How much room for Magnepan 1.6qr?

Thanks for the responses so far. I want to make sure I understand what you all are saying. When you say, "they'll sound fine," are you saying that it won't sound bad, but won't really come close to what these speakers can do, or are you saying that it's just not quite optimal? If this isn't an appropriate application for these speakers, I'm perfectly fine going in another direction. I have Energy C6 in there right now and I'm wanting more, but I'm not restricted to any brand. I've just heard the Magnepan is a great match for my amp, and I'd like a bigger sound stage (since the speakers are so close together), which Magnepans are famous for as well. So, please clarify. This is the wrong direction and I can do better for the money given the space restrictions, or this is a good idea? Thanks. -Dave

Maggies have an amazing soundstage, as many have said, and have a truly transparent sound. Vocals are like no other speaker I have EVER heard. The 1.6 in that room won't overpower it, but I don't think it will be optimal either. I think the smaller MMG, with a nice, but not huge sub, crossed over at about 70 - 80 htz would be a fantastic setup.

Good luck.

I'm less experienced than many posters (i.e. don't have experience with lots of equipment, just Spendors that I traded for MGIIs which I've had for a very long time) but I think you won't be doing the Maggies justice unless you can modify your stated restrictions. The Maggies really do want to be at least 5' from the front wall, so if 2' is your limit (i.e. current are 1' off the wall and you can come in just a little more) I would vote against them. On the other hand, if you can put them 5' out,and move yourself back towards your back wall, you can make them work the way they are meant to. This assumes you have the speakers in front of the narrow wall; if you are working the other way, with the speakers along the 12' wall and only 10' of depth to work with, I personally don't think the 1.6s will work, you just don't have enough real estate to work with.

In my home office, which is a little bigger, the best sound I have had in there was with the Maggies and a SET/single driver system. I tried many 2 and 3 way dynamic speakers that cost many times what the Maggies cost and it just didn't work.

I think it's partly because the reverberant field plays such a huge part in a room that small. When you have the sound of multiple drivers made from titanium, kevlar, whatever, bouncing all around, it's just something I didn't care for. That's what led me to single drivers fed from a SET. I actually prefer that sound to the Maggies in that room.

Seeing how you already have the Bryston, I would opt for the Maggies. Maggie + Bryston would make a good combo. Single driver + Bryston,,,,,,not so much.

Your goal is the best sound in "that" room. Even if the Maggies aren't optimal in there and may do much better in a larger space, they may get the job done the best.

Super good advice all the way around. Macdad texas might have your answer. That room is a bit small...MMG's with a quality sub, small Velodyne (new series with auto setup calibration and microphone included), that would be sweet.
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