2. amps-preamps
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Power Amp advice

I am looking for advice on a power amp to drive my Magnepan 1.7i's.  My source is my Cambridge Network player which I use to stream Tidal.  My preamp is Tube unit: Transcend 6SN7 Line Stage by Aric Audio.  My current amp is a Parasound HCA2200.  The Parasound has lately developed an annoying hum.  I was thinking of getting it repaired, but thought that now might be a good time to upgrade that 30 year old piece.

I was looking for advice on a good match for the preamp/speaker combination.  My budget is around $2,000.  I don't mind buying used.  I was thinking to go with tubes, but I fear that any tube amp with enough oomph to properly drive those Maggies would be well outside of my budget.

Discussions here are always thoughtful, so I am looking forward to what you folks have to share.

Thanks,
Mark 
128x128markainsworth
transnova's avatar
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transnova
350 posts
 
Last year I wandered in to a nice little store in Deerfield Beach, FL. The owner was playing a pair of 1,7i's with a Prima Luna 35 or 40 wpc tube integrated. I was shocked at how good they sounded!!! I told him that I thought Maggies required high power SS amplification. I believe his response had something to do with the high current capability of the Prima Luna amp.
waterzlife
139 posts
 
DITTO on the Peachtree power amp suggestion.....most transparent system I know 9 a friend ) has a tall Maggie speaker/hybrid ribbon tweeter driven bymodel  a 200w Peachtree amp driving it -  NIRVANA!!
msmoto
7 posts
 
Just a note on "hum" or other speaker noise... I was getting a crackling paper sound from one channel, replaced tubes in my preamp and it went away.  At least for about six months, then the noise slowly returned.  So, this time, I disconnected all the speaker connections to use a pair of small speakers until I could get the issue figured out.  I was asked to record the sound so the folks at VTL could help me diagnose the issue, but upon reconnecting, at which time I also sprayed the connections with Sprayon S02001 Electrical Cleaner and Lubrications Spray (Sherwin-Williams), the issue was resolved.  I now use this spray on every electrical connection when putting things together.
larryi
3,982 posts
 
Doesn't the Parasound have toroidal power transformers?  If that is the case, these tend to hum if there is DC offset coming from your power circuit.  You should looking into getting a DC blocker for your AC line.  These are not that expensive.
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gkr7007
150 posts
 
Two things to help you get the best out of your maggies (from a long time maggie owner).  You need high current, and you need an amp that is stable to 2 ohms.  (Maggies will drift into the 2 ohms area at times.)
I own a set of all in Odyssey monos with the new cap array from Symphonic Line and paired it up with a Don Sachs custom pre.  I am currently listening to the best set up I've ever had with my 3.7i's..... and I'm not a young man.
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