Amp recommendation for Maggies 1.6Q

Dave, I'm sure the Apogees are more refined than the Maggies and you're right, they sound good at low levels too. As I recall, many people biamped them, using tubes for the ribbon -- or is my memory failing?

Nsgarch

Apogee had over 20 models, some were very hard on amps so I should have been more clear...the 1 ohm Scintilla comes to mind as an amp eater.

Many of the large 3-ways were and still are bi/tri-amped so your memory is not failing yet buddy!...my wife says mine is though.

Dave

Nsgrch

You said to avoid the 23 series, why?

Hugo

Georgioh, in the "golden age" Levinson (Madrigal) period, there were the 20 (amp) 23 (amp) 25 (phono pre) 26 (preamp) and 27 (amp).

Improvements were made to all of them kicking them into major new orbits, sonically. New type circuit board material, teflon capacitors and metal film resistors, improved power supplies (in the amps) etc.

The new designations (respectively) were the 20.5 and 20.6 (amps) 25s (phono pre) 26s (preamp) and 27.5 (amp). These are all still very much sought after for their extreme quietness and almost tube-like musicality.

I had a 23 and then a 23.5 and the difference was quite remarkable (I still have my 23.5 after 15 years!)

I had tremendous success driving a pair of 1.6QRs with an Audio Research D-115 MK2. 110 watts of pure tube bliss.

The great thing about Magnepans is that the impedence stays level at 4 ohms, so it's really not a challenge for a quality high power tube amp (like the ARC) to drive them.

ARC tends to be less "tubey" than most others. I have similar musical tastes as you and found this to be the ticket.

I tried Bryston (4B ST), Aragon (8008-BB), McIntosh (MC-7270), Classe (CA-200) and White Audio Labs (B1?). All were well-respected, high-powered solid state amps and NONE could hold a candle to the Audio Research.

YMMV