting the imaging (including the rear wall) correct is the most important thing.

ENJOY!!

Jafox...If you are still searching for an "affordable" high powered amp to suit Maggies, try the CarverPro ZR1600 digital amp. Don't laugh! For about $840 you can find what you are looking for.