My top 3 FAVORITE amps are.....

geowak · « **on:** 28 Aug 2011, 10:08 am »

List the favorite top 3 amps you've owned and list the qualities you liked about them.

ie unlimited High current, great soundstage, best warm sound, most open or airy, best price for gear, etc

Also list a tube amp if that is what makes your list
(If there is a preamp that is really OUSTANDING list that one too)

For me,

1. McCormack DNA-125 (Great open sound, unmimited power or current at that price point)
2. Parasound HCA-855 (Great bargain and current for home theater, nice detail)
3. ???? Still looking for that great ONE that will drive Maggies well

catastrofe · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Aug 2011, 10:45 am »

Quote from: geowak on 28 Aug 2011, 10:08 am

List the favorite top 3 amps you've owned and list the qualities you liked about them.

ie unlimited High current, great soundstage, best warm sound, most open or airy, best price for gear, etc

Also list a tube amp if that is what makes your list
(If there is a preamp that is really OUSTANDING list that one too)

For me,

1. McCormack DNA-125 (Great open sound, unmimited power or current at that price point)
2. Parasound HCA-855 (Great bargain and current for home theater, nice detail)
3. ???? Still looking for that great ONE that will drive Maggies well

You need a Sanders Magtech for your Maggies.

timind · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Aug 2011, 05:27 pm »

PS Audio Trio A-100 - this amp uses the same ICE modules as so many others but seemed to sound just right. For a time I used two of them to bi-amp but it wasn't necessary.
Portal Panache - Ok, you didn't say integrated or not. This is an integrated amp with a sweet sound. If it had a remote control I might still own one.
Now this one is embarrassing. Harman Kardon PA2200. I bought one of these on ebay and after some rewiring I preferred it to a $2500 amp I'd been using.
.
How about the Bel Canto Pre3 for a preamp. Why did I sell that piece?

Everything about it was perfect except it needed one more balanced input.

Freo-1 · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 Aug 2011, 06:31 pm »

1) Threshold 400A: After a complete restoration of all parts, the sound from the amp is simply incredible. Will drive any know speaker with ease.

2) Threshold SA/3: A 50 WPC Class A amplifier that provides depth, detail of tubes, and great control of the bass registers.

3) Electrocompaniet Anniversary Limited: A solid state amp with tube like qualities.

rollo · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Sep 2011, 03:43 pm »

You may consider a Plinius Amp for those Maggies. Or just buy a Bryston 28B and be done. Not a dealer for Bryston or Plinius.

charles

Minn Mark · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Sep 2011, 04:46 pm »

The Audio by Van Alstine (AVA) Insight amps are KILLER with Maggies. I bet the AVA Ultravalve would also be an interesting combination.

Just a happy AVA owner, not a rep or dealer.

www.avahifi.com

Mark

Berndt · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Sep 2011, 09:05 pm »

#3 is a bear. I wish I had a $ for every suggestion I heard for Maggie amps.
When I hear people say tube amps I have to smile. Maggies are real dyno runs for amps, IMHO.
I'm building a clone krell ksa100 right now for some strange reason. SS grain and etched is a real buzz kill. I like tube amp tone and SS slam.

Sonny · « **Reply #7 on:** 1 Sep 2011, 09:17 pm »

Bill and all...for Maggies...I hear Pass is awesome!
But perhaps a nice Pass XA amp to get the slam and tone right Bill?

Sonny · « **Reply #8 on:** 1 Sep 2011, 09:24 pm »

Quote from: Berndt on 1 Sep 2011, 09:05 pm

#3 is a bear. I wish I had a $ for every suggestion I heard for Maggie amps.
When I hear people say tube amps I have to smile. Maggies are real dyno runs for amps, IMHO.
I'm building a clone krell ksa100 right now for some strange reason. SS grain and etched is a real buzz kill. I like tube amp tone and SS slam.

Bill, can't wait to see/hear that Krell!

S Clark · « **Reply #9 on:** 1 Sep 2011, 09:27 pm »

Quote from: Berndt on 1 Sep 2011, 09:05 pm

I like tube amp tone and SS slam.

Moscode!

Wayner · « **Reply #10 on:** 1 Sep 2011, 09:34 pm »

Running Maggies on a tube amp probably isn't my idea of doing it right. The speakers have very low impedance, like Martin Logan speakers and generally a SS amp that is capable of the low impedance (like 1 ohm) is better suited.

Therefore, I pick a Bob Carver Sunfire amp as on of my favorite SS amps for ribbon or electrostatic speakers.

Another favorite is the Marantz 140. It's modest 75 watts RMS per channel seems to have fantastic imagining, and excellent voicing.

Oddly enough, the 3rd one is the Audio by Van Alstine 170. It's generally built into an old Dynaco Stereo 120 chassis, but it is musical as hell.

Not gobs of power for the last 2, but I give them special merit, 'cause they really trip my trigger.

Wayner

*Scotty* · « **Reply #11 on:** 1 Sep 2011, 10:19 pm »

Historically Audio Research have been used by Magnepan to evaluate speaker designs.
The tube amp I would chose to drive MG1.7s and MG 3.7s would be the AR VT 200MkII from its 4ohm taps.
It is a dynamic sounding amplifier that will easily drive the mostly resistive 4ohm load presented by the Maggies.
Solid State amps for this application are going to be what ever floats your boat.
Scotty

Freo-1 · « **Reply #12 on:** 1 Sep 2011, 10:58 pm »

Almost any Threshold amp works well with Maggies. I sold a S150 to a Maggie owner, and he LOVES the sound from the combo.

I also sold a Nakamichi PA-5 to a Acoustat owner, and he raved about the amp.

The take away is: A Nelson Pass STASIS amp works well with Maggies/ESL speakers.

mr_bill · « **Reply #13 on:** 1 Sep 2011, 11:06 pm »

That I've owned

1. Modwright KWA 150
2. Theta Enterprise monos
3. Classe CA 2200

Cheeseboy · « **Reply #14 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 06:14 pm »

I ran my MG1's with Theshold Stasis. They sang. I also had a sub.

Mike B. · « **Reply #15 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 07:13 pm »

So you are the guys running up the price on old Threshold amps

sebrof · « **Reply #16 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 08:10 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 1 Sep 2011, 09:34 pm

Running Maggies on a tube amp probably isn't my idea of doing it right. The speakers have very low impedance, like Martin Logan speakers and generally a SS amp that is capable of the low impedance (like 1 ohm) is better suited.

Not disagreeing with your choice of amps, but just to clarify re: Maggies.
Maggies are a pretty flat 4 ohm load, not like Logans. But even Martin Logans drop down low at the very highest frequencies where there is little music and where it doesn't take a whole lot to do the job. I have always believed that the power required to drive both of these speaker brands is often highly over estimated. I also like both on tubes.
FWIW - I've owned both.

thunderbrick · « **Reply #17 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 08:43 pm »

Quote from: S Clark on 1 Sep 2011, 09:27 pm

Moscode!

+1! Makes my 1.6s sing at high volumes in a big room!

geowak · « **Reply #18 on:** 2 Sep 2011, 08:47 pm »

By now my interest is peaked. The AVA lineup looks very nice. For those of you who have heard the hybrid and tube versions how well do they sound? Are they that good?

Did not think an Ultravalve version would have enough ummphf to drive some Maggies...

Noseyears · « **Reply #19 on:** 10 Sep 2011, 12:55 am »

The Burson 160D (pre) drives the magnepan MMG's well, i was surprised by its performance. The midrange of the Burson and the bass really complements the signature of the Maggies.