Originally Posted by
Filterlab
I tend to play way lower than that, around 60-70dB. That’s loud enough for me.
I did wind the system up to an unfeasibly loud level to test the new amp the other day, and it was feckin’ admirable - not missing a beat, not getting stressed and not losing grip. Not bad for a 30w amp.
I like your MLs by the way. I had a pair donkey’s ago. There’s something about them that other speakers don’t get close to.
I do as well. Like I said, I usually stay around the 80 - 85 dB mark. But it's nice to know that the system can get up and go when it's asked to. And it does so without complaint.
Years ago, I owned a pair of Magnepan MGLR-1's and absolutely loved them. Maggies do a LOT of things right, and after listening to several different pairs at the time, I decided on the MGLR-1's because they were the only ones in my price range at the time (other than the MMG's of course). That was back in 1997 I believe.
Fast forward to just a few years ago when I got these ML SL3's, they quickly brought back the memories of the Maggies. Life-size vocals and instruments, open, nearly colorless sound, does most things right, etc, etc.
Just a few weeks ago, my oldest brother purchased a mint used pair of Maggie 1.6's (not the newer 1.6QR). Said they only have maybe 6 months of use on them at most and sat unused mostly. They look absolutely brand new all around. I spent a few hours with him helping him dial them in. They sound great for the most part, same life-size vocals and instruments, open, airy, great imaging and sound stage and put out an amazing amount of somewhat deep bass on their own. The only thing is, they have somewhat of a hollow or cupped/chestiness sound in the midrange. I'm guessing they're possibly not fully broken in yet. I always used to joke around saying that my MGLR-1's sounded like the cardboard box they came out of when they were new and breaking in. That's pretty much how these 1.6's sound at the moment. Hopefully that will all clear up after a few hundred hours. It stinks though because he's hardly ever home to play his system, and he doesn't leave his system on 24/7 like I do.
All I know is that when I come home to my system, it's like a breathe of fresh air. One thing these SL3's do extremely well are vocals. Very very natural and realistic sounding. Almost like the singers are right in the room.
BTW, I just searched and found your gallery thread on your "Tidy" system. Looking at your clean little setup really makes me happy. I love small clean systems. But the most important part of that thread is that view you have overlooking the field with three horses. Simply beautiful. To have that room, that system, and that view, I really do wish I lived over in the UK.
Preamp | Amplifier: Pass Labs XP-20 | Odyssey Stratos Monoblocks
Analogue Sources: Nakamichi DR-1 | Technics SL-1700MK2
DAC | Digital Sources: Auralic Altair G1 | JVC XL-Z411
Speakers | Subwoofers: Magnepan 1.7i | SVS PB-1000 Pro x 2
Power Conditioning: Blue Circle Audio | Monster HTS 5000
Cables: Wireworld | Pangea Audio | AudioQuest