[usp1]

Would an Aleph 3 be a good match for 1.6 Maggies? I hear a lot about how the 30 class A watts are phenomenal sounding but are they enough to drive magnepans?

[josh358]

I would guess not, unless you habitually listen at unusually low levels or the amp has unusual dynamic headroom. But the only way to know for sure is to measure the levels at which you personally listen, then it's a straightforward calculation. If you use an analog Rat Shack meter, add 10 dB since it doesn't read true peaks (the digital one seems to, though I'm not aware of any confirmation).

Fortunately, this is something that can be done with measurements, wouldn't want to get an amp only to discover that it's too small.

[roscoeiii]

I'd also guess not. No personal eexperience, but it seems I pretty frewquently read about Maggies needing power to really shine.

[FrankK]

About ten years ago I bought a pair of MMGs. When I called Magneplanar on the phone to order them, the first thing the pleasant lady asked me was what kind of amplifier I planned to use.  At that time it was a Van Alstine Omega 3 amp, and she said it would work fine.
I would suggest calling them. They are very aware and knowledgeable and can probably answer your question at once.
Best regards/
FrankK

[avta]

Not adequate. I had that combination a while back.

[usp1]

Not adequate would be my guess as well. Just thought I would ask.

[tberd]

 Would be fine if you live in an apartment or family members are home. Try it in your system if possible. That way YOU will know for sure.

tberd

[medium jim]

The best answer is to try it as already noted.   I know of someone on another board who was running his Maggie's on 30 watts of tube power and he liked it.   I'm running my 2.5's in Triode mode, or 40 watts a lot of the time,  but I also have two subs to take up the grunt work. 

Maggie's seem to love tubes anyway. 

Jim

[usp1]

Since I first asked about this, I have tried my maggie 1.6QRs with s rogue 88 tube amp (30w triode/40 ultralinear), emotiva mps-1, McCormack DNA-1, and Odyssey Stratos monos. The Rogue works very well with the maggies as long as I play at low volumes but seems to run out of steam at higher volumes and with bass heavy tracks. THe emotiva mps-1 was adequate but just not involving enough. Then I got the Mccormack DNA-1...what a wonderful amp. The maggies seemed to come alive...more everything. I just got a the stratos monos a couple of days ago and they seem to be a small improvement over the DNA-1. A bit more resolution in complex passages and a little more grunt. It is hard to say for sure because I am not able to A/B the two easily. Not sure which of the two I am going to keep. I am keeping the Rogue for a second system.

The Aleph 30 will have to wait unless I see a great deal.

[SteveFord]

I've got my MMGs blasting away with a sub going and right now it's only at 4 WPC but it sure doesn't take too much to get it to jump to the next LED which is 40 and the next one up is 100 WPC.  You crank the volume up just a bit and it jumps from 4 WPC to 40 WPC on the downbeat.  Kind of like it's doing right now.
This morning I was listening to 1.7s and two tubes were actually pulsing on bass drum kicks and those amps are 250 WPC.
Good thing I don't live in an apartment!

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely is what I read somewhere. 
And that is supposed to be a bad thing?

[tberd]

The best answer is to try it as already noted.   I know of someone on another board who was running his Maggie's on 30 watts of tube power and he liked it.   I'm running my 2.5's in Triode mode, or 40 watts a lot of the time,  but I also have two subs to take up the grunt work. 

Maggie's seem to love tubes anyway. 

Jim

 This is what I do also. Run a sub to handle the bass. Then let the class A SET tubes sing away.

tberd