MAG Theatron TDC-3200W Amplifier Review

[JeffGB]

I guess I'll be keeping my modest Crown XLS 1500. It vastly outperforms the MAG at a fraction of the price. It has also proven to be reliable (10 years of 24/7 use). I don't see any upside to this MAG unit.

 

[solderdude]

That's probably why distortion is raising to a constant level...

The distortion was measured at 5W at which level the limiter would not be working.
It is typical 'cheap' class-D distortion (see also IM distortion).

The Behringer NX6000D has twice the power, same features and costs only $ 319.-

 

[Chr1]

A few years back I bought four mint Crown Macro-Tech 1200s in flight cases for £200, due to their weight, and aparently due to the supposed benefits of the "new" Class Ds.

Class Ds are definitely lighter, but I am yet to be convinced that, unless running at close to max power, they are actually much more efficient than A/B, G, H. Often seems to be more power supply dependant than anything else.
Wonder if this is why this amp comes no where near it's claimed output. Is it's power supply up to the task?

I would be interested to know where it fails, design wise.

PS Full disclosure, I am am just a dumb hobbyist, who's slowly picked up knowledge re this stuff via the smarter peeps here on ASR.
So, apologies if I'm way off the mark.

Lol.

 

[kemmler3D]

With commercial gear you usually expect to see one or two specs to be rock solid at the expense of a few others... In this instance the only big numbers we're seeing are on the price tag. Woof.

 

[Cbdb2]

There marketing a 2 channel amp for home theatre??? Some one there is confused.

 

[Bob101]

I agree. As a manufacturer, exaggerating (lying?) so much is really bad style

I'm not going to read any further comments on this review... One can only hope this site will one be the final nail in the coffin of all manufacturers "inflating" specs.
Where else than out of thin air did these "manufacturers" get these numbers?
Whatever you think of validity of the scientifically consistent measured performance done by Amir for comparisons, you now can still decide for yourself if this product is worth the cost. Hint: it isn't.

 

[Antagron]

We're not going to lie, but I haven't seen one of their brand's products measure well....
Aïe aïe.... I quote from their site :

"TDC-3200W is a 2-channel high-end home cinema amplifier with intuitive controls and simple installation. It offers two channels of 1600 W into 4 Ohm and is equipped with balanced and unbalanced inputs and balanced outputs for quick linking. The amplifier is easily accessed with userfriendly Web UI, giving total control over room EQ, channel delay, channel volume, status monitoring as well as other functions."

Is this one of those marketing things where they say 3200W because 2x 1600W? (Not that it did 1600 either…)

 

[amirm]

Wonder if this is why this amp comes no where near it's claimed output. Is it's power supply up to the task?

As I noted in the review, just like car stereos, somehow the norm in commercial amplifier market has become hugely exaggerated power claims.

In this case, it just says 1,600 watts per channel. Importantly, it doesn't say with both channels driven! If that were the case, we are looking at 3,200 watts. The AC outlet in US, with a standard 15 amp outlet is rated at max of 1,800 watts but should stay at 80% or 1,440 watts. So even a single channel cannot be pushed to produce its rated power let alone two! This is especially so if you consider efficiency losses.

Further, there is no distortion or time specs. I measure max power at 1% THD+N. They could have measured it at any level and for any (brief) period to get bigger number.

It is also odd that it is such a round number (again, very typical in pro market). I am sure marketing wanted that number so that is what they put on the spec sheet. It could just be the theoretical max power of the output stage, power supply, etc.

To be sure, this level of shortfall is excessive even in that market. Maybe it can do better if it is fed from 220-240 volt supply in Europe. In which case, they should have had a secondary spec for 120 volt countries.

 

[Chr1]

Thanks for the review and further confirmation Amir.
I guess that this confirms what most here already know :

Don't believe the hype folks...

Wait for the facts.
Until independently tested and verified here on ASR. Or elsewhere.

Snakeoil ain't confined to the home stereo world. Lol.

 

[four_strings_good]

As I noted in the review, just like car stereos, somehow the norm in commercial amplifier market has become hugely exaggerated power claims.

In this case, it just says 1,600 watts per channel. Importantly, it doesn't say with both channels driven! If that were the case, we are looking at 3,200 watts. The AC outlet in US, with a standard 15 amp outlet is rated at max of 1,800 watts but should stay at 80% or 1,440 watts. So even a single channel cannot be pushed to produce its rated power let alone two! This is especially so if you consider efficiency losses.

Further, there is no distortion or time specs. I measure max power at 1% THD+N. They could have measured it at any level and for any (brief) period to get bigger number.

It is also odd that it is such a round number (again, very typical in pro market). I am sure marketing wanted that number so that is what they put on the spec sheet. It could just be the theoretical max power of the output stage, power supply, etc.

To be sure, this level of shortfall is excessive even in that market. Maybe it can do better if it is fed from 220-240 volt supply in Europe. In which case, they should have had a secondary spec for 120 volt countries.

My thoughts exactly. It's a fundamental law of physics that energy cannot be created. If the amplifier can draw no more than 1800 volt-amps from the wall outlet (in 120V countries), how could it ever be able to deliver even 1800 watts (which would mean 100% efficiency) let alone 3200 watts? Car stereo spec indeed - shades of PMPO.

 

[RogerSmith]

Knowing how bad it measures (in noise, distortion and total underperforming the power specs), who should buy this garbage?

 

[shuppatsu]

My thoughts exactly. It's a fundamental law of physics that energy cannot be created. If the amplifier can draw no more than 1800 volt-amps from the wall outlet (in 120V countries), how could it ever be able to deliver even 1800 watts (which would mean 100% efficiency) let alone 3200 watts? Car stereo spec indeed - shades of PMPO.

Capacitors?

 

[amirm]

Knowing how bad it measures (in noise, distortion and total underperforming the power specs), who should buy this garbage?

If you are buying their speakers, then in theory the built-in EQ/profiles in there save you from having to hand create them for another speaker.

 

[amirm]

Capacitors?

Switching power supplies tend to not have that kind of reserve.

 

[Endibol]

Capacitors?

Would only help for peak power with class A or AB amps.

 

[Tom C]

Stinx.

 

[solderdude]

There marketing a 2 channel amp for home theatre??? Some one there is confused.

so when using multichannel home theater they can sell you a bunch of amps for all channels.
Preferably in balanced mode.

And yes... you will need 3.2kW for each rear-side and over-head speaker channel.
32kW for 9.1 system is really necessary when using large sensitive speakers with that power handling capability in a small size home listening room.

 

[Billy Budapest]

Made in Ukraine. Interesting.

 

[pma]

Miserable.

 

[amirm]

Made in Ukraine. Interesting.

Can't fathom how hard it must be to keep producing products there.