I'm planning on getting Magnepan 1.7s. I have a strong, clean power amp to drive them, but I need advice on a preamp please. 1. Make and model recommendations 2. tube vs. solid state and why
I hear so much about tube pre w/SS amps and Maggies that if I had the $$ and didn't think I'd drive myself and everyone around me NUTS with tube and cap experiments, I'd try it, too!
tubes for air & spaciousness & silky sound, matched w/ss for quick transient response = one of those rare, but oh so worthwhile, good marriages. tubes give you a movie w/a story to tell, ss the dynamics you get from rapid special effect scenes. (tube preamps - you'll change tubes less frequently & at a far lower cost then large costly power amp tubes.) by the way, i have IIIa's rebuilt to 3.6's but the old crossover.
Maggie's always seem to be paired with AR stuff, but that's when both the pre and the amp are AR. If you're going with a SS amp (especially if it is a Bryston, which can be pretty dry) then I would suggest a pre that adds a more spacious (tubey) presentation that the AR's.
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