[Emil]

...is it really so special as I've been told? Really?

Big tube power is expensive, for me at least. I've been eyeballing (used) the Rogue Tempest and Cronus Magnum versions which pump out 90 watts.
Im currentlly using a hybrid integrated ( 200 watts 8 ohm, 400 in 4ohms) to give you an idea of what Im used to. Room is about 16 by 24.

Worth a shot or just setting myself up for disappointment?

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I use a hybrid tube preamp and DAC from Van Alstine with a 400wpc SS Parasound A21 amp. The sound is very tube like and sounds much better than all SS with my 1.6's. (I have also heard mine with a hybrid 500wpc (4ohms) amp and tube pre amp and they sounded great) IMO, tubes are the way to go with maggies but I have heard them sound great with warmer sounding SS gear.

If you like to play music at moderate to loud levels then the 1.6's really benefit from the high power as you know with your 400wpc integrated.

[BPoletti]

Dynaco MkIII or a pair of Dynaco ST-70 (bridge mode) should do the trick. 

Failing that,a pair of Herron M1s would work very nicely.  My opinion is that they are very "tube" sounding.  Might be a little out of your price range, but maybe worth it. 

[SteveFord]

What is your price range, your room size and what do you listen to?
They have 1.6s at the Manley factory and EvaMarie suggested 100W/channel but because I have a gigantic room and like loud rock music I might be better off with 250W/channel.
In my experience, yes it is the way to go.  Nothing else that I've found will give the music that You Are There holographic effect.
I bought some inexpensive VTL 300s from a fellow Maggie enthusiast, had a shop go over it, replaced the power cord and the power tubes and haven't looked back.

Two years back we went to see Jeff Beck and our seats were 22 row center. 
The next night I put on the same material, cranked the volume up and you know what, it was the exact same sound.  The only difference was I didn't have to drive a 6 hour round trip for a one hour show.

In all fairness, the fellow I bought those VTLs from replaced them with a set of SS monoblocks as he said he finally found a set of amps that he liked better than the VTLs.  His wife was not at all happy with him as she loved the tube amps.
I can't remember what brand they were (nothing remotely mainstream, though) and I've lost touch with him.
There's no right or wrong in audio, this is just what works for me.

[cityjim]

 Here is another post which leads maggie owners thinking they need 2k watts per channel. Fact is the first watt counts the most.

 Simple fact is anytime you deviate from full tube, you lose the listenability factor. That realistic and open sound goes away. When I say full tube I mean every device you have is loaded with tubes. DAC, Pre and so on.

cityjim

[andyr]

 Here is another post which leads maggie owners thinking they need 2k watts per channel. Fact is the first watt counts the most.

Simple fact is anytime you deviate from full tube, you lose the listenability factor. That realistic and open sound goes away. When I say full tube I mean every device you have is loaded with tubes. DAC, Pre and so on.

cityjim

Here we go - another fundamentalist in the pulpit.    Then again, the SET (sub-)sect say that only they will go to heaven ... as only SETs deliver you the true magic of those glass bottles!     However, try driving a pair of 1.6s (with passive XOs) with a SET. 

Maggies certainly like tube amps that can deliver lots of power - like Steve's VTL 300s.  If you can afford them (and the re-tubing cost) then they will send you to heaven.     However, for 3-way Maggies (which have the bass/mid XO at 300Hz or below) I suggest more aural ecstacy (and sharper bass transients) is achieved with a grunty (low output impedance) ss amp on the bass panels ... ie. keep the tube magic for the mids and ribbons, where it belongs.

Regards,

Andy

[Davey]

Here is another post which leads maggie owners thinking they need 2k watts per channel. Fact is the first watt counts the most.

 Simple fact is anytime you deviate from full tube, you lose the listenability factor. That realistic and open sound goes away. When I say full tube I mean every device you have is loaded with tubes. DAC, Pre and so on.

cityjim

Total nonsense.

My system is the most listenable I've ever heard and there's not a single tube in it.

If the "first watt counts the most", try using a 1 watt RMS amplifier on your Maggie system and see how that works for you.

Cheers,

Dave.

[twitch54]

  Simple fact is anytime you deviate from full tube, you lose the listenability factor.
cityjim

Jim, that may be a 'simple fact' to you but to those of us that have been around this hobby a long time know that your statement is but a subjective one !

andyr / davey.......I concur !

[TONEPUB]

Here is another post which leads maggie owners thinking they need 2k watts per channel. Fact is the first watt counts the most.

 Simple fact is anytime you deviate from full tube, you lose the listenability factor. That realistic and open sound goes away. When I say full tube I mean every device you have is loaded with tubes. DAC, Pre and so on.

cityjim

What is this "First Watt" BS...

Maggies need current and there are plenty of great solid state amps out there. I've yet to hear Magnepans sound really great with tube amps, and I'm open minded, I keep listening.

And everytime someone hears my 1.6's with either the McIntosh MC1.2k's or the Burmester 911, they are amazed at how the speakers light up.  Sorry, I'll stick with big power on my Magnepans!

[cujobob]

My McAlister PP-150-8 is certainly nice sounding and is quite ballsy for a tube amp by use of sweep tubes which is uncommon from competitors.

[jlafrenz]

Anyone ever paired Maggies with a Cayin amp? I'm curious if this would be a good combo.