klinemj
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Official Emofest Scribe
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Post by klinemj on Nov 6, 2013 17:03:18 GMT -5
I used 10 gauge wire from Home Depot...it's actually dual 10 gauge per connection (so the red and black each have 2 ten gauge going to them). Home Depot sells it in nice colors (I have blue and white), and I have teh wires crammed into banana plugs so tight it may never come out. I A-B'd them vs. some nice older wires I had laying around that were too long (and that I didn't want to cut)...and...no veil was lifted, no differences were heard...they sounded just fine. And, I think I have maybe $10 of wire into them...
Mark
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Post by loudnoises on Nov 8, 2013 16:38:47 GMT -5
Landed the 1.6s from Bill! If all goes as planned, should be experiencing emo + Maggie sound soon! Contemplating a turntable purchase on Sunday too! I have some suspension bridge cables- May try to wire it all up with those  |
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klinemj
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Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,090
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Post by klinemj on Nov 8, 2013 17:47:47 GMT -5
That's a good gauge to use!
Mark
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2013 5:04:44 GMT -5
Has anybody tried vertical biamping with Maggies? In other words, using a stereo amp for each channel. One stereo channel drives the woofer, the second, the tweeter. Although (some) Maggies can be bi-wired or bi-amped, I've never heard of anyone trying. Any reason why not?  Boomzilla While not Maggies I had this kind of set up for 10 years with a pair of NAD 2200 amps going to my beloved AR 9s (nice crossover inside - no mess with!). Made an amazing difference in slam, presence and clarity. Sorry to say one 2200 blew it's lid off 2 years ago and caught fire - burnt the wall...oh well. Anyway, only run a single 2200 now but I'm looking at getting a pair of XPA-100s, while I can't vertically bi-amp them they will keep me very happy I'm sure . |
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Post by audiobill on Nov 20, 2013 6:01:52 GMT -5
So, gang, would you prefer (2) XPA-2's configured as above, or (2) XPA-1's running in the normal way?
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Post by Boomzilla on Nov 20, 2013 7:03:31 GMT -5
So, gang, would you prefer (2) XPA-2's configured as above, or (2) XPA-1's running in the normal way? A good question, audiobill - In my experience, it depends on the speaker. My (highly efficient) Definitive Technology SM65 speakers sound their best with two stereo amplifiers driving them in the "vertically bi-amped" mode. My Magnepan 1.6qr speakers don't seem to care. I have no idea why. |
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Post by audiobill on Nov 20, 2013 7:41:01 GMT -5
On one hand, the increased power and lower distortion of the XPA-1's, not to mention bragging rights here!
On the other, the biamping benefits and system flexibility (could downsize to one amp in the future ) of the XPA-2's.
Having had both, I think the XPA-2 sounds lovely, silky.
But the XPA-1 does seem to have more dynamic "punch" when warranted.
Until the XPA-1's ran out, same price on sale........
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Post by Boomzilla on Nov 20, 2013 8:53:54 GMT -5
I used 10 gauge wire from Home Depot...it's actually dual 10 gauge per connection (so the red and black each have 2 ten gauge going to them). Home Depot sells it in nice colors (I have blue and white), and I have teh wires crammed into banana plugs so tight it may never come out. I A-B'd them vs. some nice older wires I had laying around that were too long (and that I didn't want to cut)...and...no veil was lifted, no differences were heard...they sounded just fine. And, I think I have maybe $10 of wire into them... Mark FWIW, I agree with Mark - BIG wires sound fine. The only audible differences I've found with speaker wires is that the "braided" styles (ala Kimber Kable or the older Ixos) seem to sound less bright in the treble. If I have otherwise bright equipment, I throw those braided wires into the mix to compensate. Otherwise, it's my 8-gauge home-made stuff. Boomzilla |
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klinemj
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Posts: 15,090
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Post by klinemj on Nov 20, 2013 17:58:50 GMT -5
I have heard solid core RCA's that I thought sounded harsh but braided strands sounded fine. I have no idea why. And my home built wires are braided strands and the 4 - 10 gauge insulated portions are braided together also. So...I have braided braided wire!
Mark
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Post by loudnoises on Nov 24, 2013 17:09:32 GMT -5
I just tried out my 1.6s + XPA2 G2 + BD103
OH MY GOD... I HAVE BEEN TO THE MOUNTAIN... I AM REBORN!
I am glad you good folks nudged me towards the full-range maggies. Thanks to AudioBill for a great transaction.
