2. amps-preamps
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Pass, Bryston, Audio Research, or McIntosh?

I have been auditioning speakers and think I am settled on buying Magnepans--either the 3.6 or 20.1. Wife and budget will help me decide. I currently have an Audio Research 100.2 which I like, but I expect I will need to get a beefier amp than only 100 into 8 and 200 into 4 ohms. I like buying used and have heard good things about the Pass 250 or 350 x.5. I have also read that Magnepans are often demoed with Brystons which speaks well of the combination--am looking at the sst models. I like audio research and am a bit intrigued by the hybrid HD220 as this will get me 400 wpc into 4 ohms and may provide some tube sound (a good thing for Maggies by most accounts). Lastly, I have no experience with McIntosh, but many seem to like them. Am going to stick with solid state for now. My current pre/pro is an older unit--an EAD Classic Signature which I have had modded by Noble Electronics. It is a sweet sounding dac tho it does not decode SACD or DVD audio. I may eventually go to an Audio Research tube preamp, but my budget will only allow so much for the time being. Any thoughts as to which direction I should go for amps? Room is about 17 x 23 with 10 foot ceilings and an opening along one side wall into another similar sized room.

Thanks.
luvwine
lece
8 posts
 
Mcintosh is your best bet. The sound is warm and powerful, the build quality is outstanding, and the resale value is the best around. Audio Classics currently has NOS MC352's in stock for half the cost of a MC402. I would put one one each speaker especially if you go for the 20.1's. They have the same fully balanced push pull amplifier design as the MC402's and would provide 700 watt at 4 ohms per amp. I have MG1.6QR's and I have one MC352 powering them; it is a fantastic combination. I had an Audio Research VS110 powering them for a while, which was amazing, but the cost of re-tubing forced me to sell it. The sound will be different from what you are accustomed. Audio Research and McIntosh have very different characteristics, but after you listen for a while, I am sure you will find the change to be more a swapping of benefits rather then a disappointment. If, for some reason, you are against Mcintosh then Bryston would be my next choice. I have heard Pass amps, and I love them given they are mated with a suitable speaker, but the Magnepan is slightly too revealing which could create a fatiguing experience. Bryston makes fantastic components and would work well with the Maggie's, although, after hearing both combinations, I still prefer the McIntosh setup as its warmth matched with the Magnepans accuracy, combines for an extremely realistic and pleasant experience.
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
>>08-24-09: Lece
>>but the Magnepan is slightly too revealing<<

There is no such characteristic as "too revealing".
rpcoins
9 posts
 
I am running 3.6 Maggies and have finally settled on McIntosh 501s as my amp. The Audio Research 150.2 did not have the power need to drive 3.6s and rather than go to 300.2 I decided to give McIntosh a try.

The thing about McIntosh is that if you dont like them, you can get almost all your money back on Audiogon. I did buy used 501s and at a little over 50 percent of list price they are a great buy.

FYI, in both cases I mated the amps with a tube preamp by the same manufacturer. The synergy seems to be worth it to me, but as I always say, let YOUR ears make the decision, not what we say.
4musica44107
520 posts
 
Of the amps you have listed, I would go with Bryston or Pass. I really like Bryston amps and I have heard them used with great success with Magnepan speakers. WRT the Audio Research HD220, although that is a great amp (I auditioned it before choosing the Luxman MQ-88), I found the fan noise to be an unacceptable audible distraction during soft music passages.
lece
8 posts
 
Audiofiel - I am sorry for the confusion. I was only trying to state that Magnepans, in my opinion, have a tendency to reveal the inherent characteristics of an amplifiers tone somewhat more than other speakers. Thus, a bright or sharp amplifier mated with Magnepans might create a fatiguing listening situation.
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