Magneplanar makes great loudspeakers. I own both a set of Magnepan 1.6 and a pair of the newer 1.7i loudspeakers.
Magnepan speakers are a great value, but what you’ve saved from your loudspeaker budget will be absorbed by your amplifier costs.
Magnepans need an amplifier producing a least a solid 100 Watts per channel into a 4 ohm load. Magnepans will also expose your amplifier’s deficiencies or colorations much more than many other loudspeakers in this price category.
I drive my Magnepan 1.6 loudspeakers with an Audio Research VT-100 Mk III stereo vacuum tube amplifier producing a reliable 100 Watts RMS per channel into a 4 ohm load. My Magnepan 1.7i loudspeaker are driven by an Audio Research 300.2 stereo solid state amplifier producing a solid 500 Watts per channel into a 4 ohm load.
100 watts of vacuum tube power drives them nicely at normal to moderately loud levels, but the 500 watt solid state power does a better job with loud rock and large symphonic works.
You’ve stated you have $1000 be spend. But that may be a bit low unless you’re willing to explore the second-hand amplifier market, and even then you’ll have to be a very savvy buyer.
If you’re willing to spend a little more and purchase new equipment the 300 Watt per channel PS Audio Stellar S300 power amplifier at $1499 is a great value.
The 300 Watt per channel Odyssey Statros Stereo Extreme for $1800 is another good choice, and has been an Absolute Sound Editor’s Choice repeatedly.
A quick eBay search found a used Audio Research VT 100 Mk III with new tubes with a Buy It Now for $1250 + $89.92 shipping from WV. (This is what I’d buy)
Wyred 4 Sound’s ST-500 Mk II Series Stereo amplifier produces 430 Watt per channel into a 4 ohm load and also gets the Absolute Sounds Editor’s Choice year after year. For $1499 it’s a bargain.
The new amplifier are probably also available second hand for less.
-gb-
Magnepan speakers are a great value, but what you’ve saved from your loudspeaker budget will be absorbed by your amplifier costs.
Magnepans need an amplifier producing a least a solid 100 Watts per channel into a 4 ohm load. Magnepans will also expose your amplifier’s deficiencies or colorations much more than many other loudspeakers in this price category.
I drive my Magnepan 1.6 loudspeakers with an Audio Research VT-100 Mk III stereo vacuum tube amplifier producing a reliable 100 Watts RMS per channel into a 4 ohm load. My Magnepan 1.7i loudspeaker are driven by an Audio Research 300.2 stereo solid state amplifier producing a solid 500 Watts per channel into a 4 ohm load.
100 watts of vacuum tube power drives them nicely at normal to moderately loud levels, but the 500 watt solid state power does a better job with loud rock and large symphonic works.
You’ve stated you have $1000 be spend. But that may be a bit low unless you’re willing to explore the second-hand amplifier market, and even then you’ll have to be a very savvy buyer.
If you’re willing to spend a little more and purchase new equipment the 300 Watt per channel PS Audio Stellar S300 power amplifier at $1499 is a great value.
The 300 Watt per channel Odyssey Statros Stereo Extreme for $1800 is another good choice, and has been an Absolute Sound Editor’s Choice repeatedly.
A quick eBay search found a used Audio Research VT 100 Mk III with new tubes with a Buy It Now for $1250 + $89.92 shipping from WV. (This is what I’d buy)
Wyred 4 Sound’s ST-500 Mk II Series Stereo amplifier produces 430 Watt per channel into a 4 ohm load and also gets the Absolute Sounds Editor’s Choice year after year. For $1499 it’s a bargain.
The new amplifier are probably also available second hand for less.
-gb-