Even in my quick and dirty temp listening setup, they were astonishing. I know planars aren't everyone's cup of tea, but wow. Songs I had heard countless times sounded brand new. I want to unbox every CD I own and spend the next year listening to them. I can't wait to try vinyl on them.
Unfortunately, I have to box them up for a bit pending logistics of their permanent room, but I cannot wait to get permanently set up and configured.
More gushing follows...
Arcade Fire 'Funeral': Neighborhood 1,2 and 4, Crown of Love, Wake Up
Pink Floyd 'Meddle': Echoes, One of These Days
Pixies 'Live at BBC': Where is My Mind, Monkey Gone to Heavan
I could "see" the instruments. Although the low bass is a little limited, on percussion-- floor toms, kick drum and tympani-- I could hear the skins on them flex/respond and feel the compression in parts.
On a number of acoustic guitar sections, I heard the picking so clearly I almost though the speaker fuzzed- it scared me for a second, then I realized what it was. On anything symphonic (esp the Arcade Fire and Floyd, the music is really 3-dimensional- anything like wind or other effects makes it seem like the song is alive.
I ended with the Pixies and the dynamics were great. The separation between each instrument was awesome. They are less pieces as a band, but the guitar interplay and tempo shifts, the really distinct bass lines, howls from Black Francis and the way the backing vocals Kim Deal fit in were awesome.
I am officially hooked.
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Post by ludi on Nov 25, 2013 12:21:30 GMT -5
I just tried out my 1.6s + XPA2 G2 + BD103 OH MY GOD... I HAVE BEEN TO THE MOUNTAIN... I AM REBORN! I am glad you good folks nudged me towards the full-range maggies. Thanks to AudioBill for a great transaction. Even in my quick and dirty temp listening setup, they were astonishing. I know planars aren't everyone's cup of tea, but wow. Songs I had heard countless times sounded brand new. I want to unbox every CD I own and spend the next year listening to them. I can't wait to try vinyl on them. Unfortunately, I have to box them up for a bit pending logistics of their permanent room, but I cannot wait to get permanently set up and configured. More gushing follows... Arcade Fire 'Funeral': Neighborhood 1,2 and 4, Crown of Love, Wake Up Pink Floyd 'Meddle': Echoes, One of These Days Pixies 'Live at BBC': Where is My Mind, Monkey Gone to Heavan I could "see" the instruments. Although the low bass is a little limited, on percussion-- floor toms, kick drum and tympani-- I could hear the skins on them flex/respond and feel the compression in parts. On a number of acoustic guitar sections, I heard the picking so clearly I almost though the speaker fuzzed- it scared me for a second, then I realized what it was. On anything symphonic (esp the Arcade Fire and Floyd, the music is really 3-dimensional- anything like wind or other effects makes it seem like the song is alive. I ended with the Pixies and the dynamics were great. The separation between each instrument was awesome. They are less pieces as a band, but the guitar interplay and tempo shifts, the really distinct bass lines, howls from Black Francis and the way the backing vocals Kim Deal fit in were awesome. I am officially hooked. I know what you are talking about: that is typically the maggie way of presenting the music. I'm also a maggies fan. I started with a pair of 1.5s and now using a pair of 1.7s. Initially I used a Yamaha amp but now running with a XPA-2 G1: quite an improvement. For the lowest sounds I run 2 subs in parallel, but a lot of music sound terrific on these large panels. Do not forget to post some pictures of your setup. Enjoy listing! |
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Post by loudnoises on Nov 27, 2013 11:13:50 GMT -5
I have heard solid core RCA's that I thought sounded harsh but braided strands sounded fine. I have no idea why. And my home built wires are braided strands and the 4 - 10 gauge insulated portions are braided together also. So...I have braided braided wire! Mark Mark- The HomeDepot wires you use-- are those standard 10 or 12awg single electric wires (solid), like the spooled kind you pull through conduit or something in the low-voltage section? I grabbed some Monoprice 12g (the inwall stuff with 2 wires), but I like the idea of a super cheap HD option when I run my full/permanent setup. Thanks -Dan |
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Post by GreenKiwi on Nov 27, 2013 11:16:40 GMT -5
I've got the same Monoprice ones as you and they work well for me.
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klinemj
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Posts: 15,090
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Post by klinemj on Nov 27, 2013 13:33:53 GMT -5
Dan, I used the standard spooled type, but I did get stranded instead of solid. It's a bit more flexible. They sell it in various colors so I got blue and white.
Mark
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