Which amp to use with Linear Tube Audio pre?

The LTA preamps are a perfect match with their amps. The owner of LTA (Mark Schneider) uses Maggie’s at home with ZOTL40 and pre. Plenty of power.

I’ve read more than a few places that the XA25 makes an excellent pairing. I might step up to that eventually, too. At least for an SS option. I’ve been using a Schiit Aegir sometimes, but prefer the Primaluna DPHP. What speakers are you using? I seem to get better bass response with either power amp than straight from the MZ3 with Zu Soul Supremes. Into 16ohms the MZ3 is only rated for 1/4W, but it gets loud enough even if it is turned way up. I don’t think it’s a volume difference I’m hearing when I use a power amp. I’m curious what you’re missing, since I’m having the opposite experience. It’s great on it’s own, but a little help makes it even better. (Of course my pessimistic side thinks that once you point it out I won’t be able to ignore it anymore.) I’ve also been considering SET amps, since it seems crazy to run the DPHP if I’m not even using 1W the vast majority of the time. So it might just be preference.

Long time magnepan owner. Using the MZ2 as an amp sounds great about 95% of the time, exceptions are loud massed orchestra/percussion, deepest bass where more current is needed. Pretty certain that while the Hafler  has over 100 watts per channel, the transition from class A to class B adds distortion I  hear as grainy harmonics with massed orchestra.

Bryston has a good rep driving Maggies and are transparent enough that they likely won’t mess with the LTA goodness. 

In a Sterophile review of an earlier version of the ZOTL40 (push/pull) amp the reviewer mated it with Magnepan .7.

Looks like the newer version (ZOTL40 REFERENCE+) is $1K more @ ($6,800).

Interesting that you were able to drive the 1.7's with the 1-watt power section of the  Microzotl 2.

I had wondered if it would work with my vintage wide range single drivers and it looks as if it would with my 8 ohm Elac S517's  and 16 ohm Stephens Trusonic 80FR's.

You might check out the inexpensive SS Van Alstine power amp that he decribes as being single ended, or an "upgraded" DNA amp (used) if you can find one.

DeKay