Question about vintage Magneplaner
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That is a really good point. A power Amp can be driven with a streamer with the bases that not having a preamp makes it less expensive. What are your views on power amps?
I admitted to being technology challenged - -I got an emailed question on this thread, but when I signed-in here, I can't find it. So: hope this makes it to whomever asked...
His comment and question was "That is a really good point. A power Amp can be driven with a streamer with the basis that not having a preamp makes it less expensive. What are your views on power amps?"
Please believe me when I say that I am NOT affiliated with them in any way, because anyone that talks to me would think I'm a rep! I believe that the best bang for the buck is Parasound. I've heard the D'Agostino M400 monoblocks ($160,000 for the pair!) and I was impressed, but not blown away. I'll repeat three things I said in an earlier thread: 1) there is a HUGE difference between a $300 amp and a $3000 amp, but very little difference between a $3000 amp and a $30,000 amp (or $3M amp). 2) Magnepan themselves use Parasound when they tour with a new model (or significant upgrade) - and they would spend more, if they thought it made a difference (they can afford it): they WANT people to be blown away! 3) I ordered the Parasound JC5 ($6500), but there was a long wait to get it, so my dealer loaned me an A21+ ($3000) until it arrived. A few hours of listening, later, I called my dealer and told them to sell me the A21+...
His comment and question was "That is a really good point. A power Amp can be driven with a streamer with the basis that not having a preamp makes it less expensive. What are your views on power amps?"
Please believe me when I say that I am NOT affiliated with them in any way, because anyone that talks to me would think I'm a rep! I believe that the best bang for the buck is Parasound. I've heard the D'Agostino M400 monoblocks ($160,000 for the pair!) and I was impressed, but not blown away. I'll repeat three things I said in an earlier thread: 1) there is a HUGE difference between a $300 amp and a $3000 amp, but very little difference between a $3000 amp and a $30,000 amp (or $3M amp). 2) Magnepan themselves use Parasound when they tour with a new model (or significant upgrade) - and they would spend more, if they thought it made a difference (they can afford it): they WANT people to be blown away! 3) I ordered the Parasound JC5 ($6500), but there was a long wait to get it, so my dealer loaned me an A21+ ($3000) until it arrived. A few hours of listening, later, I called my dealer and told them to sell me the A21+...
Yes, it does, but that is a nice opportunity for an upgrade in the future. Solid sound now, with an option for a level-up.
I've had all three, the Node 2, Node 2i, and the latest Node, all run stand-alone and through my Schiit Bifrost 2.
In short, none of them came close to sounding as good as my little Raspberry Pi4 running RoPieee through Roon/Qobuz/Tidal.
And I certainly wouldn't use the volume control on any of them. That only makes things worse.
Nothing at all against Parasound. I've owned plenty of their gear in the past.
With that said, any time I've seen a Magnepan demo room, they've pretty much always used Bryston amps, not Parasound.
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Ok my man now you’re just being silly. There is a huge sound difference btw your typical amp $3k and $30k amplifier. I think you need go out and listen to other amps and stay away from just what’s at your local boutique. Or shall request you listen without a brand or price bias.
I'm totally enamored with the sound quality that I'm capable of getting out of my $1000 Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 2 to the point that I'm not constantly looking for an upgrade. I'm amazed every day I listen to my system the amount of nuances, inner detail, layering, spaciousness, stage width, depth and height, deep and taught bass, midrange and treble refinement, and effortlessness I get out of this $1000 amp at any volume, whether it be at whisper levels or cranking it just past 100 dB (which I rarely do).
BUT... I also know there's a lot better out there to be had. So when the time comes, I will be upgrading to something like a Bryston or Sanders Magtech.
In all honesty, if I knew I would be getting back into Magnepans so soon, I would have kept the PS Audio M700's that I had. But at the time, I had switched over to a pair of Klipsch Heresy IV's, which in no way needed 350 watts ( @ 8 ohms), especially in a tiny 12 x 15 room.
I’m glad that gives you a satisfying sound. That was not my point. The gentlemen stated that there is very little difference between $3k amp and $30k and that’s simply not true. I’m not going to beat a dead horse and go back and forth. Believe me the last thing I would ever want to do is come across as some high end snob but there is huge difference. We all want to feel like we got the best bargain or deal but to try to say that the SQ of a $7k PrimaLuna monoblock amp is comparable to a ARC REF 250SE or has the realism and musicality of a LAMM REF M1.2 is absurd. And yes I’ve owned all of them in my music journey. Buy what you like and buy what you can afford and make the best of it, but please don’t come into a forum with non factual ignorant comments.
I hope you're not confusing me with cfgardei1. I know exactly what your point was.
I never said or claimed that. I know better. I've heard the differences myself... Many times. I know the kinds of improvements higher end gear brings to the table.
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