Magneplanar MG 1.7 With single Quad 303.

[southall-1998]

Will a single Quad 303 be safe driving Magneplanar MG 1.7 at medium volume?

Magneplanar 1.7
Description 3-Way, Full-Range, Quasi-Ribbon
Freq. Resp. 40-24 kHz
Rec Power Read Frequently Asked Questions
Sensitivity 86dB/500Hz /2.83v
Impedance 4 Ohm
Dimensions 19 x 65 x 2

[spendorman]

I believe that one could put a screwdriver across the 303 at full power and still have a working amp. Not that I have tried it.

[hifi_dave]

It will be perfectly " safe ". Whether or not it is a good match is up to you.

[jandl100]

I've not heard Maggie 1.7 - but generally Maggies like quite a bit of drive and control.

---- errr, best of luck with a Quad 303. :scratch:
Sure, I doubt it will go BANG - and sound will come out, but I very much doubt you'll be hearing what the speakers are capable of.

[hoopsontoast]

Not sure about the 303, I used a Quad Elite Stereo with my MMG's and it was fine. Not brilliant but made a nice noise :)
Better overall with the Restek though.
What pre-amp will you be using?

[DSJR]

I really wouldn't do it, but I know you're going to anyway....

IMO, Maggies need a minimum of a 606/707/909 a channel (assuming they're double-mono-able to double the current, rather than bridging to double the voltage).

[Filterlab]

I think the maximum current on offer from the 303 is about 4 to 4.5 amps, not really much for a demanding electrostatic panel like the Magneplanar. Ideally you'd want to be around 40 amps as impedances can drop very low on electrostatics, especially at higher frequencies.

[spendorman]

Just one point, the Quad ESL 57 has very a very low impedance at high frequencies, the Quad 303 is fine in this situation, where many amps are not.

[southall-1998]

Not sure about the 303, I used a Quad Elite Stereo with my MMG's and it was fine. Not brilliant but made a nice noise :)
Better overall with the Restek though.
What pre-amp will you be using?

Right to an Audiolab 8200CDQ.

[hoopsontoast]

I think the maximum current on offer from the 303 is about 4 to 4.5 amps, not really much for a demanding electrostatic panel like the Magneplanar. Ideally you'd want to be around 40 amps as impedances can drop very low on electrostatics, especially at higher frequencies.

Except magneplanar speakers are not electrostatic. Completely different technologies, as long as the amp is comfortable with a resistive 4 ohm load then it should be fine.

[walpurgis]

Except magneplanar speakers are not electrostatic. Completely different technologies, as long as the amp is comfortable with a resistive 4 ohm load then it should be fine.

That's right. Maggies are basically an isodynamic type, I can't see much risk in trying a Quad 303 with them. The 303 drove Quad's ESLs well enough and they were a fairly reactive load with awkward impedance swings.

[jandl100]

OT Warning! :offtopic: Hoops - you've got a Restek! Mmm, I bet that's nice - I've recently acquired a Restek Consens pre - it's luvverly! :thumbsup: