Giant killer: The magnus ma-300

[Rocco I.]

Rocco, I am sorry , even though I love your Burmester passion, I have found it is based on fool's gold, based on the price of admission, IMHO.

Jim, thanks for your words, but no need to say sorry to me, because I'm not your father or a Burmester distributor or concern ... Maybe you've found for your taste a better audio solution and I'm happy for you. Enjoy your system at fullest untill your next change-over; surely your next gear will be better than present one . All of us have a different and respectable sensitivity of listening and related experience with music. My passion for the music is pure hoping like yours and until nowdays at my ears Burmester is still at these ears the most natural and complete sound with no coloration. Of course my opinion is based on a lot experience due to long audition/comparison side by side with a lot of gears of many brands (Soulution, Spectral, Fm Acoustic, Vitus Audio, Goldmund, Pass Labs, Dan D'Agostino,Constellation, Gryphon, Vtl, Ar. Nagra, Gamut, Plinius, Lamm, Kondo Japan, Accuphase, Audio Tekne, Shindo, Mactone, Mark Levinson, Dartzeel, Symphonic Line, Krell, Mbl, Yba etc.) and I still consider at my ears the best one.
For me, after owned a lot of gears of any brands, I can simply affirm that the system approach is necessary to consider if you would like to achieve the best sound result. Burmester docet!! To each his own.

 

[MarinJim]

Thank-you Rocco for your reply. I have over 30 years in this hobby, and I won't list what I have heard, as to not bore everyone. But, I have found a great synergy with my current system the Burmester did not provide for me. Plus, a Burmester 911 MK3 goes for $18K USD in Europe, but $30K in the USA. That is just plain stupid greedy.

 

[Rocco I.]

Thank-you Rocco for your reply. I have over 30 years in this hobby, and I won't list what I have heard, as to not bore everyone. But, I have found a great synergy with my current system the Burmester did not provide for me. Plus, a Burmester 911 MK3 goes for $18K USD in Europe, but $30K in the USA. That is just plain stupid greedy.

Jim, as I wrote before I'm really happy that you found a great sinergy in your system. Enjoy it at fullest. About the price of audio gears, I'm not in the position to justify what It's true or not. What I can say to you that in Italy the price list of all USA and Japan audio gears cost sometimes more than double from the origin manufacture place and these at my ears didn't sound well. In hi-end circle the audio gears cost really a lot and most important think It's that shall satisfy the musical taste of music lovers.

 

[MarinJim]

Comparing the Magnus MA-300 to the MA-200 is very interesting. The smaller MA-200( 60 lbs and 200 wpc) and the MA-300 (160 lbs and 600 wpc) are very different. The MA-200 is very good in it's own right, but more reomantic and tubey. Since I have a tube pre and tubed ModWright Oppo 105, the MA-300 fits my system better. It has outstanding dynamics and headroom. I seen hear futher into the soundstage. And on blu-ray movies when I first heard thunder, I thought it was from outside of my room.

 

[nirodha]

Comparing the Magnus MA-300 to the MA-200 is very interesting. The smaller MA-200( 60 lbs and 200 wpc) and the MA-300 (160 lbs and 600 wpc) are very different. The MA-200 is very good in it's own right, but more reomantic and tubey. Since I have a tube pre and tubed ModWright Oppo 105, the MA-300 fits my system better. It has outstanding dynamics and headroom. I seen hear futher into the soundstage. And on blu-ray movies when I first heard thunder, I thought it was from outside of my room.

i know some people will disagree but...the more power, the better

 

[MarinJim]

i know some people will disagree but...the more power, the better

How can someone disagree with my system without hearing it?

 

[porselen]

ma-300; going to receive it today

 

[nirodha]

How can someone disagree with my system without hearing it?

Isn't that what we do all the time haha

 

[MarinJim]

ma-300; going to receive it today

Keep us posted!

 

[porselen]

Keep us posted!

Got the amp yesterday and got it plugged in; had to rearrange everything (amp is huge!) and nothing is placed optimally BUT i immediately noticed the amps headroom, it played so controlled, all details where and no hardness or anything else, just so natural and open. I really can understand what is said before in this tread, that is has "killed" other products; i have never heard anything like it just out of the box! This looks soo promising, cant wait to have it run in for some ours!!!

Paul

 

[MarinJim]

Got the amp yesterday and got it plugged in; had to rearrange everything (amp is huge!) and nothing is placed optimally BUT i immediately noticed the amps headroom, it played so controlled, all details where and no hardness or anything else, just so natural and open. I really can understand what is said before in this tread, that is has "killed" other products; i have never heard anything like it just out of the box! This looks soo promising, cant wait to have it run in for some ours!!!

Paul

Thanks for your post. And it will only get better. What source and speakers are you using? Also, if you can, see if you can demo some Purist Audio Design cables (I can only speak for the Proteus Provectus interconnects). In my system, it took it to a another, higher level. And I had Nordost Odin on loan. I bought my MA-300 from Joe at JM Sound in Redondo Beach, Ca. An outstanding guy and a credit to the audio business.

 

[porselen]

Thanks for your post. And it will only get better. What source and speakers are you using? Also, if you can, see if you can demo some Purist Audio Design cables (I can only speak for the Proteus Provectus interconnects). In my system, it took it to a another, higher level. And I had Nordost Odin on loan. I bought my MA-300 from Joe at JM Sound in Redondo Beach, Ca. An outstanding guy and a credit to the audio business.

Speakers are Eggleston Andra 3; i am very fond of them. Source is the excellent tube dac top model from Audiohorizons; also very highly regarded. As for cables i am using a mix; MIT oracle MA-X between amps; same between pre and riaa, a special cable from Audiohorizons between dac and pre, MIT Oracle digital cable from transport to DAC, Silent Source the music reference speakercables. I have tried many cables and am very pleased with the ones i now have. I will let the amp play it self in before doing anything else. Aquestion, do you know the imput impedance of the amps; low, mid or high? (i have an adjustment on the MIT cables for this, they are currently on low impedance setting) Paul

 

[MarinJim]

Speakers are Eggleston Andra 3; i am very fond of them. Source is the excellent tube dac top model from Audiohorizons; also very highly regarded. As for cables i am using a mix; MIT oracle MA-X between amps; same between pre and riaa, a special cable from Audiohorizons between dac and pre, MIT Oracle digital cable from transport to DAC, Silent Source the music reference speakercables. I have tried many cables and am very pleased with the ones i now have. I will let the amp play it self in before doing anything else. Aquestion, do you know the imput impedance of the amps; low, mid or high? (i have an adjustment on the MIT cables for this, they are currently on low impedance setting) Paul

Excellent speakers.

Specifications

Rated Output Power: 300 Watts at 8 Ohms
600 Watts at 4 Ohms
Frequency Response: +/- 0.1 dB from 10 Hz to 20 kHz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -110 dB, reference level: full power output
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): <0.02% at 1 kHz, at 300 W, 8 Ohms
<0.05% at 20 kHz, at 300 W, 8 Ohms
Gain: 22 dB
Input Impedance: 50k Ohms (single-ended)
100k Ohms (balanced)
Damping Factor: 250, reference 8 Ohms nominal
Power Consumption: 550 Watts idle, 1,800 watts maximum
Inputs: 2 balanced via XLR connector (1 per channel)
2 single-ended via RCA connector (1 per channel)
Outputs: 4 pairs WBT binding posts (2 pairs per channel)
Operating Voltage: 100V, 120V, 220V, 230V or 240V at 50 or 60 Hz
Dimensions: 19 in. W x 9.5 in. H x 27 in. D
Weight: 160 lbs

I am also using a tubed source, the ModWright Oppo 105 with the full monty mods and PSVANE tubes.

 

[porselen]

Theres some magic with tubes in the chain; also using pre from Audiohorizons; joseph is making excellent products and services.

 

[MarinJim]

Theres some magic with tubes in the chain; also using pre from Audiohorizons; joseph is making excellent products and services.

Very true. Once I got back to tubes (used to have Graaf GM100 with Klimo Merlin). Now I love a tubed pre with ss amp. Tube rolling can add up $$$, but it sure is fun!

 

[LL21]

Very true. Once I got back to tubes (used to have Graaf GM100 with Klimo Merlin). Now I love a tubed pre with ss amp. Tube rolling can add up $$$, but it sure is fun!

I am with you. For me, I like my CJ/Gryphon combination. In fact, I've upgraded both to another CJ/Gryphon combo yrs ago when I came across 2nd hand pieces. Many ways to audio nirvana but this works for me.

 

[LL21]

Got the amp yesterday and got it plugged in; had to rearrange everything (amp is huge!) and nothing is placed optimally BUT i immediately noticed the amps headroom, it played so controlled, all details where and no hardness or anything else, just so natural and open. I really can understand what is said before in this tread, that is has "killed" other products; i have never heard anything like it just out of the box! This looks soo promising, cant wait to have it run in for some ours!!! Paul

How is the system sounding now? Any update? Enjoy!

 

[porselen]

How is the system sounding now? Any update? Enjoy!

I had a listening wednesday. The amp now has been powered up for 100 hours, although not played more than 3-4.
There is now more weigth in the bassregion, yet plays very controlled. It follows my expectations! I will try to set up the components more correct during the weekend and replug, and i will make more carefully listening next week!
Paul

 

[MarinJim]

I had a listening wednesday. The amp now has been powered up for 100 hours, although not played more than 3-4.
There is now more weigth in the bassregion, yet plays very controlled. It follows my expectations! I will try to set up the components more correct during the weekend and replug, and i will make more carefully listening next week!
Paul

Good to hear. I have found cables make real difference also. What does your system consist of?

 

[MarinJim]

I am with you. For me, I like my CJ/Gryphon combination. In fact, I've upgraded both to another CJ/Gryphon combo yrs ago when I came across 2nd hand pieces. Many ways to audio nirvana but this works for me.

Awesome system Lloyd!