Greetings from central Minnesota

[MagneMan]

Hello fellow Audio lovers

I am a novice audio appreciator that is trying to identify which direction to go with the hobby. I collect guitars and guitar amps, as well as audio speakers My resume would say that I have a background in film and tv production.

I just purchased a pair of the 6 ft MINT oak Magnepan III a/'s and am awaiting delivery. I am sure I will see an extensive addition to the listening range, wont know until Sunday but am eagerly awaiting hookup and testing session that afternoon. I also picked up a pair of Klipsch RVX-54 towers on a whim and will hook them up today or tomorrow to my CD player and give them a trial.

I currently run a Yamaha A/V amp/receiver with 1200 watts total into two pairs of 6 ohm Wharfedale towers. I run a separate AV amp into another pair of 8 ohm Cerwin-Vega two ways and an 8 ohm Polk CS5i center, giving me a mediocre but effective surround for my 50" WEGA Sony. I am considering adding a mid to high end CD player, am currently just using two 50 count Sony cd players.

I am not here claiming to be knowledgeable or an expert and am WID E OPEN to advice and suggestions. The only thing that will curtail any immediate purchases would be the budget. You will often find me asking questions that may seem to be coming the most naive or technically challenged soul here...but I would rather sound stupid and ask than to risk a blown speaker or amp. I am definitely NOT an electronics wizard by any stretch and what may be common knowledge to many here will very likely need to be explained to me.

I look forward to absorbing the expertise and reviews that I will find here.

[planet10]

Welcome to the forum.

A friend had (at least similar) Magnepans and set up right in the right room they can be wonderful. They probably do deserve better amplification to reach their potential thou.

dave

[Cal Weldon]

Hi MM and welcome to the forums.

[MagneMan]

Thank you for the welcome!

When you say better amplification, what direction would you suggest going with it? As I said, I am wide open to suggestions and comments.

I had a MacIntosh that I have since swapped off, but that was a pleasure to listen to...i just found it a hassle to hook it up vs the niceties of RCA plugs or similiar. I will admit that the quality and range that amp offered offset the hassle and made it worth the extra effort.

[planet10]

Originally posted by MagneMan
When you say better amplification, what direction would you suggest going with it? As I said, I am wide open to suggestions and comments.

I had a MacIntosh that I have since swapped off, but that was a pleasure to listen to...i just found it a hassle to hook it up vs the niceties of RCA plugs or similiar. I will admit that the quality and range that amp offered offset the hassle and made it worth the extra effort.]

My buddy was using a big Audio Research. The Magnepans need a fair amount of power. So you'd need a big tube PP amp (40-80W) or a quality SS power amp (or integrated amp). There are quite a few decent SS amps to build on the forum. Tube amps too.

dave

[pjanda1]

Welcome! I haven't seen too many other folks from our neck of the woods. If you're ever nearby, you're certainly welcome to stop by for a listen.

pj

[MagneMan]

Thank you for the audio invite!

Do any of you know much about the Chinese amps being sold at blow out prices on eBay? Some of them look very nice, very sophisticated, and well made. I did notice they clean up on shipping to compensate but then again, I am fairly sure that shipping a 40-60 lb amp from China to the USA insured, in 7 days, isnt cheap either.

To make a long story short, for the heck of it I picked up one of their point to point wiring 85 watt per channel tube amps to give it a try. I just hope that I end up getting it now. (insert image of weak smile)

[MagneMan]

Here is a link to the seller and one of the tube amps I refer to. If you do an advanced search you will see some of the nice products they have sold recently.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll..._promot_widget

PS: if listing links to ebay is a site violation I sincerely apologize, I looked for rules that might forbid it and didn't see any.

[pjanda1]

Good luck with the tube amps. They certainly are a crap shoot. Some inexpensive Chinese amps are great deals, some are likely to start a house fire. Maggies aren't very friendly speakers to drive. They prefer big solid state that is stable into low impedances and provides plenty of current. I like little amps, but Maggies often take a serious watts to sound alive. It will depend a bit on your room and musical tastes though.

pj

[MagneMan]

Good evening,

I agree, its too small for anything but limited use. I will use the Chinese tube amp for my Dyna FM receiver and playing with that realm.

I hooked up the Mags to my Yamaha amp pushing 110 watt per, and at a medium volume on the volume scale, it shuts the amp off. lol...i am already shopping for the "right" amp with enough oomph.

I will say that with the Klipsch RVX-54's on main speakers and a Polk center channel CS5i on one amp and the Maggies on the other amp, the Yamaha, its giving some very nice listening. They seem to augment each other nicely.