Hello everyone,

[tohifi]

I am new to the site as my nephew introduced me to this site. My interests is 2 channel set up. My set up as follow:

Classe CA400 amp
Classe CP .5 cd player
Sonic Frontiers line 1 SE pre-amp
PS Audio GCPH phono stage pre-amp
Kimber Select KS 1131 balance inter-connect, bi-focal speakers cables
Duntech OPAL reference speakers
Magneplanar 2.6R speakers.
DUAL CS5000 and Pro-Ject 2Xperience/DENON DL160 cart.

So far this system serve me well, like to try new cartridge in the future, as also some tube amp that could drive the Maggies.

[John72953]

Welcome tohifi! Love your gear and the way you've set it up. I personally couldn't deal with the TT's being that low to the ground as I surely would lock my back! OUCH!

[tohifi]

Hello John and thank you for your commend,

I used to put my rig on a nice rack before, right behind the curtain, but too painful to move around the amp (150lbs) also hard to switch the cables between 2 pair speakers and switching the 2 turntables, so everything on the floor (on the granite slab). I will have my back lock soon as you mentioned :-).

Cheers.

Welcome tohifi! Love your gear and the way you've set it up. I personally couldn't deal with the TT's being that low to the ground as I surely would lock my back! OUCH!

[Suave]

Welcome to the CANADA HiFi forum tohifi! Very nice of your nephew (who is Jeremy Phan, a regular contributor of CANADA HiFi!) to recommend joining our little online community

Thank you for your introduction above and for posting a couple of pictures - it's always much more exciting to see all the gear. At 150 lbs I don't blame you for not wanting to put the amp up on a rack - I've injured my back a couple of times in the past so I can appreciate this. I use a rack in my system and I've also got a couple of slabs of marble (under my speakers). I enjoy the way that looks in your setup.

It's great to see another Classe Audio owner on this forum. I use the CP-500 preamplifier, CA-2100 amplifier and CDP-102 CD player in my solid state system.

And whoa those are some mighty big speakers! What made you choose the Magneplanar speakers?

[tohifi]

Hello Suave,

Thanks for your reply and a great online community you have created.

I have been a fan for the planar speakers since the day I had a chance to audition a pair of Apogee Diva back in Toronto in 1992 at Bay and Bloor Radio with Classe gear back then. The high cost of Apogee and high maintenance kept me away from Apogee but still in love with them. Unfortunately, they are now very hard to find a good pair available in the audio market. I have ended with a pair of Magneplanar SMGc in 1995 to fit my college year budget and my small apartment. I had them for 10 years then sold and bought these used pair 2.6r. I like the quickness, tight bass from the Maggies, sound stage is so far non of the same price speakers could match. They are big but very easy to move around as they are thin. The look of Maggies are more slender than Martin Logan, as ML are look nice and "sexy" for the home decoration, but never like the big box base for bass drivers and the power cord attach. The coherence between the bass driver and planar in ML seem not as smooth as the Maggies or Apogee. The Maggies are very easy to repair on their drivers (ribbons). I have done it myself and don't have to worry to ship the speakers back to the manufacture if they are blown.

Cheers.

Welcome to the CANADA HiFi forum tohifi! Very nice of your nephew (who is Jeremy Phan, a regular contributor of CANADA HiFi!) to recommend joining our little online community

Thank you for your introduction above and for posting a couple of pictures - it's always much more exciting to see all the gear. At 150 lbs I don't blame you for not wanting to put the amp up on a rack - I've injured my back a couple of times in the past so I can appreciate this. I use a rack in my system and I've also got a couple of slabs of marble (under my speakers). I enjoy the way that looks in your setup.

It's great to see another Classe Audio owner on this forum. I use the CP-500 preamplifier, CA-2100 amplifier and CDP-102 CD player in my solid state system.

And whoa those are some mighty big speakers! What made you choose the Magneplanar speakers?

[Suave]

Thank you for taking the time to explain the reasons why you chose to go with the Magneplanar speakers - makes perfect sense. I've always enjoyed the sound (and benefits) of electrostatic speakers, although I can't say that I've ever enjoyed the way they look compared to typical speakers, and hence have nevered owned a pair myself.

You mention above that you'd like to add a tube amp to drive the Maggies in the future. Have you started looking around at some options - do you have any brand/model in mind? I'm running a Fatman iTube 452 integrated tube amplifier in one of my systems and I absolutely love its sound! http://www.fat-man.co.uk/docs/produc...alveDock.shtml

[tohifi]

Thanks Suave,

I will look into it. I am consider to build a new system with tube and high efficient speakers. The Maggies are quite power hungry and need a lot currents reserve to play. I have never driven them with tube amp as there is no dealer up in Ottawa would lend an amp to test run on the Maggies and there is no dealer up here carry Maggies speakers either. The Maggies need amp to go down to 2 ohm set and so far only the double amount power on the Classe CA400 (400w/channel at 8ohm) could make them sing and bring out the authority punch that I want them to perform - like full range. I have tried to run them with a 200w/channel Classe amp before but was not success. The margin between a reasonable price speakers like Maggies vs the amount of power somehow miss match. I have learned that through my years with Maggies. They are affordable speakers but need put more money for the top amp to drive them, if not we miss all the best these speakers can do. Should we drive a pair of Maggies worth $1500 with a tube amp worth $3000 or more, I am still debate and torn apart. :-).

Cheers.

Thank you for taking the time to explain the reasons why you chose to go with the Magneplanar speakers - makes perfect sense. I've always enjoyed the sound (and benefits) of electrostatic speakers, although I can't say that I've ever enjoyed the way they look compared to typical speakers, and hence have nevered owned a pair myself.

You mention above that you'd like to add a tube amp to drive the Maggies in the future. Have you started looking around at some options - do you have any brand/model in mind? I'm running a Fatman iTube 452 integrated tube amplifier in one of my systems and I absolutely love its sound! http://www.fat-man.co.uk/docs/produc...alveDock.shtml

[Suave]

I was not aware of just how demanding the Maggies are on an amp - so thanks for clarifying this tohifi. Now I'm not so sure if the Fatman amp I suggested above would live up to the task. For that matter there are probably very few tube amps that would produce enough power to drive the Maggies. Well - keep us posted as to what amps you come up with in your search!