Of course, my experience only:
There is something very right about Maggies and a good tube amp(s). Much is always made about Maggies liking a lot of power. There is some truth to that; however, “liking” is not the same as needing; and “needing” is in good part determined by one’s sound priorities and listening habits. What I mean is, the sound that “3” series Maggies and a good tube amp in the 100 W range produce will be, for me, usually superior to what I have heard from most mega watt SS amps.
To my ears, Maggies’ inherent sound benefits tremendously from the plush dimensionally of a good tube amp that will also impart a bit of juiciness to the timbre of instruments. With SS amps the sound tends to be too timbraly dry, in my experience. I’m not talking about departure from what many consider “accuracy”, but actually bringing the sound closer to the sound of real. I know there will be disagreement about this point, but that is my experience having lived with MG3A’s for many years. My point with all of the above is that if you don’t need extremely loud (subjective) sound levels, be careful about switching to a SS “higher powered amp”; if that is your plan. You wrote:
**** I stipulated that it is good electrical practice to match the load to the amp ****
This comment goes to all the above and to the importance of, when all is said and done, basing your decision on LISTENING.
One of the amps that I drove my MG3A’s with before settling on a pair of Manley 100/200 tube mono blocs (which I still use) was the tubed Berning 2100. A fine amp that had a choice of transformer impedance taps. In spite of the theoretical electrical “advantage” of using the 4 Ohm or 6 Ohm taps, the Maggies sounded much better on its 8 Ohm taps. Yes, on the 4 Ohm taps there was a VERY SUBTLE sense of SLIGHTLY more powerful and better controlled bass, but the overall sound was cloudy and with less dimensionality than on the 8 Ohm taps. A clear (😉) choice for me. Btw, my Manley’s are switchable between 100W in “triode” and 200W in “ultra linear” modes. On the Maggies, with the exception of somewhat more powerful bass, with half the “power” the sound in triode mode was infinitely better.
Good luck and don’t be too swayed by theory, but by what your ears tell you.
There is something very right about Maggies and a good tube amp(s). Much is always made about Maggies liking a lot of power. There is some truth to that; however, “liking” is not the same as needing; and “needing” is in good part determined by one’s sound priorities and listening habits. What I mean is, the sound that “3” series Maggies and a good tube amp in the 100 W range produce will be, for me, usually superior to what I have heard from most mega watt SS amps.
To my ears, Maggies’ inherent sound benefits tremendously from the plush dimensionally of a good tube amp that will also impart a bit of juiciness to the timbre of instruments. With SS amps the sound tends to be too timbraly dry, in my experience. I’m not talking about departure from what many consider “accuracy”, but actually bringing the sound closer to the sound of real. I know there will be disagreement about this point, but that is my experience having lived with MG3A’s for many years. My point with all of the above is that if you don’t need extremely loud (subjective) sound levels, be careful about switching to a SS “higher powered amp”; if that is your plan. You wrote:
**** I stipulated that it is good electrical practice to match the load to the amp ****
This comment goes to all the above and to the importance of, when all is said and done, basing your decision on LISTENING.
One of the amps that I drove my MG3A’s with before settling on a pair of Manley 100/200 tube mono blocs (which I still use) was the tubed Berning 2100. A fine amp that had a choice of transformer impedance taps. In spite of the theoretical electrical “advantage” of using the 4 Ohm or 6 Ohm taps, the Maggies sounded much better on its 8 Ohm taps. Yes, on the 4 Ohm taps there was a VERY SUBTLE sense of SLIGHTLY more powerful and better controlled bass, but the overall sound was cloudy and with less dimensionality than on the 8 Ohm taps. A clear (😉) choice for me. Btw, my Manley’s are switchable between 100W in “triode” and 200W in “ultra linear” modes. On the Maggies, with the exception of somewhat more powerful bass, with half the “power” the sound in triode mode was infinitely better.
Good luck and don’t be too swayed by theory, but by what your ears tell you.