mreise
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Another new member
Drtrey3
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Glad you are here! Please leave us some record recommendations in the music section. The "Listening To" thread is a fun place to drop names and albums.

Trey

kager
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You have a nice system for a 2 year audio neophyte, certainly there's always room for improvement but you should go slow and know which direction you would like to go with your system. Have you purchase better cables? Will this system work well in the new larger room? Is you turntable properly isolated? Are your speakers suited for the type of music you listen to. There are many small improvments you can make for little money before upgrading..

I would say keep buying music and enjoy your system. This is a great hobby but it can get out of hand and empty your wallet very quickly. 

Jerry

mreise
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Thanks for the advice.  I've tried to take it slow with the upgrading from my current system.  The last thing I did was play around with the positioning of the speakers, which made a huge difference with reducing the bass and improving the imaging.  

My recent time has been spent reading up on cables and the difference they can make.  One of my business partners is an AudioQuest dealer so I thought about trying to borrow a set of Type 4's and some G-Snakes to see if I can hear the improvement.  Let me know what your thoughts on cables are.

For the most part I think I am just going to try and enjoy what I have for awhile as you suggested.  I've had a lot of fun lately just collecting music and exploring new artist.  It's easy to get hung up on the tech.

kager
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It took me years to convince myself to get better quality cables and power cords. I do like buying my cables used on the Audiogon web site so I can get more for my cable dollars but I also buy new sometimes. Cables and power cords do help your systems to sound it's best.

The only Audioquest cables I use at the present time are the type 4 speaker cables which are 25ft long. My audio equipment sits on the side wall away from my speakers. Audioquest makes some nice cables, depending on what your using now you should notice some differences in sound quality. If you have a chance to borrow cables that's all the better.. Try one set of cable's at a time, if the cable's are new they will need a break in period to sound there best..

Listen for what sounds good to your ears and if there is an audio shop close to your home go and listen to some good equipment to see how it sounds. Years ago I would go to audio shows and shops so I had a reference as to what I liked. Have a blast, It's a great hobby.

Jerry 

mreise
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Yeah, I'm probably going to demo a few cables and see if I can hear the difference.  One thing I've definitely learned is how subjective hearing is.  Just because everyone else can hear something doesn't mean you can.  I'm actually really curious to see how it turns out.  

I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to listen to a lot of nice systems at my partners store.  My first introduction to vinyl was on a system worth more than my house using Vandersteen Model 7's.  What a treat!!  That being said I think my next set of speakers may be a pair of Magnepans.  I really love the sound signature from these things.  I have to wait until I have a bigger listening room though.  It would be a waste to install a pair of these in my office.  They'd be strangled by the limited space.

Matt

kager
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I have a pair of the Magnepan MMG's, I've had 3 pairs over the years and recently decided to go back to the speakers that I love the most. They do need some power to make them sound there best, but what a sound. I went for there smallest model because my room is not that large, 10X14..

I found them to be the perfect size for now until I get a larger room as well.. While the room is small it is a dedicated music room in my home. (Man Cave) I'm using them with a Musical Fidelity 250 wpc A5 Integrated amp.. If you need to know anything about the MMG's please let me know..

Jerry

mreise
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The MMG's are exactly what I would like to start with.  My biggest constraint is the lack of a dedicated listening room.  The Magnepans I've heard have great stereo imaging, but it seems like they need some space to make the most of their abilities.  In your experience, how powerful an amp would I need to really drive these things and get a full sound?

Matt

kager
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Hi Matt,

I purchased the MMG's direct from Magnepan which is the only way to buy them. I would say a safe bet would be 150 wpc with an amp that will do a 4 ohm load. The other downside besides needing power is space behind the speakers, it should be a minimum of 2 feet. Most speakers need space behind then anyway.

When I did some serious listening years ago I would pull them out to where they sounded best.. While they do have a narrow sweet spot I find they sound good as long as you give them a little room to breath.

I now have them 3 feet from the wall and sit about 8 feet from the speakers with a slight tow in.. I can't believe how good these small Maggie's sound. 

Jerry

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If I understand yu, the USB DAC is a computer sound card. If so, how do you have it rigged to the rest of your system. I have an older Onkyo receiver and the dac in that is not up to the job. I am curious how your setup is wired???

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I use MMG's with an Onkyo receiver in my video setup with good effect. They sound even better when hooked up to a set of emotiva monoblocks and my vinly system.

kager
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I will try to answer your question. I use and old Sony S7000 DVD player as a transport and use the coaxial digital out to the Dac. Then a set of audio cables to the amp (in your case the receiver) If using a computer, USB to the Dac then audio cables to the receiver. There are other ways to did it but I'm not into computer audio.. 

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