Popular Post TubeLover Posted July 25, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted July 25, 2019 I am fortunate enough to be able to own two audio systems. One, my primary system, is in a dedicated listening room downstairs. It is my pride and joy, assembled entirely of components I did not ever expect to possibly own. All of which I have only through a combination of extremely good fortune, the kindness of audio manufacturers or reps that I have become friends with, and lastly, just sheer effort, sometimes checking online audio sites twice a day for a year or more before finding something I wanted at an unexpectedly great price. There is literally not a single major component included in that system which I could afford at half of the list price! Again, that explains my undying gratitude for having the opportunity to own such a wondrously capable means of reproducing music. I never overlook that a single time I listen to it. A few years back, my original plan for that system was to buy a used pair of Magnepan 3.7i's (or a pair of 3,6's and have Magnepan upgrade them) and build the system around them. I love the completely unique and striking way that Maggies reproduce music, that absolutely seamless presentation that seems to seems to come from nowhere. Its magical and simply unlike anything else in the speaker world. I've auditioned countless great speakers and owned some very nice ones, but nothing is like the sound of them, if you appreciate what they do. Yes, you almost certainly need matching, high quality and extremely musical subs to provide the bass slam for serious rock, etc. But, even considering that, the proposition is still significantly less expensive than many competing speaker options. I spent many months researching just what amplifier(s) were best capable of the very difficult load that Maggies represent as they do require quite massive power, especially as their impedance ranges dips into the 2 ohm range routinely. That is something that the vast majority of amplifiers simply cannot handle. In the end, I had to sadly move on to other speaker options, as the 3.7i's ended up simply requiring a bit more space than my listening room could provide to be able to perform optimally. I've never quite gotten over that disappointment, even though I own an absolutely spectacular pair of more conventional speakers in their place. I mentioned owning two audio systems. The second, far more modest but still high quality system exists upstairs in my office/den. This is where I work, research and handle all business and financial matters. This system is actually used far more than my prized main system as I typically spend at least thirty to forty hours a week there handling the tasks noted above. Over the last year or two, that system has been improved by upgrading an item here or there. Recently, I realized that while I do listen to it so many hours a week, it is not typically challenged with the vast variety and types of music, or the listening levels that my main system is. Without actually realizing it, I had spent more, and created a system in that room of greater quality than was truly needed, given the way it was used. I decided to downsize to a system that was still capable of very nice sound. Selling off the tube monoblocks, though absolutely lovely sounding amps, and the excellent preamp seemed to be logical, as replacing them with a good quality integrated amplifier simply made more sense. The sale of the amps and preamp would also generate some significant dollars that could be applied elsewhere in my life, or simply added to savings. And so, again, buying used to maximize my purchasing power was the best tactic, as usual. I made up a list of integrateds that I would look for available for sale, at a strict price limit that I set. A couple months went by with nothing appearing that prompted me to hit the "purchase" button on any of the online audio resale sites. And then one suddenly popped up that was not on my list, though only because I did not expect it to be available within my price range. A brick and mortar store in Nova Scotia, no less, had taken it on consignment from a good customer who had purchased it for a bedroom system, no less. This individual realized eventually that it was being used a mere hour or two a week, at best, and made no sense to keep. As you would expect, the unit was in mint condition, not even broken in, and available at a price I couldn't believe. I called the merchant and immediately closed the deal. Following the purchase, I read, or re-read, every review of it that I could find to familiarize myself with the product. In the process of doing so, I noted several reviewers, including one that did a three segment online video review, raving about how well that particular integrated amp paired with Magneplanar speakers. The reviewer who did the extensive three part video review of the integrated paired it with his Maggie 3.7i's, no less. And the included audio of his listening test, even through the distinct limitations of YouTube made it clear that the integrated could power even the difficult and large, 3.7i's superbly. This started me thinking, even though the room my office exists in is a mere 10x10. Magneplanar had, a couple years back, introduced a much smaller speaker, the .7's, which retained a disproportionate amount of their much larger siblings performance in a far easier size to accommodate. They also sold, new, for well under $2k, and used, for truly inspiring bargain prices, though not many appear for sale, as they are clearly keepers.About a year back, I went with an audio friend to a local store as he wanted to audition the bigger Maggies for his new system. At the time, the dealer felt compelled to also let us hear the smaller 1.7's, and then the even more petite, .7.s I was simply stunned at how brilliant the .7's were, as demoed in that smaller listening room at the time. These speakers have been widely reviewed with rave results, and were even named speaker of the year by a prominent site a while back. After a great deal of thought, I formed a strategy of pairing th .7's with my new integrated which was even then on it's way from Nova Scotia. Almost miraculously, I then logged in and looked for any used Maggie .7's for sale. I was surprised, to put it mildly, to find an eighteen month old pair, in mint condition, at a more than fair price, being sold locally by an online seller with a 100% rating on over SIX HUNDRED sales of audio gear. I reached out and closed that deal right away too, and picked up the .7's the next day. I took them home, assembled the bases and got them ready for being put into service. That plan did take a fair bit of additional work, as the space the Maggies needed between them, and the wall behind, demanded that something change. That required change resulted in the elimination of a completely filled, seven foot bookshelf with five levels. This was originally assembled over forty years ago when paltry finances forced me into a unit composed of concrete construction blocks and MDF boards. Two hundred and fifty vinyl albums and a hoard of books all needed to be removed and found homes for, and I recruited some help to haul away all of the construction blocks and the wood shelves. After accomplishing those daunting tasks, all was in readiness. I placed the more diminutive Maggies within recommended parameters that I had been discussing with Magneplanar experts over recent days. I then followed by connecting everything suitably, sat down, turned on the integrated amp, and fired up an SACD in my player. As I write this, I have been sitting here listening to a fair number of favorite recordings enjoying every moment of that alluring and resplendent Magneplanar sonic performance. The proportion of what these speakers can achieve, in a small room, vs the full blown, mega sized models in the line, is just remarkable to behold. In addition, the quality of the performance of the integrated amplifier is also special, its a wonderfully well built component, and a true pleasure to own. Add to that the smile on my face acknowledging the remarkable value I received in in the purchase of these two used components. The total cost, given the great pricing I was able to secure them both for, will be covered by the sale of just the monoblock amplifiers. The money I will receive back from the sale of the preamp, and the previously used speakers is simply gravy. All that, and I finally own Maggies. So much for the perils of downsizing. JC Jeff_N, Hugo9000, 89reksal and 1 other 4 Link to comment
AudioDoctor Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Congrats! TubeLover 1 No electron left behind. Link to comment
firedog Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 What's the amp? Main listening (small home office): Main setup: Surge protector +>Isol-8 Mini sub Axis Power Strip/Isolation>QuietPC Low Noise Server>Roon (Audiolense DRC)>Stack Audio Link II>Kii Control>Kii Three (on their own electric circuit) >GIK Room Treatments. Secondary Path: Server with Audiolense RC>RPi4 or analog>Cayin iDAC6 MKII (tube mode) (XLR)>Kii Three BXT Bedroom: SBTouch to Cambridge Soundworks Desktop Setup. Living Room/Kitchen: Ropieee (RPi3b+ with touchscreen) + Schiit Modi3E to a pair of Morel Hogtalare. All absolute statements about audio are false Link to comment
TubeLover Posted July 25, 2019 Author Share Posted July 25, 2019 14 minutes ago, firedog said: What's the amp? A Modwright KWI200 integrated JC Link to comment
firedog Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Cool. Really good amp. Quite a find. Main listening (small home office): Main setup: Surge protector +>Isol-8 Mini sub Axis Power Strip/Isolation>QuietPC Low Noise Server>Roon (Audiolense DRC)>Stack Audio Link II>Kii Control>Kii Three (on their own electric circuit) >GIK Room Treatments. Secondary Path: Server with Audiolense RC>RPi4 or analog>Cayin iDAC6 MKII (tube mode) (XLR)>Kii Three BXT Bedroom: SBTouch to Cambridge Soundworks Desktop Setup. Living Room/Kitchen: Ropieee (RPi3b+ with touchscreen) + Schiit Modi3E to a pair of Morel Hogtalare. All absolute statements about audio are false Link to comment
TubeLover Posted July 25, 2019 Author Share Posted July 25, 2019 12 minutes ago, firedog said: Cool. Really good amp. Quite a find. Thanks. I know Dan personally and greatly respect his products. This is a superb integrated. I honestly can't believe what I was able to purchase it for. JC Link to comment
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