Moving from the Magnepan 3.6 to the 20.1

I would most likely buy a used pair. I'm with you on the power requirements; I only use my VTL 125 MB's for my Khorns (which I keep in the same room as the Magnepans. One nice thing about the Khorns is that they sit right in the corners, out of the way)...

For the 3.6's I picked-up a used NAD C 275BEE stereo amp; it is really very good, especially for the money! It puts out 150W continuous and has plenty of head-room for brief peaks up to 450W into 4ohms...probably not as good as a big Pass Labs, but it costs a lot less! Eventually I would like to get a big Pass, maybe a X250.5 or a X350.5 or maybe even a XA60.5... I have also heard that the Cary 500MB (1000 watts into 4 ohms) sound great with the Magnepans...

Well, that is one option I have been debating... not sure which I will do first, a better amp or a pair of 20.1's.... probably a better amp though, so that I can see what the 3.6's can really do...

MacdadTexas,

do the Cary 500 MB's ever seem to run out of steam driving your 3.6's? What do you like the most about them? Did you compare them against other high-power amps before you purchased them?

Good info on the Cary 500 MB; I would probably have to buy them without a personal audition in my rig and that makes it a little more difficult to make the leap... I do keep an eye out for a good used pair but they only become available infrequently used...