Post by headlesshorseman on Mar 17, 2014 17:03:21 GMT -5
Having read one too many threads concerning Magnepan MMGs and their power requirements, I wanted to post my experience with the MMGs - specifically with regards to the Emotiva XPA-200 amp.
TL;DR
Not only is it a good pairing, it sounds superb.
Over the past few months I have been incrementally building a stereo-only listening system in a room that is about 14'L x 10'W. I started with Wharfedale 10.2's and a NAD 326BEE, but the sound and imaging was just not where I wanted it to be. Don't get me wrong, the NAD is a great integrated amplifier. Great. At "2 x 50W Continuous Power into 4 ohms and 8 ohms" I felt though that it was a little underpowered for the Wharfedales which are nominally 6 ohm speakers. They just didn't "sing".
So back went the NAD and on I went with many weeks of research to find what I was really looking for. Ultimately I found that what I wanted was "separates", rather than an integrated amp. These separates give me a couple of the things that I really value: an upgrade path and tweakability.
As you might have surmised by the title of this post, I settled on the Emotiva XPA-200 to power the system. I must say, this amp really brought out the best in the Wharfedale 10.2s. That extra 100 watts could be heard across the spectrum, but particularly in the bass. My lesson from this experiment really was that underpowering your speakers can lead to less than satisfying results.
Enter Magnepan. After a number of events including hearing Maggies at a dealer and reading hundreds of glowing accounts of the MMG I decided that this was in fact the speaker I had been looking for. If you have read this far you know that I already had the XPA-200, so I was a little concerned that it would not be enough power for the MMGs. Would I need to upgrade to the XPA-2?
If you are reading this, its likely that you have read through other threads on the topic of powering the MMGs. In more than one thread I have read that you need AT LEAST 400 WPC! This is total poppycock. I'll tell you right now, the XPA-200 has plenty of power for the MMGs. In my current setup I have an Emotiva DC-1 as a DAC/pre feeding the XPA-200 directly, which is then connected up with speaker wire to the MMGs. It sounds great. And loud. Great and loud. For my listening room it is louder than you will ever need unless you want to damage your hearing.
Could more power make them sound better? Who cares.
As far as I am concerned the XPA-200 with the Magnepan MMGs is a lovely combination. I am absolutely loving listening to music again.
Since you have gotten this far in the post, I thought I would mention that I have paired the system with an SVS SB-2000 sub (the 1000 is slightly underpowered with the XPA-200). Together the system blows me away. You need a sub. You do. The MMGs have none to speak of, but this is fine! The MMGs do low-mids to highs so beautifully and for such a good price, you can go out and pick up a nice sealed or servo sub.
My only issue with MMGs is that they are really a speaker system for one listener. I had a couple of friends over to play and we basically all ended up sitting in a row to catch the sweet spot. I am looking forward to upgrading to the 1.7s.
Since I am rambling at this point I would like to mention that I am also using a XPS-1 phono pre from Emotiva. I compared it with a Pro-ject Phono Box S (non-tube) and it sounds BETTER - for $200 less. I suppose that now makes me an Emotiva fanboy.
In conclusion I would like to reinforce what I have read elsewhere: Emotiva ❤ Magnepan. The Emotiva XPA-200 is a clean, solid, and powerful ally of the MMGs and I have no doubt that a pairing of the XPA-2 and Maggie 1.7 will be a beautiful thing. Next year.
Gear list:
Magenepan MMG
Emotiva XPA-200
SVS SB-2000
Sewel direct cables with banana plugs ($12/per)
Emotiva XSP-1 Phono Pre
Emotiva Stealth DC-1 DAC
P.S. I run 20' of standard Canare XLR terminated cables between the DAC and the amp. It sounds great! I also run 20' of RCA between the DAC and the sub. Also great. Don't fret your cable runs. Canare or Mogami cables are STANDARDS in the recording industry and sound superb even at reasonably long lengths.
TL;DR
Not only is it a good pairing, it sounds superb.
Over the past few months I have been incrementally building a stereo-only listening system in a room that is about 14'L x 10'W. I started with Wharfedale 10.2's and a NAD 326BEE, but the sound and imaging was just not where I wanted it to be. Don't get me wrong, the NAD is a great integrated amplifier. Great. At "2 x 50W Continuous Power into 4 ohms and 8 ohms" I felt though that it was a little underpowered for the Wharfedales which are nominally 6 ohm speakers. They just didn't "sing".
So back went the NAD and on I went with many weeks of research to find what I was really looking for. Ultimately I found that what I wanted was "separates", rather than an integrated amp. These separates give me a couple of the things that I really value: an upgrade path and tweakability.
As you might have surmised by the title of this post, I settled on the Emotiva XPA-200 to power the system. I must say, this amp really brought out the best in the Wharfedale 10.2s. That extra 100 watts could be heard across the spectrum, but particularly in the bass. My lesson from this experiment really was that underpowering your speakers can lead to less than satisfying results.
Enter Magnepan. After a number of events including hearing Maggies at a dealer and reading hundreds of glowing accounts of the MMG I decided that this was in fact the speaker I had been looking for. If you have read this far you know that I already had the XPA-200, so I was a little concerned that it would not be enough power for the MMGs. Would I need to upgrade to the XPA-2?
If you are reading this, its likely that you have read through other threads on the topic of powering the MMGs. In more than one thread I have read that you need AT LEAST 400 WPC! This is total poppycock. I'll tell you right now, the XPA-200 has plenty of power for the MMGs. In my current setup I have an Emotiva DC-1 as a DAC/pre feeding the XPA-200 directly, which is then connected up with speaker wire to the MMGs. It sounds great. And loud. Great and loud. For my listening room it is louder than you will ever need unless you want to damage your hearing.
Could more power make them sound better? Who cares.
As far as I am concerned the XPA-200 with the Magnepan MMGs is a lovely combination. I am absolutely loving listening to music again.
Since you have gotten this far in the post, I thought I would mention that I have paired the system with an SVS SB-2000 sub (the 1000 is slightly underpowered with the XPA-200). Together the system blows me away. You need a sub. You do. The MMGs have none to speak of, but this is fine! The MMGs do low-mids to highs so beautifully and for such a good price, you can go out and pick up a nice sealed or servo sub.
My only issue with MMGs is that they are really a speaker system for one listener. I had a couple of friends over to play and we basically all ended up sitting in a row to catch the sweet spot. I am looking forward to upgrading to the 1.7s.
Since I am rambling at this point I would like to mention that I am also using a XPS-1 phono pre from Emotiva. I compared it with a Pro-ject Phono Box S (non-tube) and it sounds BETTER - for $200 less. I suppose that now makes me an Emotiva fanboy.
In conclusion I would like to reinforce what I have read elsewhere: Emotiva ❤ Magnepan. The Emotiva XPA-200 is a clean, solid, and powerful ally of the MMGs and I have no doubt that a pairing of the XPA-2 and Maggie 1.7 will be a beautiful thing. Next year.
Gear list:
Magenepan MMG
Emotiva XPA-200
SVS SB-2000
Sewel direct cables with banana plugs ($12/per)
Emotiva XSP-1 Phono Pre
Emotiva Stealth DC-1 DAC
P.S. I run 20' of standard Canare XLR terminated cables between the DAC and the amp. It sounds great! I also run 20' of RCA between the DAC and the sub. Also great. Don't fret your cable runs. Canare or Mogami cables are STANDARDS in the recording industry and sound superb even at reasonably long lengths.
