Best Cheap Amps for Magneplanar Speakers


I want to drive some medium sized to large Maggies (1.7 or 3.7) with the cheapest possible amps that will still let them sound great.

I prefer monoblocks and by 'cheap' I mean a kilobuck or so, tho less would be fine too.  I do NOT want to spend 4 thou...
randy-11

I drive a pair of Magnepan 1.7 loudspeakers with a Rotel RB-991 solid-state amplifier producing 200 watts/channel. They sound great! This amplifier can be found secondhand for around $700. Alternatively, the current replacement model, the RC-1582 Mk II, for $1500 new in the box.

I also have a pair of Dynaco MK III monoblocks each producing 60 watts/RMS. They provide a warm vacuum tube 'sound.' If you can solder and have a few evenings free you can build a pair of these kits produced by www.DynaKitParts.com. These are the real deal, but you have to assemble them. They cost $550 each, slightly over your $1000 budget, but at $1100 well worth the effort.

http://www.dynakitparts.com/dynakit-products/amplifier-kits/MARK-III-KIT

Cruising the ads I see a Belles 150A 3ch amp for $695. Probably can't go wrong with that.
Want to add a little tube magic? There is a hybrid Counterpoint SA-100 for $695 also.
Ok, this one will throw you for a loop!  Luxman R-117 receiver!!! Read the reviews from the 1980's and early 90's then see if there are any on ebay.  Should be about $350-400 now ($1200 new)  Absolutely phenomenal amp and preamp section.  Grossly underrated @ 160 wpc into 8 ohms it produces 400, 600, and 700 wpc of "dynamic" power into 8,4, and 2 ohms.  I once read a "test bench" report from a measurement guru who said the real rating of "actual" power was closer to 350 wpc into 8 ohms!  Smooth as silk with massive power, it sounds a lot like tubes.  For the money you can't go wrong and can own a piece of audio history!