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
Thanx for the link, Muralman. Just don't think I need a pre. I'll report on this when the Maggies arrive and I have a chance to demo the DACs with them at home.
This weekend I listened to the Weiss DAC 202 and the Berkeley Alpha DAC, although not with Maggies. Each sounded excellent and, IMO, best when connected directly to the amp, rather than through either a SS or tube preamp. This was especially so with High Rez music, but with CDs as well. I will demo each at home when my Maggies arrive (hopefully) in July. The tube preamps seemed to my ears to muffle the sound. I preferred the definition from the DACs to the amps without any preamp.
Keep in mind all responses refer to maggie 1.6's and magnestand 1.6's) Yes I have tried a benchmark DAC/preamp into a an Extreme Odyssey Amplfier; a Monarchy DAC 24/tube preamp into the same Odyssey amplfier and I preferred the Monarchy DAC 24/preamp to the Benchmark at least with the Odyssesy amplfier. Later I made a "sideways" amplfier change (Nuforce v2's) SOMETIMES I MAKE STUPID DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT TO BUY IN AUDIOLAND FROM WHAT I READ IN THOSE INANE AUDIO MAGAZINES ahhggGGGG!!!!! and the Monarchy DAC/24 was a WAaayyyy beter match for the Nuforces in comparisison to the Bencmark Dac/preamp combo. I have recently started the break in of my Magnestand modded 1.6's (crossover) and the Monarchy DAC is much better fit with the Magnestand 1.6's than the Benchmark product( keep in mind that this is all a very early subjective listening audition). Also please keep the following in mind: I am really active in looking for a"new preamp" to match the extrodinary performance of the DAC 24 tube output with the Magenestand mod. My ears tell me that the Magnestand mods have really spotlighted the issue of amplfier/preamplfier/speaker interaction. My new speakers are now very revealing of whats upstream in my stereo system (that sucks). In other words if there is crap upstream you will now hear it with the mods. Also I am aware that for what ever reaason at least at this point in my crazy audiophile evolution that until now I would be reluctant (personal preference)to choose a solid state preamp with a solid state amplfier.
04-27-10: No_money They where hardly ever mated with the AR amps. Bryston 95% of the time I went in there.
"Hardly ever"? - I think you can go back to the 1970s (and through every other decade) and find ARC electronics (not only preamps but also amps) and Maggies used together extensively.
tubed preamp: i like the spaciousness + quiet + phonostage of my mfa magus a-2. (it's for sale but if unsold i'll continue using it in my main setup another 20 years. i don't feel compelled to buy anything new, just testing the waters. it replaced a noisy c-j i had had 11 years.
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.
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.
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!
Joule Electra is my new favorite preamp. I have used a Sonic Frontiers Line 3 on a pair of Magnepans 3.6 with excellent results when I was auditioning speakers. I have since replace my preamp with Joule Electra which I like better. I may trade up in the Joule Electra line but I am sticking with their preamp.
I owned a combination of Magnepans and various Bryston amps for years.I always used Audio Research tube pre amps,they were a perfect fit,LS 15 and later a REF 3.For more particulars and recommendations flip me a pm.
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