Best Cheap Amps for Magneplanar Speakers

dlcockrum, high bias Class A/B, direct coupled, high current, mono blocks with enough power to drive medium to large Maggies for a kilobuck or less,
...NEW?!
That is funny!

See Randy’s earlier post, unsound. Don’t shoot the messenger!

Best to you unsound. Wishing you a Happy New Year,
Dave

Has anyone tried the Red Dragon Class D mono blocks? They're fairly inexpensive. 

dlcockrum, no shooting here, especially at you.
Didn't see that in the opening, but at your suggestion, did see it further down. I'd argue that one could buy used, and resell, all for the cost of shipping. Perhaps, even that's stretching this budget.
But, really? Might be a case of wanting a big dog, but not being able to afford to feed it.
Happy New Year!

Nord One zup

Absolute best bang for the buck: ATI 1502 amps. Buy a pair of them for 600-700 bux and run them as monoblocks.

People will ask about your funny looking amps and then when you crank the music they won't have any more questions.

One of the unsung heros of audio world.

Or you could just spend an awful lot more money before you approach the sound quality of these puppies.

Maggies draw tremendous current from an amplifier which can cause the internal power supply voltages to fluctuate dramatically in response to the music. This reduces the power from the amp and causes the distortion and bias to be modulated by the music. 

One of the best amps that deals with this is the Sanders Magtech, one of the only amps available with a regulated power supply, and is a great match for Magnepans.

The Sanders magtech is $5,000 so outside the scope of this thread - unless they have a less spendy one I'm not aware of.  It is also designed to drive wildly varying impedance loads of electrostatic speakers.  maggies, while planars, are NOT electrostatics and present a simple 4 ohm load across the freq. range.  They certainly can use a lot of oompah but are a lot 'kinder' to amps than electrostatics.

If I decide to replace my somewhat elderly Sunfire with something at the $3k or above range, it might be the new Benchmark...

Thanks everybody for the responses!  And have a good new years.

You can find the Magtech used for $2900.

Back at you Randy. Happy New Year!

Dave

I drive mine with Marantz MA-700 monoblocks. Not made anymore, but you'll see them pop up occasionally for $175-250. But keep in mind that I've been through blind amp tests that put me in the "watts is watts" (given all the standard qualifiers) class. So given that, if I were buying new monoblocks I'd get Outlaw Model 2200 ($379/ea).

Not cheap not the cost of a house either Bryston makes some very good sounding reliable cost effective mono blocks to power just about every mag. The power packs also sound very good look into them. They should easily hide in the back somewhere if thats any concern at all.  

You are using a Sunfire now? Why not pick up second one, and bridge them? 6-900 used.  Tough piece of equipment to beat especially on the secondary market. There is also a few things that can be done to them
to really make them shine. 600 watts @8ohms  if memory serves me correct.   

Yes, I just want to see what is out there to replace the Sunfire - building a candidate list.  I hear the caps go bad after 20 years too, and mine is about that old...

600 is not a huge discount on a new A23 which comes with a return privilege and warranty for about 300-400 more - you aren't the seller or his friend are you?

Hey Randy,

I don't think ebm is the seller or anything of the sort. Just feels that this would be a great amp for you and knows that one will go fast at that price. Kinda like the DR-8 that sold hours after I posted about it.

Not questioning your approach. It's your call to buy or not buy anything.

Best to you Randy,
Dave

ok, just checking

I stand by the need for a bigger discount tho (for me, as I want to try amps in my system)

I have 1.6's and have driven them with 4 different amplifiers and gotten excellent results. They are as follows: Bryston 3BST, Audio Research 150.2 (Tripath), Quicksilver V4 (Mono Bloc Tube) and Red Dragon M500 (Mono Bloc Class D). Presently switching back and forth between the ARC and Quickies using Audible Illusions M3A Tube Preamp. I used the Bryston with the same preamp as well and the sound was incredible with all 3 amps with this preamp but sonically a bit different. I'm now using the Bryston on a pair of Vandersteen 3A Sigs and it's a great combo as well. The Red Dragons do need a preamp that can play nice with an input impedance of 10k. That's a little low for a tube preamp but you can try and see. When I used the Dragons I used an ARC SP16 but with SCE HRS interface that helps with Amp to Preamp impedance issues. I have not tried the Dragons with my AI M3A yet but I intend to at some point. The Bryston, ARC and RD amps are older products and may be found used at a bargain price. The Quickies are still in production and have gotten a little pricey but you may be able to find a used pair within your budget. I would imagine the 1.7's at least would be in line with the 1.6's in terms of mating them with amps.

@russbutton mentioned Hafler as a cheap amp option. I used a Hafler DH220 with Maggie 1.6s in a small room and loved the sound. These are MOSFET amps and do have that smooth sound MOSFET's are known for. I recapped the amp as the original caps were past their prime.

You could purchase two DH500s, recap them and have a wonderful sounding pair of amps. And the good thing about these amps is, if they don't tickle your ear, you can resell them.

Maggies are too good for a cheap amp

Currently using Nord One UP Hypex NCore NC500 with 3.7i. with Sparko op amp option.  Plenty of power, room size 24x14 x10

I am currently using a full set of Audio Alchemy including their mono blocks driving my Mag 1.7s. I switched to this setup after one of my Audio Research Classic 120s sparked out. I'm very happy with the resulting improved sound stage, clarity, etc. In full disclosure I am also using a REL sub and Audio Quest cabling as well as a Silver Circle A/C filter.
Check the Absolute Sound/Robert Harley article.
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/audio-alchemy-ddp-1-preamplifierdacheadphone-amplifier-dpa-...

I biamp mine Maggies with Bryston 3Bs ...I bought them used and they were not particularly expensive.

@stringreen I sold my Maggies and kept the Haflers. 

Hello everyone I really dig my krell 400 xi lntegrated with my Maggie 1.7s.a very good match.

been running odyssey khartago se++ monos with my mg1.6 for over a year now.  they are made for each other!

ADCOM GFA-555 monoblocks 600W $550

Doesn't get much better value than that!

http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649328427-two-adcom-gfa555-amps/
(no affiliation)

Send the sunfire to Flannery's Vintage Audio for recap and its good for another 20 year

Hi Randy,

McCormack DNA 125/220/ DNA.5/ DNA1
Pass Labs X150/X150.5
PSE monoblocks 
Aragon 8008
Classe CA150
Herron M150 monoblocks 
Rega Exxon 3 monoblocks 

@puiu

You've listed some very nice amps, but the ones in your list that meets the OP's budget (under $1,000) are the Rega Exxon 3's.

Indeed, sorry about that. McCormack DNA125s can be found sometimes at $1000, as well as old, unmodified, non-upgraded DNA.5s. As a side note, I find those both to be vastly superior to a Bryson 3B in my experience, with the exception of SST generation on up.

Regards,

Dan

Outlaw M200 or M2200 monoblocks are excellent and relatively inexpensive.  You'll be hard-pressed to find better transistorized amps for under $1k.  At 200-300 wpc they are all the power your Maggies need and want, they are quite transparent, and they are very natural sounding.

So what cheap amp did you buy????????

Yea Randy 11, you start a thread and don't even tell everyone what cheap amp you wound up with, whats the deal there?

try not to be such a troll, phud



I'll let everyone know when and if I replace my amp

Well Randyseven elleven, you misspelled my user name, it's phd. Anyway please define trolling, we can go from there.

does your mom know you are using her computer?

randy-11, please don't hide behind your computer and attack other members on other threads it breaks audiogon rules on etiquitte.

The PS audio Stellar 300 works with the 1.7 and even better with a REL sub.  Enjoy your Maggie’s!!!

Schiit Freya + with Adcom will be cheapest!😃

My Anthem bitch slaps Maggies until they ask for more. Then it gives them more.

2nd an AVA amp, the Sunfire would drive those ladies perfect.
send to Flannerys to have her checked! i sent in my sunfire, happy !
 Have a 600 sig, there is almost nothing (affordable) this amp won't drive and control.
odyssey mono blocks. can use smaller cases and fit the kismet in the smaller cases. owner will work with you on what u want and price.

 check audiogon, lots great amps here. you will need current for those, make sure get something w enough power for the speakers.

 used mccormick, upgrades are big $.

if you ship anything, get max insurance, and pack like your sending a small child overseas.

 search.
Craigslist has a sunfire 300 last time i checked. check other states, etc.

 the upgraded sunfire will last a long time.

good luck , enjoy the hunt.

class D is dull and lifeless on maggies.

VAN ALSTINE   DVA M225 MONOBLOCK SOLID STATE AMPLIFIER

The DVA M225 is a compact and powerful solid state amplifier. It is rated at 225 watts into 8 ohms, and over 300 watts into 4 ohms.
 Single Ended Transistor voltage amplifier design.
 Class A/B amps that operate as Class A amps at normal listening levels
$1700 apiece.