Bryston 4B-STs sounded good at my brother-in-laws during a recent audition. He had used c-j Premier 11s previously and I liked that combo too. A bigger tube amp would work better though. CAT preamp used. |
The subthread within this thread suggests that McIntosh with Maggies is a conflicted issue. I recall that when I was setting up my system a year ago, I was advised by a McIntosh dealer to avoid their amps with autoformers and instead get one without them - so I did. It (MC162) sounded OK, but another of their solid state amps with autoformers (MC352) sounded better and the tube-based MC2102 sounds better yet - despite the lower wattage. Just an observation for whatever its worth. Two of them may be even better or bi-amping with another type of amplifier...
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The new Musical Fidelity A308cr power amp is an amazing match. |
I use the Dreadnaught 5 ch x 200watts amp with my 3.6R's, when I first connected the amp I tried using just two channels, the sound was very good indeed. But next I tried running one channel directly into each external crossover connection for the bass and mid/hi panels using 4 of the 5 channels aivailable for the two speakers.
This resulted in a more relaxed but deeper soundstage with greater bass impact.
I find this to be the best combination of value and sound of the many amps I have tried. Of course an electronic crossover will bring this to an even higher level. |
The McCormack DNA-2 is not on your list of excellent amps, but it is worthy of your consideration. The DNA-2 Deluxe did everything right in stock form and now with the SMc mods it has ended my amp quest. |
Keep Canada green, get the new Bryston 14-B SST and buy records with the rest of the money you will have saved(or how about a gift for your significant other?). Only snobs will look down your noses for not having an amp that costs two or three times more. The pairing of 3.6s and Brystons is often recommended. At the very least, you owe yourself an audition of this combo. |
I have a friend running his Mag 3.6 with an Electrocompaniet AW250 and I must say it is pretty awesome. |
Any amp over 125wpc and that is stable into a 2ohm load. It does not matter if it acts as a true voltage source. |
One guy on audioreview.com wrote a review of the Odyssey stratos monos and his speakers were magnepan 3.6Rs. He had four stratos monos on the maggies and said that the sound was totally transparent. I have the stereo stratos and can say that it is very musical and transparent. It seems to have high current capability which the magnepan speakers need. |
Becareful about using mac amps with maggies, I have been told from more then a few dealers it is not an ideal matchup. The output devices on the mac amps don't work ideally with the load the maggies put on them, the dealers who told me this sold not only mac and magnepan but a number of other products and they said if you can get amp x(which costs more) they would suggest getting something that was less money(like a bryston). I would be skeptic to try a mac amp regardless of wattage with these particular speakers. |
I have had my 3.6R for about 5 months now. I was running them with an EAD Powermaster 2000 which on the books stated that it delivered 700 watts/4ohms. Matched with my EAD Signature it was truly a nice set up for both HT and two channel listening. However I ran across a pair fo VTL 225 deluxe mono blocks that I set up along with ARC tube pre outboard DAC etc. The EAD stuff is great and I have praised it on several occasions and still do, but running the 3.6R with 225 watts of pure Class A Triode power is like nothing I have heard before in my room.
I have to agree with most of the solid state recommendations above, but do not lose sight of tubes even in a HT application not that your set up for that. It has been well known that ARC and Magenepan work very well, but if you read the Jan 03 Stereophile Magazine that interviews Jim Winey he touches on how he worked closely with ARC.
If you have the right room the 3.6R can deliver an incredible performance. I just auditioned the Aerial 20T's and yes they were great and man talk about dynamic!, but I still love the sound of the 3.6R's. Matched with a great set of subs like you listed your there.
Good luck. |
I would suggest the larger Pass amps, "possibly" the Sunfire Signature ( will GREATLY depend on the solidity and quantity of bass from your source ) and i would keep an eye / ear out for the new Parasound JC-1's that Tim mentioned. My sources tell me that this is going to be a highly sought after amp and is VERY powerful and dynamic at lower impedances. This is exactly what you need to drive Maggies, as anything less will stunt the dynamics and not really allow them to "open up" to their full potential. As such, i would avoid ANY amp that does not work well into a 4 ohm or lower load, regardless of the brand name and reputation. Sean
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we have found that the autoformers in the mcintosh power amps make a great marriage with maggies. because they are thirsty, the more power the better. i do not have the MG 3.6's yet, but i am driving factory refurbished tympany 1-D's with 2 600 watt mono Mac 2300's. as of yet, nothing else has come close to the perfomance of that configuration. |
After many trials, I now use Audio Research VT-150 monos(predecessor to the Reference amps) with the 3.6's in a 15'x 26' room and they drive them extremely well with all the "tube magic" I could hope for. The VT150's have tube regulation and a massive power supply capacitor storage, with each mono amp having more energy storage than a stereo VT200. ARC claims that the design of these amps provides a perceived power much greater than its rating and allows large musical transients to be realized with difficult speaker loads. If interested, check out R. Harley's review in the August 1994 Stereophile. Also, there are several factory upgrades and tube choices I could discuss with you if you are interested, just email me. Regards, Dave. |
At this price level, your list should also include Parasound new Halo JC-1 mono amps. $6K/pair. |
Tube amps- Big ARC, Big VTL or Wolcott's(in no particular order)
Solid State- Plinius 250MKVI, Pass 350 or larger, boulder, "p" series accuphase, BAT VK-500w/bat pak, Edge, Parasound JC-1- just to name a few- really depends what you want to spend, I am just floored by how good the VK-500 sounds in my system, I am in NO rush to upgrade, just enjoying the tunes. I like the idea of tubes but I just can't bring myself to do it with these speakers. The best thing is to try a couple and see what you like.
KF- I like the lamm idea! I would be really curious to hear that! |
3.6's LOVE power.
The more power you can feed them the better.
Personally, I have driven 3.6's with 2 Plinius SA100mk3 amps in mono (665wpc into the maggies). The sound was very good.
I have been told the Bryston Amps also work very wekk with maggies. Large Pass amps do as well. The best amp though, running the maggies is quite possibly the Lamm m1.1 monoblocks (200 watts Class A inot 4 ohms).
KF |
Artarl-
From the ones you have listed, the Pass will give you the current those speakers need. I'm also gonna go out on a limb here and suggest you look at the Sunfire Signature Series II amp. Tons of current, finesse, as well as slam. Output doubles down as you halve impedence loads. I own a Signature myself to drive Magnepan MGIIIA's, so I am biased. |
I can't tell you what's best, but I'm running mine with a McIntosh 2102 tube amp and it sounds great.
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