I've owned the 3.6 speakers years ago and really enjoyed them. I want to buy the 3.7s and also need electronics. I have a budget constraint of 4-5k for a solid state preamp and amp. I'm okay buying 2nd hand. For those who own Magneplanars can you recommend gear within my price range? My room size is 16 x 21 and I don't listen loudly. I thought even an integrated amp might work (like the Moon i7). I'd appreciate hearing some ideas.
Atmasphere- thanks for your comments. i have used a tube preamp with a solid state amp and it worked fine together. I will look at this again for the new speakers. I will however be going with a solid state amp. I'll look into the Mogami wires.
THEY NEED LOTS AND LOTS OF POWER. A DECENT AFFORDABLE AMP THAT SOUNDS GOOD ONCE WARMED UP IS THE MONSTER POWER MPA 2250 OR 3250 AMPS. NOT MADE ANYMORE BUT FOUND ON AUDIOGON . THEY ARE RATED AT 250 WATTS BUT ARE MUCH MORE POWERFUL INTO LOWER IMP.A GOOD PREAMP FOR THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TUBE PREAMP OF WHICH AUDIO RESEARCH MAKES MANY.
Maggies sound quite good with tubes and if you can get a tube amp with enough power you will like it a lot. However tube power is expensive and you do need some power so you may have to go with transistors. For that I recommend a Pass Labs.
But the preamp is a different matter and for that go with tubes (your Maggies and your ears will thank you). If your amplifier has a balanced input, get a preamp that is also balanced, as that will reduce the effect of the interconnect cables. In my system I have 30 foot runs of Mogami Neglex, which is relatively inexpensive (about $200 for the pair).
I'm hesitant to add this because it's at the high end of your budged, but people have been raving about the Sanders Magtech. I don't think I've ever seen so many glowing reviews. It's the one I would want to try.
I will second the Cary 500 MB recommendation; best and most powerful amps that I have found for my 3.6's. Going to keep them for my newly ordered 20.7's too! They are the closest thing to great tube amps that I have found, they double-down to 1,000 watts into the Maggies, never ever run out of power, put out loads of current, and drive my Maggies to the low 90 dbs in my 17.5 x 26 x 9 room without any stress or strain. Very highly recommended.
Watch for a good used pair of the 500's and then get a decent tube preamp; you will be set for a long time to come!
Do not know what your budget is...but if you are considering the Stratos you might consider the Emotiva XPA 1 mono blocks... I am not saying they are better...but the work well with Mag 1.7's across the entire sound spectrum---especially on organ music...I do not know if they are comparable to Bryston or the John Curl designs Halos and j 1 mono blocks....But on well recorded music like Blue Note and the Mercury Presence series they are brilliant. They are also very cheap under $2000 Also Macormack gets good reviews.
Thanks for everyone's response. I am open to using a tube preamp coupled to a solid state amp (I've done that before). I'll look in them. Jallen- for Pass amps do you think there are some that would provide enough drive and yet be within my price range?
I am also thinking about a Odyysey amp as it seems to be a good value for the money.
I will also check into the Bryston amps--appreciate everyone's comments about the various models.
The recommendations by Elizabeth are great and add to that the 7Bst and 14Bst from Bryston. Pass labs is also very good. Just be sure to get at least 350-400wpc into 4 ohms. Great speakers. Jallen
I replaced my Cary 500MB's with Cary 500.1MB's. Like many others (search the forums), I find the Cary/Maggie combo to be terrific. I have also found the Cary's low input impedance and high input sensitivity make them ideal for using a passive pre, and have found the Promitheus TVC's a great choice. You don't indicate if you can get by with a line level pre or have a vinyl rig. You should be able to hit the low end of your range with a Promethius Ref 4 and the Cary 500MB's. I used that exact combo in a room about the same size as yours, and was never hurting for volume. I don't have a specific recommendation on a full feature pre, but the BAT/VAC/AR's mentioned above seem reasonable. I'm skeptical as to the prospects of finding an integrated that will bring out the best the 3.7's have to offer. Full disclosure--- I still have my old Cary 500's sitting in my living room. If in the end, you decide to give those a try, let me know and I will list them. Otherwise, they are going to sit until I put out all the other fires I have going.
I have owned many pairs of Maggies over the years and have found that a good SS amp like a Plinius SA100 MkII and a tube preamp like a BAT Vk3iX have been the best match.
I highly recommend the Gilmore Audio Raptor 500d monoblocks for your Maggies. They now are selling for $2500 the pair. I use them on my 3.6's and they are great with the Maggies. I have never used a ss preamp so I can't recommend one Alan
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