[SHXMD]

All,

Question to the experts regarding amplification of my LRS+.

My Bryston 2B-LP is nearly 40 years old and has been through the “Old is New” rehab program. Works great! Unfortunately coming up on the third year and the end of the second warranty. Bryston has mentioned trouble themselves getting parts for older units. Clearly understandable.

Had decided on the Bryston 3B3 for the replacement (and should note that room is small to medium). As time goes on (and I save) review of the literature and direct recommendations endorse Class A sound for accuracy particularly the PassLabs XA-25. Supposed to have adequate power and damping factor.

Wanted to solicit input here among this well experienced planar group.

I am interested in accuracy with full sound. I use a LTA pre-Amp stage 2 and Inconoclast Type II silver speaker cables. Front end is Auralic with Ethernet input fiber. REL-sub.

As usually all input greatly appreciated!

Best,

S

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Bryston should sound great with the Maggie's.  I am sure the 25 wpc pass would drive them, but Maggie's like power, high current and high capacitance to sound their best and to play loud.  Maggie's are a speaker that sounds best at moderately loud volumes, and they lose dynamics at lower volumes. I own a pair of the original MMGs and the QR 1.6s.  Both my Maggie's shut down a 200wpc at 4 ohm amps. I use a 500wpc Pass X250 amp and a BAT tube preamp.

[veloceleste]

I used an LTA MZ2 with a 3B3 and it was a fantastic combination. I still have the 3B3 and only sold the MZ2 because it didn’t have some functions/features I wanted. Bryston with Maggies is considered a classic pairing and the 3B3 should provide plenty of power for your LRS+ (300wpc@4 ohms).

[HAL]

You might consider the 150W Orchard Audio Starkrimson Monoblocks. 

Sound very good with the LRS/LRS+ I have used them with.

[toocool4]

Checkout this review by Steve Guttenberg, the main amp he used to review the LRS+ was the Pass XA25

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGR6iw9FpkI

[SHXMD]

Thanks!

Yes, I am a Patreon member of Steve’s and he has directly recommended the LRS+ & Pass Labs combination to me as alluded above.

Wanted to see if others would Rec’s any others including Schitt Vidar or Wotan or other? (The Schitt are used by Magnepan for “subs” at shows.)

Many thanks!

[Saturn94]

Bryston should sound great with the Maggie's.  I am sure the 25 wpc pass would drive them, but Maggie's like power, high current and high capacitance to sound their best and to play loud.  Maggie's are a speaker that sounds best at moderately loud volumes, and they lose dynamics at lower volumes. I own a pair of the original MMGs and the QR 1.6s.  Both my Maggie's shut down a 200wpc at 4 ohm amps. I use a 500wpc Pass X250 amp and a BAT tube preamp.

This

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Thanks!

Yes, I am a Patreon member of Steve’s and he has directly recommended the LRS+ & Pass Labs combination to me as alluded above.

Wanted to see if others would Rec’s any others including Schitt Vidar or Wotan or other? (The Schitt are used by Magnepan for “subs” at shows.)

Many thanks!

Pass sounds marvelous with my Maggie 1.6's.  Keep in mind that different models of Pass amps sound different.  I use an older Pass X250 amp. I am selling it if interested.  I am downsizing to an integrated amp and bookshelf or stand mount speakers unfortunately as I am going to severely miss my Pass and BAT preamp combo.  It is my forever gear. 

I have heard the Vidars, stick with Pass, Bryston or something similar.  A nice tube integrated like a Black Ice F35 with upgrades would be awesome with the LRS.  95 wpc.  Even my local high end dealer recommends tube amps with the LRS or at least a SS amp and a tube pre like my set up.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

One other thing about pairing electronics with Maggies.  The sound better with a little bit of warmth. Thats why Pass amps sound so good with them.  For the most part Pass amps lean a little bit to the warm and organic sound.  I have 2 local audiophile friends that own a 260.8 and XA100.5 monoblocks and they sound that way.  The guy that has the 260.8 and XP 22 preamp uses Magnepan 1.7's.

[RonN5]

I had 3 amplifiers that all sounded great with the LRS+… albeit slightly different from each other.

Pass XA25, Wells Audio Majestic and Orchard Audio Stereo Ultra.

[SteveFord]

Are you sold on solid state?

[garyalex]

I used a pair of Fosi ZA3 amps with those speakers. The amps were the 48v versions in mono configuration. The combination sounded great.

[SHXMD]

Yes, SS for speed and drive. I introduce some warmth through the tube preamp and apparently through the Passlab XA-25.

Nonetheless is there a tube amp which people have used that could drive and compete with class A accuracy?

Please let know.

Thanks for peoples input!

S

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Yes, SS for speed and drive. I introduce some warmth through the tube preamp and apparently through the Passlab XA-25.

Nonetheless is there a tube amp which people have used that could drive and compete with class A accuracy?

Please let know.

Thanks for peoples input!

S

Look at Ayon Audio.  They make fabulous tube amps and integrated amps

[SHXMD]

Thanks and appreciate the consideration of selling your Passlabs Amp but I could not afford it currently.

S

[SteveFord]

I tried a couple of different SS amps but settled on one of these with Electro-Harmonix 6CA7 power tubes and Sylvania for the little guys:

https://www.vtl.com/products/power-amplifiers/stereo-amplifiers/st-85/

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Thanks and appreciate the consideration of selling your Passlabs Amp but I could not afford it currently.

S

I am selling the  Pass for $2200, and then there is shipping.

[SHXMD]

Thanks! but the divorce it would set-off would cost much more!

[SteveFord]

A used VTL with new tubes would be roughly the same amount, maybe a little more.
Conrad-Johnson SS amps might be worth looking into, I tried a C-J 2275 which was nearly there with the VTL sound.
Close but not quite, SS just can't pull off that 3D sound stage like tubes do.

[veloceleste]

It just occurred to me that Audio by Van Alstine wasn’t mentioned. Didn’t Frank mention the SET120 paired very nicely with LRS+. Maybe there some used SET500 out there at a reasonable price if more power is desired.