entry planar setup


Considering switching the bedroom system to planar, just to do something different.
What's the best way for ~$1000 to try planrs?

I see Maggies MMG's for $550 new, is it possible to get a decent integrated that can drive these for $500 or so, volume level not critical. How sensitive ar these speakers to room placement?

Would also consider an amp, since I may have an extra pre-amp kicking around depening on next system change.

KP
killerpiglet
You'll need a big bedroom. Maggies NEED 2 feet behind them minimum. I personally have NOT had acceptable sound from my Maggies unless I had 4 feet clearance from the wall.. If you have the room, go for it.
Many of the Maggies are bi-ampable. On the cheap, they use an X0-1 'crossover' from Magnepan. The crossover is unconventional, and must have a cap installed to match the output impedance of the treble amplifier. For me, using a modified Fisher tube amp with 32 W RMS on top is very nice. Not as good as a $1200 crossover, but the X0-1's can be had for $50. I personally do not have the real estate in my bedroom, so good luck.
Maggies like to be at least 4ft from the rear wall. A wall with some diffusion makes things better. It depends on how important the sound of your bedroom system is to you along with how much room you have to work with. Try to determine just how large a planar you can fit in your room. The MMG is the smallest. When I wanted to try planars, I bought a pair of 20 year old 2b's. I had no problem selling them when I bought 3.6's. Maggies are not that effcient, around 85db and are a constant impedance (around 4 ohms). For the best bass, they need lots of power (current?). But I have gotten very good results with a 35w tube amp. It will depend on what you like to listen to and how loud. Check out the planar forum over at Audio Asylum. There is a lot of good info there. BTW, the 2b's were the best pair of speakers that I have ever listened to for $500! Have fun....Bob D
i had a pair of MMG's in my bedroom a few years ago. They sounded great driven with a McIntosh 6100 integrated. I miss them. They were 18 inches from the wall and played great as I said.
If volume is not critical most integrated amps will do. Musical Fidelity. The E400 can be had for 400 bucks right now, There is also a mistral that might work. Anthem and Rotel are ones to check out if you want to stay under 500.
OK, so no maggies. Setup is not practical.
How about ribbon speakers?
Looking for something "different" to play with.

KP