Amp/Pre-amp for Magnepan 1.7

You may get dozens of answers and half that many equipment recommendations. For low $$, you may hear Rotel or Emotiva recommended. for lots more $$, some like the 'd' amp, Spectron. Or the 'd' amp Bel Canto monos. Krell? on the list. Bryston? Absolutely. Pass Labs? of course.

Best bet, IMO, is to go somewhere and listen to stuff. What were the Maggies shown with? Since you bought 'em, you apparently liked what you heard. You could start there, perhaps.

But, and again just my Opinion, Don't bother with Ipod unless you are playing lossless files thru something like the Wadia digital dock. Apple computers have built in optical out for direct connect to a DA or you can do a wireless stream thing using an Airport Express. But that is WAY past where you need to be.

Yours is a very open question, so it is a bit difficult to address it.

First of all, if you tell us a bit more about how do you like your sound, it would help us if we are to suggest you brand/models (bright, relaxed, detailed, euphonic,...).

You didn't say if you want to keep your current Sunfire amp or would like to change it as well.

May be you could start buying a preamp and listening to the results with your current amp and speakers and then decide the way to proceed. Do not forget the importance of cables. With so detailed speakers you'll notice them in the final result.

In order to conect an ipod, you could go with a preamp that has an integrated craddle for it, go for an independent craddle or simply connect the ipod to the preamp via a cable (jack to RCA).

To break the fire, I can suggest you a cheap, very good sounding preamp, that is hassle free. It is a Promitheus TVC passive pre. Google a bit to see what people think about it.

Regards,

Chema