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Tubes for Magnepan’s.

I think next up on my acquisition list is a tube amplifier. I'm not looking for the be all end all, cause I don’t think there is a definitive "Best", so am looking for as good as I can get for $3-4k.


Because tubes drive speakers so much more efficiently than solid state I am only looking for 40-50 watts to drive my modded Maggie’s, 1.7i's. (Or what you have when you add a new crossover and planer tweeters to 1.7i's.) Maybe 2.7x? I haven’t settled on that yet. And I have some Zu Dirty Weekend's upgraded to the max coming in in 2 months to replace my KEF's.

Anyway, I haven’t had a tube device since my Halicrafter short wave radio, and reviews are not the same as advice from people that own something. There is a Rouge Audio dealer in my area, last I looked, (opps, they no longer carry them), so I may have to go to another market to hear something, or get a try before you buy from a manufacturer or dealer.

You folks have taught me a lot, and I think asking users is the right thing to do on this change in direction.

Thanks in advance.
128x128william53b
jc4659
550 posts
 
OP:
What are you currently using to drive your modded maggies? What are you hoping to improve with tubes?  I have used both solid state and tubes with mine.
clearthink
1,421 posts
 
william53b "Because tubes drive speakers so much more efficiently than solid state"

That is completely wrong, false, and mistaken you do not understand efficiency at all in fact it is most likely and common that a tube amplifier will be less efficient that a solid state amplifier. 
ejman's avatar
ejman
62 posts
 
I have Magneplanar 1.7's and power them with a Jolida 502 P with KT 150 tubes.  This is a 60ish watt per channel amp and I find no problem at  my normal listening levels (70- 75 db with peaks up to 90 db or so according to my radio shack db meter)  I also have a Conrad Johnson MF 2300 amp (240 watts into 8 ohms, tested at 400 watts into 4 ohms).  Of course, the CJ will play louder but I find the Jolida very satisfactory at the loudness I like and with the music I listen to mostly - Jazz, classical, earlier rock and such.  Room size is 14X24 and I sit about 10 ft from the speakers.  The speakers are run full range with a sub set at a very low level for bass augmentation only. 
william53b's avatar
william53b OP
211 posts
 
@jc4659 

I have a Benchmark AHB 2. It sounds more dynamic than a Parasound A23; lots of punch.

So tubes are just a "satisfy my fancy" thing. 
Room is 12x24x8.

2 KEF R400 B's for the bottom.
william53b's avatar
william53b OP
211 posts
 
I think I'm just admitting at this late stage in life that no 1 thing will ever satisfy, so the Maggie’s are for Jazz and Classical and the Zu Dirty Weekends will be for head banging rock. 
For a hi current amp I’m thinking of a Parasound or Hegel. And if Russ is right, I may not need a tube amp, just a tube pre. 
It's not just the sound, it's the playing around with all of it.

If the Zu's don’t work out, I may go in the direction of the Klipsh Heritage line for Rock.
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