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Audio Research Ref 150 or 250 with Maggie

hi,

Looking at buying either Audio Research Ref 150 stereo amp or 250 mono amp.

Currently I have Magnepan IIIa, but looking to upgrade to 3.7 or 20.7

Research indicates that Ref 150 is probably sufficient to drive the 3.7. I listen to all genre of music, but most often classical. Like everyone who care about their hearing, I do crank up volume occasionally but always within reasonable limit.

3.7 and 20.7 have same or very similar sensitivity, so is it fair to say that if Ref 150 can drive 3.7, then it can drive the 20.7?

Another big question I have is with regards to stereo amp vs. mono amp. with both amps being called 'great amps', will there still be significant sound quality improvement by going with mono amps instead of stereo amp (setting aside the potential affect of higher power of 250 vs. only 150 watts in the Ref 150)?
clin36

Showing 1 response by raymonda

raymonda
855 posts
 
If you don't mind looking beyond ARC, consider Rogue m180's. I use the M120's with my MGIIIa's, tweaked out of course, with stellar results. The sound even better....by a wide margin, over the Classe I was using and the Classe sounded very good.

Sorry that I don't have experience with ARC but I would think that if you can swing more power go for it.
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