Power and Sub recommendations for Magnepan MMG's

nikolas812

So here is the deal. I came across an almost new pair of MMG's for sale locally for cheap. They are going to be used to replace the factory TV speakers in my living room. I have drawn way back from the rabbit hole these days and lean more toward saving money. And tend to be happy with what ever. That being said. I need a cheap sub that will blend well and something cheap to power them. I need to be able to run my Xbox and Blu Ray player through what ever is powering them. Ideally with HDMI cables. I'm just looking for a cheap but decent sounding 2.1 setup for movies, TV and gaming in the Living room. Any ideas? With a $300 cap? The maggies are $200. So That would put me at $500 total for the system. If I can't do it for that or less. I'll just pass on the maggies for now and be happy with the TV speakers. Any help is appreciated.


Nik

tonyb

Well, the Maggies need some power behind them. If you want to connect all that you said, you need a receiver, then an amp....or a receiver with Ice amps may be ok like Pioneer SC models. Doing either for 300 bucks however, I don't see it.

nikolas812

I'm leaning towards a used Harman Kardon AVR 1565...

http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-AVR-1565-5-1-channel/dp/B00548SKH8


Still need a sub. Maybe something from BIC?/

nikolas812

I know they need power. But this is just an upgrade from the TV speakers. At least for now any way. Not looking to blow the windows out. Would be used 90% of the time at a TV level of volume and a little louder for Music, gaming and movies. Nothing more.

dkg999

I would buy the best AVR you can get with the budget you have and not worry about the sub. The MMG's will have more bass than your TV speakers. Then save for a fast sealed sub, something like a used Polk MicroPro 2000 would work great. We can all debate how good of amp the MMG's need, but really even with an underpowered AVR they are going to sound many times better than your TV speakers.

nikolas812

I was kind of thinking this as well... Okay. How about $400 towards a receiver? What would be something to look for? A used Pioneer SC-25 or something???


Nik

nwohlford

nikolas812 wrote: »

I was kind of thinking this as well... Okay. How about $400 towards a receiver? What would be something to look for? A used Pioneer SC-25 or something???


Nik

Most upper level AVRs can handle two four ohm load without an issue. Can your tv handle the hdmi switching? Does it have a digital output? If so, you have a lot of options on very good pre hdmi AVRs for $200 or less.

nikolas812

Not sure? I'm buying a new TV next week. I would assume it would have. Its a mid level Panosonic Plasma.

nikolas812

Maybe I should just get a stupid Soundbar and wireless sub from Polk and call it a day. : / I just don't think I'm interested in this anymore. Trying to put something cheap together in this hobby is for the birds. I'm just not interested in doing the research and time it takes to score decent gear for cheap anymore. I might just get a sound bar and sub and see if that will do for now. Until I'm ready to drop some decent money into something...

EndersShadow

If you pass on the Maggie's, can you PM me where you found em? I might be VERY interested in them

EndersShadow

Nik:

Frys has a decent deal price on a 5 channel Polk TL setup. Easy to drive, small so easy to put places, and sound better than your TV speakers.

Polk Audio TL150 5 Speaker System - Black - 299

Fry's also has some decent prices on the Infinity Primus bookshelf speakers (link here). I used some as surrounds (P162's) and they wiped the floor with my Monitor 40's. They also have an ad for a 150 dollar Boston Acoustic soundbar. Both might meet your needs.

**edit** They also have a KILLER DEAL on RTi6's for 99 bucks for the pair. Those are pretty good speakers as well. Still gives you a decent budget for a sub.

nikolas812

EndersShadow wrote: »

If you pass on the Maggie's, can you PM me where you found em? I might be VERY interested in them

Yeah. I'll let you know.

nikolas812

And thanks for everyone's input... Looking things over now.



Nik

Face

I'd pass on the Maggies if you can't power them with something good and afford a decent sealed sub with them.

nikolas812

Face wrote: »

I'd pass on the Maggies if you can't power them with something good and afford a decent sealed sub with them.

I think I am going to buy them and just hold onto them until I figure out what I want to do with them. They're too cheap to pass up.


Nik

tonyb

Just make sure they work if they are that cheap.

daboyz

$200? buy them just on principle alone. Figure the rest out later.

Dawgfish

I own a pair of MMGs and really enjoy them. As the others have alluded to, they like power. I would hang on to them for a killer two channel set-up you could assemble piece by piece through time as budget allows. The older NAD Power Envelope 2600/2700 amps match extremely well with the Maggies. You can often find them on eBay and the Gon in the $200-300 range. The NAD 2400 mates pretty well with them also, but it just doesn't have as much reserve power as the 2600/2700s do. All three of the NADs go for around the same price used, so I would hold out for either a 2600 or 2700 (basically the 2600 and 2700 are the same amp with same specs., the 2700 just has THX certification). Pair this with a decent but inexpensive tube pre and you will have a killer two channel setup.

In a two channel setup you may also find you don't really need a sub with the MMGs. Before I received my MMGs, I read review after review stating the MMGs don't have much bass. When I got mine and hooked them up I was surprised with the amount of bass they do have. They don't go super low, but the bass that is there is very articulate and well defined. They do stand up acoustic bass (and bass guitars in general) as well as any speaker I have heard. It really depends on the amp powering them and music/listening preferences though.

nikolas812

daboyz wrote: »

$200? buy them just on principle alone. Figure the rest out later.

Yep.

Dawgfish wrote: »

I own a pair of MMGs and really enjoy them. As the others have alluded to, they like power. I would hang on to them for a killer two channel set-up you could assemble piece by piece through time as budget allows. The older NAD Power Envelope 2600/2700 amps match extremely well with the Maggies. You can often find them on eBay and the Gon in the $200-300 range. The NAD 2400 mates pretty well with them also, but it just doesn't have as much reserve power as the 2600/2700s do. All three of the NADs go for around the same price used, so I would hold out for either a 2600 or 2700 (basically the 2600 and 2700 are the same amp with same specs., the 2700 just has THX certification). Pair this with a decent but inexpensive tube pre and you will have a killer two channel setup.

In a two channel setup you may also find you don't really need a sub with the MMGs. Before I received my MMGs, I read review after review stating the MMGs don't have much bass. When I got mine and hooked them up I was surprised with the amount of bass they do have. They don't go super low, but the bass that is there is very articulate and well defined. They do stand up acoustic bass (and bass guitars in general) as well as any speaker I have heard. It really depends on the amp powering them and music/listening preferences though.

This is the plan. Just going to hold onto them and buy a piece here and there.


Nik

EndersShadow

Nik, I think you made the right call. Those Maggies are a steal of a price.

And I agree with Dawgfish on the amp. I have a buddy here local with a NAD (cant remember what model) and we used his NAD to drive NooshinJohns MMG's when we got together a couple years ago. It drove the Maggies perfectly with no issues at all.