Magnepan 1.6 with bass on a budget

by evilfij on Budget Minded

Description

Getting back into HiFi after 15 year gap. Ended up with two systems -- both do double duty as home theater. This is my main system. I run the Maggies with the Rotel and the Amherst preamp with the source an older Sony ES DVD/CD or cable. Television is a Phillips 47in in a cabinet.

I am looking for a Dynaco PS-1 power supply to try the PAM-1s with the Rotel and Maggies (let me know if you spot one!).

Just added a Rythmik E15 subwoofer on the advice of folks here and it is amazing. Forget about the worries of matching a sub with the maggies: just buy a Rythmik! The 15in sub is not slow and even permits phase delay.

Long range plans are a full home theater system with additional Magnepans with the Marantz SR5004 from my bedroom system and possible upgrade to all tube amps with more dynacos and Bob Latino's M-125 monoblocks.

Total cost for the Maggies, the Rotel, the Rythmik E15 and the Amherst preamp was just over $2000. I had the DVD/CD source.
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Components Toggle details

    • Magnepan MG-1.6qr
    Bought used in 9/10 shape. Black socks with dark cherry trim.
    • Rythmik E15
    Servo 15in sealed subwoofer with 600 watt plate amp. Very musical and fast at an affordable price.
    • Rotel RA-985bx
    Bought used for $200. Over 300wpc at 4ohms.
    • Amherst Audio Unknown
    Prototype short run of 50 units
    • Dynaco PAM-1
    Mono dynaco tube preamps with original telefunken 12ax7 tubes.

Comments 6

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Evilfij,

Just something to try, call it an experiment. When next listening to your fav. cd, pull the maggies out into the room about 2 feet from their current location. Currently it looks like they are backed into the corner and are a bit crouded by the TV cabinet. Maggies do best when placed 2-3 feet out from the nearest wall. As they produce sound both from the front and the rear this is a necessity given their design. Doesn't cost a thing to try, let me know your thoughts.

nissancrazy

Glad the subwofer worked out for you, enjoy.

nissancrazy

Owner
System edited: added pictures

evilfij

Owner
System edited: Thanks for the advice on the subwoofer. I could not ask for anything more and it was all I was missing. I am very pleaase.

evilfij

Owner
Thanks. I have my eyes on a B&W if I can only get the seller to email me back. I use both systems for HT as well.

evilfij

Take a serious look at Rythmik Audio for subwoofers. Having a pair of 1.6's the most discouraging thing was going from sub to sub attempting to find something that mated well with the speed of the maggies. I jumped from Velodyne to Earthquake to HSU then to Def. Tech. all with no real synergy as they simply couldn't keep up with the maggies speed. Rythmik was able to do what the others failed in doing, blend seemlessly, not overpower the maggies with boom and create the most realistic lows I have heard. Well worth the time to take a look at in my opinion. Best part is Rythmik is a direct wholesale company much like Outlaw Audio offering great value as they have cut out the retail end of things.

Best of luck in your search

nissancrazy

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