2. speakers
  3. 1382515595

Building a Magnepan System, Please Help...

Hello everyone,

I am going to be shortly building an audio system, my first high end set up ever. I have decided on Magneplanar 1.7 speakers. The reason is that everything I have read seems to indicate that they are the best deal in audiophile speakers and the sound signature appeals to me. But since I have never built a high end sound sytem before, I need some help in picking components that match up well with the Magnepan speakers.

I am on a budget here. I want to get the best quality I can for the lowest price. I will even get the Magnepan speakers used if I can find them. I would like to be up and running for somewhere in the $3000 range but I can stretch that if need be.

I have all but decided on an Emotiva amp as they seem like a good deal and others have said they match up well and have enough power to drive these speakers.

So lets start out with saying that I bought a used but good condition Magneplanar 1.7 speakers for under $1500.

Then I bought an Emotiva XPA2 for around $700.

What else do I need to have a good startin system?

I have no intention of buying a subwoofer at this time. Maybe I'll add that later.

Do I need a pre amp to pair with the XPA2? I don't know too much about high end audio. What is the precise function of a pre amp and do I need one? Please recommend one for this set up.

As for the source, I would like to get into vinyl but I will hold off on that for the present. But bear in mind that I would like to be able to incorporate a record player into this system without much trouble in the future.

Instead of purchasing a high end CD player or SACD player, I though it would make sense to get a high end DAC for a computer source like a laptop so I can store my audio on my computer.

Can you recommend a good DAC that would be not too expensive but good enough to get the most out of the rest of the components I have selected?

So far I have, Magneplanar 1.7 speakers, Emotiva XPA2, maybe a pre amp and a DAC for running digital audio from a computer source. Not counting the cables to hook everything up, this is basically what I need right?

One final question. Should I also get a power conditioner to protect my components from surges and also to "clean" the power from my home outlets? I don't want to spend this much money and have my components damaged. If I should get one, please recommend one that is inexpensive.

Thanks for the help.
jrodefeld
brownsfan
1,508 posts
 
Jrodefeld, Welcome to the society of obsessive compulsive Maggie owners. I started off with a pair of SMGa's driven by a small adcom amp decades ago. Take a look at my system page to see where this all leads.
You can certainly get a start down this road and put together a nice system based on used 1.7s(or 1.6s) for 3K. Think about one of the old McCormack amps- DNA 0.5 or 1.0, or a 125-- as an alternative to the Emotiva. The McCormacks mate well with Magnepans, and have a high input impedance which permits use of a TVC passive, like a Promethius Ref 4. Throw in a used Oppo95 to use as a source, and you probably can squeak in under 3K. I ran a system like that for almost a decade (using MG 1.6QRs) and it delivered very nicely for the limited investment.
elevick
2,638 posts
 
Jrodefeld,
You need to ask yourself a couple more questions: Do you want to be able to hook this to a tv or don't care? Do you think you will go high end on a turntable or just a basis one? Is a remote control a must?
1-YES, it is imperative that you protect the equipment with some sort of surge protector or conditioner. A basis PS Audio can run a couple of hundred. However, your deductible on insurance is a lot higher if lighting hits.
2-The Emotiva is a good choice. Maggies like a lot of power.
3-External phono preamps run about $100 to $150 used for something in the range of a Cambridge or similar. You can find a preamp with built in phono if you want to keep things less complicated. But most newer units don't have this.
4-Have you looked at the Emotiva Pre's? The XDA-2 is really cheap and possibly a nice choice. The UMC-200 has way more than you need but is quite flexible for the future and has a nice built in DAC.
Brownsfan, besides being a Browns fan, has a good point about an Oppo. To be able to stream into a 103 is great and you can even plug a hard or flash drive into it as your source.
So, $1500 for the Maggies, $800 for the XPA-2 (buy used?), $300 for a pre, $300 for a line conditioner and then all you need is cabling (yes, you broke $3k).
schipo
1,268 posts
 
treatment,treatment and treatment will give you better sound. Save your money on power conditioning at this time and pay attention to your listening environment. The best to u.
More to discover