Am I going loopy. I’m liking my 6 watt SET amp with the Magnepan LRS’s

[Rossco]

I have Magnepans LRS’s and originally linked them to my Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III and thought wow this is a great sound. Loved it. Then for hits and giggles I connected up Decware SE34I-5 6 watt amp and yes the bass isn’t at tight at the Rogue Audio and it will distort if pushed too far (but for a lot but not all of the music I listen too and the levels I listen too it is fine) the little Decware sounds better. Seems to have a blacker background, more transparent, still lovely warm sounding and dynamics are amazing good (I listen a bit Prog rock etc). To get over the few limitations I am considering bridging it a 12watt mono and buying another so I will have two 12 watt mono blocks. Am I crazy. Everywhere I read it says Maggie’s require lots and lots of power. Maybe I have weird hearing, I don’t know. Any thoughts?

System is
Mac Mini running Audirv?na
Denafrips Pontus II DAC
Triode Wire Labs speakers cables and interconnects
2 x Rel T/5i subwoofers
Magnepan LRS Speakers
Decware SE34I-5 6watt integrated amp
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III 55watt triode/100watt ultralinear integrated amp
Room 13x13x9 feet

 

[DonH50]

They are very insensitive speakers so if you like it loud and/or sit fairly far away then they need power. But, as speaker loads go, they are very benign (almost purely resistive), without the large impedance excursions most conventional speakers exhibit. Their impedance is low'ish but pretty flat so are a good candidate IMO for a tube amplifier. I drove my first Maggies with a 35 W/ch tube amp and they were plenty loud enough for me. They were in a modest room and I sat fairly close to them.

I tend to think the power demands are overblown by many listeners but who am I to judge?

As for your sanity, not in a position to judge. Too concerned about my own. - Don

 

[Rossco]

They are very insensitive speakers so if you like it loud and/or sit fairly far away then they need power. But, as speaker loads go, they are very benign (almost purely resistive), without the large impedance excursions most conventional speakers exhibit. Their impedance is low'ish but pretty flat so are a good candidate IMO for a tube amplifier. I drove my first Maggies with a 35 W/ch tube amp and they were plenty loud enough for me. They were in a modest room and I sat fairly close to them.

I tend to think the power demands are overblown by many listeners but who am I to judge?

As for your sanity, not in a position to judge. Too concerned about my own. - Don

Thanks Don.

 

[spiritofmusic]

My GF hears about all the navel gazing, soul searching, and descriptions fussing/busting we do, and smiles ruefully at me.
She has simple Qs...do you like what you hear? Are you enjoying your music?
If you can answer Yes to these, no need to fuss or doubt yourself.

 

[Rossco]

My GF hears about all the navel gazing, soul searching, and descriptions fussing/busting we do, and smiles ruefully at me.
She has simple Qs...do you like what you hear? Are you enjoying your music?
If you can answer Yes to these, no need to fuss or doubt yourself.

Indeed, so true, thanks spiritofmusic

 

[carl13]

I have Magnepans LRS’s and originally linked them to my Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III and thought wow this is a great sound. Loved it. Then for hits and giggles I connected up Decware SE34I-5 6 watt amp and yes the bass isn’t at tight at the Rogue Audio and it will distort if pushed too far (but for a lot but not all of the music I listen too and the levels I listen too it is fine) the little Decware sounds better. Seems to have a blacker background, more transparent, still lovely warm sounding and dynamics are amazing good (I listen a bit Prog rock etc). To get over the few limitations I am considering bridging it a 12watt mono and buying another so I will have two 12 watt mono blocks. Am I crazy. Everywhere I read it says Maggie’s require lots and lots of power. Maybe I have weird hearing, I don’t know. Any thoughts?

System is
Mac Mini running Audirv?na
Denafrips Pontus II DAC
Triode Wire Labs speakers cables and interconnects
2 x Rel T/5i subwoofers
Magnepan LRS Speakers
Decware SE34I-5 6watt integrated amp
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III 55watt triode/100watt ultralinear integrated amp
Room 13x13x9 feet

Better output transformers and ZERO negative feedback.

 

[Rossco]

They are very insensitive speakers so if you like it loud and/or sit fairly far away then they need power. But, as speaker loads go, they are very benign (almost purely resistive), without the large impedance excursions most conventional speakers exhibit. Their impedance is low'ish but pretty flat so are a good candidate IMO for a tube amplifier. I drove my first Maggies with a 35 W/ch tube amp and they were plenty loud enough for me. They were in a modest room and I sat fairly close to them.

I tend to think the power demands are overblown by many listeners but who am I to judge?

As for your sanity, not in a position to judge. Too concerned about my own. - Don

Quick question Don. If I decide to upgrade my Maggie LRS to say the 1.7i would the amp I use with the LRS be sufficient and work just as well with the 1.7i’s. The spec’s on both appear to be the same.
Regards
Ross

 

[DonH50]

Quick question Don. If I decide to upgrade my Maggie LRS to say the 1.7i would the amp I use with the LRS be sufficient and work just as well with the 1.7i’s. The spec’s on both appear to be the same.
Regards
Ross

Probably... Panel area gets you more bass and the ability to play louder as well as a bigger "presence". That said, it all comes down to how loud you like it and how far you are from them. If those do not change, you'll probably be OK. At least as far as driving your Maggies; sanity we've already discussed and dismissed, yes?

 

[Rossco]

Probably... Panel area gets you more bass and the ability to play louder as well as a bigger "presence". That said, it all comes down to how loud you like it and how far you are from them. If those do not change, you'll probably be OK. At least as far as driving your Maggies; sanity we've already discussed and dismissed, yes?

Thanks again Don, I am using the standard distance away at the moment with the LRS’s i.e. speakers 6 feet apart and sitting 10 feet away and it is ok, better I assume when I double the wattage.

 

[cfgardei1]

Probably... Panel area gets you more bass and the ability to play louder as well as a bigger "presence". That said, it all comes down to how loud you like it and how far you are from them. If those do not change, you'll probably be OK. At least as far as driving your Maggies; sanity we've already discussed and dismissed, yes?

I think (if you have the room for them), the 3.7i's are the way to go (they are at the apex of the price-vs-performance curves). I love my 3.7s / Parasound / Bluesound Node - Tidal. But, when I want LOUD, I go into the basement where my Klipsch LaScalas are...