2. amps-preamps
  3. 172369-91258

Solid state amp recommendations for Maggies?

I am looking for another amp to drive my magnepan LRS, looking for a solid state amp to deliver more detail than my current tube amp, but don't want to give up (much) of the soundstage and depth.

I have a small listening room with a near field set up, so I don't need a ton of power for ear piercing volume. I listen mostly to acoustic rock, acoustic jazz and female vocalists.  I want more the guitar on Keith don't go and hotel canifornia intro from hell freezes over to  to sound... better...

at the risk of sounding stupid, I am driving these $650 speakers with many thousands of dollars of electronics.  The amp is a Primaluna HP (80wpc using 4 EL34s per channel), CJ ET7 preamp, PS Audio Direct stream DAC and a Naim digital source. All with MG audio silver interconnects and speaker wire. Even the interconnects cost more than the LRS.  

I am very happy with my current set up, but would like to grab another amp to a change of pace.

My budget is $5-8K, used or new.  My room is such that mono blocks set up well, but that is not necessary. 

thoughts/recommendations?

 

 

meiatflask

Showing 1 response by jhills

jhills
619 posts
 

@meiatflask 

With the PrimaLuna HP, I believe you can roll in the Tung-Sol KT-120 tubes. Have you tried that? I think you would be surprised how good the LRS would sound using the PrimaLuna with the KT-120 tubes.

In my somewhat larger (14'x28') room, I'm having no trouble driving my 1.7 Maggies with either my 100W Rogue Cronus Mag. II  withe KT-120 tubes, or my old SS 200/350W ADCOM. Listening to the same music as you, at moderate levels, both amps do incredibly well. A little larger stage and presence with the Rouge and slightly more dynamics and punch with the ADCOM.

I think the idea that the smaller Maggies need massive amounts of power to sound good, particularly in a small space at moderate volumes, is quit overstated and a bit overblown. If considering a future move up to the larger 3.7i or the 20.7 then investing a Bryston 4BSST or Cubed would be a great match with any of the Maggies. JMO.......Jim

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