Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Cables, Power, Tweaks, Speakers, Accessories (DBT-Free Forum) › Good Hard Rock/Metal/Electric Blues Speakers?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Good Hard Rock/Metal/Electric Blues Speakers?

post #1 of 10
5/10/10 at 8:53am
Thread Starter 

I am looking to upgrade my speakers and possibly amp to better suit more hard rock and heavy metal. My current setup is: Music Hall 5.1 TT -> Qutlaw rr2150 Amp -> Magnepan MMG's. Although this sounds great when i play my jazz and early blues records, it just doesn't cut it when i play hard rock/metal/electric blues. Therefore im looking for new speakers and possibly another amplifier. I have approx a $2k budget but can squeeze out some more $ if necessary.  Any recommendations would be helpful since I do not have any good audio stores nearby. Thanks.

Reply
post #2 of 10
5/11/10 at 3:00pm

Just keep what you have and add a good quality sub such as a Martin Logan Dynamo, REL, etc.

Reply
post #3 of 10
5/11/10 at 3:20pm

x2

 

MMG's are terrific speakers. A good sub will really give you a solid system. Don't skimp on it though, look for subs that are known to be musical. Not necessary for them to be big and huge to give good bass. HSU's entry level sub should be the starting point for you.

Reply
post #4 of 10
5/11/10 at 4:36pm

I've heard others say good things about HSU subs.  When I was looking for a good sub, I found a lot of comments talking about the Martin Logan Dynamo. The original one with the aluminum cone. I got it and it's been amazing.  It blows my old Velodyne away.  It's smaller yet has more bass but without any hint of muddiness.  They are getting harder to find since they have been replaced with a new sub in the Martin Logan lineup which is not as good.  I highly recommend picking up one of these ASAP before they're all gone at this low price- http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=1MLDYNAMO

Reply
post #5 of 10
5/11/10 at 5:51pm
Thread Starter 

cool thanks for the advice...i was intending on purchasing a Rhythmik F12G sub for my system anyway so i guess ill just keep the MMG's. Is the rhythmik comparable to the MartinLogan - Dynamo - 10". Would one be a better match for MMG's than the other or is it pretty much the same?

 

Now that I won't be forking out any cash for new speakers, i have quite a bit of disposable income to put into my setup. Does anyone have any other suggestions on how to improve my sound? I was considering getting a good power conditioner and a nicer record cleaner. Should I look into getting a non integrated amp, or perhaps a power amp/monoblocks for the MMG's. Any input would really help since I am quite ignorant on the finer points of hi-fi systems.


Edited by thrasher521 - 5/11/10 at 10:53pm
Reply
post #6 of 10
5/11/10 at 8:00pm

The only subs I have experience with is the Dynamo and various Velodyne subs.  Other than these, I've not had the chance to hear any other subs in a Maggie system so I don't feel qualified to comment on the Rythmik.  However, I did see it mentioned recently in a sub thread on the planar asylum- http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/MUG/messages/15/154183.html

 

Another suggestion for you is to upgrade the crossover and bypass the fuse on the MMG. - http://www.integracoustics.com/MUG/MUG/tweaks/tazmon/mmg.html

I did this recently on my Maggies and the improvement is dramatic!  It's some of the best $45 I've spent on audio!  The sound opens up and is much clearer with more depth and separation.  Highly recommended. 

 

Also, since you would have money left over in your budget, you may want to look into "Gunn'ing" your speakers- http://www.integracoustics.com/MUG/MUG/tweaks/peter_gunn/mmg.htm

A friend of mine who owns Maggies built similar stands is happy with the improvement.  I haven't done this yet to mine.  But I've heard nothing but good things about this mod. 

Reply
post #7 of 10
5/11/10 at 8:45pm

I'd say a servo based Velodyne.  The Maggies are extremely low distorting, so I'd imagine you would want a sub that is also relatively low in distortion in its field.  At max SPL a 12" Velodyne with servo only had 5% distortion when it was compared against a Rythmik at AVS.

 

The thread is at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=827369

 

The Rythmik is decent if you want to save some cash, but if you can afford the Velodyne I'd go for it.

Reply
post #8 of 10
5/12/10 at 10:36am

Do you only listen to LP's? When you say hard rock and metal, do you use vinyl for that as well or do you have a CDP or DAC for that. If so which one?

 

If you are in general impressed by the MMG's and like their sound sig and it works out in your listening area, I'd save up and go to a higher model in the Magnepan line. The sub investment will stll be useful even at that point.

Reply
post #9 of 10
5/12/10 at 1:58pm
Thread Starter 

I would say i listen to my lp's 90% of the time. I listen to a lot of thrash metal and hard rock. I am definitely going to check out the Velodynes since i have a little bit of extra cash. I think I am too noobish though to be able to make any tweeks or DIY mods unless it was very simple and easy to do. I do in fact like the sound of the MMGs a lot and will probably upgrade them to bigger magnepans as soon as i get the case. Will I need a more powerful amp than my outlaw if I eventually decide to go bigger?

Reply
post #10 of 10
5/12/10 at 3:08pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrasher521 View Post

I would say i listen to my lp's 90% of the time. I listen to a lot of thrash metal and hard rock. I am definitely going to check out the Velodynes since i have a little bit of extra cash. I think I am too noobish though to be able to make any tweeks or DIY mods unless it was very simple and easy to do. I do in fact like the sound of the MMGs a lot and will probably upgrade them to bigger magnepans as soon as i get the case. Will I need a more powerful amp than my outlaw if I eventually decide to go bigger?

 

Your Outlaw should have more than enough grunt for most rooms.  That's really the question . . . it can do 160W per channel into 4ohm loads (Maggies).
 

To figure out if this is sufficient look at the efficiency of the Maggies.  For every meter of distance subtract 3dB.  This is roughly the SPL you'll get from your first watt.  Every time you double the watts you can add 3dB.  So for example:

 

90dB/W efficiency

 

Three meters away would be 3 x -3dB = -9dB

 

81dB @ 1W

84dB @ 2W

87dB @ 4W

90dB @ 8W

93dB @ 16W

96dB @ 32W

 

And so on till you reach the max watts without going over (otherwise you're clipping).

 

For reference most larger Maggies start with an efficiency of 85-86dB . . .

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Cables, Power, Tweaks, Speakers, Accessories (DBT-Free Forum) › Good Hard Rock/Metal/Electric Blues Speakers